MILCH COWS. 43 



expression of the eye have four points assigned to each. In other 

 words, if a perfect cow of the Devon breed, with an udder such as 

 in that breed affords the best promise of capacity and product, is 

 worth one hundred dollars, another cow of the same blood, equal to 

 her in all other respects, but whose udder is of such a character as 

 to make it certain that she cannot yield a quart of milk in twelve 

 hours, is worth ninety-nine dollars. 



It is therefore apparent that the animal— the capacity of whose 

 lacteal glands is considered only of one-quarter part as much con- 

 sequence as the color of her nose, or the brightess, clearness and 

 prominence of her eye, the shape and size of whose horns are of 

 twice as much consequence as her udder — and that in the .lodg- 

 ment of men Avho best know her merits — can be of little value for 

 dairy purposes. 



We may rest assured, therefore, that cross-breeding with the 

 North Devon will never improve the stock of the county for those 

 purposes. 



The same British authority already quoted, says of the Here- 

 fords : — "The Hereford cow is apparently a very inferior animal. 

 Not only is she no milker, but even her form has been sacrificed by 

 the breeder." Mr. Colman, when in Europe, wrote of them that, 

 " in general, the Herefords rank low as dairy animals, and are 

 considered inferior." 



The Hereford ox, however, is of very nearly or quite as much 

 value for the yoke as the Devon, and fattens, it is said, quite as 

 readily and to a much greater weight. Therein consists the entire 

 merit "of the breed, as we suppose. 



Most assuredly the Hereford cannot aid in improving our stock 

 for dairy purposes. 



Perhaps it is hardly necessary to speak of the majestic, and ever 

 to be admired, Durham Short Horn. If our bleak, rocky hills, 

 and the fertile prairie bottoms of the West were transposed, the 

 Short Horns, claimed by their friends as the hest breed of cattle for 

 all purposes, and with good show of reason, would be worthy our 

 careful consideration ; but it seems to be settled, in this county at 

 least, that our scanty pastures will not feed them. 



The only British breed which we have among us besides, strictly 

 speaking, is the Ayrshire. The Jerseys or Alderneys, from the 

 Islands in the British channel, hardly belong to the main land. 



