52 



In 1836, besides supplying the family with cream and milk, there 

 were sold 127^ gallons milk at 14 cents per gallon, $17 88 

 166 lbs. butter at 25 cents, 41 50 



Calf sold, 8 00 



$67 38 

 " The keeping was good pasture and swill of the house, including 

 the skim milk, with three pints of meal per day." These statements 

 show, in a strong light, the difference between a good and a poor 

 cow ; and the utility of liberal keeping. 



The difference in the butter properties of different cows is not 

 generally considered. In a yard of five cows, upon repeated trials, 

 made at similar times, and as near as could be under the same cir- 

 cumstances, by a farmer in this county, the difference in the yield of 

 cream upon 9 inches of milk was found to be as 13 to 3. 



Attempts have been made to introduce some improved foreign 

 stocks into the county ; the Alderney, the Holderness, and the Im- 

 proved Durham Short-Horn. These experiments are reported to 

 have been satisfactory to those, who have made them ; but I have been 

 unable to procure any exact returns. Admiral Sir Isaac CofBn pre- 

 sented a valuable Improved Durham Short-Horn bull and cow to the 

 Massachusetts Agricultural Society, which were placed on the farm 

 of a gentleman in Salem, who retains some of the lialf-blood stock. 

 The amount of the yield in milk of this short-horned cow is mislaid ; 

 but the owner states from recollection "that her milk night and 

 morning, weighed 48 lbs., when she had nothing more than pasture 

 feed in June." Respecting this stock, the gentleman adds, — "In 

 my opinion they combine the two qualities of milk and beef in a 

 greater degree than any other stock I am acquainted with. With me 

 the pure bloods and a large proportion of the mixed blood have 

 proved great milkers, and, when not in milk, take on flesh very rapid- 

 ly. I have slaughtered two half-blood heifers, which have weighed 

 at four years old over 700 lbs. A pair of half-blood steers, at four 

 years old, became so very fat from common keep, that I was induced 

 to dispose of them to the butchers; they weighed 1100 lbs. each. 

 The greatest objection to them in my opinion is, that they incline 

 to go dry a longer time than our native stock." 



