64 



the 28th December, 1838, she had produced 303 lbs, 3 oz. of but- 

 ter, and was still making at the rate of one pound per day. 



The owner adds, " In the year 1837, I killed my calf at three 

 days oM, and ga\e my cow tlie skimmed milk tlirougli the summer. 

 I commenced the first of October to feed on potatoes. I gave her 

 about one peck per day boiled as long as she gave milk. In the 

 year 1838, I fattened my calf and killed it at four weeks old. It 

 weighed 75 lbs. She has had nothing but grass this year, until the 

 first of October ; since then I have fed her with one peck of boiled 

 potatoes per day. My cow is seven years old last spring." Her 

 winter-keep at present, while giving milk is as much hay as she will 

 eat, and one peck of boiled potatoes per day. These cows are all 

 of native stock, without any admixture of foreign blood. The three 

 cases of largest product certainly cannot be considered as examples 

 of high feeding. It is extremely desirable that some skilful farmer, 

 should by a judicious selection from such animals as these, endeavor 

 to form an improved race for the dairy. I have already said that 

 this has been attempted by one gentleman in the state. 



Before I proceed to say what he has accomplished, I will mention 

 an interesting fact, communicated to me by an observing farmer of 

 Stockbridge. Thirty-two years since he became the possessor of a 

 very productive cow ; and has continued tlie breed to this day. She 

 has never produced a bad milker, and some of her descendants owned 

 by other persons in the village do equal credit to their parentage. 

 The yield of one of them, which came within my knowledge, is 

 twenty quarts per day. 



2. Improvement at Ten Hills Stock Farm ; Middlesex 

 Co. The great improvement in dairy stock, to which I have re- 

 ferred, has taken place on the Ten Hills Stock Farm in Charles- 

 town, near Boston, under liie skilful and enterprising efforts of Sam- 

 uel Jaques. This account might perhaps with more propriety come 

 under the report of Middlesex ; but as intimately connected with 

 dairy husbandry I shall give it here, even though I may be induced 

 to repeat it in another form. Perhaps no man in New England or 

 the country has more practical skill, or better judgment in relation 

 to live stock than Mr. Jaques ; and his experience has been long ; 

 and marked by careful and critical observation in those points to 



