ESSEX SOCIETY. 17 



only grow^ but gain flesh, on pastures where large cattle, although 

 arrived at their full size, will fall away. Again, small cows 

 give the richest milk from the same kind of food — and, some- 

 times, from the same weight of food, give a greater volume of 

 milk than large ones. It is said that the small, long-haired cow 

 of the Scottish Highlands gives a richer milk than the Ayrshire 

 — while, in England, the small Alderney cow surpasses any other 

 in that respect.* 



Now, will native or imported stock furnish the most profitable 

 cow ? It is difficult to define what a native cow is. Youatt 

 says, "The breeds of cattle, as they are now found in Great 

 Britain, are almost as various as the soil of the difierent districts, 

 or the fancies of the breeders," Our cattle, like ourselves, are 

 of British origin. Careful observation will detect, in the mon- 

 grel race, traces of almost all the breeds of Great Britain. It is 

 impossible, therefore, specifically to designate their peculiar 

 characteristics. Probably the prevailing blood, in this county, is 

 the North Devon or the Sussex, neighboring and kindred breeds 

 of animals. Abused, neglected, the meanest of them raised, I 

 believe only one systematic attempt has ever been made to im- 

 prove them. The most indiscriminate crossing is going on at all 

 times, and in all places. Yet the Oakes cow, the Nourse cow, 

 the Haverhill heifer, and others, — not only native cows, but bred 

 in our own county, — have not been and cannot be surpassed. 

 Acclimated and suited to the soil, this native stock, — a medley 

 of all races, however difficult to be described, — is of far too 

 much value ever to be supplanted by foreign varieties. 



The large size of the improved short-horn cow is not the only 

 objection to be brought against her. It is a well-known fact, 

 that the original and leading object of the breeders of this stock 

 was to improve the carcass. They succeeded in accomplishing 

 their object with a rapidity that astonished themselves. But 



* A very striking illustration of the difference in the quality of milk given by two 

 cows, in the same circumstances, is given by Mr. Malcolm, in his Compendium of Mod- 

 ern Husbandry. He kept an Alderney and a Suffolk cow ; the latter the best he ever 

 saw. During seven years, the milk and butter being kept separate, it was found, year 

 after year, that the value of the Alderney exceeded that of the Suffolk, though the lat- 

 ter gave more than double the quantity of milk at a meal. — Bntish Husbandry, vol. ii., 

 p. 397. 



3 



