18 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



what they gained in one respect, they partially lost in another. 

 This beautiful form, increased size, and an aptitude to fatten 

 which could not be resisted, were incompatible with good milk- 

 ing qualities. The latter were in fact almost destroyed. Many 

 of the breeders were prejudiced against the stock of their neigh- 

 bors, and bred in and in. This, of necessity, made the defect 

 greater and habitual. Late in the day, they discovered their 

 error, and some of them attempted to remedy it. Others pre- 

 ferred beauty of form and good qualities for the butcher, caring 

 not whether these could or could not exist with good milking 

 properties. I do not believe that the milk stock of the county 

 has been benefited by crossing with them. It seems to me that 

 the superior cows among them are the exceptions. We have 

 gained in size, which we did not want, g.pd which the quality 

 and quantity of our food cannot well support ; but we have not 

 increased in value. In the ox, we have got a little more sym- 

 metry of form, but we have got, with it, a delicacy of constitu- 

 tution, illy adapted to the hard fare, hard climate and hard la- 

 bor of New England. 



The Ayrshires come to us with the reputation of being the 

 best milk stock in Great Britain. Their smaller size and closer- 

 knit frames show that they can live where the improved short- 

 horns cannot. Time will determine whether they prove equal, 

 in this country, to the recommendation of them in the old. 

 " Wisdom is neither inheritance nor legacy;" therefore, try them : 

 but if they do not prove better than our native stock, a wise 

 course will be to "holdfast that which is good." 



By the mode of keeping, I mean the general treatment of the 

 animal. We require the cow to furnish us a calf annually, and 

 a daily supply of milk for nearly the whole year. Now if any 

 animal deserves better treatment than the rest, where all are so 

 well deserving, it is the cow. All she asks, to meet our de- 

 mands upon her, is suitable food, comfortable shelter, to be kept 

 dry and clean, kind words, and kind usage. How many cows 

 there are in the county, which never know the enjoyment of any 

 of these, until, near the end of their miserable and half-starved 

 existence, they are put up to fatten ! How many farmers there 

 are who give their oxen and horses the best that their barns af- 



