THE FAMILY DAIRY. 419 



period in which the cow is taking a rest. This time will be 

 from two to three months, and as an ordinary family will 

 use from three to four pounds of butter weekly, the cow 

 should be able to produce at least 200 pounds of butter 

 during her milking period, besides furnishing milk and 

 cream for the table. This would make up the required 

 yield to an equivalent of 250 pounds of butter yearly. 

 This is nearly a pound a day for the entire nine months 

 of the milking period. There are not many ordinary 

 cows able to do this, and yet there are at least one million 

 of them wanted. This suggests to the breeders of cows 

 an exceedingly remunerative business in rearing grades 

 of Jersey or Guernsey stock which will be able to supply 

 the wants of this large class of small dairies. 



The best cow for this purpose is a cross bred of two 

 breeds, one capable of giving a large quantity of milk 

 and the other of making a large quantity of butter. A 

 small cow is also required, because of the restricted pas- 

 ture and the moderate means at command for feeding the 

 cow. The Ayrshire and Jersey or Guernsey breeds crossed 

 supply this demand in a more nearly perfect manner than 

 any others. A cross of "Dutch and Jersey or Guernsey 

 also makes an excellent family cow; but as there are not 

 enough of these pure breeds to go around, the largest 

 part of these family dairies must be supplied with the 

 best of the native cows, or good grades. Thousands of 

 farmers who have good native cows might procure a good 

 bull of any of these breeds and cross it upon their cows 

 and rear calves for sale to supply this large demand. 



The stable for a cow may be a very simple affair, and 

 plans for such will be found in Chapter IX. Tf a horse is 

 kept there should be a separate entrance for the cow, or 

 one of the animals should be kept in a closed stall, so 

 there could be no danger of one injuring the other. If 

 a pig is kept it should never be permitted to become a 

 source of ill odorg in the cow stable, and by all meaas the 



