RURAL LIFE IN LITCHFIELD COUNTY 



Connecticut early became the American home of 

 some of the best of the old-world dairy breeds. While 

 the Jersey was introduced into the State as early as 

 1 85 i, it was not until between 1865 and 1870 that this 

 breed and her sister type, the Guernsey, began to be no- 

 ticed in the dairy annals of the State, particularly in 

 Hartford County. Noted herds of Jerseys were estab- 

 lished in the early seventies at Echo Farm in Litchfield 

 and by the Eldridges of Norfolk, while others became 

 more or less interested in a small way. Following the 

 introduction of creameries, there was a diffusion of 

 Jersey blood throughout the herds supplying these fac- 

 tories. This was due to the fact that quality rather 

 than quantity of milk was the basis of profit in selling 

 through the creamery. 



In the milk-shipping sections, however, a different 

 condition prevailed. Milk shipped to New York was, 

 for many years, ungraded, as far as richness in fat was 

 concerned. This naturally led to the keeping of such 

 cattle as would produce quantity of milk rather than 

 quality, as the two characteristics are rarely found in 

 a single type of cattle. Holsteins had for many years 

 been bred for high milk production on the rich low- 

 lands of Holland, and early in the days of milk-shipping 

 they became prominent in the Hudson and the Harlem 

 valleys and soon after were introduced into Litchfield 

 County. To-day no breed is more popular among 



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