144 THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF 



this fact is amply recognised by the small 

 farmers on Guernsey Island who frequently 

 exhibit cows at their exhibitions which have 

 produced a thousand gallons of milk in a year, 

 although this quantity has been frequently 

 and very largely exceeded. 



The fact cannot be too strongly empha- 

 sised that purity of breed does not of 

 necessity mean that a pure bred cow is a 

 good milker, for the large majority are 

 not. There are thousands of Jerseys, 

 Guernseys, and other pure-bred cows in the 

 country which would be dear to the small 

 holder at a gift if he were compelled to 

 keep them in his herd. This fact is largely 

 owing to the want of knowledge of amateurs 

 who have bought to please the eye rather 

 than to fill the pail. A Jersey heifer in her 

 prime is an extremely handsome beast how- 

 ever badly she may milk, but to the man who 

 looks for milking properties, form, and colour, 

 she is of no value whatever. That the principle 

 so long adopted at our agricultural shows 

 of awarding prizes to the best-looking beasts 

 is responsible for this, there can be no doubt. 

 Cows, especially those of the Channel Islands 

 breeds, are still exhibited in large numbers, 

 although they would not have a remote 



