SMALL HOLDINGS 189 



their appearance; they next compete in the 

 milking trials, and finally in the butter test, 

 and the fact remains that year by year the 

 best judges to be found fail to select the best. 

 They take great pains, but they subsequently 

 find that there is no rule to the effect that the 

 best looking cow produces the largest yield 

 of milk. In some instances champion milkers 

 have received no prizes on inspection; on 

 the other hand, the prize cows on inspection 

 frequently fail to obtain any notice in the 

 l^Iilking Trials or the Butter Tests. 



Reference to this question has been made 

 v/ith the object of inducing small holders 

 to take the greatest pains in the selection of 

 their stock, and not to be afraid to pay a pound 

 or two more than market price for cows which, 

 as they have ascertained, yield large quantities 

 of rich milk. Let us make a simple compari- 

 son between an average cow and a first-class 

 milker. The average yield of the cows of 

 this country is believed to be 460 gallons; 

 but in order that we may not be charged 

 with making too low an estimate, we will 

 assume that the average is 500 gallons, and 

 that a good milker yields 750 gallons, although 

 it is possible to buy cows which produce from 

 800 to 1000 gallons, and still more. At an 



