THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 29 



In the Nouveau Bulletin des Sciences, a most extraordi- 

 nary account is given of a cow which produced nine calves at 

 three successive births. First, in 1817, four cow calves; 

 secondly, in 1818, three calves, two of them females ; and 

 thirdly, in 1819, two calves, both females. With the excep- 

 tion of two, belonging to the first birth, all were suckled by 

 the mother. 



And here we may offer a few remarks on the principles by 

 which the breeder ought to be guided in the successful 

 management or improvement of his stock, in whatever points 

 he wishes it to excel ; whether in those required by the grazier 

 or the dairy-farmer. Every man, whether grazier or dairy- 

 farmer, is desirous of turning his cattle to the most advantage ; 

 nor can this be done, unless the size of the farm, the soil, 

 climate, the produce, and the nature and extent of the pas- 

 turage, be well considered ; for the cattle that the farm is best 

 adapted for maintaining will be the most profitable. It is, 

 however, essential, whatever the cattle be, whether for the 

 purpose of the dairy, or for the immediate supply of the 

 markets with their flesh, that they be well bred, and excellent 

 of their kind. To the dairy-farmer, the most important points 

 are, the quantity of milk yielded, its quality, its value for the 

 production of butter, or of cheese, a freedom in the cows from 

 vicious habits and ill temper, their character as good and 

 healthy breeders, the ease with which, when useless as 

 milkers, they become fattened for the market, and the nature 

 and quantity of food requisite for this purpose. To the 

 grazier, the quickness of becoming fat, and at as little expense 

 as possible, the fineness of the grain of the meat, or of the 

 muscular fibres, the mode of laying on the fat, the smallness 

 of bone, soundness of constitution, and congeniality with the 

 soil and the climate, are the chief points which he takes into 

 consideration. If he is wise he will never stint keep, nor 

 transfer his stock from a good to an indifferent soil ; and this 

 is true also with respect to the dairy farmer. 



Contour, or beauty of form, is desirable ; indeed it is more 

 or less connected with what may be termed utility of form, 

 that is, a preponderance of those parts in the beast which are 

 most delicate for the table, and bear the highest price, over 

 the parts of inferior quality, or offal. This is connected with 

 smallness of bone, but not a preternatural smallness, and 

 with a tendency to depositions of fat, which, however, should 

 not be carried to an extreme, otherwise the quantity of flesh 



