NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



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KAATSKILL, A NATIVE COW. 



This is the portrait of a native cow, the property 

 of R. Donaldson, Esq., Blithwood, Dutchess Co., 

 N. Y., which was engraved foi* the Albany Cultiva- 

 tor. She gave thirty-eight quarts of milk per day, 

 in June. Age six years ; color brindle ; weight 1170 

 pounds. We have selected it as a good representa- 

 tion of our best native cows, and if not a perfect 

 model of beauty, proportion, and sjTumetry, it is true 

 to our piu-pose. As our native cattle are made up 

 of various races, and numerous mLxtures of these 

 different breeds, no animal can be presented as a 

 type of th^ whole ; yet the above is the general form 

 of our best native milkers. 



Probably no race of cattle can be found which 

 excels our best natives for millc ; yet we experience a 

 serious disadvantage in not being able, generally, to 

 produce this valuable quality in the offspring. The 

 old adage, that " a good cow may have a bad calf," 

 is often verified. 



This is easQy accounted for. The qualities of our 

 finest native cows are often merely incidental, not a 

 fixed property ; -therefore they will not always descend 

 to the offspring. To remedy this evil, the very best 

 stock should be selected, and then, by a continued 

 course of judicious management, a fine race of ani- 

 mals would be produced, having properties of their 

 progenitors, as the breed would become fixed, or 

 what is called blood stock. 



To the human race the coav is the most valuable 

 of all animals. She affords the best of food to all, 

 from infancy to old age. Milk contains all the ele- 

 ments of nutrition for every part of the growing 

 animal or being. Alone it is valuable food, and is 

 excellent with every species of bread, and almost 

 every kind of fi uit, and various other productions ; 



and the products of the cow m.ny fonn a most val- 

 uable ingredient in almost every dish, and in many 

 they are absolutely necessary to their excellence ; and 

 they afford the advantage of condensation and preser- 

 vation, and become a convenient article of commerce. 



Besides this excellent property in the cow, she is 

 also useful for many other piirposes, as well as other 

 animals. Her products form a preparation for our 

 feet, a light to dissipate the darkness of night, an oil 

 for various purposes ; her horns form many orna- 

 mental and useful articles, her flesh the richest 

 viands ; and with good discipline and gentle treat- 

 ment, she may be made a valuable and economical 

 instrument in labor ; and why not take exercise as 

 well as other prolific animals, and as well as wild 

 animals, that, in the same productive state, range 

 forest and mountain, with severe exercise, in search 

 of food, for themselves and offspring. 



The cow being so important to our sustenance and 

 comfort, she should be treated with the greatest 

 kindness, and fed and managed with best care. C^ive 

 her a warm, drj' shelter, a neat and well- ventilated 

 house, curry often, give her a plenty of drink, and 

 good food, at regular periods, and she will richly pay 

 for all extra expense and care. 



The Potato Rot. — All parts of our State seem to 

 be again afflicted with this terrible scourge. Every 

 where it has made its appearance with more or lens 

 virulence. Our correspondent in Essex Co. rcport-s 

 the crop there to be in a great measure lost. In this 

 neighborhood its ravages have not been so severe, but 

 nearly every field is more or less injured. So much 

 heavy rain as we have had during August and Sep- 

 tember has undoubtedly been one cause of its prcv;»- 

 lence. — VermotU Agricuitufist. 



