1864. 



NEW EXGL.\XD F-\E>IER. 



239 



other breeds ; the Devons for beef, dairy and beef after being done with for milk, will give dairy 

 working oxen. As working oxen they excel. The nine months of the year, two quarts of milk a 

 Avrshires and Jersevs for the dair}-, in which they day at least more than the Durham. If they gi^e 

 excel all the before-named breeds, and ueither of only one quart of milk a day more, in nine months 

 the families combine all the qualities required for it would, at two and a half cents a quart, amount 

 beef, work and the dair)-. to $6.S0, which, tailing seven years the average 



It is of secondary importance to us to raise number of years that cows are usually milked, 

 beef and working oxen, compared with animals would amount to ^7.60, and the diderence in 

 capable of producing large quantities of good value of the two cows for fattening would be only 

 milk, which we sell in the form of milk or of new- from $2 to $5, leaving from $42 to $45 in favor 

 ly-chumed butter. Of the above-named breeds of the milker. 



we find that there are only tic^:' families now prom- The next thing af^er procuring a good calf is to 

 inent enough to call your attention to as dairy raise it properly. Much depends on this, as it is 

 stock, namely : — the Jerseys and Avrshires, and a well established fact that no animal, half-starved 

 for the improvement in animals for the dairy we for the first two or three years of its life, will ever 

 must rely upon these two breeds. I do not mean come to the standard of perfection of the breed to 

 to say there are no good milkers in the other which it belongs, — so that good feeding from the 

 breeds, but they are exceptions to the general time of dropping the calf up to the time of the 

 rule, such not being the fixed habit of these breeds, heifer coming into milk, is necessary for the per- 

 Some may think it would be better to raise a feet development of the animal. I do not mean 

 breed of our own, or. in other words, a pure -\mer- by this that I would have an animal pampered, hut 

 lean breed from our native stock, so called, think- that they should be well fed and kept in a thriv- 

 ing that such a breed would be better adapted to ing condition all the lime, and in the winter 

 our pastures and climate than the pure bred cat- more particularly, and that they should always be 

 tie we now have. It is evident that it would be kept from vermin, which are often allowed to in- 

 the work of two or three generations of men. at crease to such an extent as to almost eat the very 

 least, to produce such a breed — but premising life out of our young cattle. Then they should 

 that such is the fact, then the most feasible way be sheltered from the storms in cold weather, for 

 for us to breed cattle for milking purposes is to they will sufi'er from being exposed to the cold 

 adopt one or both of these breeds, or. in other rains, and then left in the yard or put in a cold 

 words, take advantage of the improvements made barn, where it will take them many hours longer 

 for the last hundred years in the Jersey and -A.yr- to become dry and comfortable. Some persons 

 shire cattle for making that improvement. As it say it is no matter, it will make them tough and 

 would take a long time to raise a sufficient num-" hardy to stay out in the cold storms. But what 

 ber of pure bred animals to stock all our farms, would be thought of a man who would keep his 

 perhaps the best way would be to select good- children out all day in a drenching rain, and then 

 shaped, medium-sized cows of our common stock, let them dry their clothing on their backs in a 

 who have a thin, soft-handling skin, a broad and cold room at night for the purpose of making 

 capacious udder, with medium-sized teats, and a them hardy? Children would probably soon die 

 heifer, the product of such a cross, will be likely under such treatment: but animals, having more 

 to be a good milker, although that will not always tenacity of life, survive, but do not attain to such 

 follow. To raise good milking stock with any perfection under that treatment as they would if 

 certainty, it will not do to breed from a grade bull ; properly sheltered ? 



because, although he may be a fine animal to all I do not know but the idea of poor keeping is 

 appearance, he might. — and probably would, — encouraged by many of the statements in regard 

 mark many of his progeny with the bad stain of to cattle made to the various agricultural societies 

 blood in his composition : and the chances of pro- for the last few years. The substance of some of 

 ducing a fine animal would be much less with such them is pretty much as follows : — A gentleman 

 a bull and the same cow than with one puie bred, enters a fine fat ox or cow for premium, and in his 

 Good cows, raised in this way. will answer our statemeat says that the animal was kept on poor 

 purposes for milking, and for which they would be hay, without any grain during the winter, and 

 as good, probably, as pure bred animals. Any summered in the pasture with very short, poor 

 one breeding pure blooded stook should confine feed ; or of a cow, giving an enormous quantity 

 himself to one breed, as in a stock of cattle all of of milk — that she has been kept on very poor 

 one blood there would be no danger o^ accidental feed, and a little corn fodder once a day to eat. 

 admixture of blood, and they will look better for Can any sensible person pretend than an animal 

 being all nearly alike. can he fattened, or made to give a large quantity 



It may be urged that we should have a breed of of milk, without good and nutritious food ? Men 

 cattle that, after they were worn out for milking that make such statements — instead of receiving 

 purposes, would be as valuable for beef as the premiums — should have their statements sent to 

 Durhams. The Durhams, as a whole, are not the grand jury, for them to inquire into the mat- 

 good milkers, although some families of them ter, and see if they would not be proper subjects 

 are much better than others ; but you will find to be indicted, under the statute, for cruelty to 

 that those who do give a fair quantity of milk animals ! 



are inclined to go dry five or six months each i A uniform kind treatment, regularity in feed- 

 ypar. ! ing, good shelter, cleanliness and a plenty of nu- 



A Durham cow that will make 600 pounds of tritious food fed to them in comfortable stalls, in 

 beef after she is laid aside for milk, will be worth the winter, good pasturage in the summer, with 

 about $25 for the purpose of rurning out to fat in an abundance of good water at all times, is what 

 the spring of the year. My idea is that an Ayr- I suppose would be called good management. If 

 shire or Jersey cow, that will make 550 pounds' of, I were called upon to state some of the points for 



