20 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



ones is not improperly shown in the above statement. A farmer 

 actually throws away from $25 to $40 each season when he sells 

 a first-rate cow and keeps a poor one in her place. 



How much wiser it would be if you farmers would sell two 

 of the poor cows and always keep the best, even if you only 

 received the same money for two that you would for the best 

 one, then feed a balanced ration. 



What I said in regard to more winter dairying, applies here 

 also. The cows kept over winter should be good cows only. It 

 takes training to be a judge of animals, and as Elgin buys the 

 most of her cows, we are not surprised to find that most of her 

 dairymen are good judges; their school is largely experience, 

 coupled with heeding good advice that has come down from 

 their forefathers. That same old paper has the following on 

 this subject : 



Selecting Cows. 



First, I get a broadside view of the animal, at a distance of 

 about two rods, as I have noticed for years that there was a 

 great similarity in the proportion of all first-class milkers ; being 

 very small in girth just back of their forward legs as compared 

 with the girth just forwards of their hips. I have never known 

 a first rate milker, of any breed, not thus proportioned; so that 

 if this form is wanting in an animal I have recommended to me 

 I do not care to look any more, unless I want a breeder for some 

 other purpose than the dairy. For breeding oxen, I should 

 want a cow of reverse proportions, i. e., larger girth forward. 



I next feel the size of the " milk veins," and trace to their 

 entrance into the chest, which in superior cows are large, ad- 

 mitting the ball of the largest finger; if divided, or sub-divided, 

 as is sometimes the case, I judge of- the size of each orifice, as I 

 care less for the size of the vein itself, than the orifice. Next, I 

 examine, by sight and touch, the udder or bag, which must be 

 capacious in order to hold much milk, with teats wide apart and 

 free from large seed warts or sores of any kind ; I then inquire 

 how long she goes dry before calving, as I don't want a family 



