308 
Milk. 
for they give a riclier cream than any other breed in common 
use in this country. The small Kerry cow and the miniature 
Bretons also produce extremely rich milk, but of course in much 
less quantity than the larger breeds. For dairy purposes, in 
cheese districts, the Ayrshires are justly celebrated ; indeed they 
seem to possess the -power of converting the elements of food 
more completely into cheese and butter than any other breed. 
The food in their system appears to be made principally into 
milk and not into meat ; consequently they are good milkers, 
but unlike the short-horns, do not fatten well. Remarkably 
large quantities of milk have been produced by cows of 
this breed. Thus a cow bought by the Duke of AthoU from 
Mr. Wallace, Kirklandholm, and probably in his Grace's dairy 
at Dunkeld House at the present time, produced 13,456 lbs. or 
about 1305 gallons of milk from the 11th of April, 1860, to the 
11th of April, 1861. If we estimate the value of the new milk 
at %d. a gallon, the year's produce would be worth 43Z. lO.s. 
With a view of encouraging this useful breed, the Ayrshire 
Agricultural Society has an annual milking competition, at 
■which prizes are given for the Ayrshire cows yielding the 
greatest weight of milk at four successive milkings, and also to 
cows from Avhose yield of milk the best return in butter is made. 
No restriction whatever is placed upon competitors in regard to 
the keeping of the cows. The following is a statement of the 
quantities of milk, produced by the cows in the competition of 
1861, and of the butter churned from the milk : — 
Ho. 
Cow belonging to 
Greatest 
Milking. 
Avcmtre of 
Four Milkings. 
Weight of 
Butter. 
lbs. 
ozs. 
lbs. 
ozs. 
lbs. ozs. 
1 
27 
12 
24 
3'r 
2 2 
2 
26 
0 
24 
5" 
2 141- 
3 
W. Reid 
25 
7 
20 
H 
2 9 
4 
W. Reid 
30 
15 
27 
5A- 
3 6i 
5 
R. Wallace 
28 
14 
28 
8| 
1 9.i 
6 
R.Wallace 
25 
5 
23 
H 
1 M5 
The short-horn, though more particularly distinguished for its 
precocity and excellence as a meat-producing animal, is never- 
theless an excellent milking cow. Some families of even pure- 
bred short-horns are, indeed, distinguished in this respect; 
for, when well fed, they will yield much milk, and at the same 
time go on improving in condition. On this account they are 
preferred by many to Ayrshires, Alderneys, and other breeds of 
peculiar or local merit, and are becoming more and more the 
principal dairy breed of England. 
The Yorkshire cow, essentially a short-horn, is tlie favourite 
breed of cow-keepers in London and other large towns, as it 
