Jersey Cattle and their Management. 221 
prohibiting: under heavy penalties (200/. and confiscation of 
the cattle and boat) the introduction of cow, heifer, calf, or 
bull from I'rance. These Acts did not prohibit the importa- 
tion of Englisli cattle ; both Shorthorns and Ayrshires were 
introduced, yet their milk and butter were thought so thin and 
poor that they were looked upon as inferior to the native cow, 
and eventually found their way to the shambles. Although 
purity of breed was the farmer's first consideration, yet there is 
no record to show that any systematic attempt at improvement 
was made, except that the male progeny of a cow which was 
famed as a good milker was preserved. The number of Alderney 
cows that existed in the South of England upwards of a century 
ago, is evidence that there was at that time a trade with the 
Island for them. The Act of 1789 states in its preamble that 
the trade is one of the most profitable branches of the com- 
merce of the Island with England, and it was a common saying 
for an indifferent animal in Jersey, that " she was good for 
England." Mr. Michael Fowler commenced business as an 
importer in 1811, and his three sons now continue it. He is 
said to have talked much of the cattle and shows of Yorkshire, 
his native county ; but no attempt to establish a society in the 
Island was made until 1833, when a meeting of the Lieut.- 
Governor and 25 gentlemen and farmers was held. Rules 
and regulations were agreed to, and it was resolved that the 
encouragement of agricultural and horticultural improvements, 
and of improving the breed of cattle would conduce to the 
general welfare of the Island. In 1834 a scale of points for 
governing the Judges at the Shows was drawn up ; for bulls there 
were 7 articles, to which 25 points were allotted, and for cows the 
same number of articles, to which 27 points were assigned. In 
1875 these were extended to 25 articles and 100 points for both 
bulls and cows. Records of the appearance of the cattle at that 
time exist at the present day. They were shown much out of 
condition, having the head coarse and ill-shaped, being fleshy 
under the throat, heavy in the shoulders, and with ears without 
that golden tinge denoting rich produce. They were too slightly 
formed behind, drooping in their hind quarters, and cat- 
hammed ; the udder was ill-formed, the tail coarse and thick, 
and the hoofs were large. 
Many were the difficulties which Col. Le Couteur and his suc- 
cessor, Col. C. P. Le Cornu, encountered. The income of the 
Society was very small, no great result came from the Shows, and 
the States grant of 100/. was withdrawn in 1842. Still Col. Le 
Couteur persevered, and at one of their public annual gatherings 
said, " He would tell those who were lukewarm to the Society 
to look back ten years. The land foul with weeds, crops in- 
