1877.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
293 
The Echo Farm Herd of Jerseys. 
We are indebted to Fred. R. Sttrr, of Kcho Farm, 
near Litchfield, Conn., for the portraits of the ex- 
cellent Jerseys which ap- 
pear on this page. Mr. 
Starr's herd was brought 
prominently to notice 
through the award of the 
premium offered by the 
American Jersey Cattle 
Club for the best bull, to 
his bull "Litchfield," 
which is at the head of his 
hierd. There is no doubt 
that this distinction was 
well bestowed upon this 
animal. The portrait here 
given is from a photo- 
graph, which, while it is a 
very excellent one, yet 
cannot do full justice to 
the animal. The " coun- 
terfeit presentment" of 
a photograph, however 
accurate it may be, gives 
only the form ; the color, 
quality, and general char- 
acter, must be seen to 
be properly appreciated. 
The bull "Litchfield," 
(No. 674, A. J. C. C. K.,) 
now we believe in his 
seventh year, is a re- 
markably massive ani- 
mal. This is shown to some extent in the engrav- 
ing by the heavy fore quarters, noble crest, and 
powerful head, but still better by the front view in 
the larger engraving. For a Jersey this feature ia 
rare, but it is, to our thinking, of the greatest val- 
ue as denoting extreme animal vigor and vitality, 
and great strength of constitution and stamina. A 
" Litchfield," as evinced by the evenness and regu- 
larity of the herd which he has helped to form. 
His son, a remarkably beautiful bull, which is his 
next neighbor in the stable, is almost a perfect 
counterpart of himself, in color, form, and quality. 
•TEKSET BULL " LITCHPIELD," THE PROPERTY OF FRED. R. STARR, LITCHFIELD, COHN, 
and promises, when he has become thoroughly de- 
veloped, to acquire equal substance. " Litchfield " 
is a solid silver-gray, beautifully dappled, and 
darker below than above, where he is rather light. 
Although apparently a very heavy bull for a Jer- 
sey, he is only in moderate working condition, is 
far from being fat, and is long in body and weU- 
nished with a set of very largely developed teats. 
The proof, however, is in his progeny, which are 
excellent milkers and rich butter cows. Ttie herd 
numbers about GO animals, and we selected at a re- 
cent visit to the farm, which was unfortunately 
much shorter and more 
hurried than we should 
have desired, three cows 
as specimens whose por- 
traits are here given. To 
select one cow in prefer- 
ence to another for this 
purpose, was in this case 
simply a question of 
taste, for we have seen no 
herd so even all through 
in quality as this, and one 
cow might just as well 
have been selected as 
another. This evenness 
is so conspicuous a fea- 
ture of the herd, that it 
appears at first sight, and 
is confirmed on closer ex- 
amination. There is di- 
versity of color, certain- 
ly, for there are all the 
beautiful and picturesque 
tints which belong to this 
beautiful breed, and Mr. 
Starr is no stickler for 
solid color or black 
points. Butter is his ob- 
ject, and he breeds for 
profit from that,and turns 
all his attention towards 
breeding cows that are profitable for the daily. But 
in all else beside color there is great uniformity. 
There are no second-rate animals, and if one looks 
for a fine udder, or well-formed or well-placed 
teats, or any of the well-known points of first class 
Jersey cows, he may find them in the first cow seen 
in the pasture. In such a large herd as this, this is 
''4^»/// 
W/'//,'I.ESC> 
^^,_ ^^^J 
PORTION OF THK ECHO FARM .lERSET HERD, OWNED BT F. R. STARR LITCHFIELD, OONN. 
bull so endowed should be expected to stamp his 
peculiarities with great force and certainty upon 
his offspring, and this is precisely what is done by 
proportioned. He bears all the marks of a pro- 
ductive butter stock ; his horns arc of a clear 
bright waxy yellow, and are very flne, and he is f ur- 
a remarkable characteristic. The cow on the right 
of the picture is " Bessie Allen," (No. 3,719) ; that 
in the center is " Chestnut," (No. 1,888), and Uiatoa 
