AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
FOK THE 
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Entered according to Act of Congress, w October, 1S73, by the Okasok Juod CoMPiire, al tue Office of tue Librarian oi Coupes* W 
VOLUME XXXII.— No. 11. 
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER, 1873. 
KEW SERIES— No. 322. 
[COPYEIGHT SECURED.] 
AYRSHIRE COW — BEACON BELLE. — Drawn and Enij.aied for the American Agriculturist. 
On a recent visit to Beacon Stock Farm, 
Northport, L. I., we saw Beacon Belle with her 
young call, and being struck with her splendid 
points as a model cow had her portrait taken 
for our readers. Those who have been edu- 
cated to observe the points which characterize 
the most perfectly formed and richly endowed 
animal will at first sight recognize the claims 
of Beacon Belle, while those without any spe- 
cial education in this respect may take this 
picture as a study of what a good milk cow 
should be. There is the general wedge shape 
of the whole body, deep in the hind-quarters 
and gradually tapering to a point at the muzzle. 
There is the fine muzzJe; the dished face broad 
between the eyes, indicating great intelligence; 
the large, bright, placid eye, denoting gentle- 
ness of disposition with activity and vivacity 
combined therewith ; the fine horn, the elegant 
neck, graceful and deer-like ; the well-developed 
chest, giving abuudance of room for the lungs 
and heart to perform their functions ; the 
straight back; the broad hips and large pelvis, 
giving ample room for the safe production of 
well-developed and good-sized calves: a full 
abdomen, showing abundant digestive capacity 
yet without any tendency to deformity or " pot- 
belliness;" the extraordinary development c* 
milk-vein and udder ; with the well-placed, full- 
sized teats, and finally the slender tail, well- 
tufted and long — all these points combine to 
make an animal which the experienced man 
would call perfect, and the inexperienced 
general observer would immediately declare to 
be a beautiful one. Beauty, however, is not 
the great test of the value of a cow. Beacon 
Belle has been a very profitable cow to her own- 
ers, and her history in part will be found 
recorasd in a Basket item in another place. 
