THE RURAL WEW-YORKER. 
the butter dairy, or for the family, or as an or¬ 
nament on the lawn or a pet in the barn-yard, 
she is nnequaled. 
A fair Jersey cow should not average during 
the ten months she is milked less than one 
pound of butter a day. and as Jersey butter 
brings everywhere a larger price than that 
from ordinary cows—say, ten to twenty cents 
a pound more—it is evident she is more 
profitable than the native animal for any but¬ 
ter dairy, and her calf will net the owner from 
$30 to $50. 
The fine, gilt-edged butter-makers who ob¬ 
tain one dollar a pound for their production 
all the year round, mainly rely upon the Jersey 
as the cow for their dairies and in addition to 
the color, quality, quantity and flavor, find 
that Jersey butter bears transportation during 
the hot weather better than any other, one 
producer in my vicinity having for years sent 
his butter in tin-lined boxes a hundred and 
fifty miles all through the season, without the 
addition of any ice during the summer months, 
THE JERSEY'S FUTURE HERE. 
The observation of all discerning breeders 
who visit the Island of Jersey is that utility is 
there being sacrificed to vain show : that, fancy 
points arc usurping the place of dairy points ; 
that the best butter cows are usually parti¬ 
colored, and that, though the breeders of the 
island are themselves convinced that their 
course is destructive to the best, interest ol the 
island in the future, yet they are tempted by 
the large prices which the solid colors, black 
tongues and switches bring in the English and 
even in the American markets, and breed ac¬ 
cordingly. Orders arc sent for animals of a 
certain shade of color, without regard often to 
price and with no allusion to the uddei tnaiks, 
and it is not surprising that these orders are 
filled and a course of breeding established to 
suit the popular fancy, just as the silk weaver 
makes his patterns, not according to his own 
or any other’s artistic taste, but in obedience 
to the demands of the man or woman milliner 
‘ at Paris, for as Paris is Frauce politically, so 
it is the World as to fashion. If we can keep 
clear of this lec shore and Steer straight for¬ 
ward on the broad sea of large milk and but¬ 
ter production, combining therewith good car¬ 
cass and form, the Jersey of tlve United States 
will yet take the lead the world over as the 
cow of the future. The increasing demand 
must be tor dairymen's cows for utilitarian 
purposes, and no one can yet put a limit to the 
butter production of the Jersey, and she is yet 
to be developed by the breeders in this country 
beyond our most sanguine expectations, if we 
keep on the right course. 
The Jerseys are. now distributed all over the 
Union, and as a breed are numerically greater 
than any other except perhaps the Short-horn. 
They adapt themselves to any aud all climates, 
becoming favorites in Maine at one extreme 
and Louisiana and Texas at the other, as well 
as in the regions between, and the demand is 
like that of Oliver, for ‘more.’ Every woman 
in the rural districts, whether she lias her piano 
or sewing machine or not, must have her Jer¬ 
sey cow. At the regular agricultural exhibi¬ 
tions the Jerseys come forward as prominent 
competitors for premiums, and the interest 
taken in them is everywhere on the increase, 
and the farmers no longer sneer at their size 
or make unfavorable comparisons between 
them and the coarser animals to which alone 
they have until lately been accustomed. 
The Jerseys have several Herd Books devo¬ 
ted to them in this country, lint the Register of 
the American Jersey Cattle Club is the only 
one of authority among breeders generally, 
and a ‘‘registered” animal.in breeders parlance, 
means one recorded in that Register, and the 
difference in price between a “registered” and 
an ‘•unregistered” animal is usually about half 
in favor of the former. 
Berkshire Co., Mass. 
SALE OF FINE BLOODED CATTLE. 
In Philadelphia, on the lfith inst; Alfred 
M. Herkness & Co, disposed of a large num¬ 
ber of Jersey and Guernsey cattle and Hamp¬ 
shire Down rams, imported by Edward P. P. 
Fowler, of the Island of Jersey and Southamp¬ 
ton, England. The attendance was large and 
the bidding at limes quite spirited, but the 
prices realized were comparatively low. Among 
the collection of Jerseys offered and disposed 
of was Rosette 3d, two years old, which was 
purchased by J. E. Ridgway. of Philadelphia, 
for $360; Rebecca, one year old, bought by G. 
Volmer, of Germantown, for $335; Violet, two 
years old, by J. li. Cushing, of New York, for 
$315; Miehot 2d. five years old, by Mrs. M. N. 
Rogers, of Philadelphia, for $300; Vericlielcz 
Pride, by Dnridas Lippincott, of Philadelphia, 
for $250; Adeline, two years old. by J. E. 
Phillips, of Baltimore. Md., for $200 ; Magda¬ 
lene, ten months old, by James Mooney, 
Philadelphia, for $205; Mabel, sevou months 
old, by J. H. Cushing, of New York, for 105. 
Mignonne. nine months old, by J. E. Ridgway 
Philadelphia, for $390; Duchess, two years old 
by Alfred Baker, of Atlanta, Ga., $300; Pa 
ience, four years old, by William Barnett 
of Lionville, Pa., for $330; Cleopatra, three 
years old. by William R. Bullock, of Philadel¬ 
phia, for $315, and Belle of Beaumont, two 
years old, for $100 to 8. C. Kent, of West 
Grove. Pa. There were also the Jersey bulls 
Ameer, eighteen mouths old, and Beacons- 
field, eleven months old ; the former to James 
Young, of Middletown. Pa., for $215. and the 
latter for $225, to S. M. Burnham, of Connec¬ 
ticut. 
Industrial Societies, 
THE UTICA CONVENTIONS. 
During the last week Utica. New York, has 
been the scene of a large gathering of dairy¬ 
men, from all quarters of the country. The 
variety of subjects brought before them ren¬ 
dered this meeting probably the most import¬ 
ant ever held in this country. The adoption 
of a constitution and by-laws for the pro¬ 
posed International Dairy Fair Association 
had to lie considered and its officers to he 
elected. A meeting of dairymen was also 
held to consider the propriety and practi¬ 
cability of creating a test record for milch 
cow s. Then the American Ayrshire breeders 
held their annual meeting at the same time. 
The American Dairymen’s Association held its 
convention and the New York Central Farmers’ 
Club had a meeting, so that the week was por- 
tentious with dairy doings. 
To take these matters up in the order of 
their importance, we will first discuss the 
international dairy fair association. 
At a meeting held at the American Institute 
at the close of the last fair, a committee was 
formed to draft a constitution and by-laws to 
be submitted to a convention to be held at 
Utiea, New York, on the 14th day of January. 
Agreeably to this appointment, a large number 
of persons interested in the dairy or its pro¬ 
ducts. met at the Butterfield Hotel and in com¬ 
mittee went over the proposed constitution and 
by-laws, section by section, some parties con¬ 
testing every step and thus foreshadowing the 
rumpus that was created when the committee's 
work came up before the regular convention 
for adoption, All the fiery eloquence, how¬ 
ever, that was showered upon the meeting 
only evidenced by its heat the interest that all 
felt in so important an undertaking. Mr. 
Folsom and Prof. Arnold made some vigorous 
opposition to the constitution. Thu grounds 
of their claim were lliai the officers of daily 
conventions in general should have been espe¬ 
cially invited to be present at this meeting, 
and to further that purpose, it was proposed 
to adjourn until some time in the spring. 
But as no one felt like doing this work all over 
again for so small an object, the resolution 
was voted down by u large majority, and the 
convention proceeded to elect, officers. It was 
early evident that there wore but two candi¬ 
dates in the field, Mr. Francis D. Moulton and 
Mr. F. B. Thurher, and betw een them it was a 
very close race, first one leading and in the 
next ballot tlie other being ahead, neither 
being aide to obtain a majority. 
For the sake of harmony it was then agreed 
to let the one who obtained the greatest num¬ 
ber of votes be elected. At the next ballot Mr. 
Thurber was the successful aspirant with a 
bare majority of four votes. His friends then 
came forward and urged upon the convention 
the propriety of electing Mr. Moulton first 
Vice-President by acclamation, which was done 
with great enthusiasm. Upon Mr. Moulton's 
final acceptance of the office which lie at first 
refused, he pledged his best and most energetic 
efforts in behalf of the success of the fairs, 
and everybody felt relieved as there was great 
danger that the conflicting elements could not 
be amalgamated after the heat of the contest 
was over—and nothing but cheerfully working 
together would make the fairs successful. 
Now, however, we may look forward with 
every hope to a brilliant success for our Inter¬ 
national Dairy Fairs. 
TEST RECORD FOR COWS. 
Among the ideas that have been floating 
through the minds of the dairymen of this 
country aud that, in fact, stands second in im¬ 
portance to no other, is the proposition to 
start a record of performances of dairy cows. 
There have been great trouble aud diversity 
of opinions as to how the tests could be got¬ 
ten up, but the necessity for it certainly ex¬ 
ists in order to utilize the existing Herd Books 
that now only pledge the purity of blood, 
which blood may or may not be of any value 
in dairy cattle. If we can secure the records 
of cows’ performances, then the existing Herd 
Books will be of very great value to us. To 
accomplish this end, a number of breeders 
representing all tbe breeds of thoroughbred 
cattle, met at the Butterfield Hotel, and dis¬ 
cussed the feasibility of such dcsigus as were 
proposed. J have not at present the time to 
fully outline even the propositions that were 
most favorably considered. It is of very great 
importance that, we should hear from breeders 
generally through the agricultural press. 
Everybody seemed to be enthusiastically in 
favor of the proposed measure. 
AYRSHIRE BREEDERS’ MEETING. 
Tliis was held at Baggs’s Hotel, for the pur¬ 
pose of electing their annual officers and mak¬ 
ing some changes in their by-laws and consti¬ 
tution. The officers elected were, for President, 
William Birnie, Springfield. Mass.: Vice-Pres¬ 
idents, Obediah Brown and Samuel Campbell; 
Executive Committee, T. M. Wells, Charles 
Sanford, Alonzo Libby, R. A. Boyer and A. R. 
Venable: Secretary, J. D. W. French; Treas¬ 
urer. J. T. Brown. These officers were hap¬ 
pily chosen from every part of the United 
States where Ayrslnres exist to any measur¬ 
able extent, and this mode of election is quite 
a contrast to that followed by some of the 
kindred associations that 1 know of. The 
matter of most importance before this meet¬ 
ing. was a proposition to cease registering the 
cattle that could not trace back their lin kage 
to importations. The Secretary’s arguments 
were to the effect that men were a little too 
liable to stretch the facts in making up such 
pedigrees, and that this imposed a fearful 
burden upon him. Such a proviso, however, 
is to be regretted, as we should foster home 
breeding as much as possible, while the fact of 
importation is ot no real value whatever. 
AMERICAN DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
This organization also held its meeting at 
Utiea during the week. The other matters 
were so much more absorbing that the speak¬ 
ers could hardly he held in tlielr positions long 
enough to tell the empty benches what the 
agricultural colleges had failed to teach them. 
In fact, it was only after the adjournment of 
the convention of the International Dairy Fair 
Association that anyone took any interest m 
the add resscs being delivered here. They were 
in no wise different from those of other years, 
and it was comical to hear each advocate state 
in glowing terms the rising beauties of his fa¬ 
vorite breed of cattle, and as tlie speakers with 
different opinions followed each other in im¬ 
mediate rotation, tbe audience was completely 
bewildered. So, with the salt question : Pro¬ 
fessors, agents, dairymen, and dealers advoca¬ 
ted this, that, or the other brand ol salt with a 
decided leaning in point of numbers toward 
the peculiar prejudices of the secretary on this 
subject. 
THE CENTRAL NEW YORK FARMERS’ CLUB 
also held a meeting at the Butterfield Hotel to 
elect the officers for the ensuing year. I did 
not get. in in time to hear the usual addresses, 
aud cannot therefore speak advisedly of them. 
The attendance was good, and the interest 
shown was flattering to the management. 
A number of us belonging to the New York 
delegation took a sleigh rule out by the Una- 
dUla Stock Association's grounds, aud caught 
a glimpse of their beautiful herd of Holstein 
cattle and formed a pretty clear conception as 
to how beautiful that country would look in 
mid-summer, when something else than three 
feet of monotonous snow covers the face of 
the earth. Ij - s - H - 
-- 
A convention of sorghum growers will be 
held at St. Louis on February 5th, at which 
the advantages of the comparatively new Early 
Amber cane will be fully discussed. 
WHICH BREED FOR THE DAIRY—No. 3. 
I,. 8. HARDIN. 
Points of Profit 
Relation of food eaten with live-weiyhl; a lesson 
from the, trotting horse; average weight of 
milch votes of different breeds; jwoportion of 
milk andl butter to live-weigld ; champion hatter 
and milk breeds 
In making up a table of the various good and 
bad poiuts of cattle, we should not lose sight of 
the relative weight of each breed, nor will I by 
this admission subscribe to the common claim 
that large milkers always eat more than small 
ones. I think beyond doubt it is true as a 
general rule that large cows eat more than 
small cows, and probably in the exact ratio of 
their relative weights, and it is a great, pity 
that our agricultural colleges cannot tell us 
what that ratio is. But. when we come to the 
question of yield of milk, we are dealing with 
altogether another principle. Here we are 
met with the intricate principles of assimilation 
of food. A cow that will yield twenty-five 
pounds of milk a day. will probably consume 
two hundred pounds of food and water to ac¬ 
complish it. Out of that two hundred pounds 
of material her powers of assimilation will de¬ 
cide the point whether she will make ten or 
fifty pounds of milk. 
That I should make a difference between the 
powers of assimilation required to make bone 
and mnscle, and the powers of assimilation re¬ 
quired to make milk, looks a little as though I 
were imitating some of the professors in my 
theories. But I am certain my experience with 
cows demonstrates this to be a fact; whether or 
not the fact agrees with any theory is a matter 
of uot so much moment. 
There seems to be a parallel ease in trotting 
horses. The horse that trots a mile in 2:20 will 
expend no more vital power thau the horse 
that requires two minutes aud thirty seconds 
to accomplish his mile, provided both are do¬ 
ing their best. The fastest horse will not, of 
necessity, oat more than the other. The cause 
of large animals eating more than small ones 
may lie in the fact that the former have a 
greater surface for evaporation, more extrava¬ 
gant lungs and other organs for throwing off 
waste material. But when it comes to produc¬ 
ing a specific article, like milk or fat, the 
amount diverted to this purpose from the 
general waste, bears little or no relation to the 
original demand for food bv tbe digestive or¬ 
gans. The question of what is the average 
weight of milch cattle is adifflcult one. Proba¬ 
bly uo two breeders would set tbe same weights 
for the different breeds, and I am therefore all 
the more at liberty to pass my own judgment 
on their respective weights. 
The time to test a cow’s weight is while she 
is in full milk, as she is then in the best work¬ 
ing order, without fat or feet us to interfere 
more or less, as the latter always will, with her 
actual weight. I would put their respective 
weights as follows, being more anxious to get 
their relative than their actual average weights. 
Jerseys. gno pound*. 
Ayrshires. *» ‘ 
Natives... 1 '000 l( 
Short-horns.. 
Holsteins. L®® . 
Prof. Arnold, in his work on American Dairy • 
ing, puts the weight of Ayrshires at 1,000 
pounds, Jerseys at 800 pounds, and llolsteins 
at 1,500 pounds. As it is hard to get the aver¬ 
age of fat steers up to the last-mentioned 
weight, I am positive the Professor has made 
his estimate too high for any class of milch 
cattle. 
Having offeuded our Short-horn and Jersey 
friends with the first table published on this 
subject, in order to be entirely impartial in tlie 
matter of giving offense, aud to prevent lull¬ 
ing any friends at all. 1 will now give some 
additional figures that will. I tear, displease 
some of the other breeders. Having called at¬ 
tention to the fact that large cows eat more 
than small cows, and having given the relative 
weight* of the different breeds with tlie respec¬ 
tive yields of butter, I will now put them all 
together to see what proportions of butter and 
milk they yield to the one hundred pounds of 
live-weight. This table is made up from the 
two preceding tables. 
o 
I1REF.I). 
Ayrshire . 
Short-horn 
Jersey. 
Native. 
Holstein... 
5,468 
6,312 
6,625 
7,650 
8,767 
a 
5 
a> 
> 
o.a 
T.S 
<D 
33 SC 
p 
OJ 
e, 
218 
252S 
281 
302 
360 
800 30K 607 X 
1,;«KI 19 6-13 186 
800 35‘u 703 
1,000 30 1-5 755 
1.300 26 12-13 674 
I_ 1 
If this'table is built upon sound principles, 
aud taken from correct data—aud I firmly be¬ 
lieve it is, saving perhaps the Ayrshire yield 
which certainly looks too small—then it speaks 
volumes in favor of a more, intelligent system 
of dairying. 1 have been laboring in season 
and, 1 suppose, out of scasou, to induce dairy¬ 
men to stop the ruinous policy of carrying 
hundreds of pounds of superfluous flesh for 
many years on the frame of a milch cow onH 
to make second-rate beef of her in the end. 
Does not this table, these solid figures, speak 
volumes iu favor of eliminating with an un¬ 
sparing hand those large-framed, indifferent 
milkers from the herd? 
I uoticc that the Rural's v ery entertaining 
correspondent, Dr. Hoskins, gives us an article 
in favor of the Short-horn iu the dairy: hut 
with all liia research, though ills favorite breed 
has been iu this country longer than auy other, 
he has been able to find only one herd that can 
raise the butter yield to 361 pounds per head, 
which leaves the Short-horn still below the 
Jersey, Native and llolstein in tlie above table, 
and far below the correct figures of a profitable 
cow if she weighs the thirteen hundred pounds 
charged against her, and if she falls below this 
weight she has but poor claims to the honor of 
being called a Short-horn. 
A gentleman writes to know what I mean by 
the word “ actual ” in my first table. That 
meant that tbe butter was actually made aud 
uot estimated at so many pounds of milk to the 
pound of butter, as with the other breeds where 
the owners only furnished me. the milk yield. 
Iu this table I have supplied figures for all 
the blanks and added the additional estimates 
of milk aud butter yield to the one-hundred 
pounds of live-weight, which gives this: 
Standard 35 lbs. butter to ltRl lbs. llve-wei(fht. 
*• 755 “ milk “ “ 
According to this the Jersey bears away the 
butter honors and the Native those for milk. 
If anyone can find fault with these conclu¬ 
sions I hope he will do so, for I am only 
struggling to get right on this subject. 
