Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-05-05

whole course, and swelling into large
puffs at or near their junction with
the udder; thigh veins also large
and easily felt by the hand.
or all these shapes, the more i'm
por,ant are long finely formed head
long. thin neck rump nearly on a
line with the back bone broad quar-
tiers; long udders from back To front;
and large veins underneath the belly,
aud downward, from the loIns and
thigh TO the udder When seen in
front, the body OF good milch COW
should present the appearance of a
blunted wedge, the apex of which
is the breast and shoulder. Seen
from behind, she should present a
square, well spread shape Seen
sideways, she should be lengthy, but
not lanky.
SKIN, HAIR AND COLOR.
The skin is ever a true index Of
the milking properties of the cow
II should be soft and flexible in eve
~ part of the body, especially on the
back ribs, and also on the rump
bones. situated on each side OF the
insertion of the tail. The latter is
point much priced by dairy-men; so
much so, that a very successful far
mer IN Cheshire, Mr.. Jabez Wright,
told The writer that In buying a COW,
If the skin on the rump was soft and
easily lifted from the bone, he never
sought for further signs of her milk
ing powers. OF course, while feel
ing this point, Mr.. Wrghts pracilc-
ed eve would al once take IN, at a
glance, those other points which con-
stitute the tout ensemble of good
mixer; but the one referred To he
considered Indispensable. The skin
in these points will vary, however,
according TO the condition OF the
COW. II full of flesh, the skin may
be loose, and yet the animal may be
poor mixer; but # in lean condi-
ton, with loose skin on the rump
bones, another point Of excellence is
established. These two points con-
joined, are correct opponents of the
internal constitution, and are always
accompanied with more than an av-
erage tendency TO milk freely aud
fatteu rapidly. The former indicates
a more than ordinary power of pro-
duclng milk he latter great apll-
iude to iatten; and their conlolned
presence indicates the union of both
tendencies. The skin on the udder
generally parlakes of that on the
rump aud ribs, and will therefore be
soft and flexible, in proportion 10
their (rump and ribs, sofIness aud
flexIbiliy. Still there is difference
To be observed, viz: that the skin OF
the udder must not be thick, whereas
Thickness on the rump and ribs IS
quite consistent with these proper
Ties, provided IT be loose, soft and
flexible. la fact, thick, soft hide,
generally indicates hardness Of CON
slltutlon, from lis great capabIlIty 10
resist or modify external influences,
whether of climate or cullcular irrlta-
,ion from the bites of insects.
The hair is the next point to be
studied. 1t should be moderately
long, closely set, and above all, soft
and woody. As the thick soft skin
10 an indication of hardness, much
more SO is this the case when covered
with long, thick, woody hair. A bar,
hard haired COW, is ever to be avoid
ed by the DAIRY man as well as tn,
grazler. II even a moderate milner
yet she will be a great eater, aud new
er pay for her food.
Color is immalerial, and depend,
on the breed. A brown COW is sup
posed 10 give milk rich IA butter
while black one gives much milk
winch is poorer III buller. A whit,
COW looks larger than she really is
while a black one looks smaller =
According TO the law Of absorption
aud radiation OF heat, black COW
will absorb much solar heat IN SUN
mer, and radIaie, or throw of, a larg'
amount IN winter. On the Oihe
hand, u white COW will absorb les
heat in summer, and radiate less II
winter; aud the practical resul. is
that the black COW is too warm il
summer and too cold IN winter, whll
the white one is cool in summer an
warm in winter. This is somewha
opposed to the general idea on TN
subject, which attributes a cold APP
pearance TO white animal 10 winter
and the contrary TO black one bu
that this is popular iallacy may b
seen, independent Of the scIentlh
explanation of the phenomenon, frou
the tact that The native or wild bree,
of cattle in Britain were all wnilc
and are still SO in Chilllngham Park
where the animals are never housed
AID also from The fact that white /
the prevailing color Of all arctic AMI
mals-bears, foxes and hares all be
ing of this hue The practical cor
clusions deducible from The fact tina