The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-02-21
agrHultural.
From tie Southern AgfcMturiSt.
A Short Chapter Oh Milk Cows.

A Short Chapter OH Milk Cows.
DR.. Benz. Waldo, an esteemed friend, re<id-
ing at Edgefld C H., writes to us, making en-
ouiry as to the ''bsst breed of COWS for furnish
Ing a village resident with an abundance Of
milk and butter" Now, old friend there are
so many requisites to be attended to IN order to
ensure these household comforts, that your
question is TO US poser. There are iue milk.
ers of all breeds, and good treatment with the
true sort of attention given to milk COW, will
often ensure what you wish. We have had
fine mixers of Durham and Of Ayrshire stock,
and now have Devon hard to beat for quan.
tity and quality. Our friend, Gen. Waddy
Thompson, of GreenvilIe, S. c., is a staunch
advocate for the Attorneys, which breed, he
contends, gives more butter to the cow than
any other. Indeed he claims large need of
praise for them. We have known some native
cows fine animals in all the essentials for milk
ing properties. But in every good milker,
there are certain indexes which cannot lead a
purchaser astray, if he is at all familiar with
those qualities which make the .Jdrorites Of
the cow.pen." Milking qualities are always
accompanied with fine head, little wide
above the eyes, but quite small below, causing
it to appear somewhat long. The skin should
be creamy yellow in color, and the nose always
of rich yellow; neck small at its junction
with the head, thin, but widening as it ap-
proaches the shoulders and brisket. The nd
der should be Of good capacity, covered with
long silky hair, and not inclined to ieshneS>;
large and prominent milk veins; small delicate
horns, fine and transparent. A broad, straight
back, wide loins and hips long, deep quarters,
round ribs, small fiat leg bones; deep full br<-
ket, with fore legs wide apart, all covered with
a pliable, mellow skin, constitute hdndHhg
qualities, and COW that is a good handler, al
most invariably, when coupled with the above
described conformation is good mixer. This
handling quality should never be overlooked
in selecting any kind Of stock, for frequently
fine shaped specimens of pure bred cattle are
wofully deficient in these properties, So essen
.ial to thrift.
We would have better milk cows il we pro-
vided them with proper iood-luxuriant green
food in summer, aud good supply Of ground
macerated grains and roots in winter. few
carrots and ruta bagas, in addition to broken
peas or corn, softened by boiling or simply
steeping in water, makes all the difference i'm
aginable in the quantity of milk and the quail
ty of the butter Old Mrs. Candy, wto used
to keep hotel in Cotton Town, Columbia,
could have learned any one a lesson in milk
cor culture. She had the best system of feed
ing to promote the milk secretions in her COWS
that we ever rccollect to have observed. Her
rule for golden butter, was to feed well on boil
ed food, and the cow pea was her element Of
success. Feed, then, dear Doctor, feed well,
feed regularly, and feed just enough. Pick up
a yellow nosed COW, with the above ennmera
ted requisites, till you can lay your hands Oh
thorough bred Devons and we will ensure you
what you wish. When you do get 4 Devon Of
the right stamp you will have an animal worth
pettng If we were autocrat Of all the COW
owners in the South, we would impound every
sinner who nliikcd "A starved cow, in sort Of
penitentio'y car pen, until he learned humani-
ty, and good taste in milk and butter.