Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-05-28
farmer's department.
EsCUTCHEONS.

When Guenon's theory OF determining Ine
value of milk COWS, by the growth of hair on
its thighs, above and adjacent to the bag,
was first introduced, the idea was received
with good deal of scepticism. Time has
wrought changes. At a late convention by
the Legislative club of the State ofNew York,
one of the speakers gave the evidence in re-
lation to Guenon's theory:
an. Guenon, French writer, has dlscoV-
cred certain indications which he claims to
determine the milking qualities of COWS
This he calls "escutcheons," being the hair
which grows upwards, CONTRARY to the gene
raj rule,) on the udder, thighs, and hinder
part of the body. tits easy to distinguish
the escutcheon by the upward directions OF
the hair which forms them. 1 cannot 60
into detail here upon the system, but would
refer to the work of M. Gueuon itself. But
to show that it is esteemed worthy of notice,
1 will allude to the testimony Of those who
have given attention to it."
Mr.. John Haxton, in work published in
1858, entitled Chow to chose good Milk
Cow" in reference to the indication OF a
good milk cow, p. 17S, says: ''The writer
has examined many hundred of dairy COWS
in Britain, and the conclusion arrived at IN
regard to Mr.. Guenon's test of judging of
the milking properties of COW, by the de-
vclopment of the ecusson, is that, in very
large majority of cases, it is borne out by
facts" In London dairy, belonging to
Mr.. Riggs, 81 Edgeware road, where about
400 COWS are kept, and where nine-tenths Of
them are far above average mixers, the de-
vezopment or up1card growth of the hair on
the posterior part of the udder, thighs, and
perinaum, was too remarkable to be accoun-
ted for by accidental causes. AS we'll might
it be said that all other tests, such as length
of head, softness, and fexibility of skin, and
wide quarters, were accidental, and had no
reference to the milking properties of a COW.
When phenomenon presents itself over and
over again, accompanied in majority of ca
ses by certain results, we may be certain that
it is not accidental, but natural and while
we may be unable to account for these re-
suits upon satisfactory grounds, it is neither
philosophical or prudent, to deny or ignore
the connection between the one and the 9th
er, and thus to forfeit the advantages which
the fact itself is calculated to afford"
The late Mr.. Phinney, of Massachusetts,, a
very careful and critical observer, made ex-
animation of large number of milk COWS,
and found in a majority of them that were
good mixers, these developments we'll mar
ked. He conversed with large number OF
intelligent gentlemen when he was abroad in
1851, in Great Britain and France, and
found but one opinion as to the general char
acter of the animals which possessed these
. developments and so far as we have learned
the views of gentlemen in this country who
have given attention to this subject, the re-
suit has been the same. +
~ think it may with safety be affirmed,
that this Zone principle is established-that
all things being alike, as regards shape, tex
ture of skin, &C., COWS with we'll developed
cscntcheons, will, in large majority of cases,
be found to be the best mixers, and above an
average; while, on the other hand, those
with very small cscutcheons, will be found
under, or at most, not above an average in
their milking properties.
"In calves, the escutchcons show the
shapes which they are afterwards to assume
They are more contracted only because the
parts which they cover are slightlydc 1ped
They are easily perceived after birth, but the
hair which forms them is long, coarse, and
stiff. After this hair falls off, the escutcheons
of calves resemble those of cows, though ot
less size. This will enable the farmer tc
save such calves as will probably serve him
as good milkers.-Furn,er and Planter.
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