Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-21
Stutk Raisins.

81. Joh''s6ury, FEB. 3.
Stock 8aisin9.
JERSEY CATTLE IN VERMONT.
A paper read at a meeting ofthe State Board
OF Agriculture. at Woodstock, Jan. Is.
1873, by O. NJ. TinkhRun, Esq, OF POmfret.
In the English Channel north of the coast
of France lies a small group OF islands. OF
these, the largest is Jersey, having an area
of about sixty square miles, with surface
rough and broken by hill and valley, but with
a general inclination from the north where
the coast is rocky and preclpitous, rising
from two to four hundred feet above the sea,
but sloping to the east where the coast is
smooth and the valleys unite in fertile
plains nearly level with the water.
Here, on an island, whose shores are washed
by the gulf stream, with a climate like that
Of sunny France, and a richness of herbage
rivalling the Emerald Isle, is the native home
OF the cattle whose merits we purpose briefly
to discuss. Belonging to the same group are
the islands of Guernsey and Alderney, which
give their respective names to cattle origi-
mating there, and which, especially the Al,
derneys, were more commonly met with form,
erly than now.
A Massachusetts report says Ships trad
ing at the Channel Islands usual touch last
at Alderney, and are consequently reported
from there, aud COWS on board we're so report.
ed, though coming really from Jersey
The same general characteristics were com
mon to all, though local pecullarites we're OBJ
servable; the Guernseys being perhaps larg
er and coarser than those OF southern Jersey
while those of the north we're still smaller
finer and generally thought harder, but by Q
uniform system of careful breeding all loca
peculiarities may be said to have disappeared
and the breed to be one and identical, anC
known as the Jerseys.
1t seems from records that their value hai
been known, aud the Importance of keeping
the blood pure been appreciated by the Is
landers from an early day. As long ago a
1877 their legislature passed an act prohib
iting the importation of cows, bulls, heifer
or calves with the penalty attached of forfeit
ure Of vessel and tackle, fine Of 200 live
(about 81 dollars) besides a fine of fifty livre
for each sailor on board who did not inform
Of the attempt to import moreover the an
imals so brought in should be killed directly
and the meat given to the poor. The act, 5,
modified as to permit the importation Of AMI
mails for slaughter only, still stands, and
recent writer from there declares it to b.
strictly enforced, and adds, that they will
not for any price part with their choicest an
imals for export.
The herd book gives accounts showing tn,
Alderney to be in high repute in England
more than one hundred years ago.
Their importation to this country date
back nearly fifty years, and as before remark
ed, they were chiefly known as Attorneys, an,
the more widely distributed and the bette
known they become, the more are their merit
appreciated as their constantly increasing
price proves.
The Jersey COW is of medium size hea,
small and tapering, muzzle fine and encrcleC
with light stripe, horns small, smooth
crumpled, aud tipped with black, eyes large
full and placid, ears small and thin, neck thi
and straight, chest broad and deep, bod
round and well ribbed up, hips broad, tai
small and fine, skin deep yellow in color, mel
low to the touch and covered with fine silk,
hair. The udder full in size, extending vel
back and up, teats Of medium size, squarel.
placed and wide apart, and milk veins re
markably prominent. Very intelligent, qui
ct aud docile in disposition, they repay carr
and pettiug with confidence and grateful at
: fection. The objections our community hear
urged against the Jerseys are, that they ar
wild and vicious, i'll looking and inferior il
size" or as heard farmer say the othe
day, " little mean looking runts not bigge
than goats p and finally that they can't b
made beef of. Mr.. Flint, Secretary of tn
Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, state
that it is the general opinion here that the Jer
sey COW will not fatten readily when old, no
furnish a fair quantity Of beet of good quality
OF the first objection it is probably tru
that by theproper, or rather improper treat
ment, any animal may be made wild if no
vicious, aud it is as certainly true that som
breeds are naturally more 80 than others.
have known the Jerseysl for fifteen years, an
always have, without an exception, found th
cows remarkable for intelligence and docility
not quarrelsome or spitelul but quiet an
gentle in yard and pasture, and never kne'
, one unruly about fence, and ! meyer met a
owner and breeder Of \ erseys who did not flu
ly sustain me in this opinion Of them
, The bulls are more liable to become resi-
f i've wheHftwo or three years old aud perhaE
! half | have known have been GROSS, thoug
> my own and two or three others / know