Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-03-20
St. JOhn,bury. Vt, March 20. 1874.
AMONG THE JERSEYS.


One Of the pleasantest episodes of our
journeying about the state during the past
winter was day in the valley of Beaver
Brook" in North Pomfret, where little
nest OF farmers, all intelligent and cultivated
men, have taken up the breeding Of Jerseys
as a speciality, and ARE doing more to popu-
larize that breed as one ct for the common
farm dairy, not less than for the fancy farm
er, than all the other breeders IN America.
We have delayed giving an account of this
excursion, in expectation of receiving from
one of the parties some fuller notes than we
we're able to take in the brief time at our
disposal, but as they have not come to hand
we will make use vi what we have.
1t is, we think, some eighteen years since
the first Jersey bull was brought into that
vicinity, and some of the cows now kept
there are of his stock 1t was sooL found
that they we're remarkable for their yield Of
butter, and for its superior quality, and so
we'll we're they liked that another bull was
obtained, and since. then this stock has been
continually increasing, until that little valley
probably now contains more cows OF Jersey
blood than any equal area in the country.
What particularly interested us in these
cattle was the evidence before us that the
breed is not, as has been so often stated, de-
6cient in hardness, or 6t only for pets. We
visited some six or seven different farms
where they are kept, and satisfied ourselt
that there was no extra care used, more than
what any good dairymen give their COWS in
winter. The barns were all of the common
sort, single boarded, and not all Of them
hattened; indeed we thought there was not
as much care taken to keep the cow stables
warm as there should be, and that the stock
was compelled to rough it more than was
profitable. But they were evidently
well-fed, and all appeared in perfect health.
We we're inclined to believe that already
in North Pomfret acciimation of the Jerseys
has taken place, accompanied with some in
crease of size and a heavier coat Of hair than
animals of equal purity showed when first
imported, or now show when bred farther
south and kept in a more artificial manner.
In yield or quality ofbntter there has besnno
falling off, as may he seen from the following
meagre notes
II. w. Vail has three cows seventeen years
old, one farrow and dried Sept LIST, two
heiferS which came in about the 18th of
June, and five other cows ten in all. Has
made since April 7th, 1882 lbs of butter.
weighed before sailing, which he sold for 40
to 45 cents, and besides milk and cream for
family Of nine persons. Fed no meal in
summer.
VIM. C. Whipple's dairy has five two
and three years old heifers, which drop
ped their calves from first to middle of June;
one farrow COW MIXED only short time,
and four other cows. ten in all. lie made
from May LIST till Jan. Goth. 2040 lbs. butter,
weighed before sailing, sold mt go cents per
pound, contracted for the year. ten in the
family; fed one quart OF meal through the
summer; fed now two quarts of meal and
four of bran per day for each COW. lie is
now milking five cows, and is making 30 lbs
per week and will till May.
Obed Whipple's herd has five wo-year-old
heifers which came in in June and July, and
ten other cows, fifteen in all. He has made
this year. 3943 lbs. of butter, contracted mt
60 cents, for the year. His family consists
of nine persons with seven additional board
ers for four months. He fed two quarts of
meal till Sept. LIST. when four quarts of shorts
were added per COW. In the third week in
December with three new milch cows it
took seventeen and one fourth pounds of
milk for pound of butter.
f. :. Wood has two two years old, three
three years old, two four years old and one
each five, six, seven and eight eleven in all
has made since March lith, 1888 lbs Of but
ter, sold at 43 cents per pound. Fed one
quart of meal during the summers made
three trials Dec. lSt; No stood 48 hours;
required for u pound of butter l2t lbs of
milk; No. 2 stood 26 hours: took ~ I2-IOO
lbs. of milk for one pound of butter Third
trial stood 48 hours; 10 lie lbs. for one Id.
of butter. Has tried in june twelve or four
teen COWS mt different times, and with the
result Of AN average of between sixteen and
seventeen lbs. of milk for q pound of butter.