Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-01-30

be colored by feeding them certain materi-
ais. The most humble farmer, that owns
Il COW, can test this theory of coloring
matter in butter by feeding her alternately
on straw and early-cut hay and corn meal.
This noble quality of color, which does cx-
list in the Jersey COW, is not an entirely
fixed principle, but is dependent on con-
ditions.
Again writer who is well known
throughout the country, and who has done
much for the dairy interests, says: " do
not think that the richness or poverty OF
the cows food will make any perceptble
difference in the yield of milk. No change
of food,as from rich to poor, or vice versa,
can alter the richness or quality of the
milk" He further says know it is
very common idea that COW will give
richer milk when fed on corn meal than
she will when fed on hay or straw" And
to prove the faliacy, as he seems to con-
slider it Of food making any difference, he
advises inquiring parties to use the per
centage glass little more in the light of
modern research" in testing their milk,
and the different breeds Of COWS, and APP
pears to think, that, by so doing, they
would be convinced of the correctness of
his theory. But again: there is another
theory exactly the opposite of this, argued
by the opponents Of the Jerseys and other
thoroughbreds, that all results depend
upon the food and not at all upon the
breed.
They claim earnestly, and sometimes
with an exhibition OF impotence, that the
native COW is rs good, if not superior to all
others, provided she is kept us well. They
contemptuously cast aside, us worthless,
the two hundred years of patient and in
telligent toll. which breeders have bestow-
ed upon the Jersey cows in order to turn
their production into certain channel.
Now it amounts to almost II calamity to
the dairy interests to be caught up between
these conflicting views, and whirled into
confusion. But the humble and unpre-
tending farmer finds consolation in the
text which has been used on former oc.
casion, and which | hope will bear repeat
ing here, viz: 1t is good thing tc
know something, but it is better not tc
know anything, than it is to know what
isn't So"
If we turn from theories to nature, and
consult her laws, we notice that all present
forms of life and production are such only
as existing conditions permit; and SHOULD
the conditions change, the forms and pro
auctions would change. These conditions
are embodied in two great principles
which underliei ! growth and development
both in the animal and vegetable king
dom, viz vitality and nourishment; anc
they are us inseparably connected in thei
established operations us any of the law
which govern the universe Rich food in
variably stimulates, and urges into activ,
operations the predominating qualities o
every breed,and while these leading quail
ties are thus active, they put all Others un
der contribution TO them so rs to Absorb
them into the same channel. But poverty
of food weakens the leading qualities til,
most, while it furnishes sufficient nourish
ment to the less active qualities, so tina
they draw the leading quality thus weak
ened down to their own level, or Absorb
it. Proper selection and rich food ar
the conditions of success The COW is ap
propriateiy termed Il machine. But w
do not use that amount of discretion il
her selection and furnished power of pro
duction which is usually applied to ma
chinery.
ask your indulgence while motto
one more floating theory, already relerrc,
Lo,-lhat OF - the use of the precenlag
glass, in the light of modern research
Now, while all due Difference to my su
periors and standard authorities in dair
matters, am convinced, beyond doubt
that the percentage glass is, like wine, &"
mocker." 1t shows the amount of cream
but does not reveal its hidden quality, a
regards richness u poverty,or the amour
of butter it will yield. have known
given amount of cream from the milk q
one COW to yield twice rs much butter Il
the same amount of cream from the mil
of another COW; and never have | know
the same amount of cream from difleren
kinds of milk to make exactly the Sum
amount of butter.
Perhaps in the case referred to, where
was claimed that poverty or richness c
food did not make any perceptible differ
ence, the percentage glass exhibited tn
usual amount Of cream. But in the on
casa it would be nearly destitute of butter
causing the same infatuation that win
does by making men think that they III
rich when they are poor.
RESoITTIONS