The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-08-01
Solid Color and Rack Points Again.

Inc MOntnly bulletin, our Dest au-
thority on Jerseys, has the following:
The subject of solid color and black
points is one which, in our opinion, can
not be too often written about. AS our
experience and observation increases,
our conviction grows stronger that in
this insane passion lies the only danger
that the supremacy of the Jersey COW
for the dairy may not fulfil its present
promises. Among the older breeders
of the country, those whose great repu-
tations have become established through
their success in the production of the
best class of dairy animals, the number
is extremely small of those who pay
marked attention to this question OF
color. Of those who do pay such at
tention, it is almost universally true
that they do SO confesscdly because they
believe that it will increase their chanc.
es of selling their surplus animals at a
good price. So far Us know, not a
single breeder whose success has been
in any wise marked, pretends that there
is any economical advantages in these
fancy distinctive marks. r 81,
When questioned on the subject, they
at once confess that the fancy, in theil
estimation, is silly one, or at all events
a useless one, and they fill it only be.
cause of the demand among new corners
for these qualifications.
We are disposed to reiterate what we
have frequently written, that this dual.
ification of color and point is the flo.
ment of the Jerseys. Probably the
Fowlers have had more to do with the
forcing of it than any other influence
fhof hno hnap h,.arrht 10
Breeding to color has had All un.
doubted bad effect on the average quail.
ity OF the animals of the Island of Jer.
sey, which bad effect is so fully recog-
nized by the agricultural authorities OF
the Island that they are working siren
uously, and with good success, to sup
press the fashion. One need only cx-
anime the Jersey herds of England and
compare them with the herds of jersey,
to see the harm that has been wrought
there. - III -
The whole effect in the United States
has been less marked only because SO
many of our best herds still feel the
strong influence of the carly importa-
tons of Taintor and Motley, which i'm
portations were made at time when
solid color and black points were I'M
heard-of qualifications. More than one
ofthe good old herds which have had a
reputation for twenty years or more
has fallen from its former high position
simply because of this pernicious infu
ence. We have one herd in mind at the
moment. which has possessed among lis
fine animals the very greatest types OF
\ fawn and white butter cows, vet which
ms almost never bred an animal at all
equal to these originals. 1t has SO han.
peLed that the bulls from the best cows
have had white marks; and that the
bulls used have been from inferior COWS,
selected only because of their color.
1t is curious to read the correspond
ence accompanying pedgrecs offered
for record in the Herd Register. LET
tiers from well-cstablished breeders who
understand their business, rarely. II
ever, mention the color qualifications,
but fully half of tho noyices and green
beginners expatiatc on the superiority
OF their animals in black tongues black
tipped scrOtums, black switches. and
the absence-Of white hair.
The question Of paunch, head, udder.
mllk-veihs, and general conformation
is as entirely disregarded by this gentry
as is tho question OF butter production.
Many a man who has just begun breed
ing, writes to ask where he can buy a
bull or heifer having these color quail
lhcations, little stress being laid, as a
rule, on those qualities which those who
understand the true characteristics of
The breed, regard as absolutely essen
tlal TO its value. 1t seems to us that the
agricultural press of the country can
not render any better sarvice 10 tho
dairymen among its readers than to
open their eyes TO the transparent folly
oi The bird-fancier's standpoint OF
breeding to feather" in their efforts
to establish good herds of Jersey cattle.