The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-08-18
THE DEMAND FOR JERSEYS.
Origin and Increase OF the Demand for
These Cattle.
I'lom lLe N.~ I'ork T,iLnn..

Origin and Increase OF the Demand for
These Cattle.
froH. tLs N.,r York TriJHn-.
About this season of the year the
Jersey COW flourishes, and brings ex-
ceedingly high prices at auction and
private sales. The importation of these
animals is yearly increasing, and so is
the interest taken in them. The fact
that the little island Of Jerseys produces
the best COWS in the world is said to
have been originally due to the fact
that it was such poor little place
All the peasants on this relic of the
Anglo-French empire kept COWS. As
there was about one COW to each peas
ant, and rs he was mainly dependent
on the produce Of the animal for his
daily food, he took care TO see that
this one COW was good one. 1t was
matter OF life or death with the peasant,
and he studied the cows nature and
catered TO her wants and humored her
whims, trying in all way to induce
her to give enormous quantities OF very
rich milk. II the COW proved obdurate
and gave only moderate amount of
milk, or the quality of her milk did
not come up to the standard OF excel
lencc, she was quickly made into roasts
and steaks. This application Of the
doctrine of the survival OF the ii,teSi
brought it about that only the very
best COWS were permitted to reach ma
iuriiy. \ few bulls were kept for
breeding purposes and they were always
selected with the greatest care. So the
Jerseys cows nourshed and their fame
gradually became noised abroad. Cat
tle-breeders began to import them into
England and finally into this country.
Fearful that the breed of cattle in the
Island of Jersey would be injured by
the importation in the island Of an in
ferior stock, the British Government
early passed law forbidding any cat
tie to be carried into the island for
100 years.
The importation OF Jerseys into this
country began in 1880, the principal
importers being Thomas Motley. Of
Boston, and Colonel Taintor, of Hart
ford. Just previous TO the year 1860 4
demand sprang up in England for
Jerseys handsomely marked with black
points, to be used in ornamenting lawns.
Ever alive to their own interest, the
breeders OF Jerseys began to give all
their attention TO producing animals
that were handsomely marked. Cattle
were brought from the northwest side
Of the island were the COWS were prettier,
but not so good producers of milk, and
mixed with those Of the best sort on
the eastern slope. The result was the
deterioration OF the breed, and those
cattle imported TO this country between
1860 and 1875 were OF an inferior
grade to those brought here before
and since. Those imported in the
past five years by 4. $. Cooper and
Others have been quite equal TO the
original stock.
The cattle of the Jersey blood bred
in this country are said to be fully
eqzal an al points OF excellence TO
those imported. There are now in the
United States imported animals that
were formerly the most celebrated in
the Island of Jersey, and most Of those
bred here are OF the very best Jersey
blood. There are at the present time
in this country 1900 Jerseys. OF
these from 5 900 to 5000 are imported
animals. There are many large and
well-known herds. ]. a. Walker, Of
Worcester, Mass, has herd OF 200
animals, descendants of the importa-
tions previous TO 1900. One OF the
most valuable herds is that owned by
A. u. Darling, OF Railway, n. j., which
consists OF 100 animals. Colonel Rus
sci, Of Boston, has recently got together
4 herd OF the mos, beautiful and most
expensive animals in the country
Theodore 4. Havemeyer, of this city,
has at his farm at Mouniainside, y. J.,
a very large and valuable herd of i'm.
ported animals. An association of
those interested in the breeding OF
Jersey cattle, called the Jersey Cattle
Club, keeps record Of all the animals
of Jersey blood born in or brough, into
the country. Some Of the strains of
blood most highly priced are the
Coomassie, Alphea, Eurotas and Oar
lington. Enormous prices are paid for
animals OF these strains. The COW
Royal Princess was recently bought by
Mr.. Shoemaker, of Baltimore, for s., 500.
A son of Coomassic, one yeaa old, was
sold few weeks ago for $4,000. The
well.known bull Pedro was sold 10y
Miller and Silby to +. 5. Cooper, the
importer, for 5000 cash, not very
long since. and three -year.old son of
Euro,a's brought SI.,soo.