The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-11-03

IN Ofu0f 20 derive the
possible advantage form his cows,
the Jersey farmer endeavors to
arrange for them to calve during the
first three months of the year, that
is when vegetation speedily advan-
ces. In the winter the cattle are
always housed at night. When
they come in (about four o'clock in
the afternoon,0 they are MIXED,
after which each receives about
three-fourths Of a bushel of roots
and a little hay; they are then lett
until eight o'clock when a bundle
of straw is given to each one. The
following morning they are attended
to at six o'clock, or v e before that
hour. Having been MIXED, they
again receive the same allowance OF
roots and hay as before mentioned,
and at nine o'clock are turned out,
if the weather is good, in some
sheltered field or orchard. Then the
stables are cleaned out and the bed
ding renewed, if required. x X x !"
1t is the custom in all the Channel
Islands to tether cattle. The tethers
are made of small chains: a spike
about n foot long is attached at
one end and driven into the ground,
the other end is tied to the COWS
halter, the latter being made fast at
the base of her horns. The length Of
these tcthers is altogether about
four yards. During the day cattle
are frequently moved, generally
every three hours and sometimes
~oftener; drink is given to them in
the morning on leaving the stable,
and at noon; if it be summer time
they receive it also in the evening.
About the month Of May they are
allowed to remain out at night. and
continue so until the end Of Octo-
Der, when the system of housing
above described rccommences. Dur
ing the summer cows are frequently
MIXED three times a day, and when
the weather becomes very warn
they are brought into the stables for
Il few hours, else they would be tor
mented by flies. X X X A good
cow on the average gives fourteen
quarts of milk per day, or eight or
nine pounds of butter in n week"
The question Of color has given
rise to much contention. "Solid
color and black points" was at one
time requisite to obtain a high price.
This fancy originated not on the
Island Of Jersey, but in England and
vas introduced into this country by
those who are ever ready to cape
royalty" 1t no longer governs the
market. Butter, the true test, is now
the standard. The offspring of Gil
deroy, Tormentor, Jersey Belle Of
Seluate, Niobe and other parti-color-
ed Jerseys rank as high as the very
best Of the "Solid cOlors." A yellow
skin has always been looked upon
with favor Ivy all lovers Of Jersey
cattle. 1t is not IL "positive indica-
ton Of butter" Many COWS whose
skins were "yellow as gold" have
proven inferior to others who could
not claim that distinction. The
question of size is very important
but there is no positive knowledge
to guide us concerning it. Upon
the Island of Jersey the cattle are
Of medium size, and as a general
rule those of medium size have given
the greatest satisfaction. The
English and Americans gauge their
idea of cattle by the Short-horn.
Ever looking for something "big,"
they are striving to add size to the
Jerseys. How we'll they will succeed
time alone will tell. The beefy
form must be avoided-the peculiar
office Of the Jersey cow is not to
lay up fat in the carcass, but to
change it's food into butter. The
Arabian horses, generally from
twelve to thirteen hands high and
rarely exceeding fourteen hands, are
the ~progenitors of the English and
American race horses. By selection
and the science of feeding we have
race horses sixteen to seventeen
hands high, which a distance the
best Arabian horses in a race from
one to four miles. Size and speed
have been gained, but at a sacrifice
of that stamina that enables the
little Arabian horse to carry his
rider across a desert ninety miles
wide one day and return the next.
By selection and the science of
feeding the Jersey COW may rival
the Short-horn in size and may give
a "seven days test" that may exceed
the dream Of the modern enthusiast.