The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1893-07-13
A FEW WORDS ABOUT THEJERsEY
COW.


The American people appreciate
fine cattle perhaps more than any
other nation, and are always glad to
read about them, even though it be a
few shors words. We come naturally
by this fondness, for are we not a mix
ture OF other nations, and have not
other nations revered and even W or
SHIPPED cattle?
Long before our day ancient writer's
recognized cattle as noble race. Has
not Homer often likened his heroes to
them? In the Psalms we find them
spoken of as an especial blessing of
God. Solomon caused twelve brazen
oxen to be placed in the temple, three
facing each of the four cardinal points.
On their backs they supported a great
brazen laver or sea. Now, Solomon is
generally believed to have been the
wisest man who ever lived. Perhaps he
intended to foretell that cattle would
become o support in the four quarters of
the earth, as they are to day. Even in
infant America they support the great
est industry of the country, and over
two Thousand million dollars are invest
ed in the dairy business
Here we touch very closely on the
Jersey, for she, above all others, is the
greatest butter-producer. 1t is to the
Jersey and what she has done for us
that | wish to call your attention. Any
one can see that there is profit in the
Jersey; on the same amount OF food
she will produce more butter than any
other COW. Knowing this, it seems
strange that dairymen should wish to
keep any other breed. Authenticity
we can trace them only to the Island
OF Jersey, There are many theories as
to what crosses produced them, but no
one. has yet satisfactorily solved the
problem. The sacred cattle of India,
strange as it may seem, closely resem-
BILE the Jersey in many particulars
How much better would it be if the
modern farmer could be made to be-
]ieve that from the Indians blind
reverence Sor cattle he might learn a
lesson Of forbearance and gentleness
toward his herd
What more delightful home could
these famous COWS have than the green
and fertile pastures of the Jersey Is
land? The Jersey cow seems to tell us
by her gentle and satisfied expression
that she has come from land where
the climate is mild and equable, and
where the first object OF the people is
to make her comfortable and content
ed. 1t is astonishing how much the Jer
sey has improved during the last fifty
years. They were once ill-sh.ped beasts
which knew nothing of warm stables
or good food, but the people of jersey
had their ideal, and by careful attent-
ion and hard work they brought theil
imperfect materials up to the standard
Jersey ofto-day. The race improved 81
rapidly that the scale OF points wal
revised three times during ten years
In 1850 some Americans of influence
became interested in the Jerseys ant
began to make importations, which
have been almost constant ever since
This American interest gave new
stimulus to the Jerseymen, and a grea
increase OF cattle has been the result
The American Jersey Cattle Club ha
advanced the Jersey interest very
much by keeping the records and by
organizing the official test, by whicl
the Jersey has been seen TO surpris
her most ardent admirers.
Jersey COW is known to have Pre-
duced fortysix pounds twelve and
half ounces of butter in seven days.
might enumerate many extraordinar
cases, but doubtless they are all we
known to my readers. The Jersey {
to-day is the most beautiful Of COW
We find in her variety Of colors an
standings frame OF such delicacy an
fineness that even a novice could nj
help being attracted by her symmetr,
In size, the Jersey is rather snallt
than other breeds, but in Americ
.Lora "a n toodapo,, ~ o,,II;yoto -, -