The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1893-11-16
THE JERSEY COW.
Some Facts In Regard to Her History
And Usefulness.

PRIZE Essay, By F. N.iLEAv1TT..
AS early as 1880 the Jersey made
her advent into this country, passed
through the usual vicissitudes which
all novelties undergo, and finally
established her reputation as butter
COW. She was at first the fashionable
ornament for rich fyrmers' lawns, but
as her excellent dairy qualities be-
come better known to practical men
she became III important factor in the
industrial world. Indeed, the inn
provement of the dairy business in the
United Stytes owes not little to the
impetus given it by the Jer sow.
d The Jersey is q singularly docile and
well-bred animal. She came from an
island where girls we're her keepers,
and where no other horned cattle
were allowed. Her graceful figure,
slender limbs, fine head-in short, her
beauty, combined with her docility,
have Away made her one OF the most
esteemed OF The domestic animals. g.
ut gradually became known that no
animal in yield OF milk and butter
could compare with the Jerseyior her
size. Henceforth the breed began q
steady growth in the good opinion OF
farmers and dsirymen which has never
waned. The steady popularity of the
Jersey indicates that che. has been
thoroughly tested, and to the satislac-
ton of all concerned. In these tests
it has been demonstrated that she not
only gives the largest yield in proper
ton to her size, but that she does it
more economically than any other
breed. These facts are not generally
understood in all parts of our country,
but wherever the Jersey has been
given thorough trial she has made
for herself an enviable record. In
Tennessee there is scarcely farm
which is not the home OF a number of
these profitable animals. Bisson's
Belle leads the list there With record
of 1923 lbs. and Is OF. of butter in a
year, and is followed by long line of
Jerseys with records OF from IA to %
lbs. of butter week. In Kentucky
and Illinois the Jersey may be found
in nearly every dairy. In. my own
State OF Minnesota she has become a
favorite, and is rapidly taking the
place of less profitable animals, both
on the farm and in the dairy, and
especially among the cows of towns
people. In st. Paul and Minneapolis
the rich quality OF her product, which
r axes it particularly desirable fol
table and domestic use, has brought
high prices, and men who sell pure
Jersey milk can not supply the de
mand. This is true also in the East
In New York city Jersey fanciel
gets fifteen cents a quart for all thu
Jersey milk he can furnish.
A characteristic Of the Jerse,
worthy ofnotice is her adaptability tt
allclimates. The rigorous winters o
the Northern States and Canada an,
the summer heat Of the South alik
Seem to have no evil effect upon he
usefulness. She is comparativel
small, and will thrive in space wher
COWS Of larger build would do yer
poorly, and 1t requires much les
amount Of food to supply her sitl
heat in winter.
The Jerseys record as butter
maker is an extraordinary one. Th
reports OF cows yielding from is to 2
lbs. Of butter week did not at fri
find much credence, but thei
authenticity was. demonstrated b
careful tests. Bisson's Belle, Jerse
OF celebrated family, yielded fc
one yeAF an average OF nearly 20 lbs.
week. John Lawrence, an Englis
writer. cites case Of o Jersey yielt
ing 10 h. u butter week, and 18th
fact was 50 extraordinary as to
thought worthy OF a. memorandum
the parish books" That an America
Jersey could yield 40 lbs. 1216 or. !
butter in one week would have bee