The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-05-23
H JERSEY cow.
Some Facts in Regard to Her History
and Usefulness--Prize Essay,
bv F. w. Leavitt.

advent into this unit P"9H
through the usual vicis5itudes winch
all novelties undergo, and finally estao
lished her reputation as a butter co"
She was at first the fashionable orn
ment for rich farmers lawns, but as
her excellent dairy qualities became
better known TO practical men she be-
came an important factor in the indus
trial world. Indeed, the Improvement
of the dairy business in the United
States owes not a little to the impetus
given it by the jersey COW.
The Jersey is q singularly dOclie n
well bred animal. She came from an
island where girls were her keepers,
and where no other horned cattle were
allowed. Her graceful figure, slender
limbs. fine heaG-in short, her beauty, |
combined with her docility, have al
ways made her one Of the most este emed
of the domestic animals.
1t gradually became known that no
animal in WELD y milk and butter could
compare with the Jersey for her size.
Henceforth the breed began a steady
growth in the coed opinion Of farmers
and dairymen which has never waned.
The steady popularity of the Jersey IN,
dictates that she has been thoroughly
tested, and to the satisfaction Of all
concerned. In these tests it has been
demonstrated that she not only gives
the largest yield in proportion to her
size, but that she does it more ecOnOm-
ically than any other breed. These
facts are not generally understood in
all parts of our country, but wherever
the Jersey has been given a thorough
trial she has made for herself an envi-
able record. In Tennessee there is
scarcely a farm which is not the home
of a number of these profitable animals.
Bisson's Belle leads the list there with
a record Of 1923 pounds and IS ounces
Y of batter in a year, and is followed by a
long line of Jerseys with records Of from
14to2 Is pounds OF buttera week. In Ken
lucky 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 Ct 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 produce, which
makes it particularly desirable for
table and domestic use, has brought
high prices, and lnen who sell pure
Jersey milk cannot slppIy the demand.
This is true also in the East. In New
York City g Jersey fancier gets fifteen
cents a quart fer all the Jersey milK he
can furnish.
Acbaracterietic of the Jersey worthy
OF notice is her adaptability to all eli
mates. The rigorous winters of the
Northern States and Canada and the
summer heat Of the South alike seem
to have 40 evil effect upon her useful
ness. She is comparatively small, and
will thrive in a place where COWS Of a
larger build would do very poorly, and
it requires a much less amount Of food
to supply her with heat in winter.
The Jerseys recon as a butter maker
is an extraordinary che. The reports
of COWS yielding from 16 to IS pounds
of butter a week did not at first find
much c~redence, but their authenticity
was demonstrated by careful tests
BissOn's Belle, aJersey of no celebrated
family, yielded for che year an aver
age Of nearly 20 pounds q week. Johr
Lawrence, an English writer, cites
case of a Jersey yielding 10 pounds o.
butter a week, and The fact was Sc
extraordinary as to be thought worthy
of memorandum in the parish books
That an American jersey could yield
46 pounds 125 ounces of butter in one
week would have been incredible tC
them. Yet that is the record Of Prin.
cess2d. These are extraordinary cases,
but they prove what the Jersey can do.
There are, however, requirements
which every nan must provide ever
tOget affair yield of the golden product.
His COWS must have good food, and in
winter clean, warm, we'll ventilated
stables. Space for moving around
ought to be given them, and good SAM
tary regulations observed. Under
these circumstances one can effect good
results, and may safely count on from
$50 to 400 pounds of butter a year from
every cow in an average Jersey herd.
The cost of keeping each COW is from
$50 to $35. The precocity Of the heifers
and the short time they remain dry
help to increase their value. Surely nc
practical man fail to see a.good profit
in the Jersey COW.