Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-02-02
AS TO MICH COWS.

Ordinarily when anybody wants any
thing that is to be obtained in this Sec
ton, it is only necessary to make
known that want through the columns
of THE ENQUIRER; but it has develop.
ed that this rule hardly applies tt
milch COWS.
About ten days ago, gentleman oi
Yorkville made it known that he was
in the market for a good mich cow
and upon inquiry Of him a few days
ago, the reporter learned that up tc
that time there had not been a single
tender of the desired commodity. The
situation struck the reporter as being
somewhat strange, and he undertook
to get further information on the sub
ject through an Interview with a local
cattle dealer. The first question ask
ed was like this:
Are good mich COWS scarce or plen-
tiful in this section?"
II would say that they are pretty
scarce-that Is good cows; but still
they are about as plentiful as tney
ever were," was the guarded reply OF
the dealer.
How do you account for the fact
then that when man advertises for a
good cow, nobody tries to sell him
one?" was the next question.
well, I don't know about that ex-
cept that maybe everybody else is
about like I am" said the dealer frank
lily. "I noted that this advertisement
said a good cow was wanted, and as
1 calculated that it meant I must say
| here is a cow that will give so much
milk at a given price, and if she does
not give the milk she's my cow There
are plenty of COWS for sale in this Sec
ton; but not great many on this kind
Of terms. I don't know that this is
what the advertisement means; but
that is the way look at it"
1T seems to me that that would be
business" remarked the reporter.
What is the matter with the arrange
ment?"
Yes, you are right; it is business,
and if I had a COW to sell that I could
recommend in this manner, that Is
what I would be willing to do. But
YOU see have nothing just now that
can sell that way. I am altogether de-
pendent upon what the other fellow
saws, and unless you know him 1t does
not do to risk him in a cow trade"
What is a good cow worth?"
THAT depends on lots of things
looks, age, breed, first, second or third
calf, quantity and quality of milk and
butter, etc. Some people hold to the
rule that a COW is worth $40 for each
gallon Of milk she will give"
"Then a four-gallon COW is worth
s4O?"
That's what she is, according to
that rule; but in the hands of most
dealers she will sell for $50.
How do you make that?"
"Oh, she'd be sold as a five gallon
COW, you know. They are seldom rated
at less than from a gallon to a half
gallon less than they really give. If a
day, most dealers call it five"
"How about a two-and-a-half GAL
lon cow"
She's rated at three and-a-half-
gallons, and worth about $50. She's
good average COW, too. Lots of them
that have the credit of giving more,
give less"
What would you say is the real val
ue Of a cow that can be depended upon
to actually yield one gallon of milk a
day?"
UNLESS there is prospect Of outcome,
she is not worth feeding as mixer;
but should be valued by the pound for
beef but the truth about the matter
is that e-gallon COWS are scarce,
four-gallon COWS are much scarcer, and
two-and- -one-half gallon COWS are more
plentiful than either of the Others"
The dealer with whom the reporter
talked is one of the most reliable in
the business-one who can be depended
upon to make good any representation
that he may be induced to make. 1t is
true that the situation as he gives it,
affords but little encouragement to the
novice on the COW market; but most
individuals who have had experience
along this line will readily admit that
the dealers statements of fact are
pretty nearly in accord with what they
have previously learned to their cost.
Owners of real good COWS are not gen.
orally anxious to get rid of them, and
when they do sell they are apt to de-
mand more than the theoretical value
of the animals. Most of the COWS that
are voluntarily hunting purchasers are
Of the two-gallon kind under three-gal-
lon representations.
LOCAL LACONICS.
The Catawba Dam. l.