“Again, as to vertical or rear escutcheons both these cows exhibit, the broad part diminishes as it rises, until, when within six to nine inches of the vulva, it is reduced to the breadth of not over an inch wide. Thus they agree in their rear escutcheons, and they agree also in udders of great capacity, these being deep and broad, and running well forward under the body.
“There is a point on which they differ. The hair on Duchess is soft and furry as a mole; that of Rosa is fairly fine, but still hair.
“So that in a word one can say soft hair, a large escutcheon, and a yellow skin are desirable, but there may be choice cows not conspicuous, for either.
“To show how we sometimes let our best animals slip, I will add that when Rosa was a heifer I was tempted to part with her for what seemed a great price—$500. In about two weeks she had a heifer calf, for which her owner was offered $150. When three years old she had a second heifer, which he sold for $180; and when four years old she had a third heifer calf, which he sold for $100. He then sold his place and all his stock, and I bought her at public sale for $375 for her beauty. Her pale skin deceived me as to her butter quality, and her, as I thought, deficient escutcheon misled me as to her large yield. She now, as a five-year old, has her fourth calf, which is a bull, and some two months old.
“In giving above her yield, I gave also her feed. Such is her constitution and appetite that I think she would have eaten half as much more, and in that way her yield might have been very much increased. It was good enough as it was, particularly as there have been choice cows so forced that, though the premium was won, the cow was lost. The winter yield, on dry feed, of sixteen quarts is considered equivalent to eighteen on grass.”
ROSA.—Imported Jersey, belonging to C. L. Sharpless.