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differs in many essential particulars from the breed of
Alderney and Jersey. I shall by and by, when occupied
with Guernsey, have an opportunity of speaking
more at length of the Guernsey cow.
It is the opinion of the best informed upon agricultural
matters, that the Jersey and Alderney cow is the
same—both, distinguished by the fine curved taper horn,
slender nose, fine skin, and deer-like form; and both
preserved in their purity, by breeding in and in.
Quail in his report truly says, that “ next to the
possession of vraic, the treasure highest in a Jersey-
man’s estimation is his cow.” It is the same now as
in Quail’s time. The cow is the object of his chief
attention; and the care and affection which he lavishes
upon it, may be compared with that which a German
lavishes on his horse, —only that the kindness which
the Jerseyman shews for his cow, appears to exhaust
all the kindness which he has to bestow on the inferior
animals,—for I have never, in any country, seen horses
treated with less kindness than in Jersey. I cannot
do better than quote the words of Quail when speaking
of the affection of a Jerseyman for his cow. “ It
is true,” says he, “ that in summer, she must submit
•to be staked to the ground; but five or six times
in the day, her station is shifted. In winter she is
warmly housed by night, and fed with the precious
parsnip; when she calves, she is regaled with toast,
and with the nectar of the island, cider; to which,
powdered ginger is added; and could she be prevailed
on to participate in all her master’s tastes, there is no
doubt, but that he would willingly bestow on her the
quintescence of vraic itself,”
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The high estimation in which the Jersey cow is held
by its possessors, is shared by the island legislature,
which has preserved the purity of the breed, by special
enactments. An act was passed in the year 1789,
by which the importation into Jersey, of cow, heifer,
calf, or bull, is prohibited, under the penalty of 200
livres, with the forfeiture of boat and tackle; and a
fine of 50 livres is also imposed on every sailor on
board, who does not inform of the attempt. The
animal too, is decreed to be immediately slaughtered,
and its fiesh given to the poor.
The number of cows everywhere dotting the pastures
of Jersey, add greatly to the beauty of the landscape;
though when one passes near to them, the
discovery that they are tethered, somewhat decreases
the pleasure we have in seeing them. In apple
orchards, however, in which, the under grass crop is
always used as cow pasture, it is necessary to tether
the animal; and not only so, but to attach also, the
head to the feet, that the cow may be prevented from
raising her head, and eating the apples, which she
would be quite welcome to do, were it not that when
grown to any considerable size, they might injure
her.A
ll over England, the Alderney cow—as it is generally
called—is celebrated not only for its beauty, but
for the richness of its milk, and excellence of the
butter made from it. Extraordinary milkers even
among Jersey cows, are sometimes found; I have
heard of three cows on one property, yielding each
from 16 to 18 quarts per day, during the months of
May and June,—and of 36lbs. of butter being made
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