THE ISLE OF COWS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3139, 16 October 1922, Page 7

THE ISLE OF COWS.

(My ;i Visitor.') It began as ;i matter of ininjiiomise. “Wo will go to tlio Continent tins year," said my wile. “Let’s have an English, holiday lor a change.” said I. As we always adjust our domestic differences on the principle ol’ a compromise., we decided to split the (inference. We elected to honor Jersey. Jersey declined to he honored. “C onn? if you like, hut you’ll have to entertain yourselves in the isle of your conquerors.” ' That is the proud boast of the Jersiais. As a former component part ol’ the Duchy of Normandy. Jersey conquered us in TOGO; Normandy has long since become wholly French: the Channel Islands alone remain proudly independent. and, although owing allegiance’ to the Ttritish Crown, retain their government in their own hands. it is perhaps best to travel hy the, daylight route. A pleasant run through the fertile counties of Berkshire. W iltsluire. and Dorset bring one to Weymouth. whence the splendid boats convey one rapidly to the islands. _ The crossing is an interesting one. skirting the C'asouets. with the lighthouse perched high on the dreaded rocks. Very independent are the Jersey folk. And. indeed, visitors have no great interest for them. The soil ol the little island-its surface is a trifle over 2S,0()() acres —is so fertile that farmers can grow three crops a year. This season the potato crop alone brought in TDOO.OOO. Every available rood, pole, or perch is cultivated. Tomato plants, tied to bamboo stakes, line the slopes like vineyards in Southern France. “Ey. lass.” said the man from Mradford. “see the young bamboo trees in they fields!” Ho might be excused, lor (lie visitor. seeing great plants ten or twelve feet high, with green leaves on the top of bare stems, is amazed to learn that they are Jersey cabbages! in addition to which, palm trees tloiirish in the open. The next best source ol revenue collies from, the cows- the famous Jersey breed, diminutive, compact with, beautiful, glossy, pale fawn coats. The uiieH. cattle for milk and butter in the world, these cows of Jersey. Incidentally. aveid the male of the species, which, in tins cast*, is more deadly than the female. The “Tom-cows,” as a small girl of my acunxinlance calls them, are pc nl.arly ferocious. The bathing is excellent. All round the island the coast is indented with hays of various sizes. Most of them have a delightful stretch of sand; all ! ol them have the most adequate bathing cabin,s in tho form of rock eaves. Hut. beware of currents. Cafes on the Continental system abound. Wines and spirits are cheap, owing in the fact, that no duty is imI posed on them. This phenomenon, ii should tie noted, applies to purchases iu tho bottle: the cafes charge London prices, doubtless for the lights and bands which add to their attractions. ’ l?nl lo pay these price's wla n a boltlc 1 of first-class proprietary whisky costs six or seven shillings is an indication ! of the Jersey attilnrh. “Thrift.” i hey call it; some of the visitors substitute tho word “robbery.”