322 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



and cheese. The cows of Mr. Knight appear to have been better 

 kept, especially in the winter, than those of Mr. Robinson, and 

 his herd was not so numerous ; but these considerations do not 

 outweigh the advantage which the latter had in the better ages 

 of his animals, and the great disproportion in the value of their 

 dairy product. 



The committee adjudge, in Class 2, to Amos F. Knight, of 

 West Boylston, for the four best cows, the first premium of 

 'f 150 ; and to William Robinson, Jr., of Barre, the second pre- 

 mium of $100. 



The committee paid little regard to the consideration of 

 allowance, suggested by Mr. Knight, that one of his cows was 

 18 years old. They cannot approve of the keeping of cows to 

 that advanced age, for, under no circumstances, can it be 

 economical. With rare exceptional cases, they should not be 

 continued in the dairy beyond the age of 12 years. 



The credit is due to Mr. Knight for having given the best of 

 the imperfect accounts of the process of the manufacture of 

 butter. 



The comparisons before stated of the yield of milk, and pro- 

 ducts of its manufacture into butter and cheese, from the cows 

 of Mr. Ellsworth, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Sheldon, in Class 1, 

 and from the cows of Mr. Robinson and Mr. Knight in Class 2, 

 present, in a striking point of view, the interesting and much 

 vexed questions, whether some cows or races of cows, do not 

 possess peculiar qualities for the product of butter or of cheese, 

 and not alike for both ; and what are the points of discrimina- 

 tion, and the distinguishing characteristics of breed or blood for 

 either ? 



With the permission of the trustees, the committee would 

 recommend, in consideration that Mr. Mann pursued the tests 

 of the products of his cows, and rendered statements of the 

 results for a part of the season of trial, and lias incurred expense 

 and the loss of the use of these cows for several days, in bring- 

 ing them to the show, and that his cows are really fine animals, 

 adding much to the interest of the exhibition, there should be 

 given to Mr. Mann a gratuity of twenty-five dollars. 



In conclusion of this already too extended report, the com- 

 mittee cannot deny to themselves the gratification of offering 



