MILCH COWS. 221 



HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Your committee regret to say that only five of the exhibitors 

 complied with the rules of the society, in furnishing written 

 statements, as follows : — 



" Competitors for premiums on milch cows shall present to the com- 

 mittee a statement in writing, of the mode of feeding, weight of milk 

 given, and the amount of butter made from each cow for seven succes- 

 sive days of the present season. Blood and breeding qualities to be 

 taken into consideration. 



" Loose, verbal statements, made at the time of the exhibition, cannot 

 be relied on, or received." 



Such accurate statements are necessary, because nothing of 

 permanent value can be obtained in regard to their milking 

 qualities, without careful trial and well-attested experiment ; 

 it was this that has perpetuated the fame of the celebrated 

 " Oakcs Prize Cow," although she was in her glory more than 

 forty years ago. It is recorded of her that she made 467^ lbs. 

 of butter in SO weeks, and in the week ending June 5, 1816, 

 the average weight of her milk was 44^ lbs. per day, from 

 which 19 lbs. of butter were made. We have reason to believe 

 that as good cows have been owned and can at present be found 

 within the limits of this society ; their fame would not be 

 allowed to perish if their owners would carefully test their 

 capacities for producing butter and milk, and give the state- 

 ments thus obtained to the public ; people would have more 

 confidence in statements made on such a basis than in those 

 made up on the spur of the moment in order to meet the rules 

 of the society, and get the premium. 



J. G. Hubbard, Chairman. 



Statement of A. J. Lincoln. 



My cow has been new milch since about the middle of March 

 last, and has been owned by me since May 1st, 1859. During 

 the month of May, she was fed upon cut hay, and six quarts of 

 corn-meal and rye bran, of equal parts, per day. She gave of 



