274 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



the cows in the rural towns in Bristol County do not give an 

 annual yield of over 1,600 quarts ; we should not be satisfied 

 with a cow unless she gave 2,500 quarts or over in a year ; better 

 still if, by more liberal feeding, we can have one that gives 

 3,500 quarts. This may look a large yield to many, but we 

 have reports of cows in the State as giving over 4,000 quarts a 

 year. 



If we examine the profit of different cows, we find that the 

 cow giving 1,200 quarts, at 5 cents a quart, produces an income 

 of $60 a year, which hardly pays for care and keeping ; the one 

 that gives 2,500 quarts amounts to $125 ; while 3,500 quarts 

 amounts to 1175, leaving a net profit over the first of $115 

 while the extra feed amounts to but a small part of the increased 

 income. 



That the farmers of Bristol County are awake to their own 

 interest, is evinced by the gradual improvement in their stock 

 shown at our annual fair, there being a show of stock superior to 

 that exhibited in former years. There were five entries of herds of 

 cows, twelve entries of milch cows, nine entries of milch heifers, 

 fifty-six entries of heifers ; all the stock entered were on exhibi- 

 tion, except two heifers. Among those on exhibition of par- 

 ticular merit was a flock of ten Jersey cows and heifers, ex- 

 hibited by Henry S. Freeman of Norton, showing the superiority 

 of careful breeding and proper care of an animal to a careless and 

 indifferent mode of treatment ; also, another flock of fine Ayr- 

 shire cows and heifers, entered by P. L. Ames, of Easton ; two 

 grade milch heifers, one by E. P. Woodward, the other by 

 Willard Tripp, of Taunton, and a number more of hardly less 

 merit, together with a number of excellent native milch cows. 

 Another marked feature in the animals shown, was the great 

 number of grade heifers, a cross of the Ayrshire with the Jersey, 

 Ayrshire and Jersey with the native, also other crosses not less 

 important, showing the tendency of farmers to change the quality 



of their stock. 



Augustus Lane, Chairman. 



PLYMOUTH. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



After inspecting the ponderous beef cattle, the quiet cows and 

 the muscular bulls, an unthinking spectator might be inclined 



