255 



or more than 4000 quarts per annum ; but such cases are very 

 few in number. In Curwen's dairy of 28 cows, kept and fed 

 with great care for 220 days, the average was eight wine quarts 

 per day, or a little more than six beer quarts. In the Harleian 

 dairy, where a hundred cows were kept, it is said that twelve 

 wine quarts were about the daily average ; but the statement, 

 in the form in which it is made, is very imperfect and doubt- 

 ful. Twelve wine quarts would a little exceed nine beer 

 quarts. Nothing could surpass the pains used in the selection 

 of these cows, the care taken of them, and the abundance 

 with which they were fed. If the statement were positive, I 

 should regard it differently ; but as it seems to be rather 

 matter of conjecture than of proof, I place little dependence 

 upon it. In a private letter to a respected friend from the cel- 

 ebrated Fellenberg, it is stated that, at that institution, the 

 cows, which are considered among the best milch cows in the 

 world, average through the year about six quarts per day. But 

 here again we are left at a loss to know, v/hether the year in- 

 cludes only the season while they are in milk, or 365 days. 

 These are foreign statements. I wish I had those from among 

 ourselves, on which entire reliance can be placed. Men in 

 these cases are so in the habit of dealing in conjectures instead 

 of facts, that it is exceedingly difficult to arrive at the truth, 

 I have been so often deceived in these matters that I place lit- 

 tle confidence in any thing which is not matter of actual meas- 

 urement and positive verification. The most intelligent and 

 careful milkmen whom 1 have consulted are of opinion, that 

 their cows average about six quarts per day for 305 days, and 

 go dry in that time from two to three months. A very careful 

 milkman, who may be entirely relied on. from 20 cows pro- 

 duced ll,131| gallons of milk in a year. This was at the rate 

 of 6J quarts per day for 3G5 days, or 7| quarts per day for 300 

 days. These cows were native stock, extremely well selected 

 and well fed. Successive trials on this same farm give about 

 the same result. 



On a milk establishment in Medford, under excellent man- 



