ESSEX SOCIETY. 5 



ences in the quantities produced in different statements, still, 

 there was no sufficient reason to vary the awards, as made upon 

 the quality. Some of the statements were found to be not in 

 strict conformity with the conditions on which the premiums 

 were offered ; but no material variations were noticed, in those 

 of the successful claimants. Our premiums are offered ^^ for 

 the best produce on thefarm^''^ and not simply for the best speci- 

 mens exhibited. 



It is expected of the claimants, to state distinctly the amount 

 produced in the month of June ; and also, in the foiir months 

 next following the 20th of May. It is highly important, that 

 all the particulars in the management, from the first milking of 

 the cow, to the moulding of the butter for the market, should 

 be carefully noted. If these facts could be presented in a jour- 

 nal form, so that the feed of each week, and the produce of 

 each week, could be distinctly seen and compared, it would be 

 a source of much instruction. 



The design of requiring statements for particular periods of 

 time, is, that all statements should have reference to the same 

 period, so that they may, with propriety, be compared together. 

 If, for instance, one person takes fifty days, from May 20th to 

 July 10th, and another fourteen days, from June 10th to June 

 24th, there can be no fair comparison between the two. We 

 can easily conceive of such an arrangement of the pastures, and 

 of the feed of the cows, for a period of fourteen days, as would 

 show a very different result from what could be produced in 

 Jifti/ days. These facts are adverted to, because some of the 

 statements are made in this manner. We Avant no forced state- 

 ments, — we care not how good they may be, — but we want 

 them in the ordinary way ; we want to see the whole truth, 

 without any artificial appliances. Such statements not only 

 vary from the rule prescribed, but they present, also, insuperable 

 difficulties in the way of just estimates. Claimants should un- 

 derstand, if they would expect others to judge rightly of their 

 claims, they must begin right in their statements. It is not 

 enough for them to say, that the offer of the premium is not 

 made exactly as it should be ; when they present their claims, 

 they assent to the propriety of the offer. 



