HOUSATONIC SOCIETY. 267 



Milch Cows and Heifers. 



The committee were gratified to see a larger competition 

 than has ever been witnessed before, since the society has been 

 organized ; and it would have been more gratifying, had there 

 been certificates in writing, of the pounds of milk given by 

 each cow, and the quantity of butter made through the months 

 of June, July, August, and a part of September, as it would 

 have relieved the committee of the difficulty in judging, under 

 the unfavorable circumstances of some of the cows, entered for 

 premium, being not as well milked as they should have been, 

 on the morning before the exhibition. The committee, there- 

 fore, recommend, that cows offered for the society's premiums, 

 should be accompanied by a written statement of what they 

 have produced, the age, the breed — whether native or im- 

 ported — the weight in common flesh, and the keep they have 

 had, during the time of testing their qualities. 



Every owner, indeed, of a cow or cows, should know for a 

 certainty, what each cow produces a day, or a week. A striking 

 illustration of the importance of this, is given by Mr. Malcolm, 

 in his Compendium of Modern Husbandry. He kept an Alder- 

 ney and a Suffolk cow, the latter, the best he ever saw. During 

 seven years, the milk and butter being kept separate, it was 

 found, year after year, that the value of the Alderney exceeded 

 that of the Suffolk, though the latter gave more than double 

 the quantity of milk at a milking, than the former. Thus, it 

 will be seen, that a committee, though ever so competent, 

 judging wholly from the external appearance of milch cows, 

 decides, and must decide, many times, very incorrectly. 



Fourteen cows, four two year old heifers, in milk, and ten 

 heifers, not in milk, were offered for premiums. 



J. R. LAWTON, Chairman. 



Ploughing. 



The time allowed for ploughing one-fourth of an acre, includ- 

 ing a rest of ten minutes, was one hour, and the committee, 



