10 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



full meal and then lie down ; this, nature teaches, and nature 

 may be as safely followed in the winter as in the summer. 



I do not attempt to give the " marks" by which a good cow 

 may be known. These marks conflict too much, and fail too 

 often. If any one wishes to enter vigorously upon such a plan 

 as has been hinted at above, a few cows can always be found 

 in every town, and can be purchased. They may cost more 

 than poor ones, and they ought to. But the keeping costs no 

 more, while the prospect of improvement must be enhanced 

 immeasurably. 



The chairman of the committee on milch cows is alone re- 

 sponsible for the views contained in the foregoing report ; but 

 he is happy to add a few remarks communicated by Mr. Bod- 

 well, of Methuen, a member of the committee, in answer to a 

 request for his views on the subject ; a request was also for- 

 warded to the other members of the committee, but from them 

 nothing has been received. " I am of opinion," says Mr. Bod- 

 well, " that our native breed, if proper attention is paid to its 

 improvement, is quite as good as the foreign, or better, taking 

 into consideration the expense of keeping. I think that much 

 more attention should be paid to improve our native breed of 

 cows." Mr. Bodwell does not seem to have conceived the idea 

 particularly of experimenting in the manner I have recommend- 

 ed, but agrees fully that our breed may be greatly improved, 

 by merely raising the best calves, and paying more attention to 



the keeping. 



DAVID CHOATE, Chairman. 



Farnham Spofford's Statement. 

 I offer for premium my cow, called "Green Mountain." 

 She is seven years old, and is about one-sixteenth Durham, the 

 other part is of native breed. She calved on the 9th of June. 

 We commenced keeping an account of her milk on the night 

 of the 18th of June. Last eleven and three-fourths days of June, 

 she yielded, of milk, - - - 495 lbs. 8 oz. 



July, 1376 " 



August, - - - - 1402 " 15 oz. 



Sept. 1 to 24th, inclusive, - - 1060 " 



4334 r 



