MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 499 



of oftering premiums for the best dairy of cows ; and all who 

 have read the reports on this subject, drawn with so much 

 sound judgment, by the lamented Denny, can there see the 

 reasons for adopting it. The offer of premiums by this society 

 as yet requires that only a certain number of the herd should 

 have been raised by the competitor. It is stated to us by its 

 secretary, William S. Lincoln, that " in a somewhat continued 

 correspondence with Mr. Denny, upon this subject, the expe- 

 diency of offering a proportionably large premium for the best 

 dairy of cows, all of which the competitor should have raised, 

 was discussed, and had he been spared to the society, such a 

 proposal would have been offered for its consideration." 



Mr. Lincoln adds, that " he thinks himself more highly of 

 such a proposal than of any other which could be offered, view- 

 ing it merely with reference to the efiect it would have upon 

 the improvement of our stock." The advantages of the plan 

 proposed, are, he further observes; '' that you compare the ac- 

 tual yield of herds of cows for the season, instead of single ones 

 for a limited period; that you get facts enabling you to deter- 

 mine the relative profit of cheese or butter making, or selling 

 of milk, and that the farmer in towns at a long distance from 

 the place o( the cattle show, with his forty cows, can compete 

 for the premiums with the farmer within a mile of the show, 

 with the only difference that he must drive one cow the long 

 distance, instead of a mile, to be examined." From this it 

 would appear, that one cow at least, would be presented at the 

 show, to add interest to it, and as a specimen of the herd, 

 whose actual produce in butter, cheese, or milk, is to be certi- 

 fied to the committee. To this mode of proceeding, as a sub- 

 stitute for the offering of premiums for single cows, there seem 

 to us to be serious objections. So far, however, as it may tend 

 to encourage the breeding or selection of a large number of 

 good dairy cows, we hope it may have a fair trial ; though 

 these advantages, as it appears to us, may be more easily at- 

 tained, without drivmg any of the herd to the show, as we will 

 endeavor to make appear in a subsequent part of this report, 

 when treating of the products of the dairy. 



We can see objections tQ oflfering premiums for single cows, 

 more easily than we can perceive how to obviate them. It is 



