MILCH COWS. 277 



itcd to-day, have we not Bufficient encouragement to attempt 

 the improvement of our native breeds in a rational way ? 



Charles C. Sbwall, Chairman. 



MILCH COWS. 



ESSEX. 



Front the Report of the Committee. 



The committee were pleased to find so many competitors for 

 these premiums ; but they were sorry to find so few of them 

 giving full and particular statements in regard to the produce 

 and feed of the cows. It is desirable that claimants for these 

 premiums should furnish the society with a full and accurate 

 account, not only of the food given, but the particular manner 

 of feeding. We are aware that the rule requiring statements 

 of the produce of particular cows has given those who keep 

 but one or two cows a better chance for obtaining the premi- 

 ums than those which keep a large number; for it is not only 

 more convenient for those which have but one cow to keep an 

 account of the produce, but a cow that is kept alone will pro- 

 duce more than she will when she goes in a large flock. Why 

 it is so, we are not wise enough to say. However social the 

 cow may be in her disposition, she proves that she is no social- 

 ist, for she produces more when alone than when in a com- 

 munity. 



The committee were pleased to find in the pens a lot of Jer- 

 cows, exhibited by George H. French, of Andover. What- 

 ever difference of opinion there may be in regard to the differ- 

 ent breeds of cattle, we trust every member of the society and 

 every friend to the advancement of agriculture will feel grate- 

 ful to Mr. French and other liberal individuals, who are dis- 

 posed to bring among us the best cattle of the most approved 

 breeds of other countries. It gives, in some good degree, to 

 each one of us an opportunity to compare the merits of the 



