r O HANDBOOK OF CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURE. 



to discuss the improvement of stock and allied interests af- 

 fecting the success of the creamery. Mr. Norton advocated 

 the introduction of Guernsey stock. 



Mr. John T. Norton, the father of Edward Norton, had 

 long been interested in Jersey and Alderney cattle, having 

 made several importations of these animals. Through the 

 agency of Mr. John A. Taintor one of these importations in- 

 cluded a cow possessing marked Guernsey characteristics, 

 which tradition asserts to have been the best cow ever owned 

 by John T. Norton. The presence of such a cow in these 

 importations is not surprising. In fact, a strong suspicion 

 prevailed with Mr. Norton and his friends that the early im- 

 portations of Jerseys, which had been introduced as Alder- 

 neys, contained mixtures of Jersey and Guernsey blood. 

 Some corroboration of this suspicion is suggested by many 

 of the color descriptions of the early imported Jerseys, as re- 

 corded in Vol. I of the register of the A. J. C. C. It has 

 even been stated that eleven of the twelve Alderneys (Jer- 

 seys) first imported by Mr. Taintor had white switches. Mr. 

 Norton also felt that the larger frames and bodies of the 

 Guernseys would commend them more to farmers than Jer- 

 seys, against which breed a great prejudice existed because 

 of their size. At that time, when beef was an item of much 

 more importance than now, this argument was correspond- 

 ingly more impressive. Moreover, the richness in color and 

 yield of milk and milk temperament were factors of no small 

 importance. The causes thus stated, in connection with the 

 fact that Mr. Norton had previously visited the Island of 

 Guernsey, indicate, to a certain extent, why he espoused 

 Guernseys. Mr. Norton's counsel finally prevailed, and cer- 

 tain members of the club subscribed a fund for the purchase 

 of some animals. 



Mr. Mason C. Weld was sent to the island to secure the 

 animals. Fourteen females and one male were selected by 

 him, which arrived in Farmington April 18, 1876. Upon 

 their arrival the animals were led through the main street of 



