27 



sation with officers ind members of the Society, they found 

 that some agreed and others differed with their judgment. 



Our reguhitions ought to be so phiin that he who "runs, 

 may read," and understand ; and we do not admit that the 

 above rule is one of that kind, as is shown by the different 

 interpretations which may and have been put upon it. More- 

 over, it is not sufficiently explicit, it is too general, it does 

 not require the minutiae of management, keeping, etc. 



We have examined the reports of our Society for the last 

 five years, and have not found one statement of manner of 

 keeping and yield from which the reader would derive any 

 special advantage or instruction. 



Here is the statement of one year : — 



"Their keeping since June has been grass. They have 

 averaged 10 quarts of rich milk per day, and from 45 to 50 

 pounds of butter per week during the season of grass ;" yet 

 on such a bare and incomplete record as this, the first premium 

 was awarded. 



In another year the first premium was aw^arded to a herd 

 of cows wath regard to whose manner of keep and yield there 

 is no statement Avhatsoever. 



Does not this show, either that this rule is considered of no 

 consequence, or that its meaning is not understood? 



No matter how good looking the individual animals in a 

 herd may be, it is their record which ought to govern the 

 Committee more than anything else, in judging. 



Statements in regard to keep and yield of cows are of 

 comparatively little value, unless they enter into the details, 

 as to the measure or weight of food, measure or weight of pro- 

 duct, manner of preparing and kind of food, time of feeding, 

 etc. Moreover, the time of calving should be always stated. 



On such a basis as this, the record of two or more herds 

 may be easily compared, and a fair judgment arrived at ; but 

 if loose statements and guesses are allowed, the comparative 

 merits are not easily recognized, and the public are taught 

 nothing which can be relied on. 



