82 



REPORT ON DAIRY. 



The entries of Butter were more numerous than usual, and in 

 general of excellent quality. Great pains, care and skill had 

 been employed in the manufacture, and the beauty of its appear- 

 ance, its high flavor and delicate taste, were very gratifying to the 

 Committee. One lot was set aside on account of extreme saltness, 

 and in another the salt was not sufficiently worked in, and was 

 apparent in minute lumps. A third lot suffered from the presence 

 of buttermilk. The remaining eight lots w^ere of varying, though 

 excellent quality. The only specimen of twenty pounds, which 

 secured the first premiums, won the unanimous approbation of the 

 Committee for all the good qualities that butter ought to possess. 

 It was accompanied with a full statement of the method employed 

 in its manufacture. The first of the twelve pound lots was so 

 good that the Committee would have been almost puzzled to know 

 whether to award the first premium to it or to the lot first men- 

 tioned, if both had contained equal amounts. The second twelve 

 pound lot appeared to several members of the Committee as if 

 it had been worked too much. The grains had been broken down, 

 and the butter was what may be called salvy. Of the rest, it is 

 only necessary to say that any where else than at our Fair, they 

 would have been regarded as of peculiar excellence. We were 

 highly gratified by the whole exhibition. It reflected great credit 

 upon the accomplished housewives, whose skill and industry had 

 been called into exercise. 



The only circumstance that we regretted was, that a full state- 

 ment of the methods employed, and of the size of the respective 

 dairies, and of the manner in which the cows are fed and treated, 

 did not accompany each specimen. It is not required with the 

 twelve pound lots. But we think it should be, or that a greater 

 distinction should be made between the premiums for the two 

 classes. 



We award the premiums as follows : — 



Twenty pound lots. 

 To C. C. Sewall of Medfield, the first premium of . $10.00 



Twelve pound lots. 

 To Miss Lucy Morse of Medfield, the first premium of 10.00 



To Lyman Adams of East Medway, the second premium of 5.00 

 To James R. Fisher of South Dedham, the third premium of 3.00 



For the Committee, 



JOHN M. MERRICK. 



