26 



Let us then try to help others by helping ourselves. The Society 

 is well to do and liberal ; and, as old Gra}- said at the raising, "Come 

 gentlemen, let's be walking up and taking some of her." 



In the class of milch cows at the last fair, the display was good in 

 quality ; but the eighteen premiums offered ought to have brought 

 out more than nineteen specimens ; and, even with a liberal construc- 

 tion of the rules, the committee could only award eight premiums for 

 want of the requisite statements of the milk and butter produced by 

 each candidate. As I understand the matter, these statements are 

 not designed as aids or guides to the committees in judging the stock, 

 but rather for the information and instruction of the vSociety and the 

 public as to the results obtainable from superior animals ; and I 

 would respectfully submit that they are of but little value for this 

 purpose unless accompanied by an intelligent and reasonably partic- 

 ular description of the food, the treatment, and the genei-al conditions 

 nnder which these products wei'e obtained. It would also seem to 

 me an improvement on the present system, if a member were added 

 to each committee, in classes requiring statements, for the sole pur- 

 pose of receiving and deciding on the sufficiency of these statements. 

 This would leave the committee of award to the exercise of their in- 

 dependent judgment, and would save the exhibitors from tlie tempta- 

 tion of making exaggerated and often absurb statements. 



The Ayrshires and grades of W. A. Childs of New Braintree, 

 came very near, in the judgment of your committee, to the standard 

 of the representative cow of New England ; and their condition and 

 the owners clear and reasonable statements as to their yield, were de- 

 serving of honorable mention. The Jerseys and grades of Bishop 

 Huntington and C. W. Fitch, also received and merited much admir- 

 ation and favorable comment. P. D. Hnbbard's grade Jersey cow 

 was a large, gentle, and milky^ looking animal ; a worthy grand- 

 daughter of Essex, the first Jersey ))ull at the Agricultural College. 

 He was presented by Dr. Geo. B. Loring, and was the most striking- 

 ly beautiful bull I ever saw. The only fault 1 ever heard found with him 

 was, " He's too handsome for a Jersey." His influence on the stock 

 of this section is very marked and extensive. Mr. J. P. Smith 

 showed two promising young grade Jersey cows ; and his testimon}^, 

 as an experienced and sr.ccessful milkman, that he finds the Jersey 

 grades profitable, is a compliment to the breed and also to the appre- 

 ciation of his customers. Of the above named gentlemen, Mr. 

 Childs took four premiums, and each of the others one. Mr. Flavel 



