21 



ing families and by bountifully feeding milk -producing food to your cows twelve 

 months in a year. 



The principles of breeding are too well understood for men to say it can't be 

 done. The agricultural car is too heavily freighted with improvements for 

 farmers to say that the old track run in by our fathers is sufficient. Science, 

 backed by theory and practice clearly proves that there are marks and points on 

 calves that indicate what their milking qualities will be when they become cows. 

 Our own observation of men and animals during the past few weeks has shown 

 that dairymen believe in milk mirrors and milk veins, and, what is best of all 

 the signs of the times, men are beginning to act according to their knowledge and 

 belief. Again, the quantity of milk is increased by an increase of appropriate 

 food. In order to abbreviate this report and show the effects of feed upon milch 

 cows, let us on some pleasant .June morning go to the pasture of farmer A. and 

 look at his thrifty, contented cows feeding upon the fresh green grass ; and at 

 evening we will visit the milk room and find those shining milk pans full to the 

 brim. In August we will revisit A's pasture, and we find that the green pasture 

 has become dry, if we find that the fresh feed of eaily June has been consumed 

 either by our overstocking or by the scorching rays of the dog-clays' sun, we shall 

 find uneasy and perhaps unruly cows. To test the effec s of the different treatment 

 of cows we are nece: sltated to call again at the milk room, when we find that it 

 is minus a large quantity of milk, consequent^ the farmer's pocket is in a cor- 

 responding proportion, minus the stamps. But still the cry comes up from 

 necessity and luxury, more milk, more cream, more butter, more cheese. What 

 can be done f How can the children's cry be hushed ? How can the appetite 

 of the epicure be satisfied ? Give your cows access to the after-grass of your 

 beautiful meadows, and a full supply of nutritious food in the stall and in two 

 days the milk will begin to increase and continue to flow on, and the stamps 

 will flow in. Farmers take good care of your cows. Your success is based up- 

 on the take-care principle, that always leads to competence. Feed them as you 

 feed your family, and when you enjoy a good apple think that your cow would 

 be equally glad of a beet or a turnip. Feed her and groom her as you do your 

 horse, and although she will not carry you as swiftly she will feed you as truly. 

 Remember that the cow is a perfect machine, collecting her food to sustain ani- 

 mal life, to produce growth, flesh and milk; and at last she gives up her body 

 as meat for the hungry. Tell me if you can, gentlemen, what bank discounts 

 twice a day to the same party except the cow bank ? 



Well may the farmer's boy joyfully go, 

 Singing, calling, Co Boss ! Co Boss ! Co, Co I 

 And well may the milkmaid in her dream, 

 Drum in her p<til with the flashing stream, 

 Singing, So Boss ! So Boss ! So ! 



The Committee on Milch and Fat Cows, recommend the following awards : 



Best Milch Cow, Mark Laird, Great Barrington, $9 00 



2d do., Pliny Karner, Egrernont, 8 00 



3d do., John F. Sanlord, Great Barrington, 7 00 



4th do., Frederick Abbey, Great Barrington, 6 00 



5th do., G. M. Whiting, Great Barrington, 5 00 



6th do., F. G. Abbey, Great Barrington, 4 00 



7th do., John M. Cooper, Stookbridge, 3 00 



8th do., Warren Crissey, Great Ennington, 2 00 



9th do., Jared Lewis, Great Barrington, 1 00 



Mr. Lewis' cow was deserving a higher premium and would have received it, 

 if she had been placed in the right division and found by the committee before 



the premiums were reduced to the last dollar. — Two Fat Cows were entered: 



Best Fat Cow, Frederick Abbey, Great Barrirgcon, $4. 00 



(The second Cow was not worthy of a prem.um.) 



Zachkcs Caxde, ~) 



Daniel D. Kendall, > Committee. 



1). C. MlLLAKD. \ 



