Examination of Several Herds near West Grove, Blanketed and Unblanketed, under the Supervision of a Committee of the Experimental Farm Club.

It had been stated by some that the commission used the ordinary means of judging of the value of cows, in addition to the Guenon tests. This was, of course, entirely denied by the commission; and as it was repeated in the public print, the commission, to settle the matter in the minds of candid men, offered to have any number of cows blanketed, so that only their posteriors could be seen, and then judge of their escutcheons, provided a committee should be present at the examination, view it closely, and give a report. Thus pressed, the challenge was accepted, and there was appointed a committee of five of some of the best farmers and dairymen residing near the Experimental farm. It was also understood that any could attend who wished to, and on the day of the examination three of the committee were present, as well as a number of other farmers. The commission examined the first five in the stable, blanketed, then two unblanketed, then two blanketed, and the remaining four unblanketed. The report of this committee is appended herewith. The cows were examined on a farm of Thomas Gawthrop, near West Grove. Afterward a number of cows were examined on several farms in the neighborhood, in the presence of the committee. No longer time was required to form an opinion on the blanketed cows than on the others, and the comparative results can be judged from the accompanying tables.

The commission met them on the day appointed, at the farm of Thomas Gawthrop, and in the presence of the committee (three being present,) and of others, examined seven cows blanketed, and would have examined more, but the committee said it was useless, as they could see, and had full faith that only the escutcheon was considered by the commission. On this farm thirteen head were examined, and the results are herewith given. All then adjourned to the farms of Mark Hughes, Howard Preston, and Everard Conard, and examined other stock in the presence of the committee. The committee’s report will be found annexed, thus setting to rest the charge that the commission were examining by any other than the Guenon test.

Thomas Gawthrop’s account of Cows Examined at Thomas Gawthrop’s Farm, September 20.	The Guenon Commission’s Account of Cows Examined at Thomas Gawthrop’s Farm, September 20.
No. 1.—Victoria.—Grade, Jersey and Durham.	No. 1.—Victoria.*—Grade, Jersey and Durham. Eight years.
Quantity, first.	Quantity, first.
Quality, first.	Quality, first.
A first-class butter cow, and milks well up to time.	Up to her time.
No. 2.—Cecil.—Grade, Jersey.	No. 2.—Cecil.*
Quantity, first.	Quantity, first.
Quality, first. First-class for butter.	Quality, first.
Milks up to time.	Short eight weeks.
No. 3.—Nellie.	No. 3.—Nellie.*—Demijohn, 1.
Quantity, second.	Quantity, second.
Quality, second.	Quality, first.
Dry from ten to twelve weeks.	Short eight weeks.
No. 4.—Lucy.—Recently purchased.	No. 4.—Lucy.*—Flanders, 2d.
Yields three months from calving thirteen quarts.	Quantity, second.
Quality, first.	Quality, first.
	Up to her time.
No. 5.—Lily.—Grade, Jersey.	No. 5.—Lily.*—Grade, Jersey. Flanders, 2d.
Quantity, second.	Quantity, second.
Quality, first.	Quality, first.
Milks up to time.	Dry four to six weeks.
No. 6.—Beauty.—Jersey.	No. 6.—Beauty.—Jersey. Five years old.
Yields fourteen quarts per day.	Quantity, third.
Quality, first.	Quality, second.
Milks to within eight weeks of calving.	Dry two months.
No. 7.—Darby.—Jersey.	No. 7.—Darby.—Jersey. Flanders, 2d.
Quantity, fourteen quarts per day.	Quantity, second.
Quality, first.	Quality, first.
Almost impossible to turn dry, though never excelling in quantity.	Dry four weeks.
No. 8.—Star.—Grade, three quarter Jersey.	No. 8.—Star.†—Grade, three quarter Jersey.
	Flanders, 3d.
Yield with first calf from twelve to fourteen quarts per day, and milks well up to time.	Quantity, second.
Quality, first class.	Quality, first.
	Dry six weeks.
	Her Jersey blood helps to overcome some blemishes on her escutcheon.
No. 9.—Norah.	No. 9.—Norah.†—Grade.
Quantity, first,	Quantity, first.
Quality, first.	Quality, first.
Dry from eight to ten weeks.	Up to her time.
No. 10.—Sallie.‡	No. 10.—Sallie.—Grade. Twelve years. Flanders, 2d.
Quantity, second.	Quantity, 2d.
Quality, second.	Quality, second.
Goes dry eight weeks.	Up to her time.
No. 11.—Dido.‡—Grade.	No. 11.—Dido.—Grade. Left Flanders.
Quantity, twenty quarts.	Quantity, first.
Second in quality.	Quality, second.
Dry from eight to twelve weeks.	Dry three months.
No. 12.—Molly.‡	No. 12.—Molly. Imperfect Flanders.
Yields about sixteen quarts per day.	Quantity, second.
Second-class quality.	Quality, second.
Dry from eight to twelve weeks.	Dry ten weeks.
No. 13. Whiteface‡	No. 13.—Whiteface.—Grade. Curveline, 3d.
Second-class in quantity, fifteen quarts per day.	Quantity, third.
Second quality.	Quality, second.
Dry about ten weeks.	Dry ten weeks.

* These five cows were so blanketed, as to show only the escutcheon.

† These cows were also blanketed.

‡ The last four animals were not blanketed, but were driven up and examined by the commission without any apparent reference to any marks, except the escutcheon. T. G.

Mark Hughes’ Account of his Cows, September 20.	Commission’s Account of Mark Hughes’ Cows.
No. 1.—Lacte.	No. 1.—Lacte.—Jersey thorough-bred. Flanders, second.
Do not know the quantity of milk and butter per week, but gives very rich milk, and milks up to calving.	Quantity and quality, first rate. Milks close to calving.
No. 2. Laura.	No. 2.—Laura.—Jersey thorough-bred. Demijohn, 1st.
Quantity, twenty-four quarts milk per day.	Quantity, first rate.
Quality, sixteen pounds butter per week.	Quality, first class.
Has never been dry; begins to increase in milk about three weeks before calving, and cannot be turned dry.	Milks up to calving.
No. 3.—Topsy.	No. 3.—Topsy.—Grade, Jersey. Ten years. Curveline, 1st.
Quantity, twenty quarts milk per day.	Quantity and quality, first rate.
Quality, makes thirteen pounds butter per week.
Will milk up to calving.	Milks up to calving.

Howard Preston’s Account of His Cows.	Guenon Commission’s Account of Howard Preston’s Cows, September 20.
No. 1.—Grade Durham.	No. 1.—Flanders, 2d.—Grade Durham.
Quantity, second.	Quantity, second.
Quality, second.	Quality, second.
Milks up to her time.	Up to time.
No. 2.—Grade Durham.	No. 2.—Left Flanders.—Grade Durham.
Quantity, second.	Quantity, second.
Quality, second.	Quality, second.
Dry ten weeks.	Dry two months.
No. 3.—Common stock.	No. 3.—Grade stock.—Imperfect Flanders.
Quantity, second.	Quantity, third.
Quality, second.	Quality, second.
Dry eight to ten weeks.	Dry eight weeks.
No. 4.—Grade Durham.	No. 4.—Grade Durham.—Selvage, 2d.
Quantity, third,	Quantity, second.
Quality, second.	Quality, second.
Dry ten weeks.	Dry ten weeks.
No. 5.—Common stock.	No. 5.—Native stock.—Flanders, 3d.
Quantity, second.	Quantity, second.
Quality, second.	Quality, third.
Dry three months.	Dry three months.
No. 6.—Grade Durham.	No. 6.—Grade Durham.—Flanders, 3d.
Quantity, second.	Quantity, third.
Quality, second.	Quality, third.
Dry eight weeks.	Dry six to eight weeks.
No. 7.—Grade Durham.	No. 7.—Grade Durham.—Bicorn, 3d.
Quantity, second.	Quantity, third.
Quality, third.	Quality, third.
Dry ten weeks.	Dry six to eight weeks.
No. 8.—Nelly.—Grade Jersey.	No. 8.—Nelly.—Grade Jersey.—Flandrine
	a Gauche.
Quantity, second.	Quantity, second.
Quality, second.	Quality, second.
Dry eight weeks.	Time, eight weeks.
No. 9.—Jessie.—Grade Jersey.	No. 9.—Jessie.—Grade Jersey.—Selvage.
Quantity, second.	Quantity, second.
Quality, second.	Quality, first.
Milks up to time.	Up to time.
No. 10.—Polly.—Grade Jersey.	No. 10.—Polly.—Grade Jersey.—Flanders, 2d.
Quantity, first.	Quantity, second.
Quality, first.	Quality, second.
Milks up to her time.	Up to time.
No. 11.—Lily.—Common stock.	No. 11.—Lily.—Native stock.—Flanders, 2d.
Quantity, first.	Quantity, first.
Quality, first.	Quality, first.
Dry eight weeks.	Dry four to six weeks.
No. 12.—Blush.—Grade Jersey	No. 12.—Blush.—Grade Jersey. Curveline, 2d.
Quantity, first.	Quantity, second.
Quality, first.	Quantity, second.
Dry six weeks.	Dry six weeks.
No. 13.—Topsy.—Grade Jersey.	No. 13.—Topsy.—Imperfect Curveline.—Grade Jersey.
Quantity, second.	Quantity, third.
Quality, second.	Quality, second.
Dry three months.	Dry three months.
No. 14.—Bonnie.—Common stock.	No. 14.—Bonnie.—Flanders, 1st.—Native stock.
Quantity, first.	Quantity, first.
Quality, first.	Quality, second.
Milks up to her time.	Up to her time.
No. 15.—Daisy.—Common stock	No. 15.—Daisy.—Flanders, 3d.—Native stock.
Quantity, third.	Quantity, third.
Quality, second.	Quality, second.
Dry three months or more.	Dry six weeks.
No. 16.—Katie.—Common stock.	No. 16.—Katie.—Flanders, 2d.—Native stock.
Quantity, third.	Quantity, second.
Quality, second.	Quality, second.
Dry six weeks.	Dry four to six weeks.

Joseph Pyle’s Statement of his Cows:	Guenon Commission’s Account of Joseph Pyle’s Cows:
No. 1.—Fawn.	No. 1.—Red Grade Cow—8 years.—Flanders, 2.
Quantity, 10 to 15 quarts.	Quantity, 14 or 15 quarts.
Quality, very rich milk.	Quality, second.
Dry from four to six weeks.	Dry about ten weeks.
No. 2.—Fancy.	No. 2.—Fancy.—Guernsey. Flanders, 3.
Quantity, 16 to 18 quarts.	Quantity, 18 quarts when fresh, and will begin to reduce and stop two months short of her time.
Quality, milk very good quality.	Quality, first.
Falls off sooner than most cows, and will go dry eight weeks.	Will go two months dry.

This cow had been previously examined, May 11, at Thos. M. Harvey’s farm. Mr. Harvey had since sold her to Mr. Pyle. The following are the two statements at that time:

T. M. Harvey:	Guenon Commission:
Quality, medium.	Quality, medium.
Quantity, 16 quarts and fails fast.	Quantity, poor.
Dry three months.	Dry two months.