The commission, as represented by George Blight and Willis P. Hazard, visited the beautiful farm of William M. Large, on the afternoon of May 31—on a very rainy, unpleasant day, and making the examination of stock a very difficult duty. The stock is a valuable one of thorough-bred and grade Short-Horns and is well fed and otherwise well cared for.
| Wm. M. Large’s Account of his Herd. | Opinions of the State Guenon Commission. |
|---|
| No. 1.—Victoria. | No. 1.—Victoria.—Short-Horn. Flanders, first order. |
| Quantity, 18 quarts. | Quantity, about eighteen quarts. |
| Never tried her on butter but once, then made 10¾ pounds. | Quality, good. |
| Goes dry two months to ten weeks. | Up to her time—say one month. |
| No. 2.—Josephine. | No. 2.—Josephine.—Thorough-bred Short-Horn. Flanders, second order. |
| The Doylestown Agricultural Society offered a premium of $25 for the cow that yielded the most butter; and also $25 for the cow that gave the most milk. The largest yield for a single week 16 pounds 3 ounces. Was tried five times during the year, two months apart; taking the average of the five consecutive trials, would make a trifle over 500 pounds. Awarded the first premium for butter, and second for milk. | |
| Lost the record of pounds of milk. | Quantity, eighteen quarts. |
| Quality, very good. |
| Dry about one month. | About one month dry. |
| No. 3.—Fanny Fern. | No. 3.—Fanny Fern.—Flanders, first order. |
| Quantity, nineteen quarts. | Quantity, twenty quarts. |
| Quality, never tried her butter production. | Quality, first rate. |
| Goes dry five or six weeks. | About up to time, (one month.) |
| No. 4.—Lettie. | No. 4.—Lettie.—Selvage, fifth order. |
| Quantity nine quarts. | Quantity, eight quarts. |
| Quality, never tried her butter qualities, but her milk is rich and good. | Quality, second rate. |
| Goes dry about three months. | Dry four months. |
| No. 5.—Norah. | No. 5.—Norah.—Flanders, imperfect. |
| Quantity, fresh, gives seventeen quarts; holds to it well. | Quantity, eighteen quarts. |
| Quality, has made 10 pounds butter in a week. | Quality, good. |
| Goes dry about two months. | Dry three months. |
| No. 6.—Lucy. | No. 6.—Lucy.—Flanders, fourth. |
| Quantity, thirteen quarts. | Quantity, fourteen quarts. |
| Quality, a less number of pounds will make a pound of butter than most of my other cows; think her milk extra good. | Quality, good, very. |
| Dry some two months. | Dry three months. |
| No. 7.—Bernice. | No. 7.—Bernice.—Flanders, second. |
| Quantity, when fresh, about twelve quarts. | Quantity, twelve quarts. |
| Quality, never tried her butter production. | Quality, good. |
| Goes dry some three months, and has the credit of being the poorest cow in the herd. | Time, eight months out of twelve. |
| No. 8.—Josephine 2d.—First calf. | No. 8.—Josephine 2d.—Curveline, third. |
| Quantity, first calf, eleven quarts. | Quantity, ten to twelve quarts. |
| Quality, never weighed her milk or tried her butter production. | Quality, rich. |
| Cannot tell how long she will go dry. | Goes to two months of her time. |
| No. 9.—Judith. | No. 9.—Judith.—Flanders, first. |
| Quantity, seventeen quarts. | Quantity, eighteen quarts. |
| Quality, on a trial after her first calf was taken away, made 2 ounces less than 8 pounds of butter, done up in lumps for market. | Quality, good. |
| Goes dry six or seven weeks. | Well up to her time (one month or six weeks.) |
“Having been present at the examination of my herd of Short-Horns, by the State Guenon Commission, May 31, 1878, I certify this report is a correct copy of the original records made on the spot, and at separate times; neither party having knowledge of the other’s accounts.
William M. Large.”
The commission visited the farm of Eastburn Reeder on Saturday, June 1, and examined his stock of Jersey and Guernsey breeds in presence of the proprietor and a number of members of the Solebury Farmers’ Club. Mr. Reeder’s account of his herd had been drawn up and placed in the hands of J. S. Williams, Esquire, secretary of the Solebury Farmers’ Club, some ten days before the visit of the commission, and is printed herewith.
The commission was represented by George Blight and Willis P. Hazard, and part of the time by Captain J. C. Morris, of Susquehanna county, at the request of Thomas J. Edge, secretary of the State Board.
Mr. Reeder, not having made in his report any statements of the quality of the milk, except as regards the yield in butter, has sent the commission the following condensed statement of what each cow gave on May 20: