Chapter C: L. Sharpless on the Escutcheon (2)

Text size

The commission and Mr. Durnall agree as to the best cow, selected from the first six on this list—on the one side by the marks, and on the other from his knowledge.

“Having compared the annexed account of the qualities of
the seventeen cows of my herd, examined by the State Guenon
Commission, with the originals of the accounts as given by both
parties at separate times, and taken down upon the spot, I
believe it to be a true and faithful transcript of the original
record of the examination.

SAMUEL J. SHARPLESS.”

PHILADELPHIA, _May 20, 1878_.

“I was present at the examination of Mr. Sharpless’ herd
of Jerseys, made on the 10th of May by the State Guenon
Commission, and having examined the accounts of the herd given
by me, as hereto annexed, with the original entries of those
given by me, and also the accounts of the commission, with
the original written opinions, do certify that the annexed
are faithful transcripts of the records made by each party at
separate times, and that the statements were unknown to each
other.

E. J. DURNALL,
_Herdsman for Samuel J. Sharpless_.”

LENAPE FARM, _May 20, 1878_.

The Commission at Strode’s Farm.

The members of the Guenon Commission visited the dairy farm of Marshall Strode & Son, who have a large butter factory, and are celebrated for their first-class butter, and they examined seventeen head of grade dairy stock, and according to the testimony of Mr. Strode, who accompanied them in their examination, were successful in judging according to the Guenon system, fifteen cows out of seventeen examined. Viewed May 10.

Present, Messrs. Harvey, Blight, Hazard, and Edge.

“Having been present when the members of the Guenon Commission
examined seventeen of our herd, and having witnessed the
accuracy with which they determined the quality of the stock
inspected, we bear testimony to the fact that their judgment
was correct, according to our experience with the cows, in
fifteen cases out of seventeen, and even in these two they were
partially successful. And we are more confirmed in our previous
belief in the value of the system, as we never buy a cow for a
good one that is not well marked. We run a dairy of seventy-one
cows.

Yours truly,

MARSHALL STRODE & SONS.”

EAST BRADFORD, _May 15, 1878_.

Examination of Thomas M. Harvey’s Stock of Jerseys and Guernseys, May 11, 1878.

In this examination two cows which had already been examined
and reported upon by the commission were, without their
knowledge, afterwards brought up for another examination, in
which their opinion as recorded, agreed almost exactly with the
one previously recorded, thus affording a strong proof of the
value of the system. See reports of No. 1, Betsy, and Nos. 4
and 20, Beauty. (Secretary of Board of Agriculture.)

This herd is one of the finest in the State. The cows are kept in good condition, and being well fed, the yield is very large per head. Their product is first class butter, and should bring the highest price in the market.

The commission examined, in addition to the twenty-five cows on this list, Mr. Harvey’s Guernsey imported bull “Sir Champion,” which is thoroughly well marked; perhaps, the best marked bull in the country. The value of his get is, therefore, very decided. It shows most conclusively the importance of a bull from good milking stock, and that he should have a good escutcheon. The importance of a good sire to stamp his qualities upon his descendants was conclusively proved by Mr. Harvey’s younger stock. The commission examined a young bull of seven months age, which was as perfectly and beautifully marked as his sire, and as nearly the same shape escutcheon as his sire’s as could possibly be. Mr. Harvey has since sold him for $100, to Colonel R. M. Hoe.

Nos. 9½ and 9¾ prove also the gain to a herd from a well marked bull. These were yearlings of Champion’s get. No. 9½ was a great improvement upon the mother, No. 9, Carrie, of this list.

In the statements of the commission as to quantity, they have not mentioned the number of quarts, as the amounts given by most of this herd are superior to the generality, even of Guernseys; and, owing to good selection and careful handling by their owner, the commission judge that the number of quarts would be larger than usual.

In the above account will be noticed a few with the mark * which Mr. Harvey said indicates that the amount of milk given and the quality was largely increased by extra feeding.

“I was present at the examination of our herd of Guernseys,
Jerseys, and grades, by the Guenon Commission, on the eleventh
of fifth month, 1878, and I have examined their report and
compared it with the originals written on the spot, (the
contents of which were before now unknown to me,) and I
testify to the annexed report being an accurate copy of the
opinions recorded by them at the time of examination. The
statements made by me were handed to members of the commission
on twenty-first instant, and are as nearly accurate as my own
knowledge, and that of the persons who had the immediate care
of the herd, and an interest in the proceeds of the dairy,
could make them.

THOS. M. HARVEY.”

WEST GROVE, _27th of 5th month, 1878_.

“Having had the immediate care of the herd of Thomas M. Harvey,
and an interest in the proceeds of the dairy for six years, and
being well acquainted with the merits of each member of the
herd, I can certify that the statements we have made to the
Guenon Commission are correct to the best of our knowledge and
belief, and were made more than a week after the commission
had recorded their opinions; which opinions were unknown to
us until the present time. I have also compared the record of
opinions herewith with the originals, and find them to be a
correct transcript of them.

CLARKSON MOORE.”

“Having had the immediate care of the herd within alluded to,
and an interest in the proceeds thereof for the past eleven
months, I can certify that I united with Clarkson Moore in
making the statement relative to the quality and productiveness
of the cows examined by the Guenon commission. I was from home
when they were here, and knew nothing of their opinions when we
made up our statement.

ZEBEDEE HAINES.”

_Fifth month, 28th, 1878._

“I was present on Saturday, March 11, 1878, at the farm of
Thomas M. Harvey, when the examination of that portion of
his herd was made by the Guenon Commission, from Nos. 10 to
25, inclusive, of their report. I have compared the original
recorded opinions of the commission with the report herewith,
and find the latter correct.

N. J. SHARPLES,
_President of the Experimental Farm Club_.”

Examination of William M. Large’s Herd, Chestnut Grove, Doylestown, Bucks County.

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.

“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.”

CHESTNUT GROVE, _7th month, 3d, 1878_.

Report of the Examination of the Stock of Eastburn Reeder, of Rabbit Run Stock Farm, New Hope, Bucks County, Pa.

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:

No. 1, Belle, 10 quarts.
No. 2, Topsy, 14 ”
No. 3, Firefly, 12 ”
No. 4, Isabelle, 8 ”
No. 5, Marian, 14 ”
No. 6, Urania, 12 ”
No. 7, Florentia, 10 ”
No. 8, Paunacussing, 8 ”
No. 9, Lady Delaware, 6 ”
--
Total for nine cows, 94 ”
==
Yield of the herd, May 20, 94 quarts.
Yield of the herd in seven days, 658 ”
Butter in seven days, 67 pounds.
Quantity of milk to one pound of butter, 9 55/67 qts.

This statement of the number of quarts required to make a pound of butter from Jersey and Guernsey stock, it will be seen, carries out the conclusions of the commission, who estimated the quality of this herd, as well fed and not too long milked stock of these breeds should give a pound of butter to every nine quarts of milk.

“Having been present at the examination of my herd by the State
Guenon Commission, on Saturday, June 1, 1878, and having since
examined their report by the original record made on the spot
by them, and compared it with my account of the herd, handed to
Mr. J. S. Williams, May 21, or more than one week before they
made the examination, I do certify that the accompanying report
is correct and true.

EASTBURN REEDER,
_New Hope, Bucks county, Pa._”

RABBIT RUN FARM, _June 15, 1878_.

“I certify that Eastburn Reeder handed me his account of his
herd ten days before the examination was made by the State
Guenon Commission; that I was present with others at the
examination; that the two reports were compared in the presence
of a number, shortly after the examination, and were generally
satisfactory; and that I have now examined the accompanying
reports by the two original records, made at separate times as
above mentioned, and have found them correct and true copies of
said original records.

J. S. WILLIAMS,
_Secretary of the Solebury Farmers’ Club_.”

_June 15, 1878._

Examination of Eastburn Reeder’s Herd.

Examination of Moses Eastburn’s Cow, Beauty.

“This is to certify that I was present at the examination of my
cow, Beauty, this first of sixth month, 1878, by the committee
to test the Guenon system, and find their report to correspond
with the within statement.

MOSES EASTBURN.”

SOLEBURY, BUCKS COUNTY.

Examination of Colonel James Young’s Herd, at Middletown.

The Commission visited the large farms of Colonel James Young, near Middletown, and examined thirty-seven head of cows and heifers, among which were some of the finest Jersey cows in the State. His whole stock is well-fed and cared for, and are in fine condition. He supplies Middletown with the best of milk. Colonel Young does not keep a record of the performances of his cows, and the commission were therefore obliged to examine the cows, and after making their record, to compare it, item by item of each cow separately, with the knowledge of them had by his very intelligent dairy-woman, who has charge of the cows and the milk, and knows their characters as milk and butter producers well; also has a record of the times of calving of all the cows. The estimates of the commission agreed with hers, on all the hundred and eleven points, except nine points, and where they differed, that difference was in two cases on the quality, and in the other cases on the time. The commission attribute their unanimity on this herd, to the careful selection and breeding of Colonel Young, to his good feeding, and the excellent care that the animals have. These points constantly looked after, maintain the excellence of the herd, and as a consequence the escutcheons correspond, for, as the colonel says, “he never saw a good escutcheon without being on a good animal, and never saw a good animal without a good escutcheon.”

MIDDLETOWN, _November 1, 1878_.

“We were present when the commission visited our farms, and
examined the stock, and we think they judged rightly of it, in
nearly every case—we should say within five per cent. of being
entirely correct.

We have examined the account to be printed with the original
record, and find it to be correct and corresponding.

JAMES YOUNG,
JAMES S. YOUNG.”

Examination of the Herd of William Calder, Esq., Harrisburg.

The commission visited one of the farms of William Calder, near Harrisburg. This gentleman has seven farms, containing nine hundred acres, and keeps a variety of stock. On the farm visited, near the reservoir, the commission examined eight head of grade stock, in very good order, on good September pasturage. The dairyman, a very intelligent man, had no record of the exact quantity and quality of the stock, but, as he milked them himself, a knowledge of their general qualities; and upon hearing the decision of the commission upon each cow, assented to the character given of all of them, except on two points: on one as to yield, and on another as to time. It was pleasing to notice the surprise and delight expressed by him at the exhibition, of entire strangers to the herd, of such accurate knowledge of them as the system showed it could give. And he determined to acquire it forthwith.

The commission saw a very fine black grade cow, with the calf by her side a perfect specimen of the Belted stock, though sired by a thorough-bred Jersey bull—to be accounted for only by the fact that the cow had been served by a Belted bull the third time before this one.

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.

* 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.

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:

COMMISSION’S ACCOUNT OF MILTON E. CONARD’S COWS:

_No. 1._—LILY.—Grade, Guernsey. Bicorn, 1.
Quantity, about 20 quarts.
Quality, first.
Milks up to her time.

_No. 2._—FLOYD.—Flanders, 1.
Quantity, 18 quarts.
Quality, very good.
Milks up to her time.

This is a very correct description of my cows, Lily and Floyd.

Previous Next

Comments

How to Select CowsChapter C: L. Sharpless on the Escutcheon (2)

0%25 min left in chapter