Chapter M: E. Conard

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WEST GROVE, PA., _11 month 7, 1878_.

Joseph Pyle would have signed had he been present at the
examination. Expresses confidence in the system.

T. G.

Examination of J. & J. Darlington’s Cows, October 2d.

The commission visited the herds of Messrs. J. & J. Darlington, October 2, at Darlington station, on Westchester road, Delaware county. These gentlemen make the finest butter and get the largest price in the market. Their dairy is admirably arranged. They have farms of four hundred and eighty acres, and have a herd of one hundred and sixty-seven cows. They had selected about a fair sample of the herd in two lots of cows. The first lot, from No. 9 to 33, was on one farm, and those numbered from 1 to 14 on the other farm. These gentlemen kept no test of the quality of any cow’s milk, and have no exact record of the quantity given by any cow; but as they are experienced dairymen, and thoroughly practical men, they knew about what each cow was giving in milk, and about its general quality, and sufficient to pronounce the grade of each cow, whether first, second, or third class. Therefore, in their record they do not give the exact record, as the committee would have desired, so as to compare with their own estimates, but they give the general qualities of the cow, and the two records must be compared from that stand point. Another matter must be taken into consideration. The Messrs. Darlington are liberal feeders, which accounts partly for their rich, tasty butter, and tends to make their cows do full work. A standard of quarts for first, second, and third class, upon which to estimate the qualities of the cows, was agreed upon between the commission and Messrs. Darlington.

We were present at the examination of our stock by the
Pennsylvania Guenon Commission, on October 2d, and have
examined the accounts here rendered, with the original written
opinions, and find them to correspond. The accounts were given
by both parties without either knowing anything of the accounts
of the other.

(Signed) J. & J. DARLINGTON.

Having given the results of their work, the commission would now leave the further solution of the problem to the practical dairymen of the State. They, of course, expect that not only their report, but also the correctness of the system, will be criticised; but if this criticism is conducted with a spirit of fairness, and with a view to obtain the truth, they fully believe the result will be favorable.

By direction of the commission.

WILLIS P. HAZARD,
_Secretary_.

ADDENDA.

The appointment of a commission by Governor Hartranft, in 1878, to investigate and verify the theories of M. Guenon in judging and selecting milch cows, has resulted in much good to the agricultural community. The members of that commission, including Mr. George Blight, who acted upon a similar committee in 1853, thoroughly imbued with the accuracy of the system and the desire to extend its usefulness, have continued to explain this mode of selecting cows whenever an opportunity offered. This has been very frequent, and many hundred cows have been examined in public, and the system explained in every section of the country.

It is fortunate that all other modes of judging cows do not militate against M. Guenon’s views; they give the judge only a more certain mode, and, if he has had much practice, a nearly infallible one. There are some points which are in full unison with Guenon’s views, but do not appear in his work, and may be spoken of as follows:

1st. All bovine animals have on the skin of the back a _quirl in the hair_, which seems to be a sort of dividing line or point between the hair on the front of the animal and that on the hinder portion. This should be found in the center of the ridge of the animal, that is, equi-distant from the head as from the root of the tail, and should be well defined, but of short fine hair. Frequently it is to be seen on the shoulder; when there, coarse hair is generally the accompaniment, and with that, a thick or tough skin, and no great milking qualities, or if much milk is given, it is not for a long time, nor is the milk of rich quality. The heaviest milkers have this mark, usually on the middle of the back, and the richest, with short fine hair. In short, the nearer the middle of the back, and the smaller the quirl and the finer the hair, the most generally will the cow be the better milker and of the richest quality. This mark Mr. Blight and myself have been testing for a long time, and we feel now that we can recommend it as a very good additional point to judge from.

2d. The tail should be long and squarely placed on the animal at the root, and of thin fine quality, with a good curly or corkscrew switch, and the bone of the tail should extend fully down to the knee and as much below it as possible. The horns should be small, waxy, and crumpled inwards and downwards a little. If they are long, they should be thin and sometimes rather flat.

3d. Bulls; the same remarks apply to these. Their hind legs should resemble, as much as possible, those of the cow, with great length between the hoof and the first joint; this indicates their aptitude to beget heifer calves and good milkers.

4th. On raising calves, proper nourishment should be given; if stinted, the inferior parts develop to the injury of the better; the head and horns will be out of proportion to the rest of the body.

The Breeding and Value of well-selected Butter Cows.

We have frequently endeavored to show that one of the most important advantages of Guenon’s system is, that it enables every owner of cows to tell the good from the bad cows, and that by weeding out the poor ones, and raising the tone of his herd, he will increase his profits, and if every farmer in the State will do the same, the increased value of all herds, and the increased results in profits, would amount to many millions yearly.

Pertinent to this subject, Mr. J. H. Walker, of Worcester, Massachusetts, the owner of a very choice herd of Jerseys, embracing members of the Alphea, Victor, and Pansy families, has prepared an article on the BREEDING AND VALUE OF BUTTER COWS, which proves, by tables showing the net results of good and bad cows, the theory that good cows will pay better than poor ones as an investment. We digest his remarks as follows:

In New England, a pound of butter can be made for less money than a pound and a half of beef, taking the animals at birth or beginning with animals two years old.

Taking any good herd of Jersey cows, old and young, from the time the heifers first come in milk, and it will average to make two thirds as many pounds of butter per annum as any person in New England can make in pounds of beef, on any herd of any breed.

The beef is worth six to nine cents, and the butter from twenty to forty cents.

Furthermore, every farmer should know what the difference is in the actual value of the different cows he owns, rating their value upon the money he gets for their product.

An ordinary cow will make about two hundred pounds of butter a year. The tables are intended to show what the difference is in the value of different cows for producing butter, taking as a basis the payment of thirty dollars for a cow that will make two hundred pounds of butter per annum, and for different amounts up to six hundred pounds per annum, assuming that the cow will die at twelve years of age. The interest upon the first cost of the cow, and on her product for each year, is compounded at the rate of six per cent. per annum, up to the day it is assumed the cow will die, taking no account of the value of the stock bred from her.

As long as every business is done upon the basis of interest on investments, we must treat the question of values as applied to cows on that basis. This is the only way to accurately prove the difference in value between one cow and another.

Table A.

If the cow cost thirty dollars, the keeping per annum twenty-five dollars, and the butter sells for twenty-five cents a pound, the _profits_ on the cows will be as follows, viz:

Paying $30 00 for a 200 pound cow, he will get in ten years, $170 00
” 189 97 ” 300 ” ” ” 235 03
” 348 86 ” 400 ” ” ” 299 89
” 504 39 ” 500 ” ” ” 363 11
” 671 61 ” 600 ” ” ” 428 39

Table B.

_Including interest_ on all items, a farmer will make on each cow as follows, (made on a basis of twenty-five cents a pound for butter, and twenty-five dollars a year for keeping,) viz:

Paying $30 00 for a 200 pound cow, he will get in ten years, $195 73
” 125 00 ” 300 ” ” ” 313 06
” 250 00 ” 400 ” ” ” 374 15
” 350 00 ” 500 ” ” ” 474 52
” 450 00 ” 600 ” ” ” 595 91

Table C.

Reckoning the annual cost of keeping at thirty-five dollars, and butter at thirty cents a pound, _reckoning interest_ on her cost, and on all receipts from her, a farmer will make on each cow as follows, viz:

Paying $30 00 for a 200 pound cow, he will get in ten years, $182 87
” 125 00 ” 300 ” ” ” 354 78
” 250 00 ” 400 ” ” ” 483 49
” 350 00 ” 500 ” ” ” 654 17
” 450 00 ” 600 ” ” ” 811 59

Table D.

On an annual cost of keeping of fifty dollars, and price of butter at thirty-five cents:

Paying $30 00 for a 200 pound cow, he will get in ten years, $95 76
” 125 00 ” 300 ” ” ” 318 39
” 250 00 ” 400 ” ” ” 507 46
” 350 00 ” 500 ” ” ” 744 20
” 450 00 ” 600 ” ” ” 960 90

Assuming that each cow, costing at two years old the price named in the tables, will die at twelve years old, the actual value of cows to practical farmers, making annually the different amounts of butter named, is shown.

They show what the cow will make in the ten years, and also what a farmer can afford to pay for each cow making the different amounts of butter named. They show the different amounts the farmer, who buys one of each of the cows named, paying the prices named for each of the five, will make on each, provided no interest is reckoned on the price paid for the cow, or on the butter made from her, during ten years.

These figures are certainly startling to any one who has not taken the trouble to examine this subject, much more so to the farmer who never figures carefully, and does exactly as his father did before him, without regard to the altered circumstances that surround him.

The farmer who shakes his head wisely at his more enterprising neighbor, and insists that cows making as much butter as is mentioned in these five tables do not live and never did, should know that the thorough-bred Jersey cows, Jersey Belle of Scituate, of the Victor family, made 705 pounds of butter in twelve consecutive months; that Eurotas, of the Alphia family, made 778 pounds of butter between November 12, 1879, and October 15, 1880, and dropped a heifer calf on November 4, 1880; that Pansy, sired by Living Storm, dam Dolly 2d, sired by Emperor 2d, made in her four year old form 574 pounds of butter in one year; that imported Flora made 511 pounds of butter in fifty weeks; that Countess made 16 pounds of butter on grass only, when fourteen years old. These well-established facts no intelligent, fair-minded man now disputes, and it is confidently believed that many more Jerseys will make as much butter as have any of those mentioned.

The question which at once suggests itself to farmers who are not satisfied with their present animals, is that of capital. The answer is, “admitting the above figures to be correct, I have no capital to pay the high prices demanded for the best Jersey cows, and I must therefore forego that improvement of my herd, which I know I ought to make.” Let us see if this is so.

By any process of reasoning, the “bull is half the herd.” Each cow contributes to one calf each year half its qualities. The bull contributes to every calf produced in the herd half its qualities. Some horse-breeders will talk only of the excellences of the stallion. Some farmers will talk only of the excellences of the cows. Both are mistaken. The sire and the dam, each contribute to their offspring, on the average, exactly the same proportion of their excellences or defects.

Some bulls are so powerfully organized as to be able to stamp their qualities, good or bad, on nearly every one of their progeny, as are some cows; but these are the rare exceptions. Each contribute the same, as a rule. No scientific investigator of the breeding problem, or careful breeder, would any sooner select the offspring of a 600 pound butter cow, got by a bull from a 200 pound butter family, than he would a heifer got by a full brother to the 600 pound butter cow from a full sister to the 200 pound butter bull.

Using a bull from a 400 pound butter family, on heifers from a 200 pound butter family, is just as likely to produce heifers that will make from two hundred to four hundred pounds of butter annually, averaging a yield of three hundred pounds; as the using of a bull from a 200 pound butter family on cows of a 400 pound butter family, would be to reduce the yield of some of the heifers to two hundred pounds, and the average to three hundred pounds. The increasing the butter yield of the heifers from a herd of cows one half by using a bull on them from a family or breed that make twice as much, or the reverse, can be relied upon as certainly as any expected result in the most uncertain of all business, namely: that of breeding.

If these statements are correct, what had a farmer better pay for a bull from a 400 pound butter family, to use on his herd of ten 200 pound butter cows, rather than use a bull from a 200 pound butter family?

It may be said that the keeping would cost more, because the higher bred product must be kept better. There is some truth in this, but the better keeping would affect favorably the poorer animals as well, and whatever the extra feed would cost, it would carry the value of the average yield as much above the figures we are making, as the extra feed would cost.

The ten 200 pound butter cows, in ten years would pay a profit of $1,957 30. If the ten cows bred from them, by using the 400 pound butter bull, would make half as much again butter at the same cost, the general product would be increased by one half, and leave the sum to be deducted for keeping the same, for if the two year old 200 pound butter heifer could be raised for $30, so could the better bred one. The profit on each of them, deducting $54 18, cost of cow, will be $484 64—on the ten, $4,846 40, and on the 200 pound butter cows, the profits would be $1,957 30. The advantages reaped by the farmer who has the product for ten years of heifers bred by using the better bull, will be $2,889 10 more than on the 200 pound butter cows.

If he paid for his bull $1,500, and the bull and all his cows died at twelve years old, the farmer would be as well off as he would have been to have used the 200 pound butter bull.

But there is no necessity of paying $1,500 for a 400 pound butter bull. One hundred dollars will buy a Jersey bull, six weeks old, from a 400 pound butter family, and he will be old enough to use in twelve months. The $100 paid for him, at six per cent. compound interest, would amount to $191 61, in eleven years. The profit on ten butter cows making three hundred pounds over the ten cows making two hundred pounds in ten years, being $2,800, by deducting the $191 61 for the bull that produced them, (counting nothing for the 200 pound butter bull, for he is good-for-nothing,) the actual advantage reaped by the farmer with intelligence and enterprise enough to secure the better bull, in the ten years after his heifers come in, is over $2,500 on the butter alone. The animals are counted of no value when twelve years old, as the price got for those living beyond that age would average to pay only for the losses caused by accident to animals before reaching that age. These figures take no account of the skim-milk or buttermilk, for they are nearly the same in either case, and will pay the taxes and for the care of the animals; but there is one very important source of profit that is not reckoned, and that is the extra value of the progeny, which is shown by the following table, to be $17,424 48.

There must be no mistake made in procuring a Jersey bull calf.

Although, as a breed, they are twice to three times as valuable for butter as common cows, yet any farmer who buys or uses a Jersey bull, because he is a Jersey bull, will sorely repent his venture.

Buy a bull only from the very best families of Jerseys. They are cheaper than the gift of an average good one.

The idea that it costs more to keep Jersey cows than common cows, or that Jersey cows will not take on flesh, for beef, as readily as other breeds, is true in one view, and very erroneous in another and more correct one.

What a Jersey eats, beyond a limited amount, increases the quantity and richness of her milk, not her flesh, and the amount of flesh she carries is proportionally less for any extra feed, because it does not make flesh, but increases the butter globules in her milk. Again, any other breed can be readily dried off at any time, and being dry, or giving but little milk, and that of poor quality, they readily take on flesh, but a good Jersey is “dried off” with great difficulty, and herein she greatly excels all other breeds. Hundreds of Jerseys, milking twelve to sixteen quarts at their flush, hold out so evenly, that they will give many more quarts of milk, and of double the richness, in a year, than eighteen to twenty-four quart cows, of other families, that are dry several months of the year.

It is the experience of every breeder of Jerseys that, _being dry_, they will take on flesh as fast, with a given quantity and quality of feed, as other breeds, not exclusively beef producers.

They are not good for beef, simply because they are good for butter.

From Jersey cows, a farmer in New England can make a pound of butter worth thirty-five cents, with a less quantity of food than they now use to make a pound and one half of beef worth nine cents.

If farmers think there is some error in these statements, they will, like sensible men whose prosperity depends upon the result, sit down and figure out the results for themselves.

Those who talk loudest against them, will hold on to a cow in their herd that has a little Jersey blood in her; and if they put a price on her, it will be from half as much again, to double that of the finer formed cow standing beside her, guiltless of having any Jersey blood in her veins.

If there is an animal to be had any better than the bull any one is now using, it ought to be secured at once. So with cows, but by all means change at once for a better, any bull, however good.

It is not claimed for any of the tables herewith presented, that they show absolutely the value of any cow to any farmer, but only that they are relatively correct. Every man who consults them, must make his own adjustments as to cost and receipts on any cow he owns. It is clear, that adding a very little to the cost of keeping, and deducting a very little from the price of butter, will show that any 200 pound butter cow brings her owner in debt, each year. Again, there are probably hundreds of cows kept for the dairy, that will not make two hundred pounds of butter in one year on the same feed Jersey Belle of Scituate, had when she made seven hundred and five pounds of butter in one year. It may be said that no allowance is made for any accidents to which a cow is liable—to abort, to have a calf die at birth, to injury, &c., and the thought is present that the loss on the poorer animal is not so much, in that case, as on the better; but the better is no more liable to such a case, and the loss is nearly the same proportionally. But it is still true, that the nearer to absolute worthlessness animals are, the less the loss, relatively and absolutely, their owner suffers in their injury. Better remember, however, that “blessed be nothing” is not the ejaculation of the healthful, the enterprising, and the successful, but of desperate disease, incapacity, or idleness.

Table E.

Showing the value of the progeny of a herd of 32 cows, that each make 300 pounds of butter annually, at the expiration of ten years, together with the value of the butter the progeny will have made during the ten years. Also showing the same on a herd of 32 cows, each making 200 pounds of butter annually. No account is taken of the bull calves, for they are worth nothing. No one can afford to use a bull, however good, if one is to be had that is any better.

================================================================
|| 200 POUND BUTTER HERD. |
-------+-----------+----------++----------+--------+-----------+
On |The | Coming ||Value of |Value of|Total value|
January|original | in milk ||butter |heifers |of the |
1st, |herd of | at 2, ||at the |at end |heifers |
of the |32 will | will make||end of ten|of ten |and their |
year— |drop— | butter— ||years. |years. |product. |
-------+-----------+----------++----------+--------+-----------+
1881 |16 heifers,| 8 years, ||$3,174 46 | $160 | $3,334 46 |
1882 |16 ” | 7 ” || 2,724 54 | 160 | 2,884 54 |
1883 |16 ” | 6 ” || 2,247 04 | 320 | 2,567 04 |
1884 |16 ” | 5 ” || 1,740 32 | 480 | 2,220 32 |
1885 |16 ” | 4 ” || 1,202 72 | 480 | 1,682 72 |
1886 |16 ” | 3 ” || 632 32 | 480 | 1,112 32 |
1887 |16 ” | 2 ” || 208 64 | 480 | 688 64 |
1888 |16 ” | 1 ” || | 480 | 480 00 |
1889 |16 ” | yearling,|| | 288 | 288 00 |
1890 |16 ” | calf, || | 96 | 96 00 |
----------------------------------------------------------------
Product of the Second Generation.
----------------------------------------------------------------
1883 | 8 heifers,| 6 years, ||$1,122 52 | 160 | $1,283 54 |
1884 | 8 ” | 5 ” || 870 16 | 240 | 1,110 16 |
1885 | 8 ” | 4 ” || 601 36 | 240 | 841 36 |
1886 | 8 ” | 3 ” || 316 16 | 240 | 556 16 |
1887 | 8 ” | 2 ” || 104 32 | 240 | 344 32 |
1888 | 8 ” | 1 ” || | 240 | 240 00 |
1889 | 8 ” | yearling,|| | 144 | 144 00 |
1890 | 8 ” | calf, || | 48 | 48 00 |
----------------------------------------------------------------
Product of the Third Generation.
----------------------------------------------------------------
1885 | 4 heifers,| 4 years, || $300 68 | 120 | $420 68 |
1886 | 4 ” | 3 ” || 158 08 | 120 | 278 08 |
1887 | 4 ” | 2 ” || 52 16 | 120 | 172 16 |
1888 | 4 ” | 1 ” || | 120 | 120 00 |
1889 | 4 ” | yearling,|| | 72 | 72 00 |
1890 | 4 ” | calf, || | 24 | 24 00 |
----------------------------------------------------------------
Product of the Fourth Generation.
----------------------------------------------------------------
1887 | 2 heifers,| 2 years, || $26 08 | 60 | $86 08 |
1888 | 2 ” | 1 ” || | 60 | 60 00 |
1889 | 2 ” | yearling,|| | 36 | 36 00 |
1890 | 2 ” | calf, || | 12 | 12 00 |
----------------------------------------------------------------
Product of the Fifth Generation.
----------------------------------------------------------------
1889 | 1 heifer, | yearling,|| | 18 | 18 00 |
1890 | 1 ” | calf, || | 6 | 6 00 |
================================================================
Total value of progeny from herd of 32 in 10 years, $21,226 58

Value of progeny, $663 33 on each 200 pound cow.

===============================================================
|| 300 POUND BUTTER HERD.
-------+-----------+----------++----------+--------+-----------
On |The | Coming ||Value of |Value of|Total value
January|original | in milk ||butter |heifers |of the
1st, |herd of | at 2, ||at the |at end |heifers
of the |32 will | will make||end of ten|of ten |and their
year— |drop— | butter— ||years. |years. |product.
-------+-----------+----------++----------+--------+-----------
1881 |16 heifers,| 8 years, ||$6,973 12 | $1,216 | $8,189 12
1882 |16 ” | 7 ” || 6,073 12 | 1,824 | 7,897 12
1883 |16 ” | 6 ” || 5,117 92 | 2,432 | 7,549 92
1884 |16 ” | 5 ” || 4,104 32 | 3,040 | 7,144 32
1885 |16 ” | 4 ” || 3,029 12 | 3,040 | 6,069 12
1886 |16 ” | 3 ” || 1,888 32 | 3,040 | 4,928 32
1887 |16 ” | 2 ” || 980 48 | 3,040 | 4,020 48
1888 |16 ” | 1 ” || 340 32 | 3,040 | 3,380 32
1889 |16 ” | yearling,|| | 2,000 | 2,000 00
1890 |16 ” | calf, || | 960 | 960 00
---------------------------------------------------------------
Product of the Second Generation.
---------------------------------------------------------------
1883 | 8 heifers,| 6 years, ||$2,558 96 | 1,216 | $3,774 96
1884 | 8 ” | 5 ” || 2,052 16 | 1,520 | 3,572 16
1885 | 8 ” | 4 ” || 1,514 56 | 1,520 | 3,034 56
1886 | 8 ” | 3 ” || 944 16 | 1,520 | 2,464 16
1887 | 8 ” | 2 ” || 490 24 | 1,520 | 2,010 24
1888 | 8 ” | 1 ” || 170 16 | 1,520 | 1,690 16
1889 | 8 ” | yearling,|| | 1,000 | 1,000 00
1890 | 8 ” | calf, || | 480 | 480 00
---------------------------------------------------------------
Product of the Third Generation.
---------------------------------------------------------------
1885 | 4 heifers,| 4 years, || $757 28 | 760 | $1,517 28
1886 | 4 ” | 3 ” || 472 08 | 760 | 1,232 08
1887 | 4 ” | 2 ” || 245 12 | 760 | 1,005 12
1888 | 4 ” | 1 ” || 85 08 | 760 | 845 08
1889 | 4 ” | yearling,|| | 500 | 500 00
1890 | 4 ” | calf, || | 240 | 240 00
---------------------------------------------------------------
Product of the Fourth Generation.
---------------------------------------------------------------
1887 | 2 heifers,| 2 years, || $122 56 | 380 | $502 56
1888 | 2 ” | 1 ” || 42 54 | 380 | 422 54
1889 | 2 ” | yearling,|| | 250 | 250 00
1890 | 2 ” | calf, || | 120 | 120 00
---------------------------------------------------------------
Product of the Fifth Generation.
---------------------------------------------------------------
1889 | 1 heifer, | yearling,|| | 125 | 125 00
1890 | 1 ” | calf, || | 60 | 60 00
===============================================================
Total value of progeny from herd of 32 in 10 years, $76,984 62

Value of progeny, $2,405 77 on each 300 pound cow.

NOTICES OF THE PRESS.

“The whole system is very clearly laid down, so that any one, by practice and study, may learn from this work how to use it. The arguments for and against are also set forth, with proofs of the value of the system. Our dairymen would do well to study the subject and be able to guess as well as the members of the commission on the value of the cows examined by them.”—_American Dairymen._

“In itself, the system is very simple, and, with care, easily understood; and, taking into consideration its great importance, should be studied and acquired by all who are directly or indirectly interested in farming, and as so many opportunities are offering to obtain a practical knowledge of the method, there can be no excuse for ignorance any longer. The system of judging the value of cows has become so thoroughly arranged that with a little practice, enough can be learned from it in a short time to serve any one making use of it, and thereby avoiding loss.

“The bulls are found marked with corresponding designs, as far as the sex permits, which indicate unerringly their good and poor qualities; and thus by a wise use of the knowledge acquired through the Guenon method, stock breeders can judiciously, and with almost certainty, select their cattle for the purposes in view, either for milking, butter-making, or beef, according to their desire, for all these results follow its teachings.”—_State Fair Daily._

“Mr. Hazard has given us a most interesting work upon a system that has gained the respect and consideration of thinking farmers the world over.”—_Farm and Fireside, Springfield, Ohio._

“Mr. Hazard is, no doubt, the best posted supporter of the system in this country, and may be regarded as authority. If his recommendations for the selection of dairy stock are worthless then the whole Guenon system may be condemned as being utterly fallacious. His book deserves careful attention from intelligent farmers.”—_Bucks County Intelligencer._

“In a majority of cases, the marks have been reliable, and this should incite all dairy folks to know what is said about it.”—_Meehan’s Gardner’s Monthly._

“It embraces a sketch of Guenon, and the progress of his discovery; extracts from his preface explaining his views; an explanation of his system of escutcheon marks; descriptions of the various escutcheons and their indications of value and quantity, and directions how to apply them in practice, together with the report of the commission of which the author served as secretary. Nearly one hundred illustrations are given, those of the escutcheons being photographed from the drawings in Guenon’s last revised edition.”—_Country Gentleman and Cultivator._

“Remarkable as was M. Guenon’s method, and although his discoveries were duly made known in this country, this is the first time that his methods have been compiled for practical use. By the use of this little handbook, there can be no doubt, but that farmers and stock raisers would save a vast amount of money. The explanations are simple and easily followed, the numerous illustrations serving to elucidate the text.”—_Boston Evening Traveler._

“Beginning with a little sketch of the method of the birth of the system in Guenon’s mind, the author goes on in a clear and concise manner to explain by plain language and appropriate drawings, the various so called ‘milk mirrors’ and their values, being properly understood, as aids in selecting good dairy stock. The various opinions of those adverse to the ‘theory’ are fairly discussed, and the reports of various agricultural societies which have from time to time investigated it are given, together with the report of the Pennsylvania commission. Taken altogether, Mr. Hazard has succeeded in making a very readable, interesting and valuable book, and one which, whatever may or may not be the preconceived ideas of its reader, cannot fail to interest and instruct him upon a subject which should be far better understood amongst farmers generally, than it at present is.”—_New England Homestead._

“A very valuable pamphlet. Mr. Hazard has devoted great attention and study to the subject, with a view of rendering the system popular, and we happen to know that his work is largely appreciated, especially by the farmers of New England, from the number of orders received for the book. The discovery made by Mr. Guenon, and the practical principles founded on it are invaluable, and the saving to the country by its general knowledge will be very great. The State of Pennsylvania, in 1878, appointed a commission to test the system and report on it. Mr. Hazard was a member of the commission, and has added the results of much study and research. He has been invited to lecture and present the subject at the annual meeting of the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture, at Greenfield, and has many invitations and engagements in other places.”—_Massachusetts Ploughman._

“This volume embraces all the essential matters in Guenon’s treatise. It is really a valuable contribution to dairy literature.”—_Southern Cultivator._

“Every farmer should study Guenon.”—_Farm Journal._

“Dairymen and stock raisers should send for a copy.”—_Rural Nebraska._

EXTRACTS FROM THE MUCH LARGER NOTICES OF THE WORK.

HOW TO SELECT COWS; OR, THE GUENON SYSTEM EXPLAINED. By _Willis P. Hazard_. In no way is the march of improvement in agriculture more decided than in the new discoveries and new methods of developing its resources. It is owing to these that America is now the granary of the world, and, as years roll by, if the developments of the next decade are as great in proportion as the last ones, no matter how extensive the foreign demand, there will be an ample supply at still lower prices than at the present. No branch of agricultural interests has changed so much and received such an impetus, especially within the last five years, as the dairy. Entire new modes of making butter and cheese and of setting milk have largely taken place of the old ones. Competition in making dairy products becomes keener each year, and every process by which the labor can be lessened, or the products be cheapened, meets with recompense.

The first step, however, is in the selection of good stock, for by it the product of the herd is increased from twenty-five to thirty-three per cent., and, therefore, the profits must be immensely greater. The old plan of our forefathers of judging of the value of a cow by a crumpled horn and a large bag is now set aside by recent discoveries. The most important and most reliable one is that of Mons. François Guenon, of Libourne, France. After a series of experiments he was convinced there were outward marks in the hair which were an indication of the yield and quality of all cows. Patiently for many years he labored at forming his discoveries into a system, with classes and orders of each variation. He was finally rewarded by the approval of all the leading agricultural societies in France, and by that government with a pension of three thousand francs.

The work of Guenon was partially translated and published in this country years ago, but it was his first crude effort, and it presented the new science in so crude a form as rather to dismay the learner than to invite him to master it. Last year the State of Pennsylvania appointed a commission of three well-known agriculturists and experts to test the system and report upon it. That report was printed and published to the extent of twenty-five thousand copies, which but partially supplied the demand. Messrs. Blight, Harvey, and Hazard examined the escutcheons of two hundred cows, and interpreted them as regards the quantity, quality, and time of the yield of each animal. Alongside of their statements the knowledge of the owner of each cow was printed, and it is truly wonderful how accurately the character of each cow is given by these gentlemen who had never seen the cattle before. The gist of their report was that the system was invaluable and worthy of adoption by every farmer, and such adoption would add millions of value to the improved herds of the country.

Upon the publication of this report, discussions took place in the leading agricultural journals, and thus has been created a demand for more easily to be acquired knowledge upon the whole subject. Willis P. Hazard, the secretary of the commission, has prepared a complete treatise upon Guenon’s system, and it has been just issued in a cheap form, for wide circulation.

Mr. Hazard in his book gives a sketch of the life of M. Guenon and the progress of his system, and then fully explains it, so that in this simplified form any one can quickly learn all the points so as to readily apply it. The opinions of others, both pro and con, are introduced, argued, and answered, so that in this volume one gets a full history and account of the system, and its practical application is made easy. There is a profusion of engravings, photographed from Guenon’s designs, which thoroughly elucidate the text and render it a valuable handbook which no farmer can afford to do without, and which amateur agriculturists will find a most interesting development of a wonderful discovery.—_Philadelphia Inquirer._

“A gentleman well known among the dairymen, and who was appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania to investigate the value and practicability of the Guenon system. He was induced to undertake the explanation of the system, which he has very ably performed in this volume. The low price at which it is offered should induce every one even in the smallest manner engaged in breeding or management of cows to procure a copy of it.”—_American Farmer, Baltimore._

“At the New York State fair, in September, 1879, Mr. Hazard applied the Guenon system to a large number of cows of different breeds on exhibition, and told the amount of milk each gave, as indicated by the escutcheon theory. A committee, with Col. F. D. Curtis as chairman, was appointed to accompany him, and they state in their report that he was generally accurate, not varying in any instance more than two quarts in stating the daily average yield, and in most cases giving the amount exactly, and also the time the cows would give milk. He made his estimate on the average daily yield for the first three months after calving, on liberal feed. In one or two instances he over rated the cows, but generally where there was any difference he was under the amount stated by the owners. Mr. Hazard takes into consideration in his estimates the size of the cow and her whole contour, as well as the character of the skin. His round of observation is first the shape of the escutcheon, then the milk veins and quality of the skin. He offered to have the cows blanketed and then tell their milking capacity, but this was not done. It is fair to say that he judges mainly by the escutcheon. The tests attracted a large circle of breeders, who were greatly interested on account of the novelty and general accuracy.”—_Col. Curtis in New York Tribune._

End of Project Gutenberg's How to Select Cows, by Willis Pope Hazard

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How to Select CowsChapter M: E. Conard

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