The want has long been felt for a hand book which would simplify and explain the invaluable discovery of Guenon, to enable any one to select good stock. There can be no doubt if this discovery is made to be easily acquired, that millions of dollars would be saved to the community by the improvement of herds and a consequent reduction in the price of bovine products, on account of the increased yield and the lower cost of raising it.

The State of Pennsylvania, in 1878, appointed a commission to test the system and report upon it. As a member of that commission, we found there was with many a superficial knowledge of the subject, with others enough acquaintance with the system to destroy their faith in it, and with nearly all a desire to obtain sufficient practical knowledge of the system to enable them to judge understandingly and to practice it.

With a view to fill these wants, we have undertaken the explanation of the system in the following pages to enable all to fill up their measure of knowledge of the system, so that the superficial shall become thorough, the doubting acquire new faith, and all see its merits the more they practice and apply it.

We have accordingly given a sketch of M. Guenon and the progress of his discovery; some extracts from his preface explaining his views; an explanation of his system of escutcheon marks; a description of the various escutcheons and their indications of value and quantity, and directions how to practically apply them, together with the report of the Pennsylvania Guenon Commission.

Believing that we have thus presented a comprehensive view of this discovery, we trust every one into whose hands this work may come, will patiently, book in hand, go into the farm-yard and judge of the value of his stock by the rules here set forth, compare the results with his individual knowledge of his stock, and fairly estimate the value of the system.

The illustrations of the escutcheons are photographed from Guenon’s drawings in his last revised edition.

WILLIS P. HAZARD.

Maple Knoll, West Chester, Pa., September, 1879.