Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-09-14

From the Country Gcntlomar
Dairy Farming in Vermont.

The drouth continues, aud the falling Of in
the amount Of milk among the dairics Of Yer
mont is Unprecedented. We have been look
ing about among the farmers and factories
for several days, and we confess to no little
surprise at the low average product Of milk
reported, and while We are willing to concede
very much 10 the uniavorabc season, we can.
not but believe that it would pay very many
Of our farmers to devote a week or a month
to learning their business. Dry seasons have
become so very common that no farmer is
justhable in stocking up for a wet, or even
an average season, and making no special
provision for a drouth. There are whole
towns in which it is impossible to find a sim
gle pasture that is producing feed enough to
give the cows a decent bite Of grass, and yet
il is very rarely the case that farmer is feed
ing anything. Occasionally one has little
patch Of green corn but he is saving it for
some other time or occasion and in all our
circle Of acquaintance we do not hear Of
more than half dozen who are feeding at all.
1t is not only detrimental to the COWS, but de-.
structive to the pastures, to feed them 20
closely. 1t is, however only part Of the
prevailing policy taking all that can be got
from the farm and paying nothing back
Most farmers would feel that it was almost
sacrilegious to let little grass 60 back to
enrich the soil hence they make provision
for getting all, whatever the season, and pun
ish themselves too often by getting inadequate
returns. 1t is undeniabe that the net profit
from go cows giving daily average Of 30
pounds Of milk through the season, would be
much greater than from 80 cows giving m
average Of only 20 pounds and it is quite
questionable if an average Of 20 pounds will
be reached by many Of the considerable dali
ries Of Vermont this season.
We spent some considerable time last sea-
son among the dairymen Of Central New
York, a class of men who devote a portion Of
their time and means to the promotion Of thcii
interests by the indirect and unpopular meth
cd Of attending farmers clubs and dairymens
associations for the purpose Of getting th,
benefit Of the experience Of their fellow dai
rymen, whether near or remote; and W,
could not but infer that among the mUlttud,
of improvements that they have made in dai
rying, none is more creditable OF more profit.
able to them than the increased production
per COW which they have attained to, by grea
care and skill in selecting and breeding cows
and in judiciously feeding them Among
them the expression, the farm will carry 81
many cows, is always coupled with their pro
duction of either milk, cheese or butter. Thei
pastures are not overtaxed at any time, anC
efforts are constantly made to improve thei
productive capacity. 1t is true that last sea
son was an unusually favorable one, but no
more so for them than for US, aud our re
marks are intended for general application
rather than for this season alone.
One of the most noticeable results of tn,
factory or associated" system of dairying ha
been the facilities afforded for comparing tn
products Of different diaries and different 10
calities. Under the old farm system, every
man believed he had the best lot of cows an,
the best of everything else, and had but lttl
doubt about having reached the acme Of per
lection in his business; but comparisons, 81
far from proving odious. in this case has lie,
to investigations and very marked improve
ments.
o. S Bliss
Geoygiq, VI. Aug. !. 1870.