Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-02-02
OHIO DAIRYMAN'S ASSOCIATION.
Annual Address by Hon. George VIII
IiamS

AldAlSa
The following is the annual addres
by Hon. George Williams, of Delts
n. Y, before the Ohio Dairyman'
Association, held at Wellington, Jan
Goth and 9th, 1870:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLENEl
OF THE OHIO DAIRYBIEN's AsSOCIA
TIoN: In appearing before you at thi
time, for the purpose of attempting
one of the more important and delicat
parts of the exercises of your conven
tion, find myself heavily burdene,
with the weight of its responsibilit,
which l have been led to assume
through the flattering but unwarrant
ed estimate of my ability entertained
by the officers of your association.
1 am not without an appreciation o
the intelligence and discernment o
the class of American citizens whC
confront me in the fulfillment of thi
engagement.
l know your knowledge of the mum
! berless subjects directly or remotely
connected with your branch of indus
try is not general alone, but specific
also; that your zeal in acquiring anC
adopting whatever tends to perfection
in the works of your hands has secur
ed you, as class, in point of intelli
/ genee, the front rank of American ag
! riculturists; that no wild, visionary
| theory can epalmed upon you, though
| clothed in the most attractive garb o
human language, and that every state
ment of fact, every deduction from the
history of the past or prophetic enun
citation will be subjected to the search
/ lug test of enlightened examination
You will, therefore, readily compre
hend why one familiar only with the
ranks of practical dairymen should
I feel embarrassed in his attempts tC
/ instruct or direct those likely to bt
much in advance of him.
Coming to you then as l do, nOt
fresh from the halls of learning, moi
from those agricultural schools anC
colleges which are now giving so much
thought TO your particular branch o.
agriculture, and doing so much for its
improvement, but from the humber
sphere of a common dairyman, You
will scarcely expect me to present
nothing but new ideas and facts.
If by the reproduction of some oi
those points so vitally essential to the
perfect success of American dairying
with q brief allusion to some of the
features of the situation, not so eX-
haustively discussed in former gath
erings of this kind, we succeed in Civ
ing a new impetus to the improve
ment now going on, or even aid in
maintaining their present rapidity,
o-rnafaf1nrc rr-fII Ia r-anff1n1
Agricultural labor constitutes three
fourths to four-fifths of the industry
of the human family. Upon the pros
porous condition of this depends the
comfort and prosperity of the whole.
When this is rewarded by well
directed skill and the blessings of be-
nign Providence, all other industries
clOthe themselves with success. When
this languishes, from whatever cause,
all Others feel the weight of its depres-
sion resting upon them.
Its success, its rewards, its depres-
siOns reach every member of the in
dustrial system.
The cause of agricultural labor is the
cause of common humanity.
The onward progress of civilization,
of art, of science and of all that ele-
Yates and advances society essentially
depends upon its character and the
estimation in which it is held.
1t justly claims the support, the en-
cOuragement, the honor of all men,
and none need deem its pursuit de-
rogatOry to their dignity.
1t opens the broadest possible field
for honorable usefulness and for the
exercise of the nOblest attributes of
our nature. Whoever enters upon il
finds his whole existence, all his rela-
tiOns in close intimacy with his Crea-
tor and his aspirations and desires
tending TO purity and trustworthi-
ness.
All the arts and sciences stand ready
to light up his pathway and contrib
ute to his success.
While this is true of one who simp-
ly tills the soil and Deaps his abund-
ant harvest, how vastly more is it true
of that class producers to which you
belong?
How much broader the relations of
science involved in the various trans
occurring in the maEufac-
ture and preservation of a perfect arti-
Gle of butter or cheese.
From the beginning to the close of
your work it is yours to use, direct
and properly aid several distinct
classes of mysterious vital and chemi-
cal forces involved in the various
of the crude materials.
first to the productions of the field,
thence to the products of the cow,
again to the concentrated substances
f~ur,A IN Thn nhnncn hAnra 0hnnca
and finally to the marketable articles
of food ready for consumption.
To do this in the most successful
manner and at the same time effectu-
ally guard against the evil springing
from the innumerable infectants ever
ready to fasten upon any exposed part
of the process, involves a liberal
knowledge of many of the arts and
sciences.
Geology, agricultural chemistry,
botany, physiology, veterinary sci
ence, as well as the general laws of
health involved in keeping herds of
domestic animals, all should be en-
braced in the education of an Ameri-
can dairyman.
Indeed, if there be any pursuit
which demands for its successful pros
acute powers of observation,
intellect and most
abundant knowledge, it is that of the
dairy farmer.
But broad as are the intellectual re-
luirements of your business, as ample
ire the opportunities for their attain
nent.
The general and local governments /
If the country are all encouraging |
with liberal hands the widest diffu- |
'iOn of knowledge of the relations of
science to agriculture.
The newspaper presses are giving |
special attention to your branch, and |
ire doing vastly more than formerly |
% generalize agricultural informa- !
Ion.
The most successful and skillful ed |
Icators are ready to aid you in your
Investigations.
Your workshop is the great labora-
jory of nature, where constantly are |
the most important aDd in
,ricate transformations of matter crude |
md comparatively value,ess to the /
choicest articles of human food, con-
family inviting your attention, study |
md the Intelligent direction of the /
orces involved in the changes.
Perfect butter and cheese are the
product of large number of favorable
md perfectly harmoniZing circum-
tances which may be created to
,reat extent by human skill and un-
iring industry.
The soil and climate have very much
o do with results in this pursuit, so
much indeed as to restrict it to very
1r ]