The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-02-07
Butter Making.

Butter Making.
Address before the second winter meet
ing of the Vermont Dairymen's Associa
tion held at Burlington, by Francis d
Douglas Esq. of Whiting.
Mr.. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLE
MEN We live in an age of progress
Substantial evidence of this fact, may be
found in nearly every department ofcivil.
lied society. The laws which govern
the material world, were never more thor
oughly investigated, and the knowledge
of their existence, and operation, so uni
versally diffused as at the present time
We see around us, on every hand, the
practical application of this knowledge
to the wants of man. New discoveries
in physical science, are daily occurring
and their application to the varied indus.
trial callings of man, are constantly de-
veloping more perfectly, those natural
resources by which his wants are supplied
and alleviating the burdens of his toll
At our present rate of progress in this
direction, it would seem that that decree
of the Almighty. that man shall "till the
soil by the sweat ofhis brow" would soon
be annulled by human ingenuity. In.
tense mental application to the various
callings of life, is the characteristic Of
the age, as plainly evinced by this rapid
progress. In every department of
business, clear heads, as we'll as strong
arms, are at work in this great cause oi
physical improvement. And he who
does not bring to his aid in any calling
a good degree Of mental activity, who
fails to improve his skill by mental ap.
plication, will most surely find himself ex.
celled by his neighbors, his profits dimin.
ished, his wares inferior both in quantity
and quality, and himself experiencing
that disgrace which attaches to stupidity
and want of thrift in any pursuit. And
Gentlemen, the calling of the dairyman
is no exception to this fact. This progress
i've spirit is at work around us, develop
ing and improving this branch of indus
try, and we of Vermont, must not bt
found wanting in this spirit, if we would
not experience these results
OUR NATURAL ADVANTAGES.
Nature has furnished us with all til,
requisite elements ofsuccess. in this call.
ing In our pure air, our green hill
sides, covered with such u variety O
native grasses, our fragrant clover field
and excellent meadows, our clear streams
and never failing springs Of sparkling, ice
cold water, are those elements of success
by the use of which, if we will but prop
erly develop them, we may safely chal
lenge the world, to excel us in the ex
cellence of our dairy products.
In those elements, when thus employed
are hidden mines of wealth, which for al
the purposes Of human happiness ant
social development, surpass in value tht
mineral treasures Of California.
IMPORTANCE OF DAIRY FARMING rC
VERMONT.
The good results Of industrial improve
ment, are not confined to the mere en-
hancement ofprivate gains. But beyonc
this they have an important influence
upon our social progress, and the pros
perity of the State. With us, where thu
objects of industrial pursuit are limited
where owing to circumstances we have
no extensive commercial, mining, or ever
manufacturing interests, upon which tt
rely for the means for our social and po
litical advancement, it is matter of vi
tai Importance, that we should improv,
to the uttermost, those advantages whicl
we do possess. Mr.. President | trus
that the organization Of this Dairymen'
Association, will result in thus improve
ing this most important branch of oul
industry.
What intelligent observer Of events
has failed to recognize the fact, that tn
dairy business, and the breeding Of hors
es, are two departments Of agriculture, b.
which the VT. farmer can most reasonabl,
hope to compete successfully, with t.:
agriculturalists of other states.
The cheap transportation Of one day
has seriously affected many of the farm
ing interests of Vermont. It has breugh
us competitors from the great West, an
even from more distant regions, wit
whom we can not compete in many {
those branches, once successfully pursue
among US. If we make the production {
beef speciality, we find that the herd
men of Texas, can under sell us in th
markets. For this reason also, the farm
ers of ILL.,, can supply them with graf
and pork, more cheaply than We can d
it ourselves. In these staples, we ca
only hope to compete with the west, B
their production in connection with dali
farming. In sheep husbandry ALSO tn
influence is seriously felt The floc
masters of distant cimes, have virtual
driven us from our own wool markets, ar
this once lucrative branch of Vernon
agriculture, is no longer remunerativ
In consequence of this, those sheep whie
the enterprise, and skill, of Vermont hu
bandmen have bred to degree Of perfe
tion before unknown, are now a drug
the market.
Shall we fail to heed these signs OF ii
times Shall we not accept the situatio
and prepare for successful competitic
with the world around us, in tho
branches, which circumstances point OF
as the ones in which we can most reason
bly, hope to succeed and excel? | tru
that the dairymen Of Vermont at lea
will not be found wanting in that inte
gent perseverance, and enterprise whi
alone insures success.
MEANS WHICH WE SHOULD EMPLOY IN Il
vELoPMENT OF OUR NATURAL REsOuRC r.
The great question for us to determi
is, how We can best develop our natur
resources, and cause them to yield, n
only the greatest profit to individual e