The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-03-18
FARM AND OUSEHOLD.
Butter Making in Cecil County.

In reply to 4 request asking Mr.. Lloyd
Balderson for 4 statement of his experience
in the dairy business, we have received the
following statement and suggestions, the
result of several years experience in the
dairy business, which make them valuable,
coming from one who has proved by sure
tests the suggestions and figures he ad-
vanceS:
A statement for year would be more
satisfactory, than for a single week, but we
have becu so much involved in raising
heiters for subsequent dairy cows, that we
have hardly the data for a whole years re-
suit, especially in butter making. In con-
nection with this business it may be proper
to give some collateral reflections. 1t
seems that grain farming, making grain
the staple crop for market, is not adopted
to Cecil county that farmers are impover-
ishing their lands and themselves by per-
sisting i'll this course of business. | am
fully of the opinion that if farmers would
improve in their circumstances, some
change must be made but it is by no
means obvious that it would be prudent
for all to embark in the production of milk,
butter or cheese. Any business, to be sue
cessful, must be done well, and there is rea-
son to believe that large majority of the
farmers of Cecil county have not about
them the clements of success, in this en-
ployment. / do not say they are unatta n
able, but the difficulties may be snch, in
many cases, that the attempt to establish
a regular market dairy would be h gh y
imprudent. But such farmers need not
despond unless their soil is hopelessly ster-
In l,y,
things to which farmer may turn his at
tention, that will yield more profit than
corn or wheat. 1t were, perhaps, futile to
prescribe what these should be. Every
farmer must decide for himself what his
soil will produce, his means cultivate, and
his market call for. The level counties
below us along the bays, have their peach
orchards; New Jersey its patches of melons
and cabbages; Montgomery county, its
fields of hay; and Chester county, its
diaries.
In each branch of business there is sue
cess, comfort and wealth. Surely in our
county with great markets around us and
such ample means of transportation, there
can be little cause for failure or despon-
dency, except it be on some of our barren
tracts. A short preliminary essay will not
admit of going into particulars. Should
broomcorn, beans or onions, the rearing of
stock, the production of fruits the keeping
of sheep, or of cows, each of them to
state the particulars upon which success
depends would require a short essay
Whatever special crops any one may under
take, course of farming would hardly be
complete and self-sustaining without pay
ing stock of some kind of animals Manure
is continually wanted, and hay, grain, and
surplus or refuse roots or vegetables should
ever find an economical and profitable con-
sumption at the stables.
account Current Nth L. BIS. Diary for one
geek.
We have now in our stables twenty-four
cows milking six of which are feeding
their calves, consequently eighteen cows
making butter. They are fed morning
and evening five pounds cut hay mixed
with half peck of meal and dampened,
Gf the day is cold we use warm water. y
The meal is usually corn mixed with wheat
bran, three-tifthS corn, two-tifths bran.-
At noon they have fodder or rough hay in
the yard, all they will eat. This will make
one week S feed for the eighteen nearly as
follows:
90 bushels corn, "a, zoe s14.OO
2oO POUNDS bran, (E &c 3.lU
1860 sc hay @s12.00 per ton 7.56
70 bundles fodder Qe4c 800
s27.GG
Cost of feeding dry cows per week
to keep an average of IL milking
(estimated) SEQ
$3a. 66
The eighteen COWS make an average of
20 pounds of butter per week, which brings
in Philadelphia GO cents per pound. The
sour milk is estimated to be worth at least
$500 per week in making pork, and the
milk and cream used in the family are
worth at least 81 90
Making 20 pounds butter "a 60 1900
Cream and milk used in the family 100
Sour milk 800
Total product per week $4,000
Total cost Of feed per week 1896
Profit 1884
The value of the manure is not easily
arrived at but is usually considered full
offset to the care of attendance. 1t is not,
however, necessary to show that the diary
products will bring more than the grain
and hay would if sent to market, to prove
that it is the best policy in the long run
If they should only bring the same amount
of cash, it is still the best market they can
be sent to, since we credit the diary with
the manure and must charge the grain, if
cold with the exhaustion.
In Summer there is usually more profit
than in winter in fact many say they only
make butter in winter to keep up their
custom, expecting to make their profit in
summer.
There are a good many farmers in Cecil
county who follow dairying to some extent,
whose experience and opinions would be
valuable to the farming community, and
all who will favor us with an article, or
articles, on the subject, will place us under
obligations to them.
1t will be seen that in the above estimate
no account is taken of the calves and stock
raised from the dairy, which if properly
managed, are worth as much as other pro-
duce. The profit from this source might
be vastly increased by several farmers COM
bining and purchasing herd book Jersey
bull. This would insure a pure blooded
animal, and the value of the heifers would
be greatly enhanced as dairy stock. 1t is
here that cooperation among farmers would
tell to their advantage intellectually.