The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-01-10
M|ht 1satm.
COOPERATIVE DAIRYING.

" American FARMER" series OF artlcles
on the above subject.
The system of cooperative or asso-
ciated dairying was practically devel-
oped in Central New York some twenty
years ago, though like most other new
inventions, this is now claimed for some
former period: At whatever period, or
in whatever country, the idea may have
first been conceived, it remained for
Jesse Williams, practical farmer of
Oneida County, N. Y, to put it into
successful operation. He was skilled
in cheese making, and his product in
variably commanded better price than
his sons or his neighbours. Instead of
attempting to inveigle the middlemen
and the consumers into purchasing the
inferior goods, in the sale of which he
had become interested, upon the repu-
tation acquired for his own, as hundreds
and thousands of others have done to
their discredit and pecuniary detriment,
he determined to bring it all up to his
own standard of excellence. To handle
the milk of two or three large diaries,
in as many different dairy houses, was
his primary intention; but the idea of
hauling it from the different farms to
one central place of manufacture, forced
itself upon his attention, and was final
ly adopted. The very large additional
quantity of milk thus thrown upon his
hands, necessitated remodeling of his
buildings and apparatus; but Mr.. Will
liams was equal to the occasion, and
his experiment, from the first, proved
great success, even far exceeding his
most sanguine expectations.
Of all classes, farmers are, as rule
most conservative. They always look
with disfavor upon any innovations
upon the established routine. But such
was Jesse Williams character and rep
utation, that while his neighbors COM
miserated his folly in branching out so
freely in the new business, they main
tanned respectful demeanor and watch
ed the result of his experiment with the
keenest interest. Success is a tremend-
Gus stimulant, not only to the success
full party, but to the lookers-on, however
incredulous they may have been to be-
gin with. The skeptic of yesterday is
convinced to-day, tomorrow becomes
al least quasi disciple, and the next
day sets up for himself in opposition.
In all the history of industries, we fail
to find another which has had SO large,
so rapid, and withal so healthful a
growth as that of Cooperative Dairy
ing The data at command are not en-
tirely trustworthy, bat there cannot be
any doubt but that there are over g.
900 factories for making cheese, butter
or condensed milk, in the United States;
and the system has reached very con-
siderable proportions in Canada, in
Great Britain, and on the continent of
Europe.
But timid men began years ago to
fear that the business will be overdone,
and that reaction will follow. In an
swer to this, we need only to remind
them that this wonderful growth is not
an accretion, but rather a change from
one system of manipulation Of raw
product, to another-that this wonder
full development, of which we were just
now inclined to boast, is after all more
apparent than real. During the period
since the Inauguration of the co-opera-
tive system, the increase in population
in our own country has been more rap
id than that of the cows, while the
means and inclination of the non-pro-
ducing classes to consume larger guam
titles of all kinds of dairy products,
have increased even more rapidly. Ac-
cording to the census of 1850, there
were 3.6l persons to each cow, in 1860
there wers 1856 persons to each cow,
and in 1870 there were 431 persons to
each COW. In the meantime, we have
built up very heavy export trade in
butter and cheese and condense d milk.
But there is still another and more en-
couraging reason for assuming that we
have nothing to fear on the score of
over production, and that is in the in
creased demand for a higher grade of
goods, which the cooperative system
has largely stimulated 1t is we'll
established fact, that the per capita
consumption of dairy products is on
the increase, and fully keeps pace with
the improvements in the quality of the
goods thrown upon the general market
The popular motto is, get the BEST"
and in no other department of produc-
ton is there so much inducement to
make only the very first quality goods
No process has ever been discovered
by which second or third quality of
butter can he produced at less cost
uhan the first, and the same is practi-
cally true of cheese-making, though
there are some apparent exceptions in
some cases, where the milk is worked
for both butter and cheese. If further
evidence is needed to sustain the posi-
ton that there is as yet no apparent
reason for fearing an excessive produc-
ton, we have it in the present condi-
ton of the markets. Prices have been
we'll sustained thorough the season
just closing, Notwithstanding the fnan-
cial panic and the consequent disorgan-
ization of society in the manufacturing
centers. 1t is believed, moreover,
that the consumption has rarely been
so close upon the heels of production,
as at the present time.
Manifestly, then, we may, without
prejudice to any interest, urge upon
farmers favorably situated the cultiva-
ton and expansion of the dairy inter-
est Dairy farming, relieved Of much
of its drudgery and uncertainty by the
cooperative system of working up the
product, is adapted to much range of
country then has been believed in the
past. Large sections Of the older
States, which have become practically
exhausted of some of the elements nee
essary to the successful prosecution of
former methods of tiIlage, may by the
recuperative influence of dairy farming.
be made to cheer the heart and swell
the purse of the owner, as in the olden
time of virgin fertility.