Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-04-07

/ Sl>o olVusut NdACNlcS VI "pptCS' "uN
J. A. Varuey OF Vassalbolo' specimens
Of pears.
associated Ddiryin0 in Maine.
BY GEo. =. BRACKETr, HELFASr.
Associated Dairying in Maine is no
logger an experiment. it is iact-a sue
cesslul reality and now and hereafter it
must rank among the leading branches
of agriculture in our State. lis growth
and prograss has been rapid and smacks
some~ hat OF the marvellous, being more
ike the operation Of events among our
Western cousins. than what is usual in
old conservative slow plodding, down
east. The little cheese factory Of two
years ago located away up in the Sandy
river valley, has grown to = score in
operation las; year, and another twelve.
month will witness more than three score
associated dairies scattered throughout
our State. so deep is tho interes, Of our
farmers in this question. Truly the seed
Aas not fallen upon poor soil for tie
harvest already is many.fold.
And this is only the beginning. The
little spark Is kindling a strong FIRE Tor
the fuel is plenty and there are willing
hands TO supply it. There isroom enough
in Maine for two hundred OF these farm
er's manufactures without fear OF crowd.
ing, and still be no danger Of Cutting
The market.
These companies arc organized all
over the State. and their unpreientious
liule factories adorn many quiet cross
road-corner, while one can hardly take
up a copy of newspaper published in
Maine without seeing accounts OF new
cheese factory companies organized, or
of discussions which usually lead 10 the
same result.
Let me refer to my own county rs an
example. Two years ago the subject Of
cheese factories was almost unknown.
Our farmers had heard OF such operations
being carried on in New York, bat that
they were adapted TO the want, Of Waldo
county farmers was not taken into con.
>idera,ion. 1t was also rumorcd that
there was such factory in operation in
some par, of Maine, but how, or ever
where. was somewhat question Of doubt.
/ Bat SOr.e OF our earnest farmers, feeling
THAI something must be done Tor self
preservation. and thinking, here. per
haps, w~s an opportunity, looked into
/ The matter = liule-Tesd. Investigated
aud laboyed practically and The result has
been four factories were in successful
operation the past milk season, seven
more are organized and ready for work
next spring. and several other are in pro-
! cess of Incubation. Whole amount Of
cheese manufactured last season 4. 90
los. or over y tons. Average price OBJ.
tanned. I5l : cts. per 10. Total value of
cheese in market SG,GlGS0. Average
cost Of manufacture 8 I , cts. per 10.
Average number Of pounds of milk to n
pounds Of milk TO pound Of cheese
90 10 or . fraction over y lbs. Aver
age price of shares s2j; extremes $40
and $50. The number OF cows furnish
ing milk to those factories ranged from
so TO 200 to each. The work in n factory
manufacturing the milk OF or 500 cows
is but little more than in one of 100.
So We have accepted this specially in
farming in Waldo county and so far the
members of different companies are eli.
iirely satisfied with the results.
Let US consider briefly the subject OF
associated dairying in some OF its most
important bearings. l. is fact and n
crying evil that n majority of the farms
in Maine are deteriorating-growing
poorer and less valuable yem by year
And why? Because the original rich.
I utc> NuA AtAtiiitl q Jul cOllS NV btSi
wholly or partly exhausted by our farm
ing system which has taken from them
year by year more than is has returned.
We extract and sell of raw material
hay, potatoes and grains, neglecting to
make corresponding returns, hence we
are constantly impoverishing the soil.
Associated daring put in parctice would
Je a slept towards stopping This drain
| from the farm. Cheese factories require
milk; more milk means more COWS (;
the keeping Of more cows requires the
consumption of the hay and grain, or the
farm groducts, upon the farm, al OF
which means more manure which must
be turned TO the soil. so that every sea-
son a cheese factory operates in a neigh
borhood the farms supplying milk are
growing just so much richer and more
| valuable.
This in my opinion is the stongest ar.
gument yet adduced in favor of cheese
factories-this gradual and sure though
! small increase in the fertility of our farms.