Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-12

OF this country and relieved thousands OF its
burdened and over-worked farmers wives
Of tho heavy drudgery of the cheese room.
And here it may be proper to observe that
one Of the Inconvenience which is widely
felt among dairymen, results from the diff
Guilty of obtaining careful and reliable hands
for the management of the dairy. If it is de.
sirable to make first class cheese that will
command in market the highest price, all the
operations of manufacture must be perform
ed by tried and skillful hands, hands that
can rarely be obtained for hire, and when
obtained command comparatively large wages.
Now as cheese making is an art which
must be learned like other trades, and as
most of the operations are performed by fe'
males, the dairy farmer may be said TO have
for the most part nothing but apprentices in
his employ for when his dairymaid has been
carefully taught the trade she marries and is
at once lost to him.
The scarcity Of skilled cheese makers is
severely felt through the whole dairy region,
necessitating to the farmer and his family,
and more especially the female portion, ar
duous labors, taxing their strength to a de-
gree that tells heavily on health and coDsti-
tuition. The result is that persons prema-
turely aged, and with broken health, are
more frequently found in dairy region than
in other farming communities. There is no
desire to say one discouraging word of
business which has added so much wealth to
the country and in which those who are en-
gagged generally prosper and soon become in
dependent in worldly goods, but the truth
must be told nevertheless Wealth has its
advantages, but its price should be kept in
view and if overtasked muscle, incessant care
with out relaxation, and finally disease, is to
be the patrimony of wives and daughters, its
charms, to say the least. are very much d.
minished.
Dairymen are conversant with these facts,
and they are points to be considered, and
should have their proper bearing in making
up our estimate Of the two systems.
The advantages of the factory system
are superior quality, uniformity, higher pric-
es, saving by buying at wholesale such ma
teria as salt, bandages, annatto, boxes, &c.
and finally relieving the farmer aud his fam
lily from the drudgery Of the manufacture
and care of cheese.
| IL uOI JudJ u
of cheese can be made at the factory, than
in families, but, that it is quite as fine as
the best, and therefore above the average of
that manufactured in small parcels.
| have enumerated some of the causes
that conspire to depreciate the quality OF
cheese when made in single dairies; these
are not present in the factory system. The
agent or superintendent makes it his busi-
ness to see that all parts of the work are
properly performed. He employs skillful
workmen and his interests and reputation
are at stake, prompting him at all times to
do his best. He knows that neglect or mis-
takes will not be tolerated and the desire to
satisfy persons interested in order to secure
their patronage stimulates him to make
every exertion to build up and sustain a
reputation for fine goods. He has every
convenience at hand for manufacturing tC
advantage and making the business a sole
employment. He is not liable TO be disturb
ed by other matters, which might serve tc
call his attention away from time to time
to the prejudice of the immediate work at
hand.
The same rule must hold good with hin
as among those engaged in other professions
and arts, for he who gives his whole atten.
tion and energies in certain direction is
likely to become more skilled and arrive
nearer to perfection in his calling than he
who is striving to do many and diverse
things at the same time, more especially il
cheese manufacture under this system, as
high degree Of skill is expected, aud Jealous
aud interested eyes are daily Watching and
noticing every short coming. Uniformity
and foe quality are more likely to obrair
under this system, and whatever progress
can be made towards Improvement will nat
urally develop itself more rapidly here thar
among persons scattered over broad extern
OF country and who are so occupied with
variety Of work as to have little time Ia
spend in the improvement Of any one par
ticular branch. The most important ad
vantage to farmers in this union arrange
ment is the relief from the drudgery O
cheese making and the constant care and at
tention necessary in properly curing aud fit
ting the cheese for market. 1t would b,
difficult to estimate this in dollars and cents
since health enters into the account NOR
largely than is generally suspected. As tn,
same process has to be gone through with il
manufacturing cheese whether the qaantit,
Of milk be large or small, and as nearly tn,
same time also is occupied, it will bo seel
that what requires the labor of great man,
persons to do, when cheese making is divid
ed up in families, can be accomplished witt
but few persons on the factory system, som
f five or six being sufficient to do all the worl
| about an establishment manufacturing tn
milk Of a thousand or more cows. Th
. question is frequently asked, is the factor
/ system destined to stand the test Of years
| Is it to continue to prosper, or will it no
soon break up aud dairymen return again I
the old order of cheese making. Ia IN
opinion it is to live The system is a pre-
f gressive step, and all history teaches tina
: when that is taken it is difficult to retract il
Doubtless some may remember when tn
8 wool and the fax grown on the farm wer
: spun and woven in the family. We shaI
never return to that again, because we car
/. not afford it. They can be more cheapl
e manufactured by associated capital subst
e tuting the untiring arm of the machine fc
g one OF living muscle. The flesh and bloc
2 Of our wives and daughters are Of too niue
!, consequence to be worn out by this ceaseel
e toll when the spindes and looms driven b
e steam or water power can relieve them {
e the burden at fraction Of what it costs
d home manufacture. Why then should
S neighborhood of dalrymen do the work
: cheese making in families, employing man
y hands when it can be performed equally we
by half dozen persons in well constitute
a factory. Tue Inauguration of associate
$ dairies is rapidly producing revolution
d old customs aud heretofore fixed ideas.
j. teaches the important lesson that farme
can adopt successfully the same means tn,
}. have proved so beneficial to the merchau
y the banker, and the commercial man of h
: world. BY consolidation of interests, Il
s dairymen Of to-day can WELD power al
D., tnAuanoa navar haTora yaochad