Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-10-04
AGRICULrURAL

SOME FACTS ABOUT BUTrER.-The
Association have recently held a con-
vention at Davenport, la. 1t appears
from their statistics that we consume
annually, for table and culinary use,
|, 400 ,000 900 pounds of butter, valued
at $420 ,0OO, 900 our annual expectation
being only Is, 600, 900 pounds. Although
there is no doubt that Americans use a
great quantity of this product, these
figures seem out of proportion. Butter
will not average 80 cents for the pound
since. taking the country through and
having due regard TO quality, Is cents
is fairer margin. Nor can the con-
sumption be put up at as high figure.
In 1870, according TO the census, the
butter product was but ACC, 600 900
pounds, produced by $685., 600 milch
cows, averaging a yield of little over
80 pounds to the COW, or of one and
one-half pounds per cow week for
eight months in the year. The increase
of milch cows from 1850 to 1870 was
less than SOC, 900; although the increase
from 1850 to 1860 was 1000, 600, the
falling of the last decade being attrib-
utable to the war. But "milch" cow
is not always a positive designation.
The class of cattle in 1850 was stated at
about 8, 900 900, in 1860 at IA, 200, 600,
and in 1870 at about II, ,5OO,O 900. The
ratio of milch kline to other cattle is
about four to seven in each decade; and
as we have been restoring our herds
since 1870, we must have at least To-
0O0, 900 other cattle, which would give
about 9,000, 600 milch kline. Admitting
the yield of butter per COW to have i'm
proved, so as to be seventy-five pounds
on an average, we have gross pro
duet of 675, ,0O0. 900 pounds, worth 800
OOO, 900. Upon this basis our annual
consumption of butter is about one
third of pound a week per capita.
There is no doubt but that, with the
practice of a little closer economy and
little better husbandry, our butter
export could be increased to POO, DOC, 600
pounds, aud $50 ,000, 900 be thus added
to the annual income of the country.
PRINCIPLES OF COOP FARMING.-The
better TO retain important facts In the
memory, am ever fond of reducing
the principles of good farming to brief
maxims and rules, COMPRISING into
single short sentence the gist of many
page. Thus carry about the mental
pabulum to be digested at the handle
Of the plow or hoe. The following are
some of these principles:
First.-The farmer who would sue
ceed well, and derive pleasure as well
as profit from his calling, must mani
fest an active, AN abiding interest in vo-
cation. 1t takes heart-work to make
hard-work pleasant.
SEcoNp.-The farmer must study
how best TO increase and maintain fer
tility in his soils. There is no inertia
in agriculture. There must be pro-
gress, either forward or retrograde.
Third.-The farmer must strive TO in
crease the quality as well as the guam
tity of his crops. Ii is the quality that
determines the price. In this, Excel
sior" should be his unvarying motto.
Fourth.-The farmer must seek with
a watchful eye to improve his market
facilities. 1t is transportation that eats
up the profits. =,
Fifth.-The art of raising better stock
| is not as well known as it should be.
Keep no more animals than you have
the facilities to feed and care for well
Sixth.-The farmer must seek to i'm
prove his social, intellectual and finan-
cial condition.