Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-28
Daily Nrnnrbrt Sournal.
SOME or THE REASONS WHY Farming
DOES NOT PAY WHAT Ir MIGHT.
READ AT THE MEETING OF THE MAINE
DAIRYnENs ASSOCIATION, FEB. 49,
10, AT DOVER.


reasons why we so often hear one class OF
farmers saying that Dairying does not
pay, and that Associated Dairyng is II
failure in this State.
In the first place, many Of the cows
kept by this class of farmers are of an
inferior quality; they don't produce milk
enough TO pay for the fodder they devour.
The COW that does not pay more than
thirty or forty dollars year does not any
more than lay the keeping. Too many
cows that are poor mixers are kept by
our farmers and dairymen. More palms
should be taken in raising calves tor cows !;
raise only such as come from good milk
ers. Too many calves that come from
our best cows are sold to butchers; They
are usually large and in good order, and
command high price. The cost OF feed
ing a cow that pays sixty or seventy dol
lars is not much more than the cost OF
keeping one that will not pay more than
thirty dollars year. The owner of these
inferior cows is disappointed in the
amount of butter and cheese that he re-
ceives, and says that dairying does not
pay! If he sends his milk TO the cheese
factory he gets but small returns. and then
he will say thai Associated Dairying is
failurei The fault Is not always with the
poor COW; good COW may be made
poor mixer by the care aud usage that
she receives-poor paslurage, late-cut
hay and harsh treatment, will make poor
COW of one that with good feed, and good
usage, would be a very good cow.
lam happy to state that there are many
good cows in this county that pay largely
Tor their keeping. You don't hear the
owners OF these COWS say that dairying
does not pay. Mr.. Simon Crockett of
this town, gave some figures two years
ago this winter. showing the amount that
his herd of cows paid the previous year.
/ think it was ninety dollars or nearly
that. to each COW. In answer TO my in
quiry how much provender he fed. he
told me he gave them but little They
had good pasturing through summer;
and early-cut hay, with some provender,
through the winter. Mr.. Crockett will not
say that dairying does not pay. There are
many other herds OF cows in Piscataquls
county that pay as well as Mr. Crockett's.
Owing to the decline in the price Of dairy
products, these cows that speak OF, do
not, probably, pay as much at this time
as they did two years since. The de-
cline in the market price of dairy prod
ucts has, no doubt, had a tendency TO dis
courage many of our farmers in regard
10 the dairying business. Let US see
about this. Has the price of dairy pro-
ducts declined any more than other prod
ucts of our farmsP We will except, If
you please, potatoes, at the present time.
Supply and demand governs the price of
all the products of our farms. The po-
tato crop in the Western States was un-
usually light last year, and also in some OF
the Middle States consequently the supply
is not equal to the demand. This may
not happen again for five or ten years.
The price of wool and lambs has gone
down, yet good sheep. well cared for, are
paying property. Those who are engag-
ed in manufacturing different kinds
OF cloths might as well say that
their business is a failure because
the price OF their cloths have gone
down in the same propriety that the farm
er says that dairying is failure. The
general depressed condition in the bus-
ness of our country is the probable cause
OF the decline 10 the price OF farm prod
ucts. Labor does not find sufficient EN-
ployment to create demand equal TO the
supply. We must not be discouraged
brother farmers. This stagnaton in the
business Of our country will not, think,
continue much longer. Our capitalists
will not long let their money remain in
the banks al two per cent interest; they
will invest it where it will give labor en-
ployment, and a lair compensation for its
services. Then all the produce Of our
farms and factories will be in demand.
Dairying in Maine is now in its infancy.
II has been only about FIVE years since the
farmers in This State began to think earn
estly about this branch of farming. They
saw what other states were doing in this
business. Had the farmers in Maine COM
menced building cheese factories as early
as did other states, think it would have
been better for that class at this time.
We should have more experience in the
business; and consequently more perfec-
ton Ia the quality of our cheese, and
better system in the management of our
factories.
Maine must, inevitably, become dali
rying State. Her climate and her soil,
and its adaptness to growing all kinds of
grasses, point to tina, result. Very much
remains to be done by improvement,
moi only in our cows. their feed and gen.
eral management, but. also, in manuiac-
turing a more uniform and better quail
itp of chaese n SpOnNER