The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-04-06
THE DAIRY AND BUTTER-MAK-
ING.
A paper read i.r.tre the Board of Agri-
culture at Fast Calais, by n. \. Skim
ner, Esq, of Piainfeld.

culture at Fast Calais, by n. \. Skim
ner, Esq, of Piainfeld.
TEXT: SENTIMENT OF STATE BoNgp.
II is good thing to know Something bur II is
better not u know anything, than in Know what
isn't so.
During the year 1874 we kept % cows.
Sold 5000 lbs. butter at 81 cents per
pound, amounting to ~ ,237 .25: an av-
erage of al - pounds per COW. or an
income 1882. With this result we
were quite well satisfied, as our butter
had been contracted and sent away each
ents besides the price bargained at,
with which we felt battered; and we
were doing little better than some of
our neighbors, so that we were enjoying
life nnder the first clause of our text,
whose teachings amounted SO near to
that of inspiration with us, that we ex-
pended every dollar of our surplus in
the education of our children. But the
second clause of our text had been so
thoroughly impressed upon our minds
by the members of this board, that il
very much disturbed our prejudices. if
not our peace of mind; and as the merit
of all knowledge is determined by its
practical working, we concluded to test
it by making change, although we
were very cautious at first. AS the re-
suit of that change, we have MIXED 10
cows the past year; have sold 1866 lbs.
butter, contracted rs before at 35 cents
per pound, amounting TO 81 ,527.75; an
average of 242 l-2 lbs, or an income of
Ss4.S7 per cow. This gives difference
in the income since the change of $780,
H., Il.
cows.
But these figures do not represent all
the difference. The % cows kent i'm
1874 were all, except or 3, of mature
age; whereas. of the IS kept in 1876.
seven were two wears old, and three.
three years old, leaving only eight of
prime age. / shall expect these heifers
to average 800 pounds year by the time
they are six years old. Besides what
we have sold, we have supplied our
family of 9 persons with dairy produce.
We have kept dairy 20 wears, have
made butter almost exclusively. and.
until we came under the influence of
the teachings of the State Board, some
three years ago, we firmly believed that
success in dairying depended almost en-
tirely upon the feed and care bestowed
upon the cows kept, and not upon the
breed of cows. We were confident that
we hneW that the native COW was as
good as any, if not the best, when prop
erly cared for, and that blood. more es-
pecially Jersey blood. was a speculative
humbug.
But the inevitable result of n practical
trial has established the truth of our
text, that ''it is better not TO know mv-
thing, than it is to know what isn't So"
We regret that learned men. iournol-
lists. doctors. who ought to understand
all the functions of the animal system.
and the influence Of breeding-men TO
whom we are so much indebted for so
much really useful knowledge, should
still promulgate the same theory, which
the failure of more than twenty years off
the best part of our lives has proved TO
be erroneous.
TO illustrate: DR.. A. r.. Stokes. bv
an elaborate article published i'm that
very excellent journal, the Vermont
Farmer. of February 9, brings the case
of the dairy interest of Vermont. ms |
"Feed VS.. Breed" lie argues the case
eloquently. says "any man can have
good stock if he bcstOws sufficient care
upon Them" And the only superiority
possessed by the heightened stock is tbc
result of the extra care, etc.
Now the question arises: what is:tho
natural and invariable result of extra
reed and extra care bestowed upon the
dairy cows!
1t is simply this, to increase, strength
en-, intensity, urge into active operation.
the leading and predominating qualities
OF each individual COW. And the lead
ing habit thus stimulated will draw
upon, weaken. and absorb the less act
i've qualities. So feeding indiscrimin-
ately cows without permanent and well
defined butter qualities, is perfect
chance game.
The extra feed may produce more
butter, it may produce more flesh and
less butter; ii may produce more bone
and less flesh, or it may increase the size
OF the horns. For example, take the
noble Durham that commands so much
admiration, whose flesh-producine quail
tiles predominant; although GOOD
mixer at first, yet the extra care has
absorbed the milking capacity in so
nuch, that in some cases they could not
Yield milk enough to rear their own
progeny. Is it not plain, then, that tbe
pest interests of the dairy demand that
he case should be reversed. and stand
breed first, then feed? We then have
'ellable basis, and are not the subjects
If chance.
Now, as | have not any thoroughbred
'ows for sale, being a new convert 10
his belief, with the best of desires for
he real interests of every one, would
'xnort the Doctor and all who believe
n his theory, to heed the teachings of
,ur text.
We admit that the native COW can he
much improved, but believe that the
Jersey as butter COW has the adyant- ,,
ge 81 at least the average life time of /,
nan, having been for many years pa-
iently and intelligently urged towards /.
his objective point: therefore capable of
more rapid improvement than at first
mo as Yankees are always in hurry,
ma impatient ofresults, | would advise
o start on the road TO success as far ms ]
is improved, and by ceaseless effort q
We shall find that the limits of improve :
nent are only measured by the limits {
u the capabilities of the human mind.
Perhaps there is no subject of the !
larry OF more importance than the selec- g
ion of cows.
| once thought that could choose fine q
'est COW from dairy, by her external '
ppearance. But the test of that knoyvl- '
dye has again proved the truth of nv c
ext, ut is better not to know ANYTHING |
han to know what isn't So" 9
NOR believe that if | can milk each i
ow OF dairy, set their milk separately, 4
kim each mess of cream and stir II 10 v
utter separately, all the conditions be- G
ng equal that can determine, with a
ONE degree of certainty, which is the a
est cow. But anything short of this | I
o not consider reliable. {
This method is within the reach of C
very one who keeps dairy, and they c
'ho fail to make the test neglect the a
rOmotion of their own interests. Set C
ing the milk of each cow separately in u
lass jars, or test tubes, Is of advantage +
showing the color of the cream and !,
10 time required for ii to separate; but /
(aNat IaAa n