Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-01-30
MIR. SKINNER's PAPER.

MIR. sKINNER's PAPER.
have no theories to propose; but there
are some aAoat that | would like to oppose.
But | will first state results. We have
kept dairy twenty-six years; but kept it at
II poor dying rate, until the last few
years. The results of the last three or
four years will be sufficient for the occa.
sion. They will exhibit the difference
between the old ruts," and the new
highway, or in other words the difference
between the dairy methods us formerly
practiced (and which are still practiced 10
II deplorable eXtent), and the methods re-
commended by this association and the
State Board of Agriculture.
During the year 1874 we kept % cows,
sold $685. lbs. of butter at 35 cents pei
pound, amounting to 81 ,237. 2j,an average
of l4l IL pounds per COW, or in increase
of $4952 per COW, except one or two
little despiscd Jersey grades, that hat
crept in by force of circumstances.
But there was so strong IN influenc,
brought to bear upon our minds that we
concluded to change all our dairy tc
Jerseys, as we made butter exclusively
AS the result of that change, in the yea,
1876 we MIXED IS COWS, sold 1865 lbs. O
butter at 80 cents per pound, amounting
to 81, 527.S7, an average of 242 - lbs.
and an income of $84.75 per COW.
During the past year we sold from the Is
COWS 4,S42 lbs, the price averaging 3,
cents per pound. This gives IN averao,
Of 269 lbs, or an income of SS8.77 pc
cow,-a difference between the income o
the year 1874 and that of 1877, 42O7 ~.
per COW, or an aggregate in dairy of 3!
COWS, of $l,05l,87 1-2 although tn
market has declined so that butter sold n
3 cents per Id. less than 1874. Now.
should feel under some obligation to diyid
this increase of income with the member,
of this association, and those of the Boar
of Agriculture, not forgetting Prof ARNOLD
in the dividend, if did not believe tho
you would all approve of my method q
investing every dollar of it in the educatio,
of my children.
But these figures do not represent al
the difference.
The % cows kept in 1874 were nearl
all OF mature age; whereas the maiorit
OF those kept the last two years are he'll
ers. Besides what we have sold, we bay
supplied family of ten persons durin
the last year with butter and milk.
Nor is this total amount near what
might have been, with better feed nm
more vigienJ care. Z. r. Skinner, {
Tunbridge, IL brother of mine, sold iron
five grade Jersey COWS, 9, 0G7 lbs. of butte
in one year, besides supplying his famil
of three persons. No other one either fe
or MIXED the COWS during the wear, an
their feed and care was the very best.
am well satisfied with the jersey bree
of COWS for butter purposes only. But
am dissatisfied with many theories whic
have been set afloat rs claims for thei
merits. And am astonished that thes
theories have originated with scientifi
men-men to whom we are indebted for
great amount of practical knowledge.
few years ago, read statement in In,
Boston Journal OF Chemistry that {" it
not practicable to attempt to increase tn
coloring matter in butter by supplyin,
peculiar foods to cows" Ii gives tn
/" Jersey cows and their grades all tn
credit for the rich color of butter oftej
found in the market.
Yet, that same excellent journal viii
teach that even the bones of animals caj