The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-03-21
TOPICS FOR FARMERS.
The Queen of AsricuIture.-A c

The Queen Of Agrieulture.-A cor
respondent of the American Culttuator
regards the cow as queen of Agriculture,
and would develop the prosperity of
the country more than any one agency,
based on her products, if equal to the
average of New York State. All are
dependent upon milk or its products
during their entire life; the poorer they
are the more dependent, since milk is
not only the most perfect food known,
but the cheapest. Considering the i'm
portance of the subject, strenuous efforts
should be put forth to popularize the
use of milk and its products as food for
all classes, and in no way can this be
better accomplished than by showing
the farmer what the cows of the country
should be for what purpose the different
breeds are best adapted, whether for
milk, cream, butter, cheese or beet
what their present products are, and
how to bring them up to proper stand
ard, and how to increase present profits.
Next in importance to proper selection
of animals, comes the necessity of keep
ing better and cheaper, with less expen-
sive but more nutritious food. Again, a
vast field for intelligent investigation
and progressive improvement exists in
seeking for better methods for obtaining
the best returns from the products of
| the COW. Nothing will stimulate man
| like unexpected or increased profits. Ii
| one farmer can obtain but five cents per
| day more from his COW than his neigh
Dor secures from his stock, the former
will show an additional yearly gain of
| $1S.75 from one COW, and stimulate the
latter to do likewise. Five cents per
day extra gain seems but trife, yet the
gross earnings of the average COWS in
Massachusetts, are less than nine cents
per day. The use of grade cows instead
of scrubs and natives would soon show
this increase, and even more. Five
cents daily gain, if obtained from but
ter or cheese, means milk one-sixth
richer than present averages; if from
milk, two and one-half quarts extra
product will give it, even if sold to the
milkmaid, one and two-thirds quarts
per day extra will give the increase of
five cents.
This increase is feasible, since the
cows of Massachusetts, average only four
quarts daily, while the average daily
yield of many large herds of grades
(the result of crossing native COWS with
thoroughbred sires) is seven to eight
quarts. Besides the grades cost less to
feed and rear than native scrubs: they
grow one-third larger in four-ffths the
time, and if sold to the butcher, theil
meat commands twenty-five per cent
higher price.
The national Importance of the dairy
interests of the United States is scarcely
realized by our farmers themselves
There are 100000 cows in the coun
try, at the low average yield of 2.1i
quarts of milk per day. Allowing three
dollars each for their calves, and based
on sale of milk at two and half cent
per quart, an average is obtained O.
$237, ,906, 200. If the yield could be in
creased to the average of Massachusetts
and Vermont, or say four quarts daily
the average would reach 1896, ,S50,000
or, if the still better average. of New
York State could be reached all over th'
country, five and one-half quarts pc
day, the surprising aggregate woult
amount to $533, ,043, $50. 1t is no
feasible and practicable for every Stat
to exhibit as good results as New Yorl
is now doing? The best dairymen il
the Empire State are not at all satisfied
with the present average yield of thei
cows. Adding the enormous increas
value of the butter and cheese products
and it is no boasting assertion that tn
COW is queen of agriculture.