Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-04-26
"GOing into Dairying."

There are indications that a consider
able number of farmers are thinking of
engaging in dairying more extensively
than in the past, and this in vicinities
in which the business has hitherto re-
ceived comparatively little attention.
For those in the regions in which dairy
ing is already a prominent feature, |
have no better advice than that they
study the history of the successful
farmers and factories, and endeavor to
initiate them; but the frequent compar-
ative or total failure Of new establish
ments, started with much enthusiasm,
suggests a few words Of caution.
There is no reason to do otherwise
than give words Of encouragement
and approval to those farmers who.
having carefully considered the subject,
establish a cheese or butter factory:
but very often such factories are estab-
lished without such consideration. Let
it be borne in mind that dairying is a dis
tinct branch of farming-very different
from grain growing or stock rearing and
~feeding-and that a new man In the
business has many things to learn, and
stands a good chance of making a good
many mistakes. 1t may be pretty safe
ly calculated that the profits for the
first year or two will not be large. In
the nature of the case, it should be ex-
pected that the new business will not
yield large profit; but many a factory
has been in serious trouble because the
patrons did not find a handsome divi-
dend as the result of the first years
work.
After a good deal of observation, |
strongly incline to the opinion that the
factory building and fittings should be
private property, rather than belong to
the company of patrons. In most eases
l also believe it better that the
factory owner, or manager, should buy
the milk rather than make it up for
the patrons" There are difficulties
connected with this plan, but less, as |
see it, than in any other. The price of
milk may be fixed by the selling price
of good cheese at some leading market.
Whether the factory is to belong to
an individual or a company, in the very
great majority OF cases it is better that
it's cost, and the cost of the apparatus,
shall be as little as will suffice to con
duct the business. 1t is not best to
make present provision for possible
growth. 1t is easy to enlarge a build
ing or to add to apparatus when this is
necessary; and this will be fonnd more
satisfactory than to have a needless ex-
penditure. Adding two or three thou
sand dollars to the sum, which would
have been sufficient for the starting,
may be, as it often has been, the cause
of failure.
If a public meeting be held to consid-
err the subject. and if a good deal Of in
terest be shown, it will be safe to make
a large reduction from the number of
cows promised. Fortunately, it is not
essential to successful factory manage
ment that there should be a large guam
tity of milk. Other things equal, the
more the better. The smaller factories
have some disadvantages, but also adj
vantages. Confesscdly, S~heboygan Co.,
Wis, is one of the most successful dali
ry regions in the West, and the noticea-
bic popularity Of the system pursued
there is the large number of small fac
tories. OF forty, from which full re-
ports for 1876 were published, only four
had wei $50 cows. Many Of them are
owned by dairy farmers, who work up
the product Of their own herds and that
! Of as many Of their neighbors as choose