Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-08-09
Butter and Its Price.

The complaint of low prices for but
ter will probably be made by some peo-
pie as long as butter is made, and for
the very obvious reason that their but
ter is not worth more that they receive
for it. 1t cannot be expected that but
ter which is inferior because of the
farmer neglecting the natural require
ments Of the COW, or because of the
careless way of making it, will bring as
much in the market as butter which
comes from the milk of cows properly
cared for, and which is properly made.
So long as no attention is given to the
quality of the cow or to her care, and
while milk and cream is placed in any
position which happens tO.furnish room
for them, regardless of surroundings,
and regardless of temperature, those
who are guilty of such shortcomings
must not be surprised if there is little
demand for such butter as they pro-
duce There is nothing in the world
that is more palatable than good butter,
and there is not much that is more un-
palatable than bad butter; and it ought
to be distinctly understood that if we
expect to please anything so sensitive
as the palate, we must expect to exer-
else the incest care. At all events, one
thing is certain, and that is, if we do
not bring ourselves to understand this,
there are enough in the world who do
understand it, and, taking advantage of
it, will crowd us out of the market in
which we attempt to bring our produc-
tons, whether they are butter or any
thing else. Prime butter is always in
demand, and will often not only bring a
good price, but it will often bring fan
cy price. There is butter sold in Chica-
60 every week for dollar pound, and
although that is an unreasonable price
for any quality of butter, it shows what
care in making butter will do, for such
fancy priced butter commands such a
price because it is made by some one
who has won reputation for making an
extra article. There is not butter
maker in the country who cannot, if he
knows how to make butter at all, make
an article that will be in ready demand
at good remunerative price, if it is the
desire to do so.
If butter, therefore, is any object at
all, either for the supply of the farmers
table, or the market, let him provide
himself in the first place with good cows
and if he has any that are Improbable,
get rid OF them as soon as possible. 1t
is not the part of wisdom to keep poor
COW when good cows can be so readily
obtained. The vast majority of cows
will do the work for which they are Gre
ated, if properly cared for, but occasion
ally there is one that is worth little or
nothing for the dairy, and such should
be led to the slaughter as soon as she
can be'got into condition. An easy way
to test the value of COW for butter
making is by pouring the milk in glass
tube five or six inches long and three
quarters Of an inch in diameter, which
can easily be obtained at any wholesale
drug store. If the cream rises to the
thickness of half an inch under favora-
BILE conditions, the cow may be consider
ed profitable animal for the dairy. OF
course this test presupposes that the
animal has had good treatment-tha
her owner has fully done his part to
make her profitable. The best COW in
the world cannot produce butter if she is
denied suitable food; and while this fact
will, doubtless, be generally recognized,
there are many who would be tempted
to dispute the assertion that Judge of
butter can tell from examination what
the COW has been fed upon. Yet it is
true; and not only is that a fact, but
the condition Of COW can be told by
the examination of her butter.
1t will, therefore, be seen that if we
expect good prices we must make good
butter, and that to make good butter
we must have good cows and take care
of them Western Rural.