American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-05-31
AGRICULTURAL.


! 1 CreasAAerieb.
There is no other modern improve
ment in the practice of agriculture that
has provod more convenient and profit.
| able than the creamery. 1t has relieved
the farmers family Of a heavy burden
of work and care, has lightenea and
cheapened work by bringing associated
effort and capital to bear upon it; it has
greatly improved the duality of thu
product by the possibility OF engaging
and paying the best skill; it las totally
revolutionized the practice of dairy
ing, by introducing winter butter.
making, and it has supplied con-
sumers with product of the best quail.
ty, which comes to them fresh and finely
favored. In addition, It has afforded 4
home market for the farmers milk and
has vastly extended the production and
consumption of butter. As an example
of what has been effected by the iatro-
duction of the creamery sretett may be
mentioned, in contrast, the former and
the present position of Western dairy
ing. Not more than two years ago
Western" was a brand of reproach on
butter-firkin, and commission agents
had a low scale of prices established and
quoted specially for Western butter.
Then every Western farmer made his
own butter for one good dairy there
were ninety and nine inferior or bad
ones; but the good butter sold for no
more at the village stores than the bad,
and all was Jumped together; all shades
and aayorsl were mingled, worked
over, and packed by. the unskillful
storekeeper for the Eastern market,
where it came to Consumers who had
the pick Of the best OF the neat by
diaries, and it was COL ssquently sold at
the lowest prices, even on low range
made expressly for it. Now I" Western"
creamery takes the first premiums at
the fairs and dairy exhibitions, and
ranks some cents per pound above that
of the choicest. New York, State diaries
in the New, York City market. This is
because the creamery does the work of
hundred farmers wives, many of
whom had but moderate or inferior skill,
by The handssef one sAillful ind prac-
ticed dairy man or woman; and pro-
.duces butter of one even quality the year
round at tenth of the former cost for
labor and materials. The necessity for
keeping the creamery at work the year
round led to the practice of having cows
fresh in the winter; and with all the
eopveniences that were possible as to
warmth and even temperature in the
factory, butter has been made as easily
and as we'll in winter as in summer.
Besides, the creamery managers have
educated the farmers IN regard to better
methods of feeding and caring for cows
and of managing milk, so that
their products are pure and
OF the best quality. These have
been some of the benefits which
haye. accrued from The establishment Of
creameries, not only in the West, but
everywhere. Others, not by any means
of regard, might be referred
to in the shape of relief to the farmers,
families from much drudgery and slop-
py work id add about the dairy and
barns. and the consequent ability of the
women to devote more time to house,
hold affairs and the culture of them
selves and their children. In this NOR
al point of view the benefit has been
probably even greater than the material
derived from the economy
of division of labor, and the effective
ness of cooperative effort. Creamer-
les have been managed as joint stock
or cooperative affairs, owned by the
"patrons''-as those who furnish the
milk have been called; and also as dis
tinct properties, owned and managed
by others, who purchase the milk or
cream, or make the butter for a certain
sum per pound. The latter, as might
be expe cted, have turned out to be the
more satisfactory, from the difficulty of
reconciling so many diverse interests.
A creamery may be. profitably estab-
lished where there are $50 or more |
COWS. The number named is the least
that can be worked with profit, except |
under very favorable circum stances. |
The cost of a well furnished establish
ment is about % 900, and but little more |
IS required to work up the milk of
500 or hO00 cows. Fifteen hundred |
dollars may build and equip very fair
for $50 cows. 1t is to be re-
that the larger the number
If cows the less the cost of equipment |
n proportion. The building should be
ong and narrow-about IS feet by 25 is
: convenient shape-and divided into
,wo rooms, one for setting the milk in
rats, and the other for churning and
the butter. Less room is re-
Iuired where there is cool spring OF
water available, as then deep cans may
% used which require no more than 10
nehes each. way for IS quarts of milk;
With shallow pans or watts, four times as
much space would be required. Where.
here is no spring. but plenty of ice is
the cold closet used in the3
Hardin system is. the most economical
VI room fs Either an abundant cold
pring or an abundance of ice is neces-
airy for success in a creamery. On the
Whole, the latter is the more convenient
md effective. and is always to be relied
lpon. Plans for creameries can be pro-
ured from experts, in which every de-
all OF construction and management is
,iven; and it would be cheaper to- pay
<r<,1d wound r,1v,, Cor q rooH n flov, |