The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-02
Drive to church in a carriage
fine, and sleep through
service half the
time.

Very naturally. the man in the East,
unacquainted with the natural advan-
tages and developments of Minnesota
in an agricultural sense, asks what
kind of butter do they make out there?"
He has been led to believe that wheat,
oats, rye, barley, flax, etc, are the only
products that can be grown to a profit,
having gained an idea that it is too cold
for growing corn successfully, and con-
sequently an Improbable section to
raise stock and make butter While
the temperature in this region has al
ways been even, and most admirably
suited to corn growing, stock raising,
and diversified agriculture in general,
ii must be admitted that until quite re-
Gently, farmers have adhered closely
and almost exclusively to the raising of
wheat. But what change do we wit
ness within the past ten years ? Pre-
vious to that period, dairying had
hardly been thought of as an agricul-
tural pursuit. II was only in the East
crn and New England States that it was
thought possible that this business
could be carried on with profit. II was
there only that it was supposed that
irst-class butter could be made and
placed on the market in good condition.
In The West dairying was considered
too insignificant business to be pur-
sued, while in some parts of the Fast
ern and New England states il was a
leading agricultural pursuit. Dairymem
there had for long time realized that
ii was Improbable to produce the poor
er qualities of butter and cheese.
The Iowa Dairyman, a paper of re-
liability and standing. in reviewing the
dairy question at length truthfully says
that the profit in all kinds of business
is the end sought. II is this which
stimulates to renewed exertions, caus.
ing experiments and moves forward
the wheels of progress. Among the
wealthy, quality is the first thing sought
price is secondary consideration
Fifty cents or even dollar pound fol
butter is of little account provided tn.
quality suits. While the price figure:
but lightly with the wealthy, who arr
the principal consumers of the highes
grades of butter, il is an importan
thing with the producer whose income
is principally from the sale of his pro
ducts, and is measured by their quality
Eastern dairymen understood this ant
endeavOred to produce an article t.
suit the taste of the most fastidious
All butter was there made in privat
diaries. All improvements that cOul'
be thought of to improve the quality o
the butter were made. Milk house
supplied with springs of cold waite
were built; the greatest attention wa
paid to cows: the best of feed an,
purest of water were given, the milking
was done at regular times and in
clearly manner, the milk kept at tn
proper temperature, skinned AM
churned at the proper time, and tn
butter placed on the market in the hes
possible condition. Most of these dai
ries were small affairs compared witt
the western diaries of the present time
But few exceeded a dozen cows. Ii
these diaries only the higher grades o
butter paid for the capital and labor in
vested in its production.
BY the old way of transporting butte
it could not be takena long distance an
placed in the market in good condition
especially in warm weather. Refriger
atOr cars had not then come into use
Consequently, the extent of countr
which furnished prime article of but
ter to the eastern market was small
On this account the supply never ex
ceeded the demand. The extent Q
country which furnished the poore
qualities was much greater-extendin
west beyond the Mississippi river an
north and south to the boundaries G
the dairy belt. Although the West ha
not yet developed much in the dair
business, yet in the aggregate there wa
enough of the poorer qualities of butte
sent forward to keep the eastern marke
full of this kind.
The cow was but little appreciated i
the West only as stock raising ANNA
and received no better care than Othe
stock. When used for the dairy sh
gave but little milk for a short time
and from poor feed and poor care wa
generally thin in flesh when Sprin
came. II took all Summer to regal
the flesh which bad care in Winter ha
deprived her of, and this at the expens
of milk which better care in White
would have enabled her to produc
from Summer feed.
| Farmers but little realized the un
developed wealth possessed by the COW
They plodded along making sma
quantities of inferior butter, raising an
selling grain, and the fertility of thei
farms, till both the farm and farme
were becoming poverty stricken. II re
quires determined effort to leave Tia
ruts sanctified by ancestral travel.
is only necessity that causes the al
tempt. Necessity awakens new emo
tons, new desires, and calls forth new
exertions. II increases the vision O
the farmer and enables him to see tn
possibilities of the cow. The brain
which nature gave him are brought in
to use. Comfortable barns and stables
spring into existence; pastures ant
meadows take the place OF wheat fields
dairy houses and creameries furnished
with the best appliances for making
butter take the place of the kitchen ant
cellar as receptacles for milk; the neg.
lected COW is well cared for, well fee
and in return raises the farmer 10 hi.