Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-11-26
FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING
OF the Minnesota Butter, Cheese
and Dairy Stock Association.
Absence of Many Prominent Workers
Some Very Interesting and Practical
Addresses and Discussions.
TUESDAY EVENING.

sofa Butter, Cheese and Dairy Stock AS
ISOLATION was held at Austin, in the court
house hail. beginning Tuesday evening,
Nov. Is, and closing Thursday noon.
From the very first there was notice
able lack, both Of workers and popular
enthusiasm in the convention, in marked
contrast from what it was last year.
Great credit is due the gentlemen pre-
sent who took hold and filled up the time
of the sessions with the intelligent dis
cussion of those matters in which they
had had experience. F..
In the absence of President G. G. Ed
wards, @on account of sickness, Vice
President o. G. Gregg Of Marshall, pre-
sided.
L. A. Pierce gave the address of wei
come, in which he greeted the convention
as benefactors rather than guests, and
recognized in fitting terms the obligations
which the community owed to the farm
er. In behalf of the Mayor, he rendered
them the freedom of the city, to its fullest
extent.
Vice-President Gregg responded warm
ly to the address of welcome, commenting
upon the wonderful Development of
Austin since he first saw it 20 years ago.
Mr. Gregg then made the opening ad-
dress of the Association on 1.-The Advan-
tages of Minnesota as a Dairy State. D
He said in effect that the increasing
prominence of the dairy interest was not
the result merely of It's being doomed, OF
that anything else might have been pushed
to an equal extent. There was principle
IN it. We must take advantage OF
natural resources to make a success.
The conditions of success vary with eli
matte lines. Farming in Minnesota is a
very different thing from what it is in
Texas. Our severe winters are not an
unmitigated evil. Our cold is wonder
full ally against insects. During the six
months of winter no weeds go to seed
In the summer we have ample time tC
ripen our grains, and perfect the grasses
more productive per head. We cannot
compete with Texas beef at cents pei
pound, but we can excel in dairy pro
| ducts. A change is coming in the time
of dairying. The worst feature Of agri
| culture in Minnesota is the enforced idle
ness of winter. Suppose we turn our at
tention to grain raising in summer, anc
spend our winter in turning it into dairy
products. I believe winter dairying tt
be one of the great opportunities of pros
perity to the farmer.
Secretary W. G. Rice, of Zumbrota
then gave an account of his success ir
dairy farming during the past year.
WEDNESDAY MORNING..
The meeting opened late and with {
small attendance, which gradually in
creased during the day.
A. P McKinstry opened the discussion
on the topic, 'Our Dairy Markets." HI
said in outline, we have easy access to al
the great eastern markets. New YORK
market is the best. The largest marke
is the quickest: Last spring we organic
ed the Mankato exchange, and with goot
results. We have sold over 100000
worth, and to better advantage than We
could have done in the New York mar
ket. Buyers have taken the goods righ
off our hands, and we have received
quick remittances. Quick money is good
money. We were disappointed in ST.
Paul and Minneapolis markets. Lower
grades find better sale there. The pro
ducts of our creamerles are rated IN New
York as Extra" With a good reputa
ton, our goods will draw purchasers tc
Minnesota. He thought it would not
pay to put an exchange in Austin with
out the cooperation of several cream
| cries.
Mr.. Mower, of Cedar Rapids, was call
ed upon to give his experience in hand
| ling dairy products, and said in brief
that creamery men must make and hol(
their markets. The nearest home market
is the best We should have or points
in Minnesota where butter could be
brought, weighed and tested. This will
bring plenty of buyers. Produce ex
changes scattered through the country
are good things. 1t is better to have
butter merchants than commission men
The best plan for creameries is the co
operative plan. 1t stimulates higher
degree of merit. We hope to have goo(
tests for the milk by and by.
Secretary Rice said that by the census
of 1880, only an ounce Of butter a day
to the individual was eaten il
| this country. Less butter IS eaten II
the South than in the North, an(
there ought to be good market for III
down there. Mr.. Marvin sold 24,0O(
pounds of butter in New Orleans only {
few days since. We must pay attention
to the western market. Butter is otter
shipped from Minnesota to New York
and then shipped right back to Portland
| Oregan.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
Secretary Rice spoke on the subject
''The Dairy in Diversified Farming.
No question about the value of this. Il
is very difficult TO make wheat farm
meet expenses. Raising stock for meat
only, will not do it. We must have the
dairy, as it is more profitable, and better
| adapted to our climate. Farmers make
a mistake in changing their pastures. Il
| needs good turf for dairying purposes
and this takes several years. Many over
stock their pastures. At first it takes
twice as much sod for the cow as after il
is we'll set. We have one of the best soils
in the world for permanent pastures
We must fence in our farms again, SO as
to. have the advantage of feeding oul
stock the clover. Cannot turn the whole
farm to dairy and stock. It takes toe
many buildings.
g. E. Marvin, Superintendent of Dairy
Products at the Words Exposition al
New Orleans, spoke on the Minnesota
DO ;rx, nd tho Now 0rlnana EYnnsifinn p