Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-02-27

Eighteenth Annual Convention Held in
MankatO, MINI.


the Eighteenth Annual Convention, held
in Mankato, Mimi, February II, ID, ID,
Is, 1884:
GENTLEMEN OF THE ASSOCIATIONS
We have again met in Annual Convention.
The necessity that gave birth to this organlza-
uon eighteen years ago still exists. 1t was the
| necessity of more and better knowledge.
Agriculture, more than ever, is claiming the
attention of the best thought of the land.
| The evolution that has transformed the serf
| of 500 years ago into the farmer of to-day, has
| been wide spread in its results. 1t has been a
| growth of mind over matter, development
of the power to think, to study, to reason, and
| by comparison of thought establish the
highways of knowledge, set up land marks,
avoid morasses, and bridge over difficulties.
| AT last the farmer has come to consider his
high purpose his deep responsibility and in
innate relationship with the framework of
| society.
His intellect is becoming aroused, and he is
rapidly learning thatto know the treason of
things" is to him a very important lesson.
Here is scope sufficient for the profoundest
sagacity, for the strongest Judgment for
the keenest perceptions, for all that science
| can discover or invention produce. He is no
| longer content to know less than other men
concerning the primal forces of Nature that re-
quire God to create. He desires to be las
gods knowing good from evil"
Society at large rejoices in his determination.
All of its forces willing to enlist in his SER
vice If he will but accept their aid. The COM
posite character of this convention attests the
Truth of this last statement.
A vast deal has the farmer learned since this
organization first entered upon its work i'll his
behalf
He has learned that he must break out of his
isolation and rub against bis fellows; that man
kind brighten in proportion as they have con-
tact with each other. He has learned that he
IrpOIIc ocfo lic1 nIc for opIf
for his children. In word, he is feeling the
necessity to provide for an expansion of his in
tellect as well as his barns.
1t is the enlargement OF his understanding
that will give him the rightful portion of the
labor of his hands, his rightful place in the
control of government, his rightful share of
the social and educational privileges Of this day
and age.
The time has passed when the hands are to
be considered the ruling factor in agricultural
accomplishment. The brain is the great force
of to-day. The farmer of these times may, If
he will, become the true prince Of the soil, and
his home the best exponent of American civili-
cation. Surrounded by his children, he can
lay the foundation in himself and them, for
splendid manhood.
The demand Of the times is imperative for
| larger Drained farmers. The best talent of the
farm drfts into the professional and CONNER
| cial classes.
These have their schools for the promotion
| of knowledge. The farmer must initiate their
example and step to the front in this particu-
| lar where he has right to stand.
For this purpose, and to further such ends,
| have we met in convention. The Importance
of dairy and stock farming to the well-being of
| the community Is indicated by the fact that
| hundreds of the representative dalrynen of
| the entire northwest are gathered here, each
| willing to contribute to the upbuilding of an
| enlightened understanding of the question.
| We have right, and 1t is our duty IN these
| cow entiOns, to take broad ground in the scope
Of our discussions. We are not here to con-
slider alone the mere technical details of dairy
| management.
| But we must reach out to the elements that
make up the home life of farmer. We must
bring encouragement to the boys as well as to
| the fathers; to the weary wives as well as to
| the husbands.
PRESENT CONDITION OF DAIRYING.
The season of 1888 has proved fairly pros
| porous one for dairymen.
Through the extension Of the gathered
cream system very many new communities are
brought into line, and the milk of thousands
| of COWS rescued from an ignominious fate.
| There is a large class of farmers that view all
| this with alarm. They have been waiting for
ten years for the dairy business to fail. They
have been fearful all the time that the business
would be overdone, forgetting that if every
man in the northwest could by any chance
next year suddenly become sklllful dairy
man, it would not add one COW to the present
number. Skillful care and management would
no doubt increase the prof ,ableness of every
cow brought under such an influence. 1t Is
about time that the honest milk was rescued
| from the Pogram makers and Bascom vendors
at crossroads, and for the profit of the country
given fair show for what there is in it.
| But there will get remain ignorance and
slovenIiness enough i'll the land for long
| time, to give intelligence all the advantage 1t
deserves. The only phase of the dairy bust
ness that is seriously overdone; and that con-
tinually, is the making of poor butter and
| cheese.
! You have seen for the last 10 years steady
| appreciation in the value of fine dairy goods.
There is a principle in this, gentlemen. 1t
| teaches that our only salvation lies in uphold
ing and increasing the standard of excellence.
| Common farm butter has the same old look,
| the same smell, the same abused, banged and
| disheartened appearance that 1t had 70 years
| ago. and it brings about the same price. Skim
cheese is the same fraud on human digestion
that it ever was-has the same discOuraging
| effect on consumption and depressing effect
| on price. It points the same old moral that it
ever did, ' What God has joined together let
no man put asunder." The makers of fine
goods need have no fears of the future.
PRODUCTION FOR 1883.
| 1t is a curious and instructive fact as shown
by the last census, that the ratio of increase IN
COWS is considerably less than that of popula-
ton. This may account IN measure for the
fact that the demand for dairy products has
been, for number of years, greater than the
supply. The same fact affords also good
guarantee of the future stability of the bust
ness, proving that bogus compounds are not
allowed to usurp the place of the honest prod
uct of the cow. Left to a natural condition
of things the dairyman need have no fears of
the lack of a remuneTative market in the
future. He should remember, however, that
if he allows himself to be driven from the field
either through his supineness or lack of con-
formity to the market demand for excellence,
he does not deserve any better fate.
In 1880 the State of Minnesota contained
275, 545 COWS. Her increase for the ten years
previous had been at the rate of IL 40 per
cent annually. Measured by the same rate
the state would have in 1883 375, SGT COWS.
Allowing that the product of each COW was
worth $35, the gross product would reach the
sum of $13, IA, 845. Iowa contained in 1880
845. 1877 cows. Her annual percentage of il
crease for the previous decade had been Is lilo
per cent. This ratio would give the state in
1888 ], 189, 1882 cows, whose earnings at $35
would reach the sum of $41, 645, $40. Illinois
contained in 1880 1856, 913 COWS. The annual
percentage of increase had been only IL per
cent. Applying this ratio she would have in