Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-03-04
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..


| consideration of our farmers and Others
who can engage its in production; at least, SC
far as furnishing the supplies, which II
must be clear are available before capital
investments and factories will be reality.
AS to the adaptation of the farms in Au
gusta county for such purposes, no demon
stration or argument is needed. 1t Is
only necessary to look over its domain to
be satisfied of that fact. In taking new
departure, it is proper that rejecting, Ju-
dicious men should investigate all the facts
bearing on the course to be pursued-to
note carefully the Industries, Gf any,
which have to be abandoned, or to cease to
command their usual attention, before they
are prepared to enter on the proposed fleld
of new efforts for prosperity. Hence, Ma
jor Koiner in framing his preamble and
resolution, which were before the pnbilc
meeting court-day, made reference to the
obstacles which were partially affecting the
continued culture of wheat as reliance
for profitable money crop, and 1t was ap-
parent that he had given the subject the
needed reflection. The proposition, as
| adopted and reported in the last issue OF
SPECTATOR, accomplishes all the purposes
intended for beginning, and now We are
to have the movement inaugurated by a
committee of which he is chairman with
VIM. F. Smith, Esq, and Capt. G.. Julian
Pratt as associates. Under the provisions
Of the resolution, capital and skilled enter
prise are to be invited here from a dis.
lance, and the committee will need and find
indispensable, if any progress is attained,
the cooperation of all who can aid the
movement by falling into line with sus-
tanning resources for this most important
Notwithstanding.
| In due time, the committe will be pre-
pared to make known the plans upon which
creamer;es are conducted-one of which is
co-operative-and present statistical facts
of income and profit, and thorough infor-
nation bearing upon the whole question
in connection with the facilities, which three
railroads running through the county fur
nish; in quick transportation in marketing
butter, and the several points at which ii
will be practicable to establish creameries.
This enterprise does not necessitate tn e
abandonment of wheat-culture except to
the extent that it substitutes more prof
table industry for which Augusta county
is admirably adapted by reason of its eli
mate, grass growth, the requisite food sup
plies, and the large transportation advan,
tages, all inviting the enterprises which
Major Koiner had in view by bis PROPOSE.
ton.
In this connection, we introduce the fol
lowing from Professor S. B. Thompson OF
the Nebraska Agricultural College,
"Among the various ways of diversity
| ing production on the farm, the creamery
has many advantages. 1t yields quick re.
turns. Many creameries pay cash every
month. A farmer who lacks capital tC
stock his farm and must wait for the natu-
raj increase to give him his return, may,
| by investing,in cows, get a return in a few
| months. Hesthus, in measure, gets the
advantage of the "nimble sixpence." The
results are more certain than in most 9th
er lines of farming. Good butter is al
ways in demand for cash. The product
being sold as fast as made, the risk of a
! falling market with full stock on hand is
largely removed. If extreme fluctuations
in price come, they affect only a part of the
years production. The business is fairly
remunerative. The profits, as is usual
| with business in which the element Of
risk is largely removed, are not excessive,
but being steady, may in the long run be
| better for the farmer than more specu-
lative line of work in which there is prom.
Use of larger profits. In presenting some
points connected with the question of prof
it, cannot do better than give state
ment made to me by Mrs. s. G. Bassett, Of
Buffalo county, Neb. The figures are tax
gu from his books, and so far a they are
IN estimate, it is that of an intelligenr
'autious, and trust worthy farmer. This
is the summary for 1888:
No. of cows MIXED 10
No. of calves raised IL
No. of inches of cream 2,211
Average number of
inches per COW 1884
1921 inches of cream, a 16 cts $1O6 81
$50 q 20 cts 1890
Total received for cream $405. sc
Per COW $33 81
It should be stated, that the COWS were
well fed and cared for in the best manner
Besides hay and grass, each COW was fed
sixty-five bushels of corn during the year
| The estimated value of the food of one COW
was as follows: Pasture in summer, two
dollars; hay in winter, three dollars; sixty.
i've bushels of corn at twenty cents, thir-
cen dollars Total, eighteen dollars.
| The other sources of income from the
COW, besides the cream were the skim milk
and the calf. Mr.. Bassett estimates that
he skim-milk judiciously fed, would pro-
luce or be worth eighteen dollars, and the
calf at three days old would bring five dol
lars. The skim milk, properly utilized,
will therefore pay the cost of feeding the
,ow, leaving the value of the cream sold,
Ghirty-three dollars and fifty four cents,
ind the calf five dollars, or total of thir-
weight dollars and fifsy-four cents, to pay
for interest, cost of laber, and net profit.
This it seems ought to be on the whole a
satisfactory showing. A farmer who in ad-
| dition to his other farming operations kept
zen or twelve COWS, is able to count on a
| lash income monthly of something over
thirty dollars at the lowest estimate.
| Farmers who have the requisite skill to
make good butter, and who also live near
large towns, can often do still better than
this, by engaging their product to regular
customers, and delivering it as needed.
But where here is ens farmer whe can do
this to advantage, there are two or three
who could sell cream to a creamery with
much greater profit. 1t would seem that
well managed creamery ought to be of
great advantage to any rural community,
| and the rapid extension of the creamery
| system throughout the West confirms this
| view"
We are truly gratified that one so com
petent to blaze the way as Major Koiner,
has introduced the important subjects em-
bodied in his resolution, and that the Au-
gusta county farmers will have the oppor-
tunity of estimating the value of an inter
est they can soon have in hand and from
which they can derive such large benefits.
Shortly after the last harvest, when con-
templatipg probable adversely in relation
to the crrowers of wheat in fhia section as