The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-01-07
The EIgiR Dairy Region.

Philadelphia Record.l
The region near El-in, ILL.,, is famous for
he production of the choicest butter and
cheese made in the United States; and an
account OF the methods practiced there will
be interesting and profitable. The soil is
the usual black loan noticeable on the prai-
ries, and grass grows spontaneously wher-
ever it can secure stand. No crops are
cultivated except corn and oats, and every
farm is dairy. Elgin is the center
OF the district, and contains no crsameries
within the city proper, but the enterprising
dairyman OF the surrounding country, by
the organization Of 3 Board of Trade and
Exchange, succeeded in attracting customers
for their product from all sections. The
butter and cheese are sold by sample in the
rooms Of the Board, and every one who
uses the rooms as a medium for the sale Of
goods is compelled to furnish articles in
strict accordance with the samples. The
butter and cheese are graded and classified,
and the prices obtained vary, of course, with
the quality Of the products. Any commu-
nifty of farmers may thus easily build up
market fer their goods in the same manner,
the secret OF success being that all artic es
are sold upon their merits
Grass being q staple crop, and seldom a
failure, the dairymen have excellent pastur-
age in summer with an abundant supply OF
hay for winter, while the large farms are
provided for with silos and ensilage is made
sn important adjunct to the hay. The corn
and oats are fed usually in the ground con-
dition, and though admitting the value of
roots for feeding the crops OF such are not
large. Wheat is not grown, nor are the
farms supplied with variety OF fruit, with
II Oh,
being several large horse breeding e.
adjustments in the region, the equine
stock is excellent, consisting of grade
Percherons and Clydesdales. The creamer-
les are owned By individuals, who buy the
milk at a fixed price from the dairymen,
though some OF the diaries are operated on
The cooperative system. The milk brought
70 the creameries is carefully tested as Quail
itv that being below a certain standard
refused. The refuse whey and buttermilk
is sold, the patrons Of the creameries having
the preference Of purchase, it being used for
feeding to pigs. The cream is separated
from the milk by the centrifugal process,
and the entire work of butter making is done
by machinery. The skinned milk is made
into cheese, the fat being provided in the
shape OF lard, but such cheese is not, how
ever, sold at the same price as that made
from the entire milk.
The dairymen have long been accustomed
TO the practice of buying fresh cows aud SELL
ing those that become dry. the calves being
sacrificed when only few days DID, but as
the Holsteins have been introduced, and the
results from such COWS so superior TO the for
neI stock, dairynen are learning the fact
that it is to their advan tage to raise their
own cows, which are certain to yield largely,
instead Of buying any kind OF stock that
may be offered. In addition to the large
quantities of milk used by the cresmeries,
trains OF cars daily carry thousands of cans
TO Chicago, the prices ranging from two cents
per quart at the creameries TO thres and four
cents in the city.
Although on many farms sufficient f0od is
grown ,or the stock, yet the majority of
dairrm purchase bran, shipstuff and OIL
cake for feeding and save their manure
carefully. This practice assists very ma
terially in retaining fertility, as the con-
slant marketing of the elements OF the soil.
in the shape of milk, would, in the course OF
time, cause the soil to become impoverished.
Being naturally very fertile, and well
adapted to nearly all kinds of grass, the
farmers find that by the sale of milk alone
they can derive larger profit than by grow
ing crops for market. A glucose factory
furnishes refuse, which is utalized by the
farmers and with their whole attention
given to dsirying, and the feeding OF the soil
annually, they have but little tear Of failure.
By concentration of efforts the Elgin dairy
men have created market for their products
near their farms, and a ready sale is found
for all their produce. The production OF
milk, butter and cheese is very large, and
bids fair to increase on each farm every
year. as improvement is taking place an.