Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-09-27
THE DAIRY IN VERMONT.
ADDRESS BY HON. r. D. DOUGLAS OF WHIT
ING, At THE DAlRYMEN's CONFERENCE
IN BURLINGTON sEPT,4.


We live in an age of progress. Rapid
evolution in human affairs is the order of
the day. The most radical and complete
changes are constantly occurring, in all
departments of business. A sublime
mental activity, and rapid appreciation
of its results. are the leading characters
tics of our nation and age. The conditions
under which all industrial callings must be
pursued are consequently changing. New
methods, new appliances, and improved
wares must be substituted for those once
believed to be the perfection of their
kind.
In no department of business has the
demand for these changes become more
imperative than in our eastern agricult-
ure. The introduction of farm machin-
cry. the vast areas brought under cult
walton in the West, with cheap and rapid
transportation, have wrought complete
revolution In agricultural affairs among
us.
Unfortunately the great mass OF our
farmers are utterly unprepared to meet
it. Hence the general feeling of dis
couragement which prevails at the pre-
sent time. and the decline in the market
value of our farm lands.
Cheap production, and superior quail
itv of the wares produced, has come TO
be the only hope of the Vermont farmer
We must produce the best of everything
in the greatest possible abundance and
at the least possible cost or fail. These
conditions are forced upon us. There is
no alternative. Are the mass of Yer
mont farmers prepared for this?
While these conditions apply to every
department of agricultural production, L
shall speak only of that branch which is
the special subject of consideration at
this time. Let us consider the facts as
we find them, in relation to the present
development of our dairy industry, and
the opportunities for improvements which
it presents.
Time will not permit of the presenta-
ton of statistics, but the positions which
shall take shall be so far within the
can consistently question the validity of
the results at which we shall arrive.
Dairy writers and speakers at the pre-
sent time do not labor under the same
disadvantages as did those of 20 years
ago. What were then looked upon as
visionary claims, with regard to the pos
sbilties in dairy practice, are now ac-
cepted as accomplished facts. When in
speaking in behalf of this association in
the hall of the House of Representatives
in 1872 claimed that it was only ques-
ton of intelligence and enterprise wheth-
err the butter making herds of Vermont
in the near future should be brought to
an average productive capacity of 300
pounds per COW per annum, it was
thought by some that was getting Wis
ionsary, and not being lawyer, con-
fess that | had the feeling of self-con-
demnation myself, of one who is con-
scious of telling pretty big story, in
the advocacy of a pet cause. Had not
some of my Pomfret friends been pre-
sent. upon whom | could rely for the
practical facts with which to sustain my
position, l should hardly dared to have
assumed it. Yet, to-day, the individual
COWS which have been developed to an
annual productive capacity of 300 pounds
of butter may be counted by hundreds,
and entire herds averaging that amount,
by scores.
This evening, submit the same prob
lem for solution by simple arithmetic,
that did on that occasion, without the
slightest fear that the premises upon
which it is based will be called in ques-
ton. | shall assume, as then, that the
average productive capacity of the cows
of our State, does not exceed l50 pounds
of butter, or its equivalent in milk and
cheese. While there has been decided
age production has not yet reached the
amount named, an amount, less by one
half, than that of our best herds.
fyou will consult the last census re-
port, you will find that at that time there
were in the State 2l7 ,033 cows. If al
Improvement in this stock could be made
equivalent to an increased annual pro
duction of % pounds per COW and thi
product be sold at a price equivalent t
% cents per pound for butter, the finan
cial results would be an increase o.
S1,35G, 250-an amount amply sufficien
to change the business from one of los
Il isn N nrnfit a nd .
An improvement of 80 pounds per COW
on the same basis of price received, etc.
would represent an increased income o
S2,7l2 800; of 70 pounds per COW Si,06S,
$50; of 100 pounds So, 200, and thel
we shall have reached an average pro
ductive capacity less by 80 pounds thar
that of our best herds. Please bear il
mind that this increased production rep
Iesents, practically, so much produce sen