The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-16
AGRICULTURAL.
INFLUENCE OF DAIRyING.
II Is Good for the Family Financially.
Socially and MOrally-A. Readable
Paper From Practical Man
Read by Rev. $. Currie. the Red
River valley Dairyman, at the
Minnesota Dairymen's Convention.

We have but to consult statistics to see
to what vast extent dairying contributes
to the wealth of our state. We have been
told many times how its introduction has
brought prosperity to communities. We
have only to visit the markets to realize
how darying swels the volume OF trade;
how it benefits railroads and calls for fac
tories and store houses. But, as American
citizens, our greatest pride is not in our
wealth of country state. Our highest
ambition must not be to sustain gigantic
railroad systems, and to build up great
commercial enterprises Our glory and our
pride must be in our comfortable homes
and our happy families; in the character
and thrift of our people. A wealthy nation
does not necessarily imply a contented peo-
pie. Prosperity in family does not al
ways secure the best interests of its mem
bers. Ald So after we have satisfied our
vanity by reviewing the growth of our
dairy interests; counted the dollars it has
added to our wealth. it may not be amiss
to think for a moment of what it's infu-
ence is or might be, in our homes. Es
pecially SO, since, as our worthy president
stated last year in his admirable address,
farming is largely a family affair and
this is especially true of dairy farming.
This is an enterprise that can be operated
by the family close corporation, and
every member can truly contribute to it's
success.
There are those who look. upon dairying
as a savisn occupa ton, requiring constant
attention every day of the year. and are
unwilling to tie themselves down to any
thing SO eXactng. There may be, too,
those who think that such a restriction of
ones liberties is degrading sand tends to
dwarf manhood and rob the family of So
cial privileges.
Now. that dairying is confirming and that
It's duties come as constantly, as regularly
ana as often as the sun rises and sets, we
cannot deny; but if we can only snow that
what in appearance M the most unpleasant
feature of the business is, in reality, one of
its best features, We have gained our first
point.
Let us consider this .phase of the subject
in its relation to the different members of
the family:
Dairying requires constant attention to
details and regularity in the performance
of certain duties.
No two qualities of character are more
necessary to success in any calling in life
but these, like other useful traits, do not
come to us by the mere wish or intention to
possess them. They are drilled into us in
some school OF action. Like many of the
most useful lessons of life, they are learned
not so much by choiee. as from necessity.
There are men who seem to have native
will power sufficient to keep them from
putting off until tomorrow what should
be done today, but most persons need
some pressure to keep them in the line
of action.
Every country village has some store OF
saloon that gives abundant evidence that
men need something to keep them at home.
The dairNman has no time to loaf and he
always has something good to drink at
home. | know many men who would find
;lairying profitable even if they never sold
pound of butter, if it's duties only kept
them at home.
A man may SOW his wheat few days
earlier or later, and trust to luck; but he
cannot trust to luck to milk his cows or
feed his calves.
The wheat raiser, it is true. can always
find something to do, but the dairyman
must be doing; and for this reason dairy
ing is better school of discipline Es-
pecially is it for the children of the
family.
Most parents theorize about the neces-
sity of teaching children to have some
regular duties and to take some RESPONSE
bility. On the dairy farm, these duties
to the children early and regularly
without any theoriZing: and these are the
means of developing efficiency and respon-
sibitv
| know a mother who has expressed to me
the best possible theory as to how a daugh-
ter should be educated, but the daughter is
the poorest illustration of the theory, sim
ply because the factor Of necessity was
wanting in the program.
| know another mother whose daughters
tleil
part, and | have heard her remark how
efficient they became as they grew older.
Whenever l need help, either male or fe
male, that is competent, relic BILE md efficient
/ try to find some one who has been brought
up on a good dairy farm. Here there is
work that must be done. 1t must he done
regularly 1t must be done neatly, and /,
is work that calls for intelligent thought al
every step; and whether operated in Maine
or Minnesota. dairy farm properly con-
Quoted is a splendid training school tina
will furnish many qualitica for almos,
any position in life. 1t is notably true tina
the professions receive many of their hes,
recruits from the farm; and l believe sta.
tistics would show that a large share OF
these come from the dairy farm.
Aside from the practical training that
dairy work gives to children as they grow
up, there are other influences that affect
for good the future life. When / see little
boys and girls playing around where there
are animals or herding the cows, or driv-
ing them to pasture, meeting little
trials overcoming little difficulties
learning their superiority to the brute
creation, can but think that in after life
these children, grown to maturity, will be
round superior to many difficulties anj
trials that would terrify others
10 learn that we are superior to nature.
forces and natures life does not cultivat,
pride but makes manly The youthful
David, while tending his fathers focks
braved the lion and the bear, and thereb
gained confidence to meet the mighty gian
IN armor, OF whom all Israel was afraid
1t was wise man who said 1T is goo.
to bear the yoke in YOUTH ana SOM
modern writer has produced an interestins
pamphlet with the title Blessed Be Drudg
cry
gentleman was once visiting in a New
England state, and being thoroughly i'm
pressed with the rough and rocky aspec
OF the place, asked in disgust what sucl
country could produce and was truly an
sWered. 1T produces men,"
The great fact thus differently expresse,
is that situations and occupations in lif
that seem to be most restraining and diff
cult are often the best schools of char
acter. 1T is the daily drill and constan
discipline that makes the trusty soldier q
the true man.
/ would not for a moment give the i'm
preston that l consider dairying an uu
pleasant or slavish occupation On tn
contrary. l believe 1t to be one of tn
pleasantest and most interesting Althoue
requiring constant attention, there is sue
variety Of work, and at every turn !
calls for the exercise Of so much thoupbt
and skill, and judgment, that it become
not only school of character hut -
many arts and sciences
A gentleman once said to me: "A lau,vo
must Know the law, physician must I'm
aerstand medicine, but farmer needs +
know everything
The varied work of the dairy can \
MADE real pleasure where every one 6
the family takes an interest i'm IT. Jkno,
some farms where the milking is made