Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-11-10
Dairy Economy.

DdiTy ESOuOuy.
In no branch of farming is there such
deplorable waste and shortsightednesS
as in dairying; such a large amount of
labor for so small result and that re-
suit, too, of very indifferent quality.
Some farmers of to-day are barely ex-
listing who ought to be in comfortable
circumstances and this with only the
same facilities as they now enjoy. A
quaint old Yankee used to have the habit
of saying, 1T is mighty important to
have the right idea of things to start
with" One day young bull tackled
the old man in his barnyard. Uncle
Sam grabbed the bull by the tail and
gave him a severe lashing with a heavy
whip which he happened to have in his
hand. His bullship soon gave up the
fight and was glad enough to get away.
Uncle Sam said very quietly: Hes
sort o. young and foolish; you see he
didn't have the right idea of me an other
things to start with"
The idea of trying TO put both beet
and milk into the same animal is a hum
bug. If your object is the production
of beef, select animals of the beef type,
that will gain in flesh rapidly and
economically; but if you are keeping
cows to produce cream, by all means
stick to the dairy cow. The Jersey is
my choice and all experimental tests of
the different breeds give the Jersey COW
the no or of n king the most butter at
least expense and quality unexcelled.
Ii is very poor economy to milk So
called dual purpose cow four or five
years, knowing that she is not a rich
mixer, and give as a reason for so do
ing, that she will be worth something
when we want TO sell. We will allow
that the beef cow may be worth SO or
SIS more to the butcher or COW trader
when we get through with her, but all
tests and experiments prove that the
Jersey will give net profit of SIS or
more in one year above that of the
heavier animal.
If we could actually double the dairy
product of our town and also get high
er price than we now do,-and if to do
this we need not keep more, but fewer
cattle, at less cost for feed, for attend
ance and barn room,-would it not alter
the whole aspect of dairy matters? We
must increase our products and profits
as well, and one way of making more
profit is TO follow the teachings of all
our dairy schools and colleges. They
tell us to "LeSsen the cost
of production" How is this to be done?
BY starving our COWS? Far from it. But
by keeping better class of cows, feed
ing and caring for them better, and using
more skill and care in making our but
ter. We thus increase our output, and,
at the same time, we lessen the cost of
Feed generously and of
suitable material. In the interest of
economy | believe the silo a necessity,
by the use of which we can keep up the
milk flow through the winter much more
cheaply than with hay only.
The man of wealth has the ''Sinews of
war" with which to carry on his enter
prise, aid we all know what plenty OF
capital means in business. If united
with brains and perseverance, it means
assured success. The plain farmer, on
the other hand, may not have the capi-
tai, but he generally has good farm,
where land value is low and taxes are
low, and he has comparatively little
outlay for labor; and if possessed of the
brains and perseverance may develop a
profitable dairy business, even under ad-
verse circumstances and with the very
plainest surroundings. My start in
farm life and dairying was made under
the latter conditions and at times felt,
to use homely saying, that l was "be-
tween the devil and the deep sea-" But
| have pinned my faith to the dairy COW
and time will tell whether or no have
the brains and perseverance to succeed.
Every man must be his own school
master. lie must direct his own mind.
If he refuses to make provisions for
himself whereby he can secure supply
Of good ideas, then he is to blame. Too
many of us feed our hogs to the verge
Of cholera, and Starve our minds. We
must have a contact with ideas ii we ex-
pect to secure them. We must get near
to the fire if we expect to be warmed.
Again we are reminded of the old prov
erb, Gas a man thinketh, SO is he."-I
Edgar II. Merrill in Maine Farmer.