The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-12
Dairying IS a Business in
the District and Po-
etry IS Lacking.
Not All the "Elgin" But
ter Comes From That
Section of Illinois.
Typical Virginia Dairy
Farm, Where BeStMeth-
DDS Are Employed.

AIRYING as a business is vari-
ously regarded by various peo-
- pie To some it seems beau
tiful and poetic occupation; to others
especially people who have at some time
in their lives worked on a farm where
butter IS made-it is the most prOsaic
and disagreed BILE Of all employments.
Dairying in the District as the work
IS carried on by dairymen who do a
large business. is neither the one nor the
other-neither a thoroughly poetic nor a
wholly unpleasant line Of work.
Hills Are Missing.
The old-fashioned farming country,
with cattle grazing on a thousand
hills" is not seen in the immediate vi
cinity Of Washington. The hills are not
there. in any conspicuous height at
least. and the cattle would not be graz
ing on them. il they were.
The Washington dairyman is doing
business for profit and not for poetry,
and his cows are usually 10 be found in
the barn. although they are allowed to
Craze for a few hours each day. Neither
are butter and cheese made on the dairy
farm; IL would take too much time.
Some Of the dairymen raise chickens,
and a few raise hogs, and sometimes
butter is made OF surplus milk when
the number Of customers drops off in
the summer But the bulk Of the busi-
ness on the farm is milk and only milk.
The butter sold in town by the dairy
men is purchased by them from whole
sale dealers. and comes mostly from the
West.
From Central Illinois.
90 course. it isn't all Elgin butter,
though much Of IL goes by that name. "
said a butter merchant. discussing this
point. "Elgin butter comes from III
nois. the heart OF rich grazing
country. and is well known. but I don't
suppose it IS really any better than the
product Of half a dozen other States In
that region. A great deal Of our butter
comes from Ohio and Iowa. There are
some scientific dairymen IN the South,
but I suppose their butter supplies local
trade II doesn't come mere
a typical dairy farm is one lying next
TO the Mount Vernon estate. and run
by one Of the three Thompson brothers.
all dairymen. The farm was once part
OF the estate Of a Mr.. Mason, IN whose
family It was for a hundred and fifty
years or more, and there are stili traces
on its broad meadows OF a feud which
the owner had with George Washington.
Some isagreement about a boundar Y
line resulted IN a devils lane"-twO
fences with a broad pitch between. In
which unfortunate animals which leaped
the fence were likely 20 be shot
Old Mansion Gone.
Years before the war the old mansion
house was burned down, and only the
broad grassy lawn and terraces hint at
It's former glories. The old Overseer's
house. nearly doubled by substantial ad-
ditlons. makes a coy dwelling house,
and In place OF the old stables is a cow
Darn BIG enough for over a hundred
cows. al az home. as a rule. and looking
eontented and sleek and pleased 10 see
visitors
Ihe moor and hangers OF this big barn
are made OF concrete. and daily washed
with hose The barnyard is paved.
and also cleaned and washed daily.
Cleanliness has always been recognized
By the best farmers as necessary to the
health Of their animals. Ii used To be
said that the Dutch farm wife scrubbed