The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-06-15
Dairyiug In Dixie.


There is widespread opinion that
the dairy industry cannot be made a
success in the South, that the proper
field for the industry is in the North
and West. but little by little we are
learning that while there may be nc
new things under the sun" there are
many old industries that find new
homes, and here and there. like an
oasis in the desert, some bold pioneer
backed by the courage Of his convic'
tions, has introduced some new field
of enterprise in an old community.
This is particularly true of the dairy
industry, and though there have been
many who have failed, there are more
who have succeeded, and many an
acre that once knew only the tread OF
the cotton planter and his mule, now is
covered with grasses. and here the
gentle COWS find subsistence, and on
many another field, corn and forage
crops have supplanted cotton. to the
Improvement of the sell, and to the
enhancement Of the contents of the
farmers pocketbook.
Among those who have achieved
success in the South is one Mr.. H. A.
Barrows. Of Monticello. this State:
coming here seven years ago from
Illinois, and knowing nothing about
Southern agriculture, and but q little
about agriculture anywhere, the ex-
perienceS of those first few years
would have discouraged less de-
termined man. As Mr.. BarrowS now
laughingly says, he was the laugh
ing stock of the whole community
he can afford TO laugh now at the
recollection. but it was 10 joke in those
days, and only proves the saying. that
he who laughs last" etc. for those who
came to scoff then come now to gather
knowledge-it is again the old story Of
the hare and the tortoise. Those who
had supposed there was nothing more
to be learned have been distanced by
the one who had the perseverance to
burn the midnight oil in order to
find out the cause Of his failure and
,hew out success where an ordinary
man would have given up in despair.
Mr.. Barrows early saw the necessity
of keeping livestock in order to pre-
serve the fertility Of the soil, and real
izing the possibilities that dairyins
afforded. he made 4 thorough study of
the industry. all its brarches. He had
herd of high-grade Jerseys and
GuernSeys, consisting of about forty
mich cows and as many more young
heifers. They furnish milk to supply
the town of Monticello with a high
grade product that cannot be eXcelled
in quality. In addition. he is making
a-fancy grade butter. that was scored
by one of the best judges Of butter in
America, and was marked ninety-eiSht
points out of a possible 100. This but
ter goes to Thomasville, Jacksonville
and other points to supply critical
class Of customers, but the only kick
is from those who can't get it; every
few days he is obliged to turn down
orders from some one who has heard
of it.
But it is not alone in the products
of the dairy that he has distanced
others who are older in experience: for
in his cane syrup be has produced an
article that has been highly commend
cd by experts, and in fact by all who
have tasted ii, and-but, as Mr.. Kip
ling would say, that is another story.
Mr. Barrows raises all the rouShage
for his cows. buying only concentrated
feeds like brewers grains, branS and
cottonseed meal. Two large silos hold
enough silage to last through the win
Ter months. In the summer the pasture
is supplemented with green feeds and
soiling crops. To visit his farm ana
look over his fields and his herds, to
be RECALLED with few Of his jokes. to
meet his accomplished wife and fine
boys is worth q journey from a dis
tance.
This is but a single instance OF a
successful Southern dairyman, there
are many, but there is room for many
more. The field is broad one, ano
will grow even faster than the popu-
lation will increase; there is nothing
that will create demand for any
product like a product that is little
better than the average. and TINS Is
particularly true of the dairy industry.
There is no branch of agriculture
that impoverishes the sell so little as
dairying, provided the fertilizer is re-
turned to the land and not allowed to
80 to waste around the barn. 1t furn-
ishes a steady income the year around.
and when our friends On Wall Street
are forcing cotton down to five cents,
the dairy farmer sleeps just as sound
eats lust as hearty and dresses just as
well as when it is ten cents or more
The Stockman.
Machinery on the Farm.
The following from the Southern
Soma yorv UaO1 Cl-