Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-03-09
INTERESTING FACTS fAND FIGURES

November 18th, 1905, the Central
Michigan Produce Company sent out re-
turn postal cards to some OF their many
patrons, asking them number OF ques-
tions relative to the dairy interests.
About FIVE hundred OF them responded
promptly, and the following information
is the result:
That FIVE hundred farmers have been
milking a total of 2,IS3 cows during the
winter of 1905 and LOGO; that they own
1857 cows, an average of about seven
cows each: and that sixty per cent. OF
them will increase that number quite
materially, the coming season. Ninety
nine per cent. of the farmers who re-
turned their cards feel that the hand
separator is a success, and is the proper
way to handle cream. This proves with
out a doubt, that American genius
never loses sight of the wants of Ameri-
can farmers, for the hand separator sure
" ills long felt want in handling the
dairy product.
Again, five hundred intelligent farmers
have given their opinions as to the best
class of cows to keep for butter. They
believe that there is nothing as good as
the Jersey cow, but rather feel there
should be cross, to a certain extent, and
many of them advise that Holstein, Dur
ham or Ayrshire be crossed with Jersey,
which in our judgment is a wise combina-
ton. For there is no animal as sensitive
as the Jersey, not even the human ami
NAL, and until the farmer las studied
their nature, pretty thoroughly, and
learned their ways, so that he can handle
thew without irritqting ther they can
not be termed quite satisfactory. But,
ross them with some good, staunch
breed, and you have the finest III
the land, and surely there is
Nothing more pleasing to the eye nor
more profitable to the farmer than a fine
herd of cows, but they should be selected
and tested for butterfat, so that we know
we are not keeping some cows that are
not profitable. There are many cases of
this kind, and many farmers think that
any cow is a good COW if she looks nice,
but this is not the case and many times
COWS are kept that are not profitable to
-ao farmer, but this can be overcome by
mailing few selections and having them
carefully tested.
When you have secured some good
cows, try and take the same care of them
that you would of fine horse or even
money making piece of machinery. See
that they are well housed in a warm and
well ventilated enclosure where they can
get exercise and Ilenty of pure water,
and you have a start in the right direc-
ton, but do not think that just because
they are COWS that they can live and do
well OH most any kind of feed, FOR this is
impossible, the COW is only a machine
giving out the dollars and cents for which
we are all eagerly looking, and the farm
er who fails to feed COW plenty of good
wholesome food is simply losing money
on his investment
If you hire man with some up-to-date
machinery to do some work for you, that
machine must be kept we'll supplied
with material, or it does not pay the
same is true with the COW. She can not
pay you much profit unless you keep her
well supplied with food, but do this and
she will repay you for your hay and
grain and a nice profit on the investment.
One very satisfactory feature about
keeping good cows, is that YOU do not
have your money invested long until you
get returns, for every time you milk your
COWS, you draw your pay. There is no
other industry in Michigan where so
prompt returns can be had as the dairy
business, in fact, the COW should be
credited with discount. So prompt is
she Ill paying for what she eats.