The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-12

1T Is not the purpose OF this letter
to give detailed advice az TO the man
agement of q dairy farm, or of a dairy
herd In connection with general
farming. but rather to call attention
to the opportunities in this direction
In broad way, and to suggest to
each farmer that he should give care
ful consideration to the extent to
which 1t may be profitable for him
10 carry on this business The man
emoarking upon it should make a
thorough study of all the details of
the business, including the selection
OF the animals to constitute his herd.
the character of feed, proper herd
management. the proper handling and
marketing OF dairy products, suitable
cropping systems. effective methods
of caring for and applying manure,
anu Hff other IKE factors of import
'anee.
one OF the essentials of profitable
dafrying is the self evident PROPOSE
| ton that the dairy herd must be made
up OF good animals. DIR. A. D. Mel
! vim, chief Of the bureau OF animal
Industry IN the United States de-
=, part OF agriculture, has said that 1.-THE
! low average production OF the dairy
cows OF the United States is con-
dition that does more than any other
one thing to prevent development and
to render dairying Improbable The
experience OF practical dairymen and
careful experiments that have been
! conducted demonstrate that with good
/, cows aand good management, dairy
farming is one OF the most profitable
types OF stock farming: and with poor
cows and Indifferent manageme emit,
there is no money in dairying. Some
| interesting Investigations made by
the agricultural experiment station Of
the University of Tennessee, the re-
suits OF which We're published in
March. 1902, emphasized the import
ance OF good cows 1t was shown
! that there Is a vast difference in ami
mails kept and fed under similar con-
ditions. In these Investigations indi-
vidual records for a year were kept
| OF the cows In twelve herds. The best
| OF these cows showed a net profit OF
| 1862, while the poorest showed q
loss OF $4.5e.
| II the productivity OF the soils OF
| the South is to be maintained and
| increased. they must have more man.
ure. and the farmers of the South
| chemistry advise that II the best re-
suits are to be obtained from CONNER
cial fertilizers they should be used
| in mbination with manure and that,
under some conditions, larger amounts
Of commercial fertilizer can be used
| advantageously In combination with
manure than II used alone. No other
animal will produce manure more
| profitahty than good dairy COW,
As dairytng is developed through
| out the South, the establishment OF
creameries and cheese factories Will
doubtless be found to be desfra BILE. but
| # will EanAraliy he q mistake, to locate
| a creamery or a cheese factory In any
| locality In advance OF the assurance
OF an adequate supply OF milk and
| cream.
Believing that the development OF
Southern agriculture will be benefl-
cial to the territory traversed by its
lines, 1t 10 the policy OF the manage
ment OF the Southern Railway Com
pany to do all that 1t properly can
! to bring about this result. 1t Is the
purpose Of the management to en-
pioy a highly qualified expert dairy
man who will seek to encourage thai
| Industry by tho dissemination Of in.
! formation. and by giving practical ad'
work It IL the purpose OF tho company
| to cooperate with the state authorities
! and the United States Agricultural de.
| partment.
---' '+~,- President