Imperial Valley press., 1913-07-09


and we give, in the following, all that
we have been able to collect from
practical dairymen who have given the
machines a thorough try-out for one
year or more.
Readers will perhaps remember haV-
ing read in this journal last fall an ac-
count of past experience in the state
with milking machines, but for those
not familiar with the subject ii might
be we'll to state that some six or seven
years ago there was what might be
called boom in the mechanical mixer.
1t that time it was thought they would
revolutionize the dairy industry, and
they were installed in many dairies al
over the state.
That they We're mechanically wrong
is the impression held by many, who
latter few months trial discarded them,
but it would seem that the handling
OF them had good deal-t to do with
this idea, as one man whom the writer
mentioned last fall had used them con-
tInuously for over five years.
Most dairymen who had used them
| discarded them, believing that they
dried the cows up, and i'll many cases
| spoiled them as mixers. About two
years ago there was a new furry in
| the machines, and this time they
seemed to have made good, whether
due to more careful handling or to new
devices, we do not know, but consider
| that the improved machines had much
| to do with it.
This later Introduction was taken
hold of mostly by dairymen in our
diced against the machines through
knowing the past experiences i'll this
state. for it is true that the worst
prospect machine salesman has is he
who never has used them, but has
heard through some neighbor that
they will spoil your cows"
As before stated, however, the later
models We're introduced in newer sec
lions, one Of the first Of those being
near Modesto, in Stanislaus- county
Anyone familiar with conditions in that
locality knows that today The milking
machine has come into its own there,
and with one or two exceptions all
those who are using them. and there
are a great many used, are not only
continuing TO use them. but also al
ways ready to highly recommend their
use 10 others.
As great many of those in use are
cn dairies where only registered stock
i kept, which are valued at fancy
prices, II would seem that the ma
chimes are not hurting the cows in anv
way. for surely no breeder would spoil
cow for the sake of indulging in
some hobby.
While III this section most of those
III use are III dairiess which maintain
from 20 cows upward, and therefore
greatly cheaper the milking costs. tho
man with n smaller number NAV also
be benefited. as can be seen from one
mans experience in the Sacramento
valley. This j. George NJ. Whitmore
whose dairy is located about three
miles northwest Of Corning.
Mr. Whitmore was for a great manv
years tradesman, and knew ahsoIuta-
~ nothing about farming, but as his
health was poor. five years ago he
purchased 60 acres Of land which i
Ills present home. The first two
years were spent in preparing and
planting alfalfa, and for some time this
was sold As hay. but it was thought
more could be realized from feeding +
10 dairy cows, so a few We're pur-
chased. Since that time all the heifers
have been raised, until at present he
Is milking ten cows.
A year ago he found that his milk
ing was not only a drudgery. but also
Eept him from doing as much work in
The fields as he wanted to. 50 he got
some literature on milking machines.
Having formerly been a machinist lie
considered them all right mechanical
Iy. so ordered two on 80 DAYS trial
They cost him close to 800 laid down
at Corning, the Hinman mixer having
been selected
\ 1 z horsepower gasoline engine
was purchased for power. which cost
him s25. As he installed them him
self, the other costs were small.
He states that no trouble was ex-
perienced in getting the cows accus-
toned to the machines. and from the
first they did satisfactory work. Al
though he had never seen one in op-
Grafton before. Now, after nearly
years operation, he has the following
to say:
Last year we were milking the
same number as we are now and feed
ing straight alfalfa the same as at
present. Some time before their use