Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-03
GREAT THINGS VIRGINIA
MAY DO IN CREAMER|Es
Report of State Dairy Commissioners
to the Govcrnor-Splendid Bust
ness That Is in Sight.
BANKERS CAN COME TO RESCUE
This Commonwealth Can and Should
Supply All the Creamery Butter
and All the Cheese Its People Con-
Sume-Great Profits.

The annual report of state Dairy
Commissioner. benjamin l.. Purcell.
just handed to Governor Stuart. con-
tains statement Of the growth OF the
dairy industry in Virginia that should
prove interesting to every banker and
dair" farmer in the State. The out
line in the report of plan to further
increase the output Of the Virginia
creameries should secure the active
support of the business men. as we'll
as the farmer.
The report states that for tho year
1915 there was an increase over the
corresponding period of 1914 in the
number of creanicries. cheese factories
and milk plants. of 80 Ia per cen; and
that so per cent more Virginia cream
cry butter was made in the crcaincrics
in 1915 than was made in 1914 The
aggregate increase in Virginia cream
cry butter production in 1915 over that
made i'll the year of 1911 is more than
30 per cent This is II splendid show
ing. and is tho best kind of evidence
that can he offered Of what can be
done in this State If an earnest and
united effort is made by Virginia
farmers to reap the full measure of
benefit this branch Of agriculture holds
wfrhin their reach
DcpiOrnblc Situntiun Cnn he Rcmcdicd.
It is unfortunately true that we I'M
port annually from tho North and West
made in the Virginia crcanrcrics. yet
there is probably made on the farms OF
the state as much farm butter us we
import of creamery butter, but the
largest part OF this farm product is
not Salcahlc because OF it's inferior
quality as butter for consumption IN
the principal markets. The usual mar
kct for most OF tho farm butter made
in Virginia is in trade al the country
stores. selling from 10 to - cents per
pound. From thence the butter finds
its way TO tho rcnovatinr factories of
other states. where il is treated re-
turned and sold Ia our people for Is
To 30 cents per pound. If the cream
from which this farm butter is made
was sent 10 Il Virginia creamery, the
difference in returns, representing APP
proNimatcly u million dollars could
be saved annually 10 tho dairy farmers
of the state. and the burden OF making
and marketing the inferior grade OF
butter would he taken from the shout
dcrs OF the women on the farm. who
are already taxed to the limit with
household and other duties The
crcamcries would get more and of
course. better butter from u given
amount of milk or cream than tho
average farmer makes. thus enabling
them to give regularly 10 the farmer
more cash for his product than he
could otherwise secure. This rcgular
cash income would help to place the
farmer on the platform OF the GA h
buyer. and To give 10 him tie advan-
taEcs this class of customers usually
enjoy. The large majority o. farmers
| recognize these statements az facts:
they also arpreciat" rho numerous
other advantages that dairy farming
/ offers over the old system that many
| OF them follow to-day through neces-
/ sity I'm almost every section Of the
state can be found hundreds Of farms
hot nj ,tni, f,nr
/ cows. generally cows that are not Of
the dairy type.
Remedy tx Ensy Enough to Find.
When these farms are visited by m.u
, Of the Dairy and Food Division for
the purpose of interesting the farmers
| in dairying, the farmers say that with
the number Of cows maintained by
them. and tn" absence Of an cstab-
| lishcd accessible creamery tn :c-
turns would he so small that they arc
not willing to make change. It is.
| however rare occurrence for on. OF
these farmers I" assert mat satisfac-
tory returns could not he secured UNI
der favorable conditions.
1t is right at this point that some
I thing more tan-itl" than suggestion
and exposition of tn" advantages to hc
secured, is needed !, IL not practical
in the majority Of Instances for the
immediate conmuni'y TO supply the
practical aSsistanc" the farmer needs.
viz: financial help 10 enable him TO
purchase sufficient number Of addi-
tional COWS c' The dairy type TO make
returns from the sale Of his cream
and milk TO the creamery or cheese
factory sufficient TO stimulate and
maintain his interest IN MS work The
I majority Of Virginia small farmers
own their farms and some live stock.
The farmer very properly hcsitat.s or
refuses TO mortgage his home to buy
, additional cows, and aside from tho
expense and publicity attendant To So
curing loans on his real estate the
! farmer should have the advantage of
! obtaining loans on his notes secured
las hereinafter suggested and Of cur
'Ailing Ties. rotcs from time to time
With the proceeds trom the sale Of his
cream waon ne receives his check from
tn. creamery every month.
Tn risks would he gradually les
s"n"d for the banks lending the money,
/ II monthly curta!lE arc provided. and
the interest charge for the farmer re-
| dIccd.
I.ocni Banks Have the Power to Help.
The local banEa to whom the farm
crs may april" for loans for the pur-
/ pose Indicated could carry ttiS paper
az LONG az Il II convenient. ana when
I other or more profitable uscs arc found
/ for their money. The local bank could
! have the paper rcd!scO,intcd by the
! banks in the larger ccntcrs. KcsponSi-
bile farmers owning their farms. ana
/ from three TO ten cows. desiring to
| inCr"as" their herds to twice the num-
! hcr of cows. and who have sufficient
/ forage 10 feed the Increased herd. and
I VINO Viii give a chattcl mortgage on
I the old and tho new stock to the bank
/ Tor sufficient money 10 buy the cows
iand add them to their herds. should
! nav" no difficulty In securing the loans
! To take up this line Of farming, now
/ recognized as Offering greater profits
/ than any other line Of agricultural CT
/ tort When sufficient Interest with
the farmers can be aroused. the banker
and business man would give HIS cor
dihl and practical assistance in get
ing the dairy business N,tartcd.
Their. is but littl" doubt Of the sue
ccsSfmi ana profitable operation OF n
creamery or chccs" factory that can
sccur" sufficient raw material to con
vert into the flushed product.