Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-03-30
AMONG THE FARMERS.
speed THE PLow."
Dairy Business Should Be Maintained.

DAIRY Business Should Be Maintained
ueslie e. McIntire. waterford)
For years the Department of Agricul
ture, the College of Agriculture snG
prominent dsirymen OF Maine hav,
worked to promote dsirying in the state
While there has not been q marked In
crease in the number Of cows there j,
a material increase in the quantity oi
dairy products, and this is proof thai
better breeding, care-tsking and knowl
edge Of feeding have brought good re-
suits.
Men who make dsirying and farming
a business, and who conduct that bust
ness with efficiency, careful attention to
details, the best thought and study de-
voted to better breeding and building uI
a herd, have a right TO demand a fair
profit for their labor. When dsirying Ia
carried on along such lines, there il
likely to be little chance for srgumen,
about dsirying not paying.
There are thousands of farms in Maine
large enough and with work enough for
two, three or even four men, but be.
cause of scarcity of labor the owners
have been obliged to struggle along
alone. The result in such case Is that
either the crops, the orchard, the dairy
herd or something else, must be neg.
lected. No'mstter how willing a man Is
to work, or how ambitious, the human
body has Its limitations, and that lone
farmer has to 60 the limit; he has to
stay, because no one wants his job.
Lack of care and feed will make q
good herd Improbable. On the other
hand, good care and feed will not make
a low-producing herd profitable to-day.
Low production and lack of care com
bine to make many unprofitsble herds in
Maine at the present time.
Unfortunately, loss from an uuprofit-
able herd does not stop on the farm
where it originates. That part of the
product which goes on the market,
whether much or little, helps to increase
the surplus and lower the price of all
dairy products.
We have got to be efficient, keep accu
rate accounts of our farm operations and
know what it costs to produce our differ
snt crops and products. Then, If we
cannot get fair profit above cost OF
production, the only thing to do will be
to stop producing at a loss.
You will never see agriculture prosper
as IL should as long as there are two
scales Of wages-great pay and short
hours in other industries and long hours
and short pay for food. production. The
labor element is demanding shorter
hours, high wages and cheaper food,
three things that never did 60 together
and never will.
We used to hear a good deal about
New England thrift and prosperity
Why was that so? Simply because peo.
pie in those days were willing to work
and save, build and own their own homes
and be part of their town and state.
Those conditions of contentment and
prosperity may be secured by building
up more profitable agriculture. This
will mean that attractive farm homes
will be built and men will have q chance
to work with Nature and bring out the
best that is in them.
The cry has been to help build up the
towns and cities. To-day the busines.
men, the bankers and others interest eC
in the welfare of the cities realize thai
unless the surrounding agricultural com
munities are maintained there csnno
long be prosperity in the cities.
In Maine, and in all New England, In
dustries and agriculture are out of bal
snce. Everything that is produced j:
dependent on labor, and until labor Il
ready and willing to work hours enough
to produce what this country and the
world need, and supply the wants Of the
people at fair cost, just so long will
the industries and agriculture remain
out of balance.