Year: 1872




DAIRY.


In recent number of the Western Far.
mer, quotation is made in regard to the
importance Of collecting statistics of the dali
ry-viz., the number Of factories, the cows
employed, and the quantity Of cheese made
annually, We regard it unfortunate tor the
dairy interest of America that these statis-
ties are not more fully given in the reports
of the various dairy associations, aud this
work, we think, properly belongs to the as
sociations, etc.


The Western Farmer, after alluding to
conversation which one of the editors of that
paper had with certain Ohio dairymen-
owners of large farms and patrons Of two
cheese factories, and yet who had never at.
tended dairy convention, and were surpris-
ed to hear of cheese factories in Wisconsin
remarks as follows


"Will Mr.. Willard tell Us how to collect
statistics that shall be complete bearing in
mind that our Ohio friend is not alone
that there are other dairymen, and some fac
tory owners, who take no agricultural paper,
attend no dairy meetings have never heard
except by accident, of Mr.. Willard, or any
other writer on dairy matters Another
class are willing enough to get all the infor.
nation they can from others, but act as if il
was no ones else business what they have
done in their own dairy or factory.


"One of the editors of this paper happens
to be Secretary of the Northwestern Dairy
mems Association. He will do what he can
to collect full statistics of the dairy products
Of the Northwest, but he is not at all sure
that he will succeed better than his prede-
cessors. All the help that can be given in
the way of making dairymen feel the impor-
tance Of such statistics, and any suggestions
as to the best modes Of securing such statis-
ties, he will gladly welcome"


We are aware that there are difficulties in
the way of obtaining dairy statistics, and are
fully satisfied that but little dependence can
be placed upon getting the information desir.
cd, from voluntary contributions. We have
had some experience in this line and we find
there are only few persons, comparatively,
who will take the trouble Of writing out a
report of their own immediate operations, to
say nothing Of collecting statistics from 9TH
ers. Sometimes persons would be glad to
makea report, but find difficulty in getting it
in proper form to suit, and so abandon the
idea altogether The dairy association should
furnish printed forms with blanks to be filled.
These should be sent to all the factories
which are known to the Secretary, with re-
quest that the blanks be filled and returned.
But much information may be obtained by
sending blanks and printed letter to the
Presidents or Secretaries of the County Agri-
cultural Societies A list of names of these
officers may be obtained at the office Of the
State Agricultural Society The Depart
ment of Agriculture at Washington issues a
printed list of the various Agricultural Soci.
cites in the United States, giving the names
of officers. This would be found useful 10
sending out circulars, Again, every town in
the State could be reached by placing the
requisite blanks and circulars in the hands Of
the several Boards of Supervisors and this
could be done through the County Clerks.
The Supervisor of each town would be likely
to be pretty we'll informed as to the number
of cheese factories in his town and the COWS
employed in furnishing milk, etc.


BY adopting some such plan as We have
proposed we are inclined to think the statis-
tics could be made toleraDIy compete-at
least much more complete than we now get
them in the dairy reports. We think, too,
that at the Dairy Conventions committee
on statistics should be made, selecting some
well known person from each county who is
to be relied upon to collect the statistics Of
the counties respectively. All this will en-.
tail much labor, it is true, upon the socreta'
ries Of the various Associations but they
should be properly paid for the service.


Some years ago we furnished statistics oi
all the factories and COWS in Herkimer coun'
ty, and we were the FIRST to obtain and print
reliable returns of the quantity Of cheese
shipped annually from the county. This
last was not such difficult matter, since the
various railroad depots and canal ports keeT
a record of shipments, and by applying al
the several places the desired statistics were
very cheerfully furnished. We have tried