DAIRY MEETING. 1 53 



We do not stumble into the right way of doing things nor do 

 men build a permanent structure without a wise plan. He who 

 has made steady progress and large attainment in any line of 

 dairy work has done so through the judicious use of well chosen 

 instrumentalities. What he did and how he did it, what things 

 he used and how he used them, are points well worth consider- 

 ing by those who would achieve like results in a similar field. 

 Yet, with all this, every man if he would have success must 

 finally be himself, and do his own work in his own way. No' 

 other man's methods should blind one in his own work. The 

 advantage to be gained from a study of the methods and helps 

 of others is in considering their suggestions, not in following 

 them blindly. 



In speaking to you at this time I have chosen to speak of the 

 possibilities in dairying, because as human beings we are not 

 disposed to push on to higher attainments in any department of 

 work unless we have first formed in our mind the vision of that 

 for which we will strive. We must also see better things in 

 store for us as a result of our effort. We must first become 

 familiar with ourselves, and be able to judge impartially and 

 fully. W r e must know our own strength and then seek to develop 

 every faculty, always having in mind the pattern or plan of that 

 which is to be. We never set ourselves to repair a fence or 

 remodel a house unless we are in some way dissatisfied with its 

 condition, or see the need of the proposed change. To be sure 

 we can start over and build a new fence or a new house if occa- 

 sion demands it, but we cannot begin life on this earth a second 

 time and hence if we desire better things, if we desire better 

 farms, better cattle, and better conditions for our families, we 

 must, as dairymen, mend ourselves, as well as our fences. 



It may be necessary to lay a new foundation, put on another 

 story, or cut through the walls and make room for more light 

 and sunshine, or otherwise remodel our individuality, so that 

 we as well as our houses may conform to new and improved 

 conditions. When we have as examples herds of cows that are 

 producing 350 or more pounds of butter per year, per cow, when 

 we have as possibilities cows that produce two and three times 

 that amount and then come down to the plain cold averages 

 which even in our New England states is less than 200 pounds 

 per cow, there is need of something that will set our dairymen 



