68 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



story, can be made anywhere, whetlier at Lands-end in Cornwall, 

 or at Caithness in the extreme north of Scotland." * 



But some one may ask, "Suppose we admit that as good butter 

 and cheese can be made in Maine as anywhere else, what evidence 

 do you offer that it would be profitable or advisable for us to give 

 more attention to dairying ? You say you believe so. Is it not 

 asking too much for us to change our herds and our business on 

 the strength of an opinion ? We want at least an opportunity to 

 examine the grounds upon which the opinion is founded. We 

 admit that faith is essential to success in things temporal as well 

 as spiritual. It is an excellent anchor, but we want good anchor- 

 age ground also, — something which will hold, sure and safe, when 

 we drop our faith into it. Faith in Rohans did not help us much 

 in raising potatoes," 



A most reasonable and pertinent inquiry'-, certainly, and deserving 

 a well considered answer. Let me say, in reply then, that success 

 in dairying depends much on circumstances. If j^ou can sell milk 

 at three, four or five cents a quart, it would not be profitable to 

 convert the milk into butter or cheese. Some farmers can do this, 

 but more cannot. Allow me, then, to inquire somewhat about 

 your circumstances and the facts pertaining to your business as 

 now conducted ; and please to bear in mind that it is one thing to 

 get wages, or board and lodging and clothing in return for labor 

 bestowed, and quite a different thing to obtain a profit upon articles 

 produced or manufactured. We are not apt to think highly of a 

 business man who knows only the market price of the wares he 

 deals in, and nothing about their cost. He cannot possibl}' tell 



* Mr. IT. further remarked, " I have been delighteil to see the progress you liave 

 made. What you take in hand you seem determined to go through with. You 

 remember the deputation you sent to us, Mr. Drenman and Mr. Cunninghanie. In 

 some way or other they found their way at once to what they wanted. In a few 

 days a large manuscript came to us from these gentlemen, wishing us to make any 

 corrections I saw necessary ; and there was our system in full. We could not but 

 wonder how they got hold of it so fully. When I left I scarcely thought there could 

 be such improvement as I have seen to-day in that shed. From first to last I went 

 over every lot — after the judges had passed by — silently and carefully, and made 

 my own private remarks, and I tell you candidly that as a whole I don't know whei'C 

 such another lot of cheese could be got together. We could not, in Somersetshire ; 

 and I won't mention Wilts or Gloucestershire, l)ccause wc get ten or fifteen shillings 

 per cwt. above them. You have the right thing in view, and know what a good 

 cheese is — the quality rich and good, the texture firm and full, and the flavor sweet, 

 mellow and pure," &c. 



