DAIKV MliETiNG. 6/ 



The valley was rapidly settled, but there were many who 

 chose the hillsides for their homes. The hills were hard to 

 climb then just as they are now, but the joy of living among 

 the hills is a peculiar one, which only those know who enjoy it. 

 The hill farms of Franklin county are fertile and while the 

 valley farmers seem to have less labor to operate their farms, 

 the higher altitude has often saved a crop from the frosts. 



One of these hillside farms last year produced i,ooo bushels 

 of potatoes. This is not much, say you gentlemen from Aroos- 

 took, but those potatoes sold without storage for $650 or 65 

 cents per bushel. Another farmer in the northern part of the 

 county has 1,000 bushels this year, and he is expecting to get 

 a little more than 65 cents for them. 



Thus from various centers the town and county became set- 

 tled, and farming has been the chief occupation of our people. 

 That they have found farming a source of reliable profit, the 

 prosperous homes all over the county bear evidence. While 

 you here especial!}" represent the dairy interests, ours are more 

 diversified. Last April there were 5,959 horses of various kinds 

 in Franklin county; 8,536 dairy cows; 7,903 other cattle; 15,404 

 sheep; 14,543 swine. Dairying, as you see, is an important 

 industry in the county. The Turner Center Dairying Asso- 

 ciation handles the most of the cream and for the year ending 

 September 30th, the association paid its Franklin county patrons 

 $168,987. The better to care for this large amount of cream, 

 the association has erected a factory at West Farmington, at a 

 cost of $6,000 or $7,000, where this cream is now sterilized and 

 largely shipped direct to market. The cream taken by other 

 factories and that made into dairy butter will bring the receipts 

 for the dairy up to more than $200,000 for the year. 



Thus you see, Mr. President, we have large interests in dairy- 

 ing, and our people will come in here to sit at the feet of those 

 wiser than they are to learn the science and art of profitable 

 dairying. You will find them good listeners and their welcome 

 to you will be stronger than words of mine can express. 



As to the town itself, Farmington stands out conspicuously 

 among the towns of the State. Our manufacturing interests 

 are not extensive, but our people are industrious. It is a matter 



