366 TRANSACTIONS 4bP THE 



Instead of such a state of plenty, which the farmers could have produced 

 for themselves and the State, the facts are that one half of them did not 

 even enjoy the luxury of milk for their tea and coffee, and were them- 

 selves the consumers of their full proportion of the hutter imported. 

 But many of them, and those among the lai'gest owners of stock, did not 

 see a ])Ound of butter on their tables for months at a time. It is true, 

 this state of things is somewhat improved since eighteen hundred and 

 sixty-one ; but there is yet such a reckless, careless practice among the 

 farmers in this State in regard to the daily interests, and indeed in regard 

 to stock raising in general, as can scarcely be accounted for upon any 

 reasonable 'hypothesis. One fact may be stated as an explanation of the 

 anomaly. Most of the stock (horned cattle) that were brought into this 

 State in early daj's were bought up in the Western States by western 

 men, and driven across the plains on speculation, and with an idea, prin- 

 cipally, of suppljnug the market here with beef, which was then in great 

 demand. In this manner the country was overstocked, and when this 

 fact was apparent, cattle Avent as much below their real value as they had 

 been above it, and being a drug in the market, no one desired to invest in 

 cattle, as they only thought of the use that they could be put to for sup- 

 plying meat and for their increase. 



A few persons, however, being led b}' circumstances to see the oppor- 

 tunity, bought up cows, and locating near towns and cities, have become 

 rich b}' supplying the citizens with milk. While there have been the 

 same oj^portunities for accumulating wealth by the manufacturing of 

 butter and cheese, those opportunities have not been embraced for the 

 reason that there was a litte more labor between the investment of the 

 money in the cows and the return for their product. Then again, there 

 was at one time a very prevalent idea that butter conld not be made in 

 our climate so as to keep any length of time. This idea had as little 

 foundation in fact as the other very superficial idea that cattle were not 

 desirable for the reason that they were very cheap. Both these notions 

 are being exploded, and if our farmers will investigate this branch of 

 business a little, they will see that there are yet as favorable opportuni- 

 ties for making money in the dairj- business as there ever has been. 

 But if they do not purchase their cows soon, they may have to pay 

 exorbitant prices for them, as any one can see that from various causes 

 stock are becoming more scarce in this State, and will soon become in 

 good demand. Tiae cattle disease is killing off the cattle to a frightful 

 extent on the eastern continent, and the war in the Atlantic States has 

 reduced the number there very much, while the severe winter of eighteen 

 hundred and sixty-one and eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and the 

 drought of eighteen hundred and sixty-four, have done their work in our 

 State. Yet with all these facts before them, the farmers are raising no 

 calves. As soon as the}' are from four to six weeks old they are sold to 

 the butcher. This has been the case for the last three or four years, and 

 the effect of the policy will soon be felt. Owing to this short-sighted 

 practice of our farmers, California, one of the most favorable States in 

 the Union for stock itiising and dairy business, is making for herself a 

 most unfavorable record as compared to her sister States, who have 

 scarcely any of our natural facilities. 



