86 BOARD OF a<;ricultcre. 



can not realize them. You can associate yourselves too;ether and be 

 morally certain of attaining equally good results. Of course I 

 would not recommend the business to a man who has no taste for 

 it. I have followed the dairy business. The first year I made but- 

 ter it was hauled eighteen miles to market and sold for sixteen and 

 two-thirds cents a pound. I have been in the business ever since, 

 and I know something of what I am telling you. 



Question. I would inquire how many cows a man can properly 

 care for during the year? 



Mr. Ellis. That depends a good deal on the smartness of the 

 man. One man can take care of a large Dumber of cows in every 

 other respect but milking. 



Question. How many is it practicable for a man to milk alone? 



Mr. Ellis. That also depends a good deal upon the man. Ten 

 is as many as I care to milk, but there are men who milk more. It 

 is not a hard task for a man to milk ten cows right along. 



Que.'ition. Why do you not allow something for the work done? 



Mr. Ellis I have reckoned the butter at what it will pay at the 

 factory, and I reckon that the dressing will pay the man for taking 

 care of the cows. The women have but little to do where the cream 

 is sent to the factory. That relieves the family of the largest part 

 of the work. The manure and the skim milk will amply pay for the 

 work. I will agree to do all the work for just as many cows as any 

 one will turn over to me, for the manure and the skim milk. 



A Farmer. It seems to me that the milk and manure are pretty 

 small pay for the work. It looks pretty small when 30U compare it 

 with a salary of five hundred dollars a year. 



Mr. Ellis. If every male member of a man's family can com- 

 mand a $oOO salary I should advise him to sell out his farm. But 

 if you are going to do farming you can come nearer to that figure in 

 butter making than in any other branch of the business. 



Mr. Clifford. I can take care of a dairy of thirty cows with 

 two boys that will cost ten dollars a month, and can carry on the 

 farm and do all the work excepting the haying and hoeing. 



Mr. Ellis. If a man has a mind to plant corn he can keep his 

 cows very much cheaper. Four quarts of corn and cob meal will 

 take the place of two quarts of western corn meal and two quarts 

 of shorts, at less expense. I have for three years kept debt and 

 credit with my corn and I can raise it for twenty-five cents a bushel 

 in the ear. You «an reduce the cost ot keeping your cows from five 



