DOES THE FARM PAT. 197 



good quality, and no doubt it would be, there would be less grades 

 or brands of butter, and the sooner the reputation of the State 

 would be established. I believe to produce a uniform quality of 

 milk or butter that the niachine requires uniform feeding. The 

 changing of feed changes flavor. But I cannot go into details in 

 regard to dairying, — it is a subject of itself. But I believe no other 

 line in our stock husbandry offers such inducements as the dairy 

 interest, providing the farmers will adapt thenaselves to it. Cer- 

 tainly we hear of no complaints among those who are carrying on 

 this line of work in a practical manner. 



The farmers of Maine always have been and are to-day a sturdy, 

 economical and intelligent class of people. There are no more dis- 

 advantages in the business of farming than there are in other 

 industries, and none but what can be overcome by systematic and 

 organized effort. We can claim that there is a profit in farming 

 because four-fifths of the wealth of this great and rich nation has 

 been accumulated by the profits made upon the products of the soil. 

 To prove this, take a look at our prosperous cities and villages 

 scattered throughout our country. If their leading industry be the 

 manufacture of woolen goods the farmer grows the wool. If it be 

 the manufacture of shoes, the farmer grows the sheepskin. No 

 other industry outside of farming employs as many people as 

 railroading. In this industry can be found the richest men in the 

 country, but without the farmer's products they would all be 

 bankrupt. The proprietor of the canning factory must have the 

 farmer's products, the manufacturer of lumber uses the farmer's 

 timber and consumes his product. "We might go on with an innu- 

 merable list, but we have mentioned enough to prove that there is a 

 profit coming out of the business. The question for us to settle is, 

 does the farmer receive his share ? 



I lay down this discussion not because it is finished, but because 

 it is time to stop. Such tasks as this, of defining, illustrating and 

 trying to enforce right principles are never finished. One may labor 

 at them for a time but very soon in the nature of things he must 

 leave them to the care of others. 



