DAIRY, SEED IMPROVEMENT, STOCK BREEDERS MEETINGS. 24^, 



FUNDAMENTALS OF DAIRYING. 



Frank H. Stadtmueller, Dairy and Food Commissioner of 



Connecticut. 



These three, in number, are as follows : 



A. Conversion of bulky and crude materials into more con- 

 centrated and valuable products. 



B. Upkeep of fertility of the land. 



C. Relation of milk supplies to public health. 



The first of these principles was developed in the pastoral 

 stages of farming and has ever since, as then, in connection with 

 the production of meat and wool, provided the only known 

 inethod of marketing the growth of all grazing lands. The sys- 

 tem of harvesting hay, etc., for the purpose of carrying the 

 stock thus needed during the winter, periods of drought, etc., 

 was developed and is today maintained, primarily, for the pur- 

 pose of conserving the growth of pastures. 



The value of the second principle — upkeep of fertility — fol- 

 lowed later and was gradually developed to its present high 

 state of application, so that now the stand of stock maintained 

 in any country is one of the best and quickest methods of deter- 

 mining the existing status of farming therein. 



A brief digression at this place is permissible to review the 

 remarkable changes in farm practices forced upon the industry 

 of farming throughout New England by the opening of the 

 west. Prior to that time, the upkeep of fertility was, with 

 minor exceptions, met by the large diversified stock maintained, 

 represented by cattle, cows, sheep and swine. This provided an 

 option for farmers. They could choose either the production 

 of beef, wool and mutton, pork or milk as a means of con- 

 centrating their crude products, and still maintain the soil fer- 

 tility. 



