DAIRY FARMING. ' 57 



the greater part of the farmers are not improving their farms — 

 that they are not laying up wealth and coining independence, 

 happiness, and prosperity, by deposits in that safest of all banks, 

 their own soils. There are individual exceptions to this sweeping 

 assertion, and all honor to them, for they are setting a worthy 

 example, and are exerting an influence as wide-spread as their 

 reputation. There are still others, — and their number is far too 

 great — who are prospering when measured by the standard of 

 dollars and cents, but it is done at the expense of their farms. 

 They raise hay in large quantities, which is sold from the farm 

 and finds its way through the channels of trade to Boston and 

 other distant markets ; they raise large quantities of potatoes, 

 which, through the same channels, reach the same markets, for 

 which they realize seemingly remunerative prices ; oats are grown 

 in large quantities, with little attention to manuring, for the 

 lumberman to take back into the unsettled forests. All of these 

 products are a sure and fatal draught on the willing soil, which 

 sooner or later will inevitably manifest itself in unproductive 

 fields, empty barns, and unhappiness and discontent in the owner, 

 unless an equivalent is brought back for consumption on the 

 farm, or manure is realized from some other source. This is not 

 done, nor can it ever be, to any considerable extent. It may 

 be laid down in emphatic words, that the true course of farmwg is 

 to consume what we raise, or its equivalent, on our farms, and 

 realize our money chiefly from the income derived from the stock 

 w'hich consumes the farm products, taking care at the same time 

 that we return to the soil all the elements which have been drawn 

 from it by the growing plant. In this way alone can we increase, 

 or even keep up the fertility of our soils. 



Dairy Farming offers the most liberal income, when the system 

 above recommended is followed, of any special farming pursued 

 in this State. Especially does it recommend itself to farmers 

 situated at a considerable distance from populous towns or 

 from railroad communication. The cost of transportation is no 

 inconsiderable item in the consideration of the question of what 

 shall we raise on our farms. I will illustrate this point by a little 

 mathematical calculation. A team of two horses will draw one 

 ton, or 2000 pounds to market. If loaded with potatoes their 

 value at the present market price would be $23.33 ; if with oats 

 the value would be $52.80 ; if with cheese, $400.00 ; with butter, 

 $800.00. Assuming the expense of the team and driver, — which 



