No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 213 



modern civilization and shelter and conTeniences, were to be at once 

 transported to another sphere where we would be compelled to adopt 

 Indian methods of living, would not the results be disastrous? 

 Could we bear the exposure and hardship? The comparison is fair. 

 Now right here lock up all your prejudice for you surely have some 

 to lock up if you are a real dairyman. You have a preference for a 

 breed, you may have stock to sell and you may have some special 

 feeling against some other breed for some reason, but whatever you 

 do, do not let your prejudice crop out before any audience, as the 

 other fellow who loves the other breed and whose friends do the 

 same will jump onto you and much harm and no good comes out of 

 it. 



The best methods of securing these desirable and profitable dairy 

 cows is next taken up and developed from such a standpoint that 

 it will be helpful, not only to the man who has plenty of money to 

 purchase a working herd, but for every man present who keeps milch 

 cows on the farm. This of course is one of the most important 

 parts of the question under discussion. That there are typical and 

 profitable dairy cows is easily demonstrated and that he ought to 

 own them, the average farmer full well knows, but how to possess 

 them with his limited means and information is generally the real 

 puzzle. From my observation and experience, I am inclined to think 

 that he does not want some one to come and tell him how he can do 

 or how he shall do or how easy it is if he only half tries, but instead, 

 he wants to have the experience of some one who has done it. 



One of the most serious questions with me always was, how much 

 personal experience as such should be incorporated in the talk. Do 

 too much of it or do it injudiciously and the opinion will become gen- 

 eral that you are boasting and are out on a trip to advertise your 

 smartness. Go to the other extreme and the general opinion will 

 prevail that your talk is theory, and if you were asked to work it out 

 on the farm the bottom w^ould drop out. I know this to be true in 

 many cases and for that reason the question has bothered me mo-e 

 than a little. But as I worked out this problem personally under 

 about as unfavorable conditions as usually confront any one, I am 

 inclined to believe that the simple^ unadorned story of my experience 

 with a small herd of very common cows, on a patch of very poor 

 land, with very little money to start with, and how by simple steps, 

 slowly but practically, with an investment of but very little money, 

 I built up my herd to an average production of 368 pounds of but- 

 ter in a year; I say, my experience in giving this matter in this 

 shape seemed generally satisfactory, though I never feel quite at 

 ease after giving it for fear of being accused of being out on a boast- 

 ing expedition. But I have fairly convincing facts to back me up 

 and a general standing invitation is extended to doubting Thomas's 



