12 VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



the whole is "leavened" by the low grade, and the profit of the 

 good as well as the bad is lost to the producer. 



Again, dairymen are punished by reason of this slothful 

 way of handling their milk. It puts us in competition with our 

 own production, the poor against the good in butter markets, 

 and consequently cheapens the price of both grades. Farmers 

 complain of hard times, while the fault lies at their own door. 

 We can and should control our own and legitimate affairs. 



The interest of every butter or cheese factory, whether pro- 

 prietary or co-operative, in our grand old State are identical, — 

 hence there is no reason for this state of affairs to longer exist. 

 Let us unite upon the common and sensible basis of rejecting 

 every pound of second class cream or milk furnished by the 

 patron, be he great or small, rich or poor, high or low, and we 

 shall have a remedy for this evil, — a handicap that renders dairy- 

 ing discouraging and disgusting. 



One more point which seems to me entirely under the con- 

 trol of the dairyman, if he would unite his efforts with his brother 

 farmer, — namely that of marketing our dairy products. Much 

 is said and written upon the large quantity and fine quality of 

 one should produce per cow, as though that was the acme of 

 all true ambition, leaving out all suggestions as to how to profit- 

 ably dispose of or market the product of our dairies. 



Unity of action ought or should be the watchword all along 

 the line among farmers of today. Is it not possible for farmers 

 of Vermont to unite to such an extent as to establish a market 

 under their own supervision, and in their own New England 

 markets? It seems clear to me that such a scheme is feasible 

 as well as reasonable. As it is, our butter factories in Vermont 

 are competing one with another, and one dairyman against 

 another, each one trying to undersell his neighbor. Is such a 

 plan wise? If so, why do not merchants and other business 

 men adopt the scheme? Will farmers thus continue in such a 

 destructive course? Why not work together in establishing 

 a market for our choice dairy products and thereby realize some- 

 thing of the fruits of our labors, and the rich harvests of our 

 fertile fields? 



DANA H. MORSE, 



Randolph, Vt. 



