HOW CAN WE COMPETE WITH THE WEST IN DAIRYING. 43 



(2.) Larger territory and numbers. I think that I have 

 said enough under this head when considering the statistics 

 given a few minutes ago to suffice, except to call attention to 

 the surplus of production over consumption in the West and the 

 reverse of this condition in New England, and to the fact that 

 the volume of the West's production gives it a standing in the 

 commercial world not accorded to smaller outputs. 



(3.) Longer pasture season. This advantage pertains 

 more particularly to Missouri and Kansas. Kentucky and Ten- 

 nessee of the Southern States are rapidly becoming dairy states 

 in the true sense of the word. Their milder climates and the 

 prolongation of outdoor bovine life in these states tends to 

 lower the cost of butter production. 



(4.) Ready tcse of new methods. Under this heading and 

 again further along in this paper I shall take occasion to refer 

 to the ultra-conservatism of the New England farmer. The 

 Western creamery and factory proprietors or managers, as a 

 class, are far and away ahead of Easterners in similar positions 

 in their study of newer methods, and appliances and in adopt- 

 ing the same wherever feasible. For example, the following 

 statement was made from the platform at the last meeting of 

 this Association by a prominent commission merchant of Boston, 

 one who has large acquaintance with Vermont goods : " I have 

 been told by good authority that last year about ninety per 

 cent of all the butter from the West shipped into New York was 

 shipped in parchment-lined tubs. I do not know of a single 

 creamery in Vermont that is lining its tubs with parchment 

 paper." The statement was not denied. The first skim-milk 

 weigher in Vermont was put in last winter ; they have been 

 used in the West for lo, these many years. It is common 

 remark among commission men and the dairy supply trade 

 that the West promptly meets new demands, anticipates them 

 perhaps ; that while sometimes investing in new apparatus of 

 doubtful utility, or adopting methods of questionable wisdom, it 

 leads in new ideas. It seems to me that we may well copy 

 from the West in this matter, and that we may well remember 

 the adage that he who makes no mistakes generally makes 

 nothing. 



5. Educative agencies. With all due respect to the good 

 work being done along agricultural lines by the various colleges, 

 stations, boards of agriculture and the press of the New England 

 States, I submit that the agricultural educative agencies in the 

 West average higher in efficiencj', in getting home dairy know- 

 ledge to the people than do those of the New England States. 

 And, more important yet, as has been already indicated, the eyes 

 and ears of their constituencies seem to be more open, their hearts 

 and minds more receptive, and their hands and energies more 



