Associated Dairying. 88 



Now as cheese making is an art, which must be learned 

 like other trades, and as most of the operations are per- 

 formed by females, the dairy fartner may be said to have, 

 for the most part, nothing but apprentices in liis employ, 

 for when his dairymaid has been carefully taught the trade, 

 she .marries, and is at once lost to him. 



The scarcity of skilled cheese makers is severely felt 

 through the whole dairy region, necessitating to the farmer 

 and his family, and more especially the female portion, ardu- 

 ous labors, taxing their strength to a degree that tells heav- 

 ily on health and constitution. The result is, that persons 

 prematurely aged, and with broken health, are more fre- 

 quently found in a dairy region than in other farming com- 

 munities. There is no desire to say one discouraging word 

 of a business which has added so much wealth to the coun- 

 try, and in which those who are engaged generally prosper^ 

 and soon become independent in worldly goods; but the 

 truth must be told, nevertheless. Wealth has its advanta- 

 ges, but its price should be kept in view, and, if overtasked 

 muscle, incessant care without relaxation, and finally dis- 

 ease, is to be the patrimony of wives and daughters, its 

 charms, to say the least, are very much diminished. 



Dairymen are conversant with these facts, and they are 

 points to be considered, and should have their proper bear- 

 ing in making up our estimate of the two systems. 



The advantages of the factory system are, superior qual- 

 ity, uniformity, higher prices, a saving, by buying at whole- 

 sale such materials as salt, bandages, annatto, boxes, &c., 

 and, finally, relieving tliu farmer and his family from the 

 drudgery of the manutacture and care of cheese. 



