1882.] ASSOCIATED DAIRIES. 249 



It also pays him for his milk. It is a responsible body at home 

 with whom the farmer has to deal. There is no store pay, or 

 promissory notes, but cash in hand semi monthly or monthly, regu- 

 larly. When prices are low, it pays little, but it pays all the times 

 will warrant; when they are high, it pays as well as the rest. 



Factories cannot make bricks without straw, nor can they by 

 any scientific process turn a poor article into a good one. But 

 where they are properly managed, they bring up the standard of 

 all they receive, and keep such an oversight of their patrons as re- 

 sults in mutual good, and hence their effect upon the people. 



Their united action has given a direction to the thought and la- 

 bors of tens of thousands of farmers, and has already elevated 

 dairying to be one of the great acknowledged industries and pow- 

 ers of the land. Heretofore, with few exceptions, each dairy farmer 

 has worked independently, picking up his knowledge by experi- 

 ence, and dependent for his pay upon the neighboring grocers. 

 The associated dairy teaches the value of cooperation, of casting 

 aside the distrust with which many farmers regard their neighbors, 

 and joining heartily for the common good, as being the best means 

 for personal good also. In this, as in many other things, "union 

 is strength." 



Thus far, you will notice, I have not mentioned Connecticut. 

 What progress has this old State made in this direction ? The an- 

 swer is short. East of the Connecticut river, not one factory. 

 In the Western part of the State there are, I am told, about three 

 creameries. At Durham one, at Cheshire one, opened this year. 

 West of Hartford, five. In all about ten. 



As I have hitherto spoken in general terms, I will go somewhat 

 into particulars about the Farmington creamery, to show you that 

 Creameries need not be a failure here more than elsewhere. 



The Farmington creamery was erected in the spring of 1870 

 by a stock company; capital $4,000, increased to $4,500, with 32 

 stockholders. It received milk about five months in 1870, from 

 75 to 100 cows, taking about 80,000 quarts of milk. 



Opening again early in 1871, it has been run continually, 

 winter and summer, ever since, and has steadily grown, adding 

 about 100,000 quarts a year to its receipts. It should be stated 

 that Farmington, originally quite a dairy town, had quite run out in 

 this direction, and the people as elsewhere had to reorganize their 

 herds. 



