Dairy Suggestions from Europe. 



199 



energetic farmers keep their places in the best of condition, and drive to 

 town in a substantial, well finished two-wheeled carriage, behind a 

 sleek, chunky, active horse. A poor farmer is seldom found, as the life 

 of the Hollander has been devoted to the one subject — dairying — and 

 his education has been such as to make him appreciate the importance 

 of thorough, careful methods. His children are well educated, and in 

 some cases are sent to another country to complete their study of for- 

 eign language. 



From an agricultural stand- 

 point, Holland is one of the 

 most interesting dairy countries 

 in the world. Though frequent- 

 ly ignored by tourists, it is full 

 of interest, instructive sights, 

 and quaint old customs. 



Their conditions differ so 

 markedly from ours in many re- 

 spects that it is impossible for 

 us to learn much from them 

 that we can copy directly, yet 

 there are many underlying principles which are worthy of our most 

 careful study. The foresight shown by these people in providing per- 

 manent roads, buildings and equipment for their dairy work, and many 

 of their cleanly methods, could well be studied and copied on this side 

 of the Atlantic. 



Rear view of farm buildings showing 

 manure pile wliich is to be spread on 

 tlie pasture in Augiist. 



PAKM MANAGEMENT. 



There is little grain farming or mixed husbandry in Holland and 

 almlost no stock is to be seen excepting dairy cattle. Dairying is the 



principal occupation of the Dutch 

 and the greater portion of the 

 land is either in pasture or meadow. 

 Milk production is practically a 

 grass proposition. Plows and grain 

 raising are almost unknown in 

 the intensive dairy sections. 



The farms are much smaller 

 than with us. They vary some- 

 what in size wath the locality, but 



A familiar scene during summer in a usually Contain about tWCnty-flVe 



Holland cow pasture. hectares, or sixty acres. On farms 



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