386 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



started. Old, unhandy, dilapidated barns were used until the 

 cows provided better quarters for themselves. His work proved 

 that while fine showy stables were nice, they were not necessary 

 to success — that brains and good judgment, mixed with the rations 

 and care, were worth far more. That, I take it, is the secret of 

 the whole matter. I know and you know of visionary, impractical 

 fellows who, with the United States mint and metal furnished, 

 would still go bankrupt in ninety days. 



My father claimed that no breed of cattle had a monopoly of 

 the milk-making function, and that of all scrubs the registered 

 scrub was the worst. The value of a cow, for him, depended upon 

 her individuality — her skill in getting the feed in the milk pail. 

 His start was made with native Shorthorns of nondescript breed- 

 ing. They were not finished butter machines but were fair milkers, 

 handicapped, however, with an irresistible desire to quit work 

 after about six months. This, in time, was gradually improved, 

 and by weeding and by the use of good bulls, the average for eighty 

 head was brought up around three hundred and forty pounds per 

 cow per year, and the farm profits from little to $4,000 to $7,500, 

 depending on the season. The dairy paid from the start; at no 

 time was it a losing game. All this time the thing that pleased 

 most was the gradually increasing richness of the soil. Father 

 figured that in buying and utilizing the western brand he was 

 virtually buying and transferring their farms. On the farm he 

 was just as farsighted. While the neighbors rolled the rocks about 

 two or three times each successive season, he got rid of them finally 

 by putting them into walls or along the creek. While the majority 

 used only timothy and cut late, he used clover and cut early, for 

 the station analysis told that in the middle bloom clover was at its 

 best. It was the practice to let it sun-scald and he got it in in 

 such a condition that it was palatable and bright at feeding time. 

 He was a pioneer all along the line — owned the first separator, first 

 spreader, first hay loader, first tedder, first side-delivery rake and 

 the first silo. 



The dairy was started primarily for the building up of the soil. 

 It did that and more; it built the best farm house and the best barns 

 in the county and bought the best machinery. It was a public 

 benefaction, in that it made two blades grow where there was 

 previously only one. In attaining these results times were passed 

 through when the clouds did not show their silver lining. There 

 were occasions that would have taxed the patience of Job, but with 



