470 TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VI 



IT IS TIME TO MILK 



(By Hugh G. Van Pelt.) 



It is of record that once upon a time an Irishman stole a 

 watch and a Dutchman stole a cow. Both were caught and 

 lodged in jail in adjoining cells. Time passed slowly and be- 

 come tiresome under the conditions. 



To break the monotony and to twit the Irishman, the 

 Dutchman said, "Pat, vat time it is?" and, characteristic of his 

 nationality, Pat replied, *Tt is toime to milk." 



Ever since I heard Judge Quarton of Guernsey fame tell 

 that story the first time — and I say the first time advisedly — I 

 have wanted to repeat it because it carries a peculiar signifi- 

 cance that is not to be ignored by individuals, communities, 

 states or nations. 



It is legend that there came a time in the history of Den- 

 mark when as a nation, poverty and seemingly insurmountable 

 indebtedness stared her in the face — when the one great prob- 

 lem was that of restoring national solvency. 



Then it was that Denmark decided it was time to milk, 

 and from that day to this Denmark has advanced in prosperity 

 until she ranks among the richest countries per capita and as 

 the most noted producer of dairy products. 



Such is the significance of Pat's reply, "It is toime to milk" 

 as it applies to nations. 



It is no secret that in the early days of Wisconsin wheat 

 was grown continuously year after year until wheat would no 

 longer grow profitably nor would any other farm crop. 



Then it was that the question of what to do arose and the 

 reply was "It is time to milk." 



Recently, in an address to bankers, the head of the Federal 

 Reserve Bank of the Northwest made the statement that in 

 Wisconsin there was not one of the 990 banks delinquent and 

 that they had sent more than $50,000,000 into the Chicago dis- 

 trict during the past year ; this during a year when states that 

 are practicing other forms of agriculture almost to the exclu- 

 sion of dairying are clamoring for credit. 



Such is the significance of Pat's reply, "It is toime to milk" 

 as it applies to states. 



In the September 15th issue of the Dairy Farmer appeared 

 an editorial telling of a community in North Dakota that is this 

 year experiencing its sixth consecutive crop failure. 



