564 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



DAIRY FARMING. 



Jolin Belirends, before Calhoun County Farmers' Institute. 



Mt. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen and Members of the Insti- 

 tute: Your secretary, Mr. Parsons, has placed my name on the program,, 

 to read a paper on "Dairy Interests." 



Much could be said in regard to this, but while the time on our pro- 

 gram is limited, and while the audience represents our Calhoun county 

 farmers, and their respective families, I think it practical to start in 

 at the beginning, that is, at the farm. 



While every farmer in our county has one or more cows, we all know 

 what milk is, and also know what a hardship it is for the whole famHy 

 when '"bossy" happens to go dry in the winter time. 



While we all agree that enough milk and butter should be produced 

 on every farm to supply the family with the cow's valuable product, and 

 perhaps to have some to be sold at the store or exchange for other family 

 necessities, this will not settle the question whether or not it is profita- 

 ble to keep many milch cows, or. to speak in other words, become a 

 dairy farmer. 



I have frequently heard the question asked. Docs it pay to milk 

 cows, or to sell milk or cream to a creamery? 



Sometimes the question is answered by no, and again it is answered 

 by yes. 



This may lead us to think somebody is wrong. While I am some- 

 what connected with our home creamery, I find that either one is rights 

 in his own view. 



Farmer A, who is first asked, says. No. In trying to find out the 

 reasons why it does not pay to sell milk or cream to a creamery he 

 tells you "I have no time to stop and explain these things to you cream- 

 ery fellows, and you think you know this much better than I do, any- 

 way"; and, "Get up," he says to his team and goes on. The creamery- 

 man is anxious to find out why Parmer A is not making money with 

 his cows. He goes to his farm and finds about a dozen cows there. 

 Parmer A has a good farm, nearly all dry land, except about fifteen or 

 twenty acres of it is very wet. This of course is a pasture, and while 

 the cattle in this pasture apparently have plenty to drink, there is not 

 much for them to eat. The pasture has a few acres of dry land, but 

 this happens to be in the further corner, away from the cow shed. 



Farmer A and his family are all very industrious and busy from 

 early in the morning until late in the evening, and when the time comes 

 for milking everyone is nearly tired out, and the cows are on this dry 

 spot, away from the yard. 



The good-natured shepherd dog helps the boys, and goes and drives 

 the cows home in great hurrah. One or two get stuck in the mud, but 

 Chappy goes a second time, and finally gets them all. Now the cows 

 have to be milked. Not a pleasant job; besides it is late. In order to 

 save time next morning, the yard gate is closed in the evening, and it 

 only takes a little while to milk the cows the next morning. 



