STATE DAIEY ASSOCIATION. G03 



moist climate. The northern part of Holland presents a very unique 

 picture to the traveler, with its small, green fields dotted here and there 

 with numerous windmills and the large herds of Holstein-Friesian cows 

 quietly grazing. The monstrous long-armed windmills, resembling an old 

 lighthouse above the sea, are used for various kinds of work. They grind 

 grain, pulverize rock and manufacture paper, but their most important 

 duty is to pump out the water from the marshes into canals so it may find 

 an exit to the sea, otherwise the lowland would be submerged. Excepting 

 Greece and Great Britain, no country has so many inlets as Holland. The 

 Hollanders, as a people, might be termed a little slow, but the government 

 is certainly not slow in appreciating the benefits that the country derives 

 from dairying, as eight instructors are employed, largely aided by the gov- 

 ernment, whose duty it is to give free instruction wherever it is required. 

 The factory system is not carried on to any extent in Holland. Most of 

 the cheese is "made in the home dairy on the farm. The numerous cheese 

 markets and cheese exhibitions give the instructor an opportunity to ex- 

 amine each maker's output. Both the Edam and Gouda cheese as dis- 

 played in the stores of Holland are very different in quality from those 

 sent to America and England, being much softer and richer in butter fat. 

 The cheese consumed in Holland, Belgium and France are much superior 

 in quality to those sent to England, America and the tropical climates. 

 I had some ditficulty in finding the solution for this, as the makers and 

 instructors maintained that the cheese wei'e made the same for all mar- 

 kets. The difference was caused by the manner of curing adopted by the 

 exporters after the cheese came into their possession. The Edam cheese 

 are manufactured in one part of Holland while the Gouda cheese come 

 from another part. 



Holland might be termed a country of cities. The traveler in going 

 about through the country is constantly coming into cities, so much so that 

 he wonders where the agricultural population reside. While these cities 

 are naturally quaint with their streets, numerous canals and bridges, to 

 an American they seem ancient and slow. Some large cities have no street 

 car system, electric lights or water system, yet there is an abundance of 

 water everywhere. 



Their road system is far superior to ours. Good macadamized roads are 

 everywhere. Most of the residences in the rural districts are of brick with 

 tile or thatched roofs. In some cases Ijoth are used on the same building. 

 The scolloped edges of the thatched roof overlapping the fancy painted 

 tiles make a beautiful, lacey appearance that resemble a handsomely 

 draped window. The nicely laid brick walks in front of the houses, the 

 flower beds, the well kept lawns and numerous trees make a very pictur- 

 esque home for the Holland farmer. Notwithstanding all this, frequently 

 under the same roof in the back part of the house are housed the well- 

 kept cows. The Hollander loves and cares for his cows almost as much as 

 a mother does for her children. 



