THE DAIRY THE HOPE OF THE SMALL FARMER 39 



not likely to happen when the silage is of good quality. 

 Silage is not a complete food in itself. When made 

 from Indian corn its nitrogen content is low. It 

 should, therefore, be fed in connection with a rich nitrog- 

 enous food, such as bran, oil cake, clover or alfalfa. 

 When the ration is properly adjusted silage is the most 

 economical bulk food that can be had. The provident 

 farmer will not fail to fill his silo during the last days 

 of August or first half of September, even if he has not 

 put on the roof nor torn away the scaffolding used in its 

 erection. The silo is a graceful structure and when 

 artistically roofed and properly painted adds an element 

 of architectural beauty to the plain sheds of the dairy 

 buildings. 



The dairy is a better bet for the beginning farmer 

 than the orchard. Its income is more prompt, and 

 while it may not be so great in spots, it is evenly dis- 

 tributed over the year. With a clean product from 

 healthy, well-kept animals, a good farmer near a good 

 market ought to be able to realize twenty cents a day 

 net on each animal he keeps. I mean that this is the 

 profit after paying for freight charges, maintenance and 

 service. A net income of three dollars a day in cash, 

 together with what the farmer can get off of his fields 

 for his own table, is quite an item in the prosperity and 

 comfort of a modest farm life. 



Unlike the orchard, the dairy is not likely to be 

 overdone. Unlike the orchard also, the dairy is profit- 

 able in proportion as it is near a profitable market. 

 Fruit can be more safely transported over long dis- 

 tances than milk. To the near market fresh milk and 

 cream can be sold. For the distant market butter and 

 cheese are the merchantable products. The same note 

 of warning, however, must be sounded in respect to 



