No. 4.] DAIRY CATTLE. 79 



The Labor Problem. 

 The labor question bears heavily on dairying at the present 

 time. The care of dairy cattle is like the story in the fable, 

 — ■ it is without an end. Such close attention is irksome to 

 the average young man of to-day, and it may be added possibly 

 more so to the average young woman. But, says one, you 

 would not have women care for dairy cattle. I answer that 

 I would have girls and matrons milk in well-ordered dairies, 

 unless special reasons can be given why they should not. 

 It is argued to-day that milking is not suitable work for re- 

 fined woman, as found in the average farm home; and that 

 she has ample work in the duties of the home, if these are 

 properly discharged. There is a measure of truth in both 

 contentions, under some conditions, especially in that given 

 last. To the writer the work would seem only unsuitable as 

 such when the stables are not properly kept. If unsuitable 

 to the average farm matron of to-day and to her daughters, 

 then a rank injustice was perpetrated on the women of a 

 departing generation in allowing them to aid in milking the 

 cows. It was that departing generation who gave to this 

 nation very many of its builders. They came from homes 

 where the mother could help in the milking if it were neces- 

 sary for her to do so. The sisters of those men could milk 

 when they were girls. Will the girls of to-day who have 

 unfurled the banner of rebellion against milking in the aver- 

 age farm home do more for the nation than that grand army 

 of women now fast vanishing, who did not think it was un- 

 dignified to know how to milk ? I would not be misunder- 

 stood. I am not urging the relegating of the milking to the 

 women of our farm homes. Let the men do it where such 

 help is obtainable ; when it is not, let a helping hand be given 

 by the women of the home. 



The Great Future for Dairying. 

 It is questionable if the time will ever come when the 

 demand for good dairy products will not be brisk. The 

 amount of labor which it entails hinders many from engaging 

 in it who would otherwise take up the work; it is therefore 

 one of those lines of production that is not likely to be over- 



