288 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



4. It stimulates both owner and help to increase the 

 product to its limit, to do better this year than was done 

 last year, and it educates both alike in matters of dairy 

 economy. 



5. It induces business methods in dealing with farms and 

 dairies, — places where business methods have been so much 

 ignored. This is the rock over which many farmers break. 

 One might almost say that the greatest drawback to success 

 in all branches of farming is lack of business methods, i.e., 

 regular balancing of accounts with various farm operations. 

 If commercial houses or manufacturers or builders were as 

 negligent about the record of receipts and expenses or 

 profit and loss in their various transactions as are farmers, 

 their better-informed competitors would soon drive them to 

 the wall. Even the very small leaks in fuel, postage and 

 other items of expense are most carefully studied and 

 guarded against. 



Co-operation. 

 Another great drawback to successful dairying is the lack 

 of confidence between producers. I have not the time or 

 space to discuss its wherefore, but must content myself 

 with the bold statement of facts. Farmers will not work 

 together. In all other lines of business co-operation is the 

 rule of the hour, and in it do men find promise of profit. 

 Railroads are fast consolidating, and manufacturers of every 

 sort of product are forming trusts. All lines of business 

 are securing new combines almost daily, and in them do 

 men find relief from the heat of competition. Farmers 

 alone combat each other and play into the hands of their 

 opponents. I have known creamery after creamery ruined 

 because its patrons would not support it. Farmers on every 

 hand sign ironclad contracts with powerful combines, but 

 with each other the most tentative agreements fail to be 

 effective. The proverbial independence of the farmer ap- 

 pears to be his own worst enemy. 



