No. 4.] MILK. 35 



We know that where milk is sold continually off the 

 farm there is no fattening of hogs, no raising of j^oung 

 stock ; pastures are not as well kept up, having no dry stock 

 to run on them ; and it is a heavy dmin on the farm, and 

 must be replaced by large expenditures of money. 



But to the majority of farmers there is more money in 

 selling milk than in the selling of cream for butter. The 

 creameries of the east have now to compete with the cream- 

 eries of the west. Ra|)id transportation of goods from the 

 west in refrigerator cars makes it possible to get goods 

 delivered from Iowa into our markets of the east in as good 

 condition as goods shipped from our eastern creameries ; 

 and to compete with our western neighbors, who make the 

 market price, we must sell at or near their prices; then 

 often prices run very low, especially in the months of April 

 and May. Taking the price of a pound of butter, and find- 

 ing how manj^ quarts of milk it takes to make that pound of 

 butter, we will find that milk disposed of in this way has 

 not brought very much of a price, — possibly not over one 

 and one-half cents a quart ; yet these farmers have more 

 assets than simply the price of a pound of butter, — pos- 

 sibly a large yard of fat hogs or a fine drove of well-bred 

 heifers growing on to be sold when matured into cows ; they 

 also have a large amount of manure which goes back on to 

 the land, and so kee})s up the fertility of the land. 



Each farmer must be his own judge, after taking into con- 

 sideration his surroundings, of ^vhich is the wisest way for 

 him to dispose of the product. 



The Farmer may peddle his own Milk. 

 There are some advantages in this plan, when the farmer 

 is situated near small towns and cities, when he can make a 

 trip from home and arrive in time to supply his trade. If 

 the producer has some one he has confidence in, either to 

 peddle or to see to the farm duties when he is away, then he 

 will be able to get all there is of profit in his milk ; but if 

 he has not some such person, he had better sell his product 

 in some other way. I have always noticed that the farmer 

 who is disposing of his product direct to the consumer exer- 



