No. 4.] NEW ENGLAND DAIRYING. 181 



surely hope so, for what are reading, study, practice and 

 experience worth, except as guides to future and to better 

 endeavor? 



Coleridge, — whose works we of the University of Ver- 

 mont in particular value, since the foremost American 

 student of that author was in years past our president, — 

 Coleridge says, " To most men experience is like the stern 

 lights of a ship, which illumine only the track it has passed." 

 Let us remove our light of experience from the stern to the 

 prow ; let us rather liken it to the headlight of an electric 

 car, illumining the path before ; let us as dairymen walk in 

 the light of past experience — our own and that of others, 

 if it be trustworthy and applicable to our circumstances — 

 to higher planes of achievement in the varied phases of our 

 calling. 



The Chairman. The time which we now have to use in 

 the discussion of this address is limited. Have you any 

 questions ? 



Geo. P. Smith (of Sunderland). I want to emphasize 

 one point the gentleman spoke of, and that is, getting good 

 cows. I have practised raising all my heifers, testing them, 

 getting rid of the poor ones and keeping nothing but the 

 best, until I have made a pretty fair success of the business. 

 Good cows are the foundation of the whole thing. People 

 think five or ten dollars more for a cow that will aive a 

 larger quantity of butter or milk is too much to pay. They 

 have never figured it out, to see. Lots of cows will bring 

 in five or ten or fifteen dollars more in a year than others, 

 and such cows are worth more. Another thing, a good cow 

 is improving your stock as long as she lives. 



Mr. Magill (of Amherst). One other point: there is 

 an indifference on the part of dairymen in regard to prog- 

 ress. I believe there are ten directors of creameries in 

 this town and vicinity. In looking about the audience 

 I have seen only two directors of creameries. I would 

 like to ask the directors of creameries in Amherst and 

 vicinity to raise their hands. [The request was complied 

 with.] There are three directors here, one from one 



