240 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



able, as I say, to make butter in this way that has brought 

 twent3^-cight cents a pound. In regard to the price of skim 

 milk, I have kept an accurate account, and I am sure it is 

 as I have stated. One year ago I ])ought a lot of small pigs, 

 and fed them skim milk for six months. At the end of six 

 months I had paid for the grain they had eaten, and had 

 $89.60 left for the skim milk, which enabled me to realize 

 about one-half a cent per quart. In keeping the record for 

 the year, it has brought me about $10 per cow. 



Mr. Ware. You say you pay $50 for your cows. I 

 suppose they are new milch cows, and that you realize as 

 much when you sell them. I do not see how you can do 

 that, unless you keep them another year, and sell them as 

 new milch cows ; and, if you keep them year after year for 

 a period of four, five or six years, there must be a deprecia- 

 tion in the value of the cows. That was the point I alluded 

 to in my question. 



Mr. Bachelder. When I purchase a cow that does not 

 prove what I think she ought to, if the feed does not go to 

 the production of milk and butter, she will take on flesh, and 

 I dispose of her for beef; and, if she proves a good milker, I 

 keep her a number of years. I have not been in the business 

 long enough to know how I should come out in the end ; 

 but the cows are worth what I gave for them now at the 

 present time. 



Question. I would like to ask the gentleman what an 

 average Jersey cow will bring for beef when you turn her? 



Mr. Bachelder. Well, the cows of the size I have 

 bring from $40 to $50. Mine are grade Jersey. I do not 

 keep any thorough-brcds. 



Question. How much does it cost to fat a Jersey cow? 



Mr. Bachelder. Well, I could not tell you in regard 

 to that. The only point I wish to state is, we can produce 

 milk and cream to make a i)ound of butter for the price 

 which has been realized from it by the creameries of the 

 State ; and, also, that this little system of co-operation which 

 I have practiced can be carried on by two or three farmers 

 in other sections of the country, where they could not avail 

 themselves of the creamery. 



The ChairxMAN. We have present with us to-day Mr. 



