96 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doo. 



the standard of their agriculture, and help make of them a 

 machine. No, every man must be a law unto himself, and 

 no man can, justly or honestly, condemn the industry until, 

 by careful study of the bulletins, by patient toil of brain 

 and hand, by sharp, intelligent selection of sires and dams, 

 by the growing of the greatest possible quantity of fodder 

 of various kinds, by the proper housing of his stock, the 

 renovation of his pastures, best possible care of his cows 

 and regularity in feeding and milking, he has solved the 

 question for himself from a business man's stand-point. 



One fact, to be emphasized again and again, is, that you 

 cannot force milk production. It must come, if at all, by 

 invitation ; and this suggests that kindness of treatment 

 which will secure comfort to the creature. 



Incidentally, it is well to note that loss may come by the 

 production of five per cent milk for a four per cent market ; 

 if so, the addition of a heavy milker of poorer quality will 

 balance the whole. You cannot aftbrd to give what you do 

 not get pay for, and what is the severest tax upon the ener- 

 gies of the cow and the pocketbook of her owner. 



All these suggestions only emphasize the thought to be 

 pressed upon the attention, — that to be a successful farmer 

 one must be a careful student, a sharp observer, a constant 

 reader and a close thinker, and these qualities tend to a 

 manhood above par in the currency of the world. 



New England is honeycombed with iron rails. Thej' stretch 

 away up every valley and search out every hamlet. Stand 

 on our hilltops, and the smoke from thousands of industries 

 tells of the immense calls made three times daily upon the 

 products of the soil to feed the toilers in shops, mills and 

 factories, — calls which should be, might be, supplied from 

 our own rugged, productive acres, if men but had faith in 

 themselves, pride in the occupation, and a realization of the 

 responsive power of our hills and valleys. 



Tell me, if you will, why Florida and Delaware should 

 grow 3^our vegetables, California so much of yonv fruit, and 

 the prairies yoiu* corn, beef, nmtton, pork, poultry, butter 

 and horses ? Is it because your acres are all utilized in the 

 growing of a richer, more profitable product? If so, the 



