No. 4.] MILK PROBLEM. 25 



noise, and regardless of the })ricc received for milk or bntter 

 are very positive that it is altogether too low. They are like 

 fettered men in a ship in mid-ocean, who can only gaze on 

 the snn or the north star — which represents the price re- 

 ceived — and cry aloud in their despair, because they 

 evidently have not possessed the necessary initiative, the re- 

 sourcefulness or power, to break the bonds or habits that bind 

 them, turn their craft about, battle with the waves, and steer 

 a straight course for land and a lower cost of production. 



The period of agricultural depression which New Eng- 

 land has suifered for many years and which still lingers in 

 many places is a difficulty which demands the skilful treat- 

 ment of specialists for a series of years, rather than a 

 patented proprietary medicine promising instant relief. The 

 public schools can and should be used as a starting point, to 

 establish in the minds of the children a healthy interest in 

 country life and its advantages. It is there that influences 

 other than home influences can first be set at work to correct 

 inherited tendencies, and the work there begun can, to some 

 extent at least, be followed up through the agencies of the 

 agricultural schools and colleges, agricultural and dairy asso- 

 ciations, and through agricultural and dairy publications. In 

 an address delivered by President Butterfield in a neighbor- 

 ing New England State several years ago, he expressed the 

 opinion that " If the granges of New England are ever per- 

 mitted to degenerate into mere social organizations, one of 

 the grandest opportunities for the real advancement of New 

 England agriculture will have been lost." To what extent 

 the granges of New England have improved, are now improv- 

 ing, or may be able to improve their opportunities to make 

 farm life attractive and financially profitable is a question 

 which possibly they may do well to more seriously consider. 



Under competent leadership — and in my opinion. New 

 England needs nothing to-day so much as it needs strong, 

 competent, active leadership in agriculture — these estab- 

 lished institutions above referred to, and possibly others as 

 well, can be made really efi^ective agencies by which, and 

 tlirough which, the whole truth can be determined, plainly 



