DAIRY. 2i» 



millc. There are a great many interesting points of information 

 connected with these two qnestions. There are doubtless great 

 diflferences existing in the degree of intelligence and success at- 

 tained on different farms in this matter. If by drawing the attention 

 of our farmers to the subject, competition for the premiums could 

 be excited at future Fairs, very valuable information might be 

 elicited, and a wholesome emulation arise which would lead to very 

 happy results in Dairy management. 



The committee would cordially recommend to the milk-farmers 

 to attend to this subject. The greatest difficulty which stands in 

 the way of improvement in this as in other branches of agriculture, 

 is the reluctance on the part of the farmers in keeping a set of 

 farm accounts. It would require but a few minutes each day to 

 make the necessary entries. Each cow should be named or num- 

 bered, her milk measured, and the corresponding entry made in the 

 book daily, together with from time to time the manner and expense 

 of feeding. Thus a complete history of the animal would be had, 

 ■which would enable the farmer to judge accurately of his progress 

 and success. 



On the subject of Butter, it is to be regretted that such great 

 amounts of an inferior quality should continue year after year to be 

 produced and thrown upon the market. Butter making is a deli- 

 cate art, it is true, but when once understood it requires very 

 little, if any more, labor or expense to produce a good than a poor 

 article. The good butter always commands a ready sale, while the 

 poor is poor indeed. Why should not our farmers take a similar 

 pride and show as general a skill in producing a good article from 

 the raw material in this branch of their art, as that evinced by 

 mechanics in the various products of their labor ? The farmer can 

 no more expect a handsome result by careless and slip-shod man- 

 agement, than the carpenter, shoemaker or hatter ; and the one 

 should be quite as much ashamed of inferiority as the others. 



To ascertain what is the best management of Dairy farms is a 

 very interesting question. Amidst our numerous growing cities 

 and towns, and in the dense population of old Essex, it will not do 

 for the farmer to go listlessly along in old beaten tracks. Study 

 and enquiry are necessary. New circumstances require new 

 measures, and the farmers of our neighborhood who the most intel- 

 ligently inquire after, and earliest attain to the best adaptation to 



