No. 4.] UNITED STATES DAIRYING. 143 



country for the year. The total annual revenue of the gov- 

 ernment of the United States has not been enough in thirty 

 years to buy the present yearly products of our cows. On 

 the other hand, these products, at market rates, would pay 

 off all the State and county del)ts in the nation and leave a 

 handsome balance. These comparisons show that we are 

 presenting a subject well worthy of consideration, and which 

 has a commercial importance which fully justifies special pro- 

 visions by the federal government and by the several States 

 to advance its prosperity and guard its interests. 



Let us now consider, as fully as time will permit, some of 

 the reforms and imi^rovements which the present condition 

 of the dairy interests of the United States suggests as desir- 

 able, if not essential, to future welfare. These naturally 

 group themselves under four heads : first, economy of pro- 

 duction ; second, increase in quality and variety of product, 

 which should increase income ; third, improvements in trans- 

 portation and trade ; and, fourth, extension of markets at 

 home and abroad, 



F'irst. — When in any business the margin of profit be- 

 comes uncomfortably narrow, there are usually but two ways 

 to improve, — either increase receipts or reduce expenses. 

 The most hopeful direction for improving the business of the 

 dairymen at the present time is manifestly in economy of 

 production. 



The first requisite in this line is to secure cattle suited to 

 the object in view. In these days this is not a difficult mat- 

 ter. Dairy cattle of improved l)lood and specially adapted 

 to diti'erent branches of dairying are fast increasing in num- 

 l)er, and sell at prices within the reach of any enter])rising 

 farmer. The quality or breeding of dairy stock has not 

 been separately ascertained, but it is known that in the neat 

 cattle of the country as a whole between one and two per 

 cent are pure-bred, and, as already stated, nearly if not quite 

 twenty per cent, or one-fifth of all, are grades of one-half 

 improved blood, or better. New England and the middle 

 States lead with over two per cent pure-bred, but have only 

 the average of the country in proportion of grades. The 

 north central division or group of States, including Ohio, 

 Kansas and North Dakota, have more than one-fourth of 



