338 



these analogous facts it cannot be doubted that the pas- 

 ture, which is affected by soil and climate, has some 

 effect upon the character of dairy products. But, as has 

 been stated in the chapter (II.) on dairy farms and the 

 selection of localities and soil for dairying, the expert 

 and experienced dairyman may make up for all defects 

 in these respects by good culture, fertilizing, and the 

 growth of such crops as will afford every necessary ele- 

 ment in the food for the production of good milk, and 

 by such skill in maniiDulation as will produce the very 

 best quality in the butter and cheese made from it. 



In this respect ^' doctors differ," and some of the 

 American experts have stated as their belief that locality, 

 soil, herbage and w^ater all have a most important influ- 

 ence upon the quality of dairy products. A few years 

 ago it was said that Kentucky could never be made an 

 excellent dairy region, because of the lack of suitable 

 running water and the prevailing character of the soil. 

 The author did not join in this belief and hazarded the 

 opinion that good well water, Kentucky blue grass, 

 clover and other fodder crops, were quite sufficient as a 

 foundation for a successful and profitable dairy business, 

 if the skill could be acquired. This view has been justi- 

 fied by the capture of $300 in various premiums, by a 

 Kentucky lady w^ho manages a well-conducted butter 

 dairy, for her product, which Avas awarded first place in 

 the competition at the National Dairy Exhibition, held 

 in the city of New York, in the year 1887. 



As coinciding with this view, the author's belief is 

 confirmed by leading English experts who cannot fail to 

 see that their famous Cheddar cheese, supposed to be a 

 special product of a favorable locality, soil and pasturage, 

 is actually beaten in competition by the best American 

 ^^ Cheddar," made under wholly different conditions, but 

 by the most skillful dairymen in both the United States 

 and Canada. At the same time we may see American 



