DAIRYING AS A BUSINESS 143 



house there was not a fire on the hearth and a 

 light in the window, but the reason is that the 

 exigencies of our business were such that never 

 under any circumstances could the plant close 

 down. 



Dairying is in no way a get-rich-quick proposi- 

 tion. There are certain types of farming, like fruit- 

 growing and vegetable-gardening, in which the 

 possible value of production to the acre is very 

 large and where a fortunate conjunction of good 

 yields and high prices sometimes give the farmer 

 returns that constitute the financial romance of 

 agriculture. For example, it is possible to find in- 

 stances in which peaches or onions or strawberries 

 or lettuce have given gross returns of more than a 

 thousand dollars from single acres. Nothing of 

 this nature can ever come about from the sale of 

 dairy products. Intelligently and industriously 

 followed, the business ought generally to yield a 

 profit, but the margin above cost of production will 

 never be very large. The breeding of registered 

 cattle and the exploitation of the pure-bred busi- 

 ness is very different. This calls for judgment and 

 skill of a very high order together with a certain 

 gift of salesmanship and a full appreciation of the 

 value of publicity. Some few men of great energy 

 and special ability have made money very rapidly 

 in this field. Selling market milk or butter or 

 cheese will never afford a foundation for any agri- 

 cultural wonder-tales. 



