62 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN's ASSOCIATION. 



Wm. Patten thought it would be a long time before 

 we could reduce our living expenses to a level with Ger- 

 many or France. 



Bingham said it was an established fact that small 

 farms would always yield a greater per cent, than large 

 ones. 



Thos. Bishop : Could see no difference between large 

 and small farms. A small one could keep four or five cows, 

 a pig, a chicken or two, a goose and a turkey or two — how 

 could these manure it so as to produce such wonderful 

 crops ? It can't be done ; its all nonsense. Small patches 

 may do for amusement, but when you talk about making 

 money, you have got to have room to do it. 



Bingham said on 36 acres he raised corn, cherries and 

 all kinds of small fruits, as well as eight or ten cows. Made 

 a good living and more too. 



Wm. Patten inquired how much he paid for labor. 



Mr. Bingham: Do not call my own time worth any- 

 thing, and I do most of the labor. 



S. N. Wright inquired of Bishop how many cows he 

 kept. 



Mr. Bishop said he had 40 cow^s. 



Mr. Wright : Had considered Mr. B. one of the 

 best farmers in the county, but was now in doubt, as he 

 (Wright) had only about one-half as much land as Bishop 

 and he kept 45 cows and four horses. Came to this meet- 

 ing to learn about soiling. He felt confident that no one 

 was aware how much stock could be kept by soiling and 

 feeding in the barn. Thought one acre sufficient to keep a 

 cow. 



