JULY M 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
0ah[tJ gusbandrg. 
the national butter convention 
OF INDIANAPOLIS. 
^Ve have numerous dairymen’s associa¬ 
tions throughout the country which have 
been inaugu rated for the most part by those 
interested in cheese; and although the butter 
interest is represented .to some extent in 
these associations it has generally boon con¬ 
sidered of minor importance. The Western 
New-York Butter-makers’ Association was 
organized a few veal's ago by the dairymen 
of Chautauqua Co., and was a local institu¬ 
tion. Recently the name has been changed 
to the Chautauqua Dairymen's Association, 
und will embrace the different branches of 
the dairy a3 practiced in that county. 
The first attempt, we believe, to establish 
an association in which the butter interest 
of the whole country could be properly rep- 
reseuted, was at Beloit, "Wisconsin, in 
March last, where a society was formed un¬ 
der the name of the “ Manufacturers’ and 
Dealers’ in Creamery Putter.” This 
Society, agreeably to adjournment, held its 
second meeting at. Indianapolis, June 17th 
and 18th, when a large number of persons 
interested in the manufacture*, handling and 
marketing of butter, from different parts of 
the United States, were present. The Asso¬ 
ciation was called to order at O’ 3 o’clock 
A. M., on the 17th, by the President, Dantkl 
W. Dake, Beloit, Wis., and the minutes of 
the last meeting were read by the secretary, 
Mr. E. P. Wells, of Milwaukee, SVis. The 
meeting wus largely represented by dealers, 
more than SOI) delegates from leading firms 
in various parts of the United States being 
present. It was not contemplated, however, 
to run the Convention in any particular in¬ 
terest, but ample provision was made that 
dairymen and all others connected in any 
way with the manufacture, and sale of but¬ 
ter should have an equal place anil share in 
the Association. 
A report of the Committee on Constitution 
and By-laws was presented by Mr. Eager, 
Logansport, Indiana, and was adopted by 
separate clauses. Considerable discussion 
was had in regard to fixing the name of the 
association, and it was finally decided to 
adopt the name of the “National Butter & 
Egg Association.” 
The main argument in favor of adding the 
egg interest to that of butter was, that the 
leading dealers iu butter also deal largely in 
eggs, and therefore the two interests could 
be advautageously combined in one Asso¬ 
ciation. 
Near the close of the morning session Dr. 
T. B. Elliott, Indianapolis, Ind., on behalf 
of the Board of Trade & Real Estate Ex¬ 
change of the city, presented an invitation 
to the convention and the press to accept, 
the service of carriages to inspect the lead¬ 
ing points of interest iu the city. The invi¬ 
tation was accepted and the time set at 4 P, 
M. on the 18th. 
It was decided that the next annual meet¬ 
ing of the. Association should be held at 
Chicago, commencing on the first Wednes¬ 
day in March, 1875. The following 
COMMITTEE OK STATISTICS 
was then made: 
James Anderson, New York; Walter 
Fairfield, Now York; Danl. Pope, Baltimore; 
C. J. Piper, Charlotte, Mich.; Col. 11. Lit- 
tler, Davenport, Iowa ; C. F. Dexter, Chi¬ 
cago ; T. B. Elliott, Indianapolis; W. A. Van 
Slyke, St. Paul; W. W. Jones, Philadelphia; 
Geo. E. Morrow, Madison, Wis.; J, G. Hoff¬ 
man, St. Louis; John B. Otter, Louisville; 
N. S. Long, Maysville, Ohio. 
ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT DAKE. 
The organization having been perfected 
Danl. W. Dake addressed the Convention 
at considerable leugth, and his remarks were 
well received. He commenced by referring 
to our “native cattle,” which he asserted 
could be so improved by proper care and 
judicious management as to be brought to a 
state bordering on perfection. In this way 
the. Ayrshire, the Downs, the Galloways, the 
Jerseys and Short-Horns have been brought 
to their present state of excellence. He ad¬ 
vised crossing the “ native stock ” with pure 
hied animals, and thus gradually building 
up an improved grade of cattle. 
A good cow, he affirmed, costs but a trifle, 
if any more to feed and keep than a poor 
one. The difference in the value of their 
product should be credited to her as so much 
interest on her estimated valuation. If a 
cow simply yields enough to pay her way, 
and nothing more, she is worth only what 
she would bring from the butcher. If 
another yields a net profit of $20 a year more 
than her keeping, she is as good as $200 at 
interest; if $40 more than her keeping she 
is worth as much os $400 at interest. Still 
farmers are sometimes so negligent of their 
own interest as to sell their best cow for a 
mere trifle more than for the one that is 
nearly worthless. One cow* of a herd may 
be dear at $80, and another cheap at $200. 
Different cows in the herd, with the same 
feed and treatment everyway, often vary 
100 per cent in their profits. 
After alluding to water and the proper 
food for milch cows, the practice of 
TETHERINQ 
was recommended, as useful in economizing 
feed, or making a leas number of acres sup¬ 
port a greater number of cattle. Hundreds 
of dollars, lie thought, could be saved by the 
adoption of this system in the item of 
fencing, which to the West is a great desid¬ 
eratum. No one, he said, would think of 
allowing cattle to roam at will through his 
fields of wheat, or rye or corn, even if so 
muzzled that they could not eat of it—be¬ 
cause they would trample it down and 
destroy it. For the same reason cattle 
should not be allowed to trample and destroy 
pastime. 
SOILING. 
Soiling or half soiling was strongly advo¬ 
cated, and sweet coni, drilled in row s so that 
the cultivator can pass between, was named 
first as a soiling crop. Then other kinds of 
corn, sorghum, oats, peas, &e., were recom¬ 
mended. In this way the shortcomings of 
pasture in July and August can be provided 
against while the residue—if any is left more 
than is needed—can be. cured and stored for 
winter use. 
BUTTER MAKING. 
In handling milk for butter making he ad¬ 
vocated the following plan: Let one or more 
persons—as many as can work handily to¬ 
gether—fix up a first-class milk room and 
churning depot. Take the milk there and 
have it weighed, set, skimmed, churned and 
handled entirely by one competent person. 
Then take the butter so handled, as soon as 
churned, to n central depot to he worked and 
prepared for market by one competent per¬ 
son. lie can pay you the cash for it and take 
to his own account for work a consideration 
or per cent. He thought that by this plan 
if the full co-operation of farming can be 
had, the grade of butter West could be raised 
at least 20 per cent. 
The address contained much that was sug¬ 
gestive, and was listened to with attention. 
ADDRESS OF MR. X. A. WILLARD OF NEW YORK. 
The Indianapolis Journal remarks as 
follows:—“ The association assembled again 
at eight o’clock in the evening, when the 
Hon. X. A. Willard, editor of the Rural 
New-Yorker, delivered an able speech on 
dairies, of which the following is a brief ab¬ 
stract: During the-last ten years there lias 
been a great advance in dairy manufacture. 
It is admitted that in the United States the 
dairy conventions are doing more for pro¬ 
gressive agriculture than the whole mass of 
farmers following other branches or special¬ 
ties. Eminent men in all professions now 
pay a good deal of at tention to our conven¬ 
tions, and are benefited thereby. While 
those engaged in the manufacture of butter 
and cheese have made great progress, the 
producers of milk have made comparatively 
but little, progress. The annual production 
of butter in the United Btates is estimated 
at 700,000,000 pounds. In 1850 it was a little, 
over 312,000,000 pounds; ten years later it 
reached nearly 500,000,000, the annual in¬ 
crease being about 20,000,000 pounds. In 
1880, if our population increases at the same 
ratio as during the last decade 800,000,000 
pounds will be needed for our own consump¬ 
tion. At 25c. per pound our auuual product 
would amount to $175,000,000. It is impossi¬ 
ble to advance much further in making fine 
dairy products unless an improvement is 
made in the raw material. Diseased milk is 
a great promoter of ill health, and that is 
one thing that an improvement should bo 
in. Is it not right that had milk should be 
excluded from that which is to go into gen¬ 
eral use 'i Farmers should be careful to ex¬ 
clude from their herds all weak or sickly 
cows, as a matter of duty to the community 
and economy to themselves. Good grass is 
the best food for milch cows, and produces 
the best milk, and the best grass is produced 
on uplands or well-drained soils. Cows 
should have salt constantly within their 
reach. It is also an utter impossibility to 
produce good butter from bad water. Every 
butter dairyman should be furnished with a 
printed circular on which certain questions 
relative to the condition of the herds and 
premises should be asked and an answer 
required.” 
He then gave a lengthy description of a 
new plan fora milk house. 
Speaking of pastures he said: 
“ Okl pastures, when the turf is thickly set 
with grass, will give better results in milk 
than recently seeded grounds. The reason 
is, there is a great variety of grasses afford¬ 
ing a nut ritious bite from week to week dur¬ 
ing the season. Old pastures clear of weeds 
when the herbage is thick should not be 
broken up. Weedy pastures may be plowed 
up and reseeded as soon as possible, but 
grain crops should not be taken off lands to 
bo laid down for pasture exhausting the soil. 
Pasture and meadow lands requite a differ¬ 
ent order of Seeds. The seed should be in 
great variety, sown In great abundance and 
an effort made to get u sward similar to old 
grass lands. (The speaker named several 
varieties.) Experiments prove that the gen¬ 
eral impression of farmers that the composi- 
* Lion or quality of milk may be changed by 
changing the food is a fallacy. Extra feed 
may and does increase the quantity of milk, 
but not the constituents or the proportions. 
The quality, that is, the richness of the milk, 
must he sought for in the particular animals 
or breeds and not in special feeding. Differ¬ 
ent kinds of food have great influence on 
the flavor of milk, and some foods are much 
more efficient t han others in keeping up the 
strength of the cow. The dairyman should 
seek, therefore, such food as will keep Ins 
cows in a good, thrifty condition, food that 
will make the largest quantity of milk of 
the best flavor. But if he seeks very rich 
milk he must look to individual breeds noted 
for this peculiarity. The speaker gave some 
interesting information concerning milk 
globules and the peculiarities of different 
breeds, which are omitted here though they 
were of much value in showing the traits 
of different breeds of cows. After a learned 
and thorough analysis of this subject in re¬ 
lation to both butter and cheese, the speaker 
paid his respects to suet butter as now made 
in many factories in the East, describing the 
process of manufacture. He said: I have 
examined several specimens of this butter; 
some of it is granular and leaves a tallow 
taste, other specimens were more like 
butter, but inferior to the genuine article. 
The skim milk dodge was also noticed in the 
manufacture, of cheese. On testing the arid¬ 
ity of curds, the price of butter in England, 
Canadian but,ter and creameries, the address 
was practical and replete with information 
of importance to the profession. The statis¬ 
tics of shipping, the profits and calculations 
in actual work were all given to an extent 
that does not admit of reproduction.” 
SECOND DAY’S SESSION. 
The Convention was called to order at 9:30 
in the morning, and the Committee on Sta 
tisticB submitted a favorable report in re¬ 
gard to gathering and publishing In the 
National Crop Reporter statistics of the 
production of butter and eggs. A formula 
was also presented for the work of compila¬ 
tion, such as comparative production, price, 
&<*,, an<l asking the co-operation of all inter¬ 
ested in the trade. 
Mr. Green of the Reporter addressed the 
Convention in relation to the proposed en¬ 
terprise. 
The report was adopted. 
COMMITTEE ON PRIZE ESSAYS. 
It will be remembered that at the Beloit 
meeting in March last the President, Mr. D. 
W. Dake, offered a number of premiums, 
amounting iu all to $1,00(1, for the best essays 
on butter making. A largo number of es¬ 
says, it is understood, were sent in, and the 
following persons were appointed a commit¬ 
tee to examine the essays and make the 
awards : 
J. D. Anderson of New York ; A. A. Ken- 
nurd, Baltimore ; J. C- Roriek, Massillon, O.; 
J. M. Gilbrough, Philadelphia, Pa.; Col. R. 
M. Littler, Davenport, Iowa ; H. McCray, 
Kendallville, Ind., W. N.Golden,Coldwater, 
Mich.; Geo. E. Morrow, Madison, Wis. 
The Secretary was requested to furnish 
each member of the committee with a copy 
of the essays, and it is understood that sev¬ 
eral weeks must elapse before the awards 
will be made. 
Gov. Hendricks, being present in the Con¬ 
vention, was invited to the stand, and made 
a brief speech, thanking the ussembled dele¬ 
gates for their reception of him, the Con¬ 
vention for making the city of Indianapolis 
the place of meeting, &o., &o. He said the 
State was interested in other matters outside 
of agriculture, but that the latter was the 
principal interest. 
ADDRESS OF GEO. E. MORROW OF THE WESTERN FARMER. 
Mr. Morrow commenced by saying that 
intelligent butter makers are at work at this 
problem :—To produce the largest quantity 
of best quality, at least eOBt, and to sell at 
the highest price. We cannot hope to secure 
a solution which will prove satisfactory to 
all, nor to secure uniform practice. The 
prejudices of the masses, the disinclination 
to adopt new modes, work strongly against 
improvement. A favorable season over a 
large portion of the country will add greatly 
to the butter product, and a reduction of 
price is inevitable. Severe and long-ccn- 
tinuud drouth in the great dairy regions will 
largely reduce the product and increase ex¬ 
penses, although uot necessarily prices. But¬ 
ter is made for the consumer, and the pro¬ 
ducer will be wise if he heeds, as far as prac¬ 
ticable, the wants and tastes of the con¬ 
sumer, and he will learn much if he will 
heed the lessons which the experience and 
observation of the carrier and dealer have 
taught them. There is need also of infor¬ 
mation which only the scientist can give. 
The dairyman must be willing to work — 
steadily, faithfully, carefully, giving atten¬ 
tion to petty details, and cheerfully submit¬ 
ting to many unpleasant things. Ho who 
would win success as a butter maker—as he 
who socks success in any honest calling— 
will do best to rely on Industry, Intelligence 
and Integrity. 
The area in which dairying cun be con¬ 
ducted with fair success is very much larger 
than was formerly supposed. Wherever the 
vegetation, water and climate arc such that 
cows can bo kept in good health, it is pos¬ 
sible to produce good milk, butter and 
cheese. The great dairy regions of the 
country will continue to bo its cooler por¬ 
tions. The North rather than the Booth will 
make the great supply of butter. 
The cow will thrive on a much greater 
variety of food than some would have us 
believe. Grass is her natural food, and some 
few kinds of grass are undoubtedly better 
than others ; but in default of these she will 
do well on many others. 
In regard to butter making, ho favored 
the plan of having butter-churning depots, 
or having tho churning done at the farm¬ 
house, the working and packing being done 
at a central establishment. This plan, he 
thought, meets some of the difficulties in the 
regulor factory system, and in turn is not 
free from difficulties. 
As to markets, he believed, other things 
being equal, the nearest market is the best. 
In such a market, reputation is easily made, 
and a few butter makers can generally do 
well by supplying on contracts at prices 
considerably above the average price paid. 
The more remote the market, tho greater 
the difficulty in securing individual reputa¬ 
tion. He thought the establishment of Ex¬ 
changes by dairy produce dealers in largo 
cities is a step in advance. These exchanges 
can do much to correct errors and abuses. 
Producers look to them for quotations based 
on merit alone, without reference to locality 
or where produced. Let every tub of butter 
stand on its own merits, ami not-be bolstered 
up by the good reputation, or pushed dawn 
by the ba d reputation of other butter coming 
from the same locality. The address con¬ 
tained many valuable suggestions, and was 
listened to with much interest by the Con¬ 
vention. 
At the close of Mr. Morrow’s address 
there was a lengthy and animated discussion 
upon eggs and the egg trade, but we have 
no space here to give a synopsis of this part 
of the proceedings. 
The Convention was characterized by 
great harmony and good feeling among 
members, and the Association if properly 
managed can be the means of working out 
important reforms and of being of much 
value to all concerned in the manufacture 
and sale of butter. 
OFFICERS FOR 1874. 
The following is a list of officers for the 
ensuing year: President— Danl. W. Dake, 
Beloit, Wis, Vice-Presidents—James Ander- 
phia; A. B. Butterfield, of A. Lb Butterfield 
& Co., Boston; B. VV Lester, Jackson, Mich.; 
W. W. Dexter, of Woodcock Sc Dexter, 
Chicago- Emerson Egher, Logansport, Ind.; 
Wm. MeKimws, Findlay, Ohio; J. VV. Jagger, 
Bt. Paul, Minn.; T. U. Miller, St. Louis; D. 
B. Sperry, Louisville; H. W. Hobart, Beloit, 
Wis.; Col. It. M. Littler, Davenport, Iowa. 
Secretary—E. P. Wells, Milwaukee, Wis.* 
Assistant-Secretary—-James II. Loh, Pitts¬ 
burg, Pa.__ 
Cross of Holstein and Bhort-Horns as 
Milkers. —The Boston Cultivator says :—A 
correspondent from Barre, Mass., a former 
breeder of Short-Horns, says that the best 
cows in that town, long famous for good 
cows, are the crosses raised from using a 
Holstein bull of the Cheucry importation on 
Short-Horn crossed cows, long bred in that 
town for milk—a fact or interest to milk- 
producers and dairymen. 
