18 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
practice. They have learned that the exposure of cows to storms, or even 
cold winds, affects the cash income unfavorably. They are fast 1 “™“» 
that it is not profitable to turn all their calves to the butcher and depend 
for their supply of dairy stock upon second-class cows brought from 
l0Ca 'These things they have learned and are learning because the market 
for milk has induced them to turn all the resources of the farm toward the 
production of that one article, for which they recetve their pay in cash. 
Thus, having but one article to market, the keeping of accurate accounts 
becomes a very simple matter, and they see, almost without effort, wha 
method of feeding and managing dairy cows and farm crops fills the purse 
the fastest. Not so with the man engaged in “ mixed farming. i 
requires no little skill as an accountant on the part of such a former, o 
determine the true source of the different parts of his income His cows, 
his hogs, his sheep, his poultry, his horses, his steers, are all fed from le 
same crib. (In too many cases, however, the poor cows get nothing from 
the crib ) The hogs are fed sour milk, which must be placed to the credit 
of the cows, and they eat the corn that escapes the digestive apparatus of 
the steers. Most of the income from the poultry is consumed upon^ he 
table, while the labor of both men and horses, all the minor expenses of 
farm and of the household, are chargeable in different proportions to the 
various sources of income. „ , 
Thus the task of keeping debt and credit with each department of he 
farm, becomes one of considerable magnitude. Yet I am positive that le 
highest degree of success cannot be attained without doing this, and that 
for the time so consumed, if the work be well done, the farmer will, in 
the long run,” be richly compensated. As soon as one commences sue i 
work as this, he is led to observe more carefully; every bushel of corn, 
every ton of hay, every pound of oil meal, will, after its consumption, be 
brought to judgment, and will be required to give an account of its work. 
Comparisons will be made, correct values will be placed upon the various 
form crops, and “ guess-work ” will, in many cases at least, give place to 
positive knowledge. 
A very intelligent Irishman, whom I have had in my employ for some 
time, and whose judgment upon most matters is of real value to me, often 
insists that I keep my “ growing pigs” too fat; that I ‘ throw away corn 
by so doing, etc. Very likely half the farmers in Kane County would 
agree with him; and yet, I cannot find one who holds to such opinions 
that ever weighed or measured to find the actual cost o a t ree un re 
pound hog. They often make assertions with great positiveness, but they 
