I 
240 Wisconsin state agbicultubal society. 
gate this matter two years ago, report that nearly ten per cent, of all 
the cows abort, thus rendering them worthless for dairy purposes. 
There are many reasons which I might give (would time per¬ 
mit) why I think it would be entirely safe for farmers to turn their 
attention to dairying to the extent of the capacity of their farms. 
And here I would say, there are many farms in the west that are 
not naturally adapted to the dairy. I will comprise what I have 
to say upon this point in a single sentence. Unless the farm is 
naturally or can be artificially supplied with an abundance of pure 
water, it is useless to expect success in dairying, for an abundance 
of pure water is as much a necessity as food for the dairy cow. 
And then again, there are a good many farmers in the west who 
are not naturally adapted to dairying. They lack a dairy educa¬ 
tion (but this they might acquire), and they lack the patience and 
the perseverance —qualities so necessary to the successful dairy¬ 
man. If there are any of this class present who are thinking of 
going into the dairying as a business, to such I would say, be sure 
that you count the cost before you decide the matter. The suc¬ 
cessful management of the dairy is so different from the manage¬ 
ment of the grain farm, that you want to consider well your quali¬ 
fications before deciding. Don’t forget that he that would suc¬ 
ceed with the dairy must give it his constant, personal attention. 
It is night and morning, 365 days in the year. I would not be 
understood as saying that it is any harder work than raising grain ; 
indeed, I do not think it is as hard work (for I have tried both), 
but it is the confinement to which many object, and against which 
they sooner or later rebel. 
One thing more on this point. If you are going to make dairy¬ 
ing a success, you must go into it for a permanent business. You 
want to make up your minds to follow it as long as the Dutch 
justice told the young couple that were getting married, matrimony 
would last. It was to last their whole lifetime, if God Almighty 
permitted them to live so long. * I would not be understood as 
discouraging persons from going into dairying for a business, but 
what I want is to have them go into it understandingly, so that 
they may make it a success. Those that think of engaging in 
dairying for a few years only, and expect to make their fortune 
and retire from business, are sure to be sadly disappointed. 
