414 WiSCOIfSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
that very desirable thing-, pay for what they buy and run up no 
bills. As the capacity of the dairy increases, three or four farmers 
may unite the milk, and make very good domestic cheese. This 
alone, in rotation, would relieve each family from the constant care 
of the dairy, and give the wife and daughters two or three weeks 
at a time of comparative leisure. This method of manufacturing 
milk in company would soon originate a cheese factory, which re¬ 
moves nearly all the work of the dairy from the farm house, and is 
found very remunerative wherever skillfully conducted. Just here 
the question arises, What is the matter that western farmers are 
not on the high road to wealth? There is but one answer to this 
question. We go too fast; we should put on the breaks, go slower, 
keep down our wants, and live within the income. If this is too 
hard, make the income larger. 
Nor is this all. There is no industry of the farm so well adapted 
to the farmer with growing children as the dairy. The work is not 
inappropriate for either boys or girls. It is work that must be done 
thoroughly, neatly and promptly, and the knowledge acquired in 
doing any work in this manner is applicable in all business rela¬ 
tions in after years. But would you have girls do the milking? 
We would have the girls know how to do all the work of the 
farm which they can do, as well as their brothers; then if sickness 
or absence, or any circumstance make it necessary, there is no 
confusion, no standing still of business, because there are only 
girls at home; the work moves on; girls become efficient, useful 
and beloved — not one bit the worse, but better — for the good 
they have done. When circumstances do not require it, they may 
turn to more delightful employment; the music of the piano is 
just as sweet, whether they sit down the milk pail or lay aside the 
most elaborate embroidery. It is this mysterious thing called cir- 
cumstp.nce that decides what is properly women’s work; and the 
kind attentions of thoughtful husbands and fathers, and brothers, 
will control the circumstances. The more pleasant work of the 
dairy may be made a very lucrative business for women; high 
wages are paid for this kind of work; the prizes offered compare 
favorably with some that are given for literary labor; besides, it is 
no small accomplishment to know how to make excellent butter. 
Mr. Carpenter, of New York, will tell you it requires more skill to 
make first class butter than to make a watch. If you would excel 
