Annual Report. 
27 
world the fact that there was as good cheese made in Wisconsin as 
anywhere, and by combination and intelligence securing low 
freights, may be fairly considered as one of the chief forces in secur¬ 
ing these results, so far as cheese is concerned. In relation to the 
4 butter side 1 of the question, I believe the result may be partially 
attributed to the same agency: First, indirectly, by the impulse 
given to cheese-making, thus leaving to the milk made into butter 
more profit than it would otherwise have had. Directly by stimu¬ 
lating a spirit of progress in making good butter, and persuading 
the maker to deal directly with butter-markets, where he is brought 
sharply face to face with the errors of his practice. Thus it may be 
seen, gentlemen, that in your associative capacity you become a 
power of vast good to the productive interests of the State. These 
facts become, then, not merely a subject for congratulation, but a 
clear testimony to the wisdom of your previous purpose and meth¬ 
ods of action, and should clinch the argument for the pursuit of 
the same purpose in the future. There is too great indifference 
manifested by a large portion of the dairymen of the State relative 
to the purpose and efforts of this Association, and it is certainly 
to be hoped that many who have not hitherto assisted at the wheel 
may come forward and bear a part of the necessary burden. The 
future outlook is not as favorable in many respects as could be de¬ 
sired. Although maintaining as yet an unbroken prosperity, it 
would not be unwise for dairymen to remember that in the present 
disordered condition of finances and business apathy all over the 
country, this pursuit must naturally suffer with the rest. One re¬ 
sult, I apprehend, will be a large reduction in home-comsumption. 
To a large portion of the American public, butter and cheese is yet 
a luxury which may and will be dispensed with, when hard times 
and no work comes upon them. This should teach us not to ex¬ 
pect high prices another season. But I do not anticipate but that 
the ratio of profit between dairy and other products will continue, 
thus proving in the future, as in the past, that dairy-farming is the 
most stable of anv.” 
%/ 
The amount of cheese made in the State in 1875, was upwards of 
15,000,000 pounds. 
Some of the reasons w r hy farming doesn’t pay better is, 
1. Work is not done at the right time. Machinery is not kept in 
