People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1894 — OUR MILK CHURCH. [ARTICLE]

OUR MILK CHURCH.

Devoted lo Ike Dairying Inter* e#ts of Jasper County. Cost of Butter ut the World's Fair. The first 15 days shows that the 15 cows in each breed were fed at the following expense: Guernseys. $47.01; Jerseys, #56.08; Short Horn, #51.34. This makes the food cost of the butter produced by them to be, for the Guernseys, 12.8 cents per pound; Jerseys, 13 cents per pound, and Short Horn, 15.3 cents per pound. Cost of daily ration per cow: Guernseys, 20.95 cents. Jerseys, 24.92, Short Horn, 22.87 cents. Estimating the butter produced at 27 cents per pound, Elgin price, the Guernsey’s product exceeded its food cost by #51.90; the Jersey's product by $60.31 and the Short Horn product by #38.98, showing an average daily profit per cow, of 23 cents for Guernseys, 26.8 cents for the Jerseys and 17.3 cents for the Short Horns. It will |je seen that the Jerseys lead in the contest. But it is claimed by the Guernsey men that while they had but a few thousand cows distributed all over the United States to pick from, the Jersey men had at least sixty thousand. The Short Horn men claim that if the gain in flesh, while being on the test, had been taken into account they would have come out ahead. So you have it one thing is sure, the test was made fairly amd on the basis that was agreed upon before it began. We believe that the same rules that govern in breeding for beef will apply in breeding for milk. A thoroughbred is not the most profitable for beef. Neither is the thoroughbred cow the most profitable for milk. Half breeds will, as a rule, give more milk, while, perhaps, not quite so rich. Yet the quantity will more than offset the difference in quality. In selecting cows look well to their past history, and buy none that does not show a good milk record. And above everything else top the herd with a thoroughbred Jersey bull, that has a good record. The tests referred to above have done a great deal of good in the way of education on the dairy subject, and it would be a good idea for our dairymen to study those tests. One of the pleasant features of the subject is that some of our best farmers and leaders in dairying are giving the subject both practical investigation.

How many of our retired farmers and large laud owners are ready to give up grazing cattle in competition with the western ranches. I understand there is one that is ready to jump into the band w T agon and keep up with the dairy procession, and that others have already made preparations. I tackled one and he replied that an old dog could not learn a new trick. If we can find some one that knows how to do that he is our victim. It is to be hoped that he or she will come to our relief. There is always someone to meet every emergency. There is no obstacle that has not been overcome. We, as a church, have the desire for the prosperity of all, and don’t to have to yearn for any first class funerals, as we cannot immagine any place that the obstructionist could go to where he could be used or wanted as a relief. Let them lease their land and stand by and cheer. Those that are ready to occupy and do the w@rk and give an equitably to the landlord. As our beautiful song says of the old-fashioned churn dash, the grazing of cattle in competition with the western ranges isn’t “in it.” I hope they may conclude to join the dairy . procession and benefit themselves, and give employment to the many enforced idle. More anon.

A Chippewa county, Wis., farmer, who could not afford to pay $1 for a year’s subscription to a good dairy paper, sent §3 to an eastern swindler to learn the secret of keeping butter from getting strong. He received the reply, “Eat it.” A man generally hungers for that he strives for. Some men want knowledge and understanding and strive for it, pay money for it. Other men ache like an old-fashioned stone bruise to be humbugged, and they get it. They can stand to be humbugged, bub knowledge would make them sick.

On next Wednesday and Thursday, the Jasper County Farmer’s Institute will convene here in Rensselaer, and every farmer and business man in the county should attend.