The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-10-31
(Reported for the Pressl
State Board of Agriculture.

ORoNo, Oct. 30, 1874.
Immediately after breakfast, carriages were
furnished by the citizens of the village and the
board were taken out mile or more to visit
the farm of BENZ. Gilman, Esq. Mr. G. is
well known as a successful lumberman and
farmer; his buildings, grounds and fine stock
were much admired.
After business meeting, the public exer-
cises were opened in the Town Hall by a con-
tinuation of the discussion on dairy husbandry
Mr.. Gilbert of Androrcoggin said the question
OF the most consequence to dairymen is,
"Shall we manufacture at home or in associa-
tions?' Cheese factories are a success, and
where they are introduced, farms become more
productive. 1t is not settled, whether butter
factories will be profitable. ~
Mr.. Colburn of Kennebec thought butter
making the most profitable, but preferred to
make it at home If the labor be too hard
for women, let it be done by men, as it is at
cheese factories. He believed women gener-
ally liked to make butter There was no need
of selling it for less than forty cents. The
same quantity of milk, makes more butter at
this season than iD June.
Mr.. Gilbert stated that on the average
through the season, "a lbs. of milk or about 10
quarts, would make a pound of butter. A
quart of milk. milk measure. weighs about II
ounces or q lbs. Nine and half pounds of
milk will make pound of cheese.
Mr., Bracket of Belfast remarked that he be-
lieved in cheese factories. Nine of them in his
county were doing we'll ;had sold all their cheese
for 15 cents pound or more.
Ac E.
hour he is obliged to copy notice of the next
paper read from the Bangor Whig, which
says: The discussion was still further prolong-
ed and at its close an able paper was read by
Hon. Geo. B. Barrows of Oxford county, on
''The Province of Board ofIAgriculture
He opened by expressing his confidence in
the ability and earnestness of the state board
The duties of such boards, in his opinion, were
to look after all the varied interests Of agricul
ture, to keep up with the progress of the age,
to express opinions and recommendations;
should avail itself of all possible sources of in
formation within its reach regarding the sub
iect of agriculture, for.the purpose of advanc-
ing its interests; it should make itself familiar
with the different sections and the various
modes of operation throughout the state; it
should not hesitate to take res possibility in the
way of direction and supervision; it should be
the advance guard in the onward march, to
warn against danger and point out the safe
way; to furnish the farmer of the state with
mental food as good or better than he asks for.
Legislation in the interests of agriculture
should originate with, and be perfected by the
board of agriculture Who should arouse the
public mind and give it wise impulse, but
this body?
Hon. S. Wasson of Hancock endorsed the
views of the speaker; he thought the board
should concentrate its efforts upon some def
mite object at each meeting. AS he was the
senior member, he felt justified in saying that
the board had not effected the positive re-
suits it should have done The only accom-,
plished fact that he could recalls was the
establishment of cheese factories; and that ap.
peared to him at first mere scheme.
This alluson of Mr.. WIS will remind your
readers of the earnestness with which Secreta-
ry Goodale labored to introduce this new and
now successful branch of dairy industry.