Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-12-20
THE DAIRY OUTLOOK FOR 1899.
GIVEN AT STATE DAIRY CONFERENCE
PORrLAND, DEC. Z.

As lock over the market conditions,
and observe the increasing demand for
dairy products, am inclined to the
opirion that there Il still room for the
progressive dairyman. | believe that
never in the history OF dairy ing iu
Maine has there been y brighter out
look, or more encouraging prospects for
active, intelligent work, than at the pres.
ent time. Ever since the first dairy
conference was held ln Maine, we have
been continually met with the cry OF n
possible overproduction Of dairy goods,
and occasionally have been asked By con-
servstive people TO call . halt and to
turn the attention OF our farmers TO
some other lines Of work rather than to
an Increased work along dairy lines.
But, notwithstanding all OF the work
that has been done by the Board OF
Agriculture and by other institutions
and organizations, the fact remains that
the quantity Of butter manufactured Ia
Maine has not kept pace with the iu-
creased demand from our own people, so
that to-day we find creameries In our
own State buying butter from abroSd,
much OF IL coming from the extreme
West, for distribution among thoiy
regular customers. Not only Is this
true, but in many cases there are direct
shipments from the market centers TO
consumers In various sections OF the
State. sm informed that at one time
during the latter part Of the summer
shipments were made BY one party TO
one place In the central part Of our State
sggregsting $500, and covering period
OF only six weeks. AZ the same time
this party was shipping butter to other
sections, notably TO the eastern part OF
the State for consumption in boarding
houses and hotels. I am fully Impressed
with the belief that until Maine can pro-
duce butter enough TO supply her own
wants at all seasons Of the year, we
should still consider seriously the
question Of Increasing our dairy output.
We find by the late returns OF the
local assessors 70 the State assessors
that there Is a slight decrease In the
number OF cows upon our farms, but at
the same time We find n very encourag-
ing increase In the number OF young
cattle. This is particularly true In the
show ing that the attention OF our farm
ers has been turned more TO the necessity
OF raising their calves, instead OF vealing
them ss they have done many times In
the past. That there has been decrease
In the number OF our dairy cows IL not
due, believe, 10 any dissatisfaction with
the business on the part Of those Who
are engaged In IL, but rather 10 the fact
that there Is large aud growing de-
msnd for cows, and that they have sold
for exceptionally high prices the present
sesson. This fact, taken together With
the rise in the price of beef and the In
cressing interest In the production OF
steers, Is responsible, in my judgment, i,
for this d. crease.
The dairymen OF Maine are dependent
upon the cresmeries 10 manufacture
their goods and place them upon the
market, and believe that there Is no
one institution that has done more for
the uplifting Of Malice agriculture than
have the cresmeries and butter factories
Of our State. regret TO note in some
quarters lack of confidence on the part
OF the farmers in the mspsg. ment OF
some of these Creameries. In my judy
ment this Is largely due TO lack OF
mui ual understanding, which might be
cultivated by the creamery managers ss
well as by the farmers. Quite barge
proportion Of the cresmerirs In the Ssate
are CO operative. and are owned and con-
trulled, either directly or INDIRECTLY, by
those " no furnish the milk or Great IN. In
these cresmeries there can be no otj'ct
whatever 10 reducing the test or In any
way covering up any OF the returns; aud
somew hat careful Investigation leads
us 70 the be If that the cream tests In
the proprieorty cresmeries of the State
"a IA not fall belo q those made in the CO.
operative cresmeries where the only OBJ
i-ct OF ihe managers il 10 distribute the
money that they r, ceiye squitabiy smong
their patrons. This le ,ds me TO the con-
clusioa that as a rule the work Is btiog
done fairly and we'll. believe that be-
fore We look seriously into the future,
how ever, the cresmtries If our State
should come 10 some mutual understand
log, by orgapiz iiOu or otherwise, as To
the condition the cresm shall be in
" vh,u il reaches the factory, and the
times aud methods of collecting. re-
Gently took n short trip through the
eastern section OF the State, ~here farm
ers are pstronizing The Maine Condensed
Mix Company, doing business az New
port, sno fini that this company has
set Of rules in relation To the care OF
barns aud tie-ups, the fe' ding ana care
pf the animals, aud the handling OF the
milk after II il drawn frcm the Gov aud
until IL reaches the fsctory. 1h-se rules
are rigidly enforced, aud have much To
DO in establishing The EXCELLENT quality
of the goods which they msnufs cture.
Farmers sre r, quired 10 ahitewash their
tie-ups at least vice year. there are
certsin restrictions in relation 10 light
and cleanliness In the barns, and II Is
necessary that the milk shall be cared
for in manner that Is indicated by the
managers Of the factory. And rs lar as
1 MAS able TO learn, no farmer considers
these rules q hardship, but rather the
reverse, and having once become ae-
Gu .tomed 10 doing their work IN this
manner. I 40 not believe there Is one
f,rmer in - Who would return 10 any
slipshod methods Of work il the factory
should suspend operations to-day. l
vi h Ih1t similar rules could oe adopt u
hv the ere meries OF our State, To thr
end thsr the careless and indifferent
dsiry men shall be brought up on a ievei
with those VITO sre disposed 10 take the
most p,ins in their y ork. This VIII 90
very mu, h indeed 20 srds bettering the
au liiy Of the output OF our creamerie-.
aud it ~ill encourage those Who are nov
trtiny ro d. good work, becsuse IL VII
enable them 10 receive more pay Tor
th.ir work, aud 70 feel that Others ar