Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-19

Maine is not an importer of butter. AS
long as this fact remains, we cannot
nope TO cut much of figure in the
market centers of New England, but
must expect that our butter will oc-
cupy an unsatisfactory position IN
: these markets.
1t is also true that our COW popula-
tion is not dense enough to allow of
: the most economical production of
dairy goods. The greatest drawback
! 10 economical work in many of our
; creameries today, is that they are not
; handling cream enough to work to ad-
vantage. In some sections the cream
gatherers from several creameries
travel over the same routes, thus add
ing unnecessary expense to the work.
In other sections they pass more farms
Where COWS are not kept than where
they are kept showing lack of con-
fidence in the business. AS these gaps
become filed, as this duplication of
cream gatherers is stopped, we shall
be able to secure a larger profit from
our creamery work and to place it
upon better basis.
l note with pleasure the increased
} interest in dairying which has led to
the formation of a State Dairy Asso-
! citation, made up of tine best and most
progressive farmers of our State, for
the purpose of working, as I under
stand it, along the lines named above.
1t should certainly be the object of the
Board. as it is my personal desire, TO
: cooperate with this Association by
every means in our power. l am quite
firm in my opinion. however, that 1t
would be detriment to this important
industry to have any division of inter-
; ests. 1t seems to me that the Board
of Agriculture is the proper institution
to have general supervision. of the
work, and that all money Appropriated
by the State for work in ehs direction
should be paid out under the direct
} supervision of an official of the State.
l base my opinion somewhat upon OBJ
servation and information which /
have been able to obtain of the re-
: suits of these divided interests in other
states.
STATE DAIRY CONFERENCE.
| The matter of a possible interstate
: dairy conference for 1898 was dis
cussed at some length by the members
of this Board and others at the Dairy
l Meeting held in Bangor in 1897, and
the idea of holding such a meeting.
} where butter from the various New
England States should appear without
l distinguishing marks and be scored at
} the same time and place by the same
, expert, was first set in motion there.
! At the last annual meeting of the
: Board as will be remembered by the
members who We're present. the matter
was more fully discussed and finally
left in the hands of the secretary and
l executive committee. After consulta-
+ ton with the secretaries of the various
New England Boards it became evil
s dent that an interstate meeting in the
8 strict sense of the term would not be
? practicable at this time. and it was fin
0 ally decided that it would be feasible
3 to invite dairymen from the other New
0 England States to participate with us
5 in our exhibition. A rule was estab-
1 lshed that all butter to be scored
Z should appear in uniform ten pound
I tubs without distinguishing mark or
4 label, and that each exhibitor should
! contribute his tub of butter as a fund
r to be distributed in the pro rata prizes.
t Exhibitors from nearly all of the
a states responded quite literally to this
= invitation. and it resulted in a very
}. large exhibition of butter. 1t was a
: matter of some regret that the cream
e cries of our own State did not respond
t more literally, but our daiIymen came
e out in good numbers In this exhibit
T there were q tubs from Maine. IA from
S New Hampshire, 20 from Vermont and
n five from Massachusetts. The highest
!, score for creamery butter Went to
: Deerfoot Farm at SouthbOro Mass.
o and was for butter made from pasteur-
e lied cream. The highest score for
g dairy butter went to Mr.. A. J. Abbott
: of North Paris, in this State. The
n highest creamery score was 9iR. The
highest dairy score was 1864. 1t may be
well to add that the butter was scored
entirely by numbers, without being
n divided into creamery and dairy
r classes. so that at no time could the
= Judge tell whether the tub of butter
It he was at work upon came from pri-
d waite dairy or from creamery. The
Y result of this meeting appeared to be
# such as to warrant continuance OF
It the same method. A new departure
It was made in this conference by the
# addition of a department for dressed
s poultry, eggs and general poultry sup
!. plies While this exhibit was not
d large it was of superb character
Y and attracted that degree of inters'
which would appear to warrant its
It continuance in future meetings.
h HEALTHFULNESS.
e 1t is gratifying to note that the
e healthfulness of our Maine herds has
n been fully maintained during the veal
e just past. This question is largely be-
s coming an economical one, and along
e this line the farmer should be ever
s. alive to his own best interests. NJ
is herd can be a valuable or profitable
g one unless it is maintained in condi-
Vt ton of health; and no herd can re-
lie main healthful unless the proper pre-
= cautions are taken to maintain goo(
n sanitary conditions around Them
II would call the attention of the Boar6
1t to the admirable lecture delivered a.
d our State Dairy Conference by DR.
v Theobald Smith on SANITARY Aspects
J. of Dairying." DR.. Smith is the ac
j. knowledged authority of America or
ir these matters, and his remarks have
1t great weight with scientific men of al
J. classes. 1t is very gratifying to me