Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-01-31


amount and quality OF our products. II
It were possible to establish some central
shipping point or trade center for our
various products, where they might be
collected and where the attention OF the
buyer could be called to them to good
advantage, | am very sure it would
prove q very valuable factor In their
sale. IL 10 possible, also that there may
be new lines along which We can reach
the markets, either with our products
put up In uniform and attractive styles
and under central supervision, or BY
the creation of some new form which
will command attention Ia and OF itself.
OUR DAIRY ISTEREsTs.
There has been Q marked Increase 10
the attention which the farmers Of our
State have given this important Indus
try during the past year. Ii is but sell
dom that sn institute is arranged with
out request from some party who is
interested. that the matter OF dairyiug
shall form an important part OF the
programme. We have not called any
speakers from outside OF the State to
speak directly upon this topic, except at
the Dairy Meeting. But our local
speakers have treated the matter at some
length in nearly every one OF the IL In
stitutes held. believe that there is
still work that should be done along
this line. am aware OF the necessity
for laying much stress upon the i'm
provement Of the quality OF our dairy
goods. believe that IN active campaign
Of education Is necessary, but II should
include the creamery men OF the State as
well ~ the farmers. II Is OF the greatest
important to this industry that all
hygienic conditions are observed, not
alone In the handling Of the animals but
In the handling OF Nir product all the
way from the farm TO the consumers
table. believe IL would be very great
step In advance II the creamery men in
our State would unite In demanding that
all cream purchased by them should
come into their possession perfectly
sweet, to the end that IL may be ripened
uniformly, and thereby materially raise
the average quality OF their output. l
am firm In my opinion that oil OF the
more intelligent and progressive OF our
farmers would gladly conform 10 such
rules, aud know II would tend to re
move so element Of unfair competition
which they will be obliged to suffer from
careless aud Indifferent men as long ss
the present loose methods continue.
I also believe that continued effort Ia
necessary 10 Increase the output OF our
dSiries; because, before any community
or state can become known as producer
of any article IL IL necessary that enough
of that article shall be 10 sight at one
time 10 command the attention OF the
market. Ii IL an undisputed fact that
there are but very few months 10 the
year when Maine Is not an importer of
butter. As long rs this fact remains,
we cannot hope TO cut much OF figure
In the market centers OF New England,
but must expect that our butter VIII oe-
cupy an unsatisfactory position In these
markets.
II Ia also true that our COW popula-
ton Is no, dense enough to allow OF the
most economical production OF dairy
goods. The greatest drawback ia
economical work in many OF our cream
cries to-day, is that they are not hand.
ling cream enough TO work 10 advantage.
In some sections the cream gatherers
from several creameries travel over the
same routes, thus adding unnecessary
EXPENSE TO the work. In other sections
they pass more farms where cows are
not kept than where they are Kept,
showing a lack OF confidence In the
business. As these gaps become filled,
as this duplication OF cream gsthercrs II
stopped, We shall be able to secure a
larger profit from our creamery WORK
and to place II upon better basis.
/ note with pleasure the increased
interest Ia dsirying which has led to the
formation Of State Dairy Association,
made ND OF the best and most progressive
farmers OF our State, for the purpose OF
working. as understand IL, along the
lines named above. IL should certainly
be the object Of the Board, as II is NV
personal desire, TO cooperate with this
Association by every means In our
power. Ism quite firm In my opinion
however. that IL would be detriment 70
this Important industry 10 have any
division of interests. IL seems TO me
that The Board OF Agriculture IL the
proper institution 10 have general super
vision Of the work, and that all money
appropriated by the State for work In
this direction should be paid out under
the direct supervision OF an official Of
the State. | base my opinion somewhat
upon observation and Information whicf
I have been able to obtain OF the results
| of these divided interests In other states
STATE DAIRY CONFERENCE.
The matter Of possible Interstate
dairy conference for 1898 was discussed
At some length By the members OF thi'
Board and others st the Dairy Meeting
held In Bangor In 1897, and the Idea o
holding such meeting where outte'
from the various New England States
should appear without distinguishing
marks and be scored at the same time
and place by the same expert, WAS frs
set In motion there. At the last annual
meeting of the Board, as will be remem
bered by the members who were present
the matter Was fully discussed and husl
| ly left in the hsnds of the secretary ant
executive committee. After consultation
with the secretaries Of the various New
England Boards it became evident ths
an Interstate meeting in the strict sense
of the term would not be practicable a
this time, and IL was finally decided tha
II would be feasible TO invite dairymei
from the other New England States u
participate with US in our exhibition. A
rule was established that all butter to b.
scored should appear 10 uniform tel
pound tubs without distinguishing mari
or label, and that each exhibitor sboult
contribute his tub Of butter as fund 4
no distributed in the pro rata prizes