The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1900-03-15
Dairy Notes.


1t surprises western men to see how
little interest eastern farmers and
dairymen take in tho associations for
dairy advancement. Some of the old
states seem hardly to support any kind
of a dairy association. 1t was not very
many years ago that the New York
Da1rymen's association was almost a
minus quality. It's meetings were SO
SHINY attended that it could be con-
sldered in no sense representative OF
the dairy interests of the state. But
within the last three years there has
oeen quite an improvement in the at
tendance at the meetings of this asso-
citation. Recently a dairy convention
was held by the Pennsylvania Dairy
Union at which it is reported that tho
attendance was discouragingly light.
One would suppose that in the older
states the people would long since have
learned the lessons of the value of or
ganization.
The great dairy exhibit in Russia
may mean a good deal to dairy inter-
ests Of other countries. The Russian
government includes in it's purposes a
good deal of socialism, and may be
depended on to exert itself to greatly
encourage any infant industry. If it
takes hold Of dairying 1t Will give the
producers of dairy goods advantages
not only of transportation but of cold
storage and inspection. 1t is easy to
imagine that the Russian government,
by reason of it's absolute power, could
place Russian dairy products in such
a nigh place in the markets OF Eu-
rope that even Danish products would
be hardly able to compete. 1t is able
to make the inspection of all export
goods so close that a man finding Rus
sian butter on the London market
could say I'VE know this butter to
be pure and of good quality"
The apathy of the general farmer
on dairy matters is regrettable. 1t Is
manifested continually and in nearly
all parts of the country. Tie recent
dairy convention held at Mason City,
Iowa, devoted one whole day to the
discussion of topics relating to dairy
ing on the farm, yet the attendance by
local farmers was almost nothing. We
have seen the same thing illustrated in
the case of other associations. We
have seen dairy conventions held in
%populous farming communities and the
only attendance was that from abroad.
On the other hand the writer has at
tended conventions at which the whole
community turned out. We fear that
one reason why farmers do rot attend
these conventions is a misunderstood
ing as to the object of these conven-
lions. In every case the meeting should
be thoroughly advertised and the
farmers urged to attend. They should
be Impressed with the idea that the
dalrymen's association is not a sort
of trust.
1t now seems likely that the move
ment to secure the passage through
congress of a law increasing the tax ON
all oleomargarine to ten cents will be
abandoned. The sentiment throughout
the country was strongly against it,
and even many agriculturists and
dalrymen refused to uphold the move
ment. The putting of a tax of ten
cents per pound on colored oleomar-
garlne is a different thing, and this
Dill will be pushed, But before the
bill for the heavy taxing of colored
oleomargarine is put through, an at
tempt will be made to pass another bill
far-reaching in it's effects. This bill
will provide that as soon as any pack
age of food reaches one state from an
other it shall be subject to the police
powers of the state in which it is
found, irrespective of whether it is in
an original package or not. This will
set at naught the Original package"
decisions, which have so long proved
an obstacle in the. way of enforcing
the laws against adulterated and pro-
hibited food products. The friends Of
dairy progress will be glad at this
change in the plans of the National
Dairy Union, for it increases very
greatly the chances of success.