Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-12-27

THE MAGNITUDE AND IMPORTANCE o,
THE INDUSTRY.

(Response to address of welcome delivered by
A. W. Gilman at State Dairymen's meetin.,
at Auburn, Dec. IA
1t is very pleasing to us, as members
of this Association, to receive this very
cordial and generous welcome that you
have extended to us. The dairymen
from nearly every section of this broad
state of ours have accepted your kind
invitation and have gathered themselves
together in this beautiful city of Auburn
to hold their annual conference and dis
play their dairy products for your in
spection. 1t is eminently fitting that
the deliberations of this conference
should have the benefits of the city peo-
pie as we'll as the rural. The dairymen
are the producers of this great exhi-
bition; the consumers embrace the en-
tire population. Every one is interested
in good butter, good butter interests
both the maker and the consumer. 1t
interests the maker because it brings
the highest price; it interests the con-
sumner because it is pleasing to his taste.
At the request of the dairymen, the
legislature of 1908 in its wisdom made
an appropriation for and appointed a
State Dairy Instructor whose duty it
should be to familiarize himself with the
dairy industry and give instruction in
all of its various branches. He assisted
in the organization of the Creamerymen's
Association, and the cooperation with
their patrons. Since then they have
produced more uniform product and of n
higher order. Dairying is on the in
crease. We are producing nearly eight
per cent more cream this year than last
and last year more than the former.
The Dairy Instructor has done much
toward encouraging, Increasing and pro-
tecting this industry. He has been
largely instrumental in bringing about
a better state of feeling between the
creamery men and their patrons. Un-
der his instruction the dairy standard is
being elevated. This is the leading de.
partment of agriculture and is the one
that will and is doing more than any
other of the departments toward i'm
proving our farms. Iwonder how many
of this audience appreciate its magni-
tude, the amount OF capital invested,
and the volume of business that it is do
ing. The dairy products of Maine are
more than SS,000,000 annually. The
cream factory in this city has paid it's
patrons some months the great sum OF
800, 900. Maine controls the great cream
trade of the East. Her reputation is
established. Mr.. President, we must
see to it that our farmers do more than
simply maintain it's excellency. The
world is moving. The standards of ex-
cellence are advancing. If We hold this
best market, we must advance, we must
increase our product as the consumption
increases. We could double the cow
population with greater profit to the in
dividual cow than we are now receiving.
Only about 80 per cent of our farmers
make dairying their speciality and their
herds generally embrace only about 80
per cent as much as the dairy herds of
Vermont. This industry must be fos-
tered, encouraged, and developed by a
better system of education.
1t can no longer be denied but what
Maine is an agricultural state, and If we
keep pace with our sister states in agri-
culture we must maintain as high sys-
tenn of agricultural education as they
have. Wisconsin's dairy products are
only three times as large as ours, and
vet it has six dairy instructors besides
the assistant commissioner, who is de-
voting his time largely to the work.
Maine is destined to be the great agri-
cultural section of the East, and will de-
velop in the same ratio as she advances
in education. knowledge is power.
There never was day when more at
tention was given toward developing
agriculture all over this broad land.
The President in his message that he
has Just delivered to the 5Sth Congress
treated it at great length. The Massa-
chusettS winter meeting of their Board
of agriculture discussed agricultural
education with new zeal. The officers
of the Maine State Dairymen's Associa-
tion in arranging this programme assign
ed to Prof. Hurd of the University,
agricultural Education In the Primary
Schools" Our superintendent OF pub
I lie schools in recent conversation with
me said. that the leading object of his
| recent Southern and Western trip was
Y to familiarize himself with the workings
of those public schools which are giving
instruction in agriculture. The spirit of
agricultural education is in the air.
We trust that those who have charge OF
the educational department at no dis
| tant day will establish complete and
thorough system of agricultural edu.
cation from the public primary school
tn rho UTpiyarSitv of Maine-