Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-09
Plans for Work of the State
Dairy Commission.
Rules Made by Dairymen's Associa'
ton and Commissioner Gilman.
A Movement Which Means Much to
Maine Farmers.

question. Commissioner Gilman. after
lengthy correspondence with the
leaders in the great dairy states east
and west, selected an intelligent son of
Maine as dairy instructor, one who on
the farm had for years been a pro-
ducer for the factory and later for
several years a successful manager of
factory, thus combining by expert
ence good knowledge of the needs of
both parties.
Inc outcome of Mr.. Thompson's
efforts the first year fully confirm
the most ardent claims of friends of
the movement. Acting under the law
he mas secured the earnest and hearty
co-operatlon or the creamery managers
OF the state in the establishment of
uniform rules governing the receiving
OF cream. the result being an immediate
tonlng up of the supply and better
price paid the individual farmers, the
increase reaching many thousands of
dollars while the expense to the State
has been nominal. This is but one
feature of his work but this of itself
fully warranted the outlay and iustifies
the action by the last legislature. In
addition. assistance has been rendered
all over the State in the use of the
Babcock test. adding materially to the
saving by helping to better conditions
| in the care of the milk and dreaming
of the same. In all this work the
State Dairy association officers have
been the directing influence the COM
missioner following their suggestions
and wishes.
Wishing to perfect himself for the
work, Mr. Thompson in September laid
aside his duties and at his own expense
spent the winter under the best
instructors and at the largest dairy
school in the country coming back the
| last of February fully equipped to take
up the work and serve the State and
dairymen in the most thorough manner,
the State receiving the full benefit Of
his course under Prof. Henry. At a
joiEt meeting of the officers of the
state Dairy association and Commits
sioner Gilman III this city the following
| rules regulating the work of the dairy
| instructor have been formulated and
will govern the coming year:
| Rule /. He shall take I'D the worI;
systematically by counties, and one
county shall be completed before an
other is commenced, and requests
| from other counties for his attendance
at any special meeting. must be made
TO the Commissioner of Agriculture
who may or may not grant it accord
| ing to his judgment. The amount of
| time spent in eali, county will Be
| governed by the amount of dairying
done. and the desire of the dairyman
as shown, by their cooperation with
the instructor for better methods and
practices in dairy work. He shall
make monthly reports Of all conditions
coming under his observation to the
| Commissioner of Agriculture who will
attend to the publication of the same
| Rule ?. He shall visit every cream
cry and cheese factory in the county.
ana will be ready to give any and all
| Information he may possess for the aid
| and advancement of the industry in
the state. 1t shall be his duty to CO.
| operate with the creamery managers
| for better methods. both as regards
| better products and cheaper produce
| ton. thus giving better returns to the
| producer. He shall take note of TIL.
condition of the factory. the machin-
cry, and the product, also the sanitary
condition of every plant. and gather
all statistics possible concerning the
industry. 1t shall be his duty to as
| certain if the testing for the dairymen
is correctly done ut the factory, and it
is hoped that all factories will assist
in establishing more confidence in the
Rabcock test, by inviting patrons to
come in and have the Instructor do
the testing at the factory in the pres
encc of both buyer and seller. As the
testing is ut present the greatest point
of contention it is hoped that every
| factory will accept the good offices oe
the state in this matter. and try to
have all see that the test is accurate
or can be made So
Rule 3. He shall visit some patrons
of each factory to ascertain the amount
of profit per COW in different localities.
He shall also assist such patrons as are
having difficulty in sending their prod
uct in such condition as is required by
the factories. He shall demonstrat
the use of the Babcock test, and
wherever possible explain to patrons
or others the reasons for variations in
the test and show that the work of the
test may be relied on. He shall take
note of the conditions of the stable.
the cows and surroundings where milk
is kept, and ne shall be ready to render
all the assistance in his power to i'm
prove methods where lacking and
strive to bring the dairy practices to 4
higher standard.
Rule 4. Those dairymen who ar,
manufacturing their product on the
farm it shall be his special duy to as
sist in producing a more uniform prod.
uct. and one that will command =
higher price generally on the market.
The care of the milk. Swimming. ripen-
ing of the cream. churning and working
of the butter. showing losses of fat j.,
skim milk and buttermilk, shall re-
| ceive his special attention.
| Rule 5. All dairymen. whether fac.
| tory patrons or not. who are findir.
| difficulties i'm their work. of whatever
kind. should notify the Commissioner
| of Agriculture at Augusta or, the In
structor at Winterport. so that whar
work is being done in their county thav
will be sure to receive attention.
Rule 6. He shall assist. wbenever
| possible, those dairymen who deliver
, milk ir cities or towns or are shinnin.