Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-27
Leon S. Merrill.

Leon s. Merrill.
This was followed by an address by
Hon. L. S. Merrill, State dairy instruc-
tor, upon 1.-The Live Stock and Dairy
Interests of Maine, which was atten-
interest. Mr. Merrill proved himself
tc be not only a speaker of eloquence
but also thoroughly familiar with the
subject with which he was dealing.
Mr.. Merrill said in part:
Our dairymen have had some dis
couraging things to contend with and
while some people seem disposed to
magnify these conditions many Other $
of our leading agricultualsts are TAX
ing a very hopeful view of the situa-
ton. 1t is true that feed stuffs have
been and are, exceptionally high and
the problem of suitable farm help an
especially aggravating and difficult one
to solve, yet such remarkable progress
has been made in some other states
where somewhat similar conditions ap-
pear to exist, there remains in my
mind no doubt of the ability of our
Maine dairymen to make equally good
progress.
THAT the cows owned in Maine
compare favorably with those of
neighboring states we feel assured
for the census report for 1900 credits
the Maine COW with producing as
much milk as the COW of any other
state and yet we feel they are not as
good producers as we ought to have
and as we hope to have in the near
future.
The equipment owned by our dairy
men and the methods adopted are be-
ing constantly improved. You may
say, it is easy to make such 4 state
ment but l have done 50 from the eX-
periences of the past 10 years.
at is a cause for regret that there
has been even a slight decrease in the
number of cows owned in the State
during the past three years, but when
we compare with 10 years ago we find
there has been an increase of more
than $1,000. The number owned in 1907
as reported by the State Board of AS
SCISSORS is $50, 1893. The decrease OF about
5000 in three years has undoubtedly
been caused in large measure by the
difficulty experienced in securing COM
potent assistants for carrying on dairy
work.
mo protective tariff has ever con-
served more surely the home markets
to manufacturers, than does the con-
centrdtion of population and the nat
ural geographic location of New Eng
land preserve the home markets to the
home producers of milk and cream.
'Widely differing from the manu-
facture and marketing of butter is the
production and sale of milk and cream.
Butter is transported for long dis
tances under circumstances that make
it possible to be placed before the con-
sumer in a satisfactory condition, and
today a large part Of the butter con-
sumed in Maine comes from other sec
lions of our country
year after year has this business
been cared for and developed by our
one company alone is shipping three
cars of cream daily to out of the State
markets. Several cars of market milk
are being shipped out of the State
daily ana this quantity is constantly
growing larger. These markets are To-
Gated in New Hampshire. Rhode Island
and Massachusetts, principally in the
latter state.
Some of our creameries have Sc
cured valuable markets for print but
ter but my understanding of the stu
alton leads me to believe that but
comparatively few years will elapse
before the dairymen of New England
will be taxed to their utmost to supply
the local New England demand for
milk and crCaln. in which upon other
sections of our country to supply them
with the necessary butter for irmedi-
ate consumption. 1 believe this situa-
ton will surely come to pass unless
practical means are adopted to en-
courage and promote the dairy indus
try, enabling it 20 KEEP pace with the
rapidly increasing demand.
Milk we consider. then, the avail
able and suitable farm lands for dairy
purposes, selling far below their real
value and the unequalled markets for
tho products, we will readily under
stand the necessity for solving our
dairy problems, the necessity for con-
serving the opportunities open to the
State along this line of agriculture.
These statements being true, then
there must exist certain special needs
and certain methods and practices for
supplying those needs.
First and foremost, l feel there ex-
lists the need of instruction. practical
ami concrete, until our dairymen have
become specialists in that industry.
THE Dairymen's Associations in some
states. being literally supported by state
aid, are doing splendid work. In Wis
consin two experts are kept on the roat
all of the time working among the farm
ers, helping to solve them. During the
past year one of these men has been or
ganizing Cow Test organizations. In On
tario wonderful progress is being made
under the active and intelligent leader
ship Of the agricultural department.