The independent-reporter., 1909-12-09

~
iahlish the community be- wbieh II II
organized - 3 center lof the distffbu
hon Of the particular lrred " repre-
sents. then II mnst htsi establish
favorable reputation To- animals that
are uniform In sixe. conformation aud
quality IL must also have lAtFe
number from which prospective pnf-
ehasers may select
IL is the hope of the association
that through frequent meetings and
The stock Judging such ideals may be-
erected In the minds oi the owners
~ Will cause them To think and act
more nearly alike. II this IN accom-
plished then they will breed alike,
and the animals owned Will resemble
each other in the qualities before
named.
With ell of these things accom-
plished We believe that together with
the saving in travelling and shipping
expense they will prove great at
traction TO prospective buyers.
~. Economy of Association Work
there are several different ways In
which the members may effect econ
omy I'm carrying on their work with
the aid of the breeders association.
They may be able to buy and sell
animals comparatively. Wherever this
plan has been tried 1t has proven sat
isfactory and has resulted in consid-
erable saving. The using and eX-
changing OF males Is also an econom-
lcal practice In association work. The
matter of advertising in agricultural
and breeders papers can also be done
through the association much more
economically.
The secretary should be kept in
formed by the different members as
TO the exact number of animals of
different ages and sexes owned by
them. He should also be furnished
with list of animals for sale, to-
gether with their qualities, pedigree
and price, so that upon receipt of in
quiries from prospective purchasers
this information may be furnished to
them.
1t can readily be seen that the sec
retary of a breeders association is
its most important official so far as
concerns the success or failure of the
association work. 1t is his duty to
keep in close touch with the affairs
of the members so that he may fur
nish satisfactory information to in
quiries addressed to him. In order
to facilitate his work the Department
has prepared certain blanks, which
are herewith made part of this pa
per, calling for reports from the
members to be made to him at fire.
quent intervals.
V. Assistance Rendered by the De-
partment of Agriculture.-After a
very careful investigation into the
work of breeders associations in the
state Of Wisconsin, and believing that
if the same plan of work was to be
adopted in this state equally good re-
suits would be obtained, the Dept
of Agriculture has offered to assist
the farmers of the state in the or
ganizaton of such associations and
to assist them in so far as may appear
practical or desirable in their direc-
ton. 1t has offered to supply all of
the necessary record blanks, with the
distinct understanding that a copy of
such blanks as the Department may
desire shall be furnished to it. 1t has
also offered to send a representative
to each one of the meetings held by
the associations to deliver an address
on such subject as the association
may have selected. The Commission
er of Agriculture has also kindly Of
fered to publish the yearly report of
the associations In the annual report
of the Department of Agriculture.
Thus far five associations have been
organized in Maine. l, Sebasticook
Valley Holstein Breeders Associa-
ton, at Corinna. which includes in its
territory the western part Of Penob-
scot and the eastern part of Somer-
set counties. 2, Oxford County Hol-
stein Breeders Association, including
Oxford county. 3. Androscoggin Val
ley Breeders Association. including
the towns in the valley of the Andros-
coggin river 4. oxford and Cumber-
land counties Jersey Breeders Asso-
citation, including oxford and Cum
berland counties. 5, Androscoggin
County Holstein Breeders Associa
ton, including the towns in Andros-
coggin county.
Among the members in these differ
ent associations will be found the
leading farmers and breeders of their
respective counties. The interest thus
far has constantly increased and it
seems that before very long breeders
associations of other kinds of domes
tic animals will be called for At
the present time there is interest in
a sheep breeders association in Som
erset county and a draft horse breed
ers' association in Aroostook county.
The Dairy Division of the Department
of Agriculture feels that its efforts
should not be limited to encouraging
the organization of associations for the
Improvement of dairy stock alone, but
that its work should be extended to
the breeders of all kinds of domestic
animals. When the Department took
up this work 1t was not with the idea
of giving material assistance to the
breeders of pure bred cattle, but rath-
er that a general Improvement might
come among the grade cattle of the
state. 1t can, however. be readily
seen that such an improvement
among the grade cattle could not OBJ
tain except there also came increased
interest among the breeders of pure
bred stock.
The writer of this paper had the
opportunity, two years ago, to visit
some sections of the state of Wiscon-
sin in which cooperative breeders
associations had been in successful
operation several years. They were
organized in that state under the
leadership of Prof. w. A. Henry, then
Dean of the Wisconsin Agricultural
college. And wherever such associa-
tions have been organized in that
at q To there has come an increased in