Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-19
Dairy Instructors Report.

Dairy instructors Report.
The annual report of Leon S. Merrill
o: So!on state dairy instructor which
was filed with the governor and coun-
eli Thursday says in part
1T is with pleasure that the dairy in
structor can report the organization of
two new dairy testing associations dur
ING the past year and that the ones al
ready organized are still continuing to
do splendid service for the members
and the communities in which they are
located The members are manfesting
great interest in associated effort and
we have evidence that they have prof.
ted very largely from it, Many of the
unDroita bic cows have been sold and
those put in their places are returning
to the owner reasonab BILE profit. The
results coming from the cow test aSSo-
Citations are only beginning to be felt,
and so most certainly cannot be fully
estimated and only time will bring to
us the fun realization of their value to
the dairy interests of the State. The
official testers employed by the differ
ent associations have been without
doubt important factors in making the
work popular and profitable to the
mem bers
'One phase of cooperative action on
the part of the associations that should
be mentioned in this report is the CO
operative purchasing of feed stuffs.
fertilizers and Arass seed Without
question any association which will 60
operative fully along these lines can
effect a saving in price amounting to
seVrra! times the total cost of main
tanning the association each year.
II am keeping a cneck system which
calls for "A monthly report of each COW
in each association. Various alttra e
tons have been made in the dairy test
ing association record blanks; new
blanks have been devised for Varions
reports on ,he different lines of work.
The division is prepared to furnish
record blanks to farmers who desire
to weight the milk from their COWS
daily. These blanks may be had upon
application and agreement to send in "A
report at the end of the year OF the
monthIy totals Of the milk given by
each COW, | have regularly sent notices
and reports of meetings to the agricul-
tural newspapers. TIL" correspondence
has been considerable. | plan to spend
only such time in the office as seems
advisable in order to keep the field
work in the best condition.
"The future for dairyins in Maine
seems bright. The dry weather the
past two seasons has caused shortage
of roughage and many COWS have been
sold. However, better COWS are being
raised ard the farmers are giving
more thought To the summer silo and
green feeds to supplement the pasture,
as well as to raising extra roughage,
like rllllet and oats and peas, to cure
for winter feeding.
THE monthly meetings are of great
assistance in the exchange of ideas
along all lines of farming, and this
serves to keep the community posted
on the efficiency of methods used.
1T has been somewhat difficult to
find desirable men for testers. Young
men Of character, some ability and
practical experience. who nave had
some scnooi training in agriculture,
will find positions as testers quite at
tractive True the wages are small,
NO: more than thirty dollars month
and board in any association. but the
experience will tit man for positions
which he could not fill with school
training alone. If an ambitious young
man wants to go into dairy work Tor
himself he can find no better school to
prepare him for his work. There are
quite a number of calls for men VINO
have had experience as testers 10 take
positions as herdsmen and farm super
intendcnts, at satisfactory wages.
"The prospects for trained men in
agriculture are exceptionally good, and
I would encourage the young men es-
pecially to take advantage OF the
courses offered at the University Of
Maine The short winter course III
dairying is of far greater value than
most farmers realize. The two years
and four years courses in general ag'
riculture and domestic science VIII give
Young men and women a training
which. applied to the farm, is of prac-
teal value.
1.-THE dairvmen of the state are
cordially welcoming the breeders as
sociation and the dairy testing asso-
Citations, and are cooperating for the
advancement of Maine agriculture.
Already men Of several communities
have asked the dairy division to in
vestigate their locality with view
TO organizing breeders or a test
ing association. Calls already received
for lectures or demonstrations indicate
a large number of such meetings for
the coming year. Interest manifested
in raising swine indicates that 1t may
no desirable to do some special work
encouraging hog raising. with an IN
vastigation of breeds, care and man.
agement.
anyone desiring assistance IN DAIRY
testing association or breeders asso-
citation work should communicate WIN
the dairy division. which VIII giaoiy
reunond to all requests Tor IectufeS