The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-08-11
WITH The FARMER.
Reports from Dairy AS
ISOLATION of Maine
Interesting and Instructive Sessions
at Harmony and Dexter

the home of w. S. Bemis, Harmony,
Aug. 8. Owing to the absence of Pres
ident Bemis the meeting was called to
order by Vice President G. D. Ma
COON.
The forenoon session was devoted
entirely to business meeting.
In the afternoon A. S. Cook of the
department of Agriculture, was call
ed upon for talk upon "Adultera-
ton of Feeding Stuffs.' Mr.. Cook
discussed the inspection work of
feeding stuffs as it is carried on in
the state of New York. The number
of licenses for the sale of compound
feeding stuffs issued in New York in
1903 was ISL; in 1904, 1874; in 1908,
1872; in 1909, 1856.
These figures show a marked in
crease in the number of feeding stuffs
put upon the market each year. Two
hundred and twenty of the 3S5 feeds
licensed in 1909 were compounded
feeds. 1t was found upon chemical
analysis and by microscopic eXamin
alton that nearly all of these com
pounded feeds contain some adultera
ton. Some of the by-products used
hulls, oat glumes, buckwheat hulls,
peanut hulls and ground corn cobs.
When one of these mixed feeds is
found to contain as low as 8 per
cent protein and as high as 10 per
cent crude fibre it is conclusive evil
dence that the feed is adulterated.
1t would be impossible to compound
a feed containing as high as 10 per
cent crude fibre with pure grains. 1t
is also possible to adulterate these
feeds and at the same time maintain
a low percentage of crude fibre. Many
of these feeds are mis-branded in a
way calculated to deceive the EUr-
chaser. For instance, in wheat
offals one feed named "A1 White
Middlings," was found to contain
WH6dI-DIdl, Dlluu1iuSS dlll VII AObo'
STANDARD A Bran" was found to
contain wheat bran and corn cobs,
and STANDARD A middlngs" wheat
bran finely ground, corn, corn cobs
and weed seeds. In the average com
position of these three brans one ton
would contain 500 pounds ground
corn cobs. Many of the alfalfa feeds
whose names seem to imply that the
feed contains ground grain are found
to contain nothing but alfalfa and in
some cases molasses and salt.
1t is necessary to obtain a license
at the cost of $25 before any of these
feeds can be put on the market in the
state of New York. The fact that an
apparent mixture of cereal formed
grains is licensed and sold under
guarantee is presumptiVe evidence
that the mixture is not made wholly
from entire cereal grains for feeding
stuffs. The law clearly specifies
that concentrated commercial feed
ing stuffs which must be licensed
Shall not include hays, straws,
whole seeds or unmixed meal made
directly from the entire grains,
wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, buck
wheat and broom corn" Neither shall
it include pure grains ground togeth-
err" 1t is not to be supposed that
miller would pay a license of $25
when it is not necessary.
The lecture was followed by Wig
orous discussion.
The questions of THE Care and
Management of Our Dairy Animals"
was opened by G. d. Magoon. Mr..
Cook was called upon and talked a
few minutes upon the subject. A
general discussion followed in which
all of the members present took part.
The attendance was %.
The program for the next meeting,
in the forenoon, discussion of "Po-
tato Culture."A representative of the
University of Maine is expected to
give a demonstration on Home Mix
ing of Fertilizers" in the afternoon.
Owing to the absence of President
Katen. the meeting of the West Pc
nobscot Dairy Testing Association,
which was held at Dexter, Aug. 6. was
called to order by Secretary Knowles.
The subject of buying set of vet
Urinary Instruments to be used by the
tester among the herds of the asso-
citation, was brought up by p. j.
Fuller. After a discussion of the
matter, it was voted that the asso-
citation purchase these instruments.
Prof. G. e. Simmons of the Uni
versity of Maine gave a very inter
esting lecture on Fall Work" He
discussed the harvesting of the hay
crop, laying stress upon the import
ance Of cutting the hay before it was
matured. He also spoke upon the
time of cutting ensilage and the best
type of ensilage corn to raise. En-
silage corn that Is nearly mature, when
put into the silo, furnishes much
more nutritive elements than that
which Is immature. The harvesting
OF potatoes was taken up by Prof
Simmons, who advised the farmers
not to dig their potatoes too early.
Last year many of the potatoes in
the State of Maine were dug before
they had matured. AS a result of
this many decayed, and besides prov
ing a detriment to the market those
used for seed will not produce as
strong potatoes. The subject of fall
blowing and seed selection were also
discussed, and Prof. Simmons called
tho attantinn Of tho farmera pracopt