Middletown transcript., 1915-07-24
ASSISTING DkIRYMEN

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NEWARK, Del July 10. Every effort
is to be made by the agricultural de-
partment of Delaware College to assist
the dairymen of the state to increase
the milk production per cow and there
by make the business more profitable.
Hugh Fergus, formerly connected with
the Dairy Division of the United States
Department of Agriculture, has been
secured to carry out this line of work.
1t is really a cooperative plan between
the government and Delaware College
to assist the dairymen and the salary OF
Mr.. Fergus will come from three |
sources, the government, the college
and men in Philadelphia and Delaware
who are interested in dairy develop |
ment in Delaware. Mr. Fergus start |
ed his work last week when he spent |
some days looking over conditions in |
Kent and Sussex counties. He will
make his headquarters in Middletown,
that being centrally located for the
dairy business.
Mr.. Fergus spent several days last
week in Kent and Sussex county look
ing over conditions there. 1t is pointed
out that for a number of years the !,
farmers of Delaware have grown more
and more dissatisfied with their results
in dairying as business. The increas-
ed costs of labor, feeds, transportation
ETC., has helped to bring about this dis
satisfaction and at this time there are
many dairymen who doubt under exist
ing conditions dairy herd can be made
profitable. Mr.. Fergus, as well as offi-
cials of the agricultural department of
Delaware College contend that it can
be made profitable largely by improv
/ ing the stock and the conditions that
now exist on many dairy farms.
Mr. Fergus will be in the state all
the time in the future and will be avail
able for dairymen to consult at all
times on any subject connected with
the business. One of his first moves
will be to form a Cow Testing Associa-
tion in New Castle county, which have
been a wonderful succsss in many other
states. he also hopes TO form bull as
sociations, the purpose being for four
or five farmer to join in securing a
pure bred bull to improve their herds.
MIR. Fergus will also be glad to give
his advice relative to the building of
of dairy houses, silos, etc, and will be
at the call of all who want him for such
purpose. He will assist in selecting
stock, when requested and from time
to time will put out bulletins covering
lines of work of interest to dsirymen.
Milk sheets will he furnished any far
mer who wants to keep record of the
daily production of his herd.
The most important of the plans that
are being mapped out by Mr.. Fergus
to improve the dairy herd of Delaware
is the forming of COW testing associa-
tions. He will assist the associations
in securing competent testers and in
fact in every way possible. 1t is figur-
ed that an assessment Of 81. so per year
for each cow in the association will
cover the necessary expenses connected
with the work Some good reasons
given for cow-testing associations are
as follows:
1. The poorest cows are discovered
so that the owner may get rid of those
which do not pay profit over cost of
keeping.
2. The profitable cows are identified
so that good hiefers from such cows
may be raised to improve the herd.
8. Definite proof is furnished that
many cows considered to be the "best
producers of milk and butter fat are
actually the poorest.
a. Many cows considered only aver
, age are frequently found TO be the best
in the herd,
5. Many cows guessed at as being
"best" in the herd show short milk.
ing period and are Improbable.
g. Bigger returns are gotten from
fewer cows.
z. Surplus stock, either hcifers OF
bulls, are more valuable when from
> dams with known records.
8. A more wholesome appreciation
of good stock is encouraged.
\ 9. by cooperative effort dairyman
may obtain at small cost, information
that in most cases he would not take
{ the trouble to obtain for himself,
: For the neatest and best cleaning ol