Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-03-14
Babcock Silver jubilee,

When We contemplate the mighty in
fluence that the Babcock milk test has
had upon the fortunes of the dairy in
dustry, not only of the American nation
but the whole world, we realize how in
adequate are our powers Of comprehen-
sion to consider properly or express
what exists In the world OF fact. We
will never fully realize what dark
cloud the genius Of Dr.. Babcock under
took to penetrate. Not only were the
scientific difficulties in the problem of
tremendous size and weight to over
come, but there was really little II any
sympathy with bis purpose among the
farmers Of the state. he was surround
ed on every band by dsadening skepti-
cism that like fog enveloped every step
of the way.
We believe the Hoard cresmeries of
Fort Atkinson, Wis.,, owned BY A. R.
Hoard, were the first to undertake the
use OF the Babcock test In apportioning
dividends. This creamery had made
several thousand tests with what was
known AZ the Curtis Oil Test, striving to
obtain II possible some method OF deter
mination OF the butterfat content Of
milk which should prove equitable in
apportioning the dividends OF its pat
rons. We we'll remember the storm Of
opposition that arose among the farm
ers when Mr.. Hoard announced that
hereafter the Bsbcock test and the but
terfat basis should be used for that pur-
pose. For q time It almost threatened
to wreck the enterprise. Only those
patrons who had Jersey COWS were in
favor of It. -
Finally Mr.. Hoard divided bis patrons
into two classes. The milk from the
Jersey COWS was put into q separate vat,
the milk tested, separated, and the
cream churned by itself and the butter
sold In like manner. Those who brought
milk from scrub and general-purp0se
cows with low percentage Of butterfat
were set of by themselves In like man.
ner and their products sent to market
By themselves. There was difference
In the price that the butter brought, and
the owners of the cows we're forced 10
this way to see by comparison tho differ
ence In the butterfat content. It was
not long before the producers of milk
low In butterfat were willing to come
under the yoke of the Babcock test.
We mention this to show how the
creamery proprietors In those days, %
years ago, we're obliged to. resort to all
sorts of shifts and schemes to convince
the farmers of the square Justice of tho
Babcock test. As an illustration OF the
diversity OF Misunderstanding which
prevailed among many farmers, We
quote the remark OF farmer OF this
township: II don't know nothing about
your butterfat," he said, "what ! want
Ii my share Of the butter my COWS give"
It was hard to get such men to see
that "butter', a. they knew 1t did not
exist In milk, That 1t was the collect
product of butterfat, water, salt, casein,
and ash and that the COW had nothing to
do with the making of butter.
Nothing ever cleared the minds OF
men OF mists and fogs concerning COWS,
and their relations to the man behind
the COW, the effect of right breeding,
right care and right feeding, a. has done
the Babcock test. Il Was fitting that
the thoughts of men should have been
brought together to commemorate the
great and illustrious service DR.. Bah
cock has rendered mankind. Never has
the sordid thought entered his mind,
"What 10 there in It for mef" He has
been true missionary Of science, giving
the best there Was In him OF true genius
and the highest constructive effort for
tho benefit OF mankind. We arc glad be
lives to see this hour.-Hoard's Dairy.
man.