Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-05-04
Marketing Dairy Products,
"a. W. Abbott, Augusta. Breeder Of Purebred
Guernsey Cattle)


Guernsey Catte)
1 believe preparation for market be.
gins right at the cows side, with me
care and cleanliness are most important.
The entire herd is carefully groomed and
the udder of each COW washed with warm
water. From the milk pail, of the two
thirds cover and one-third open type, the
milk is strained into flve-gallon can, al
ways kept covered. The practice of
pouring milk into an open receiving pail
is very unsanitary, especially in warm
weather.
The dairy should be light, airy and
very neat A room or building apart
from both house and barn, or a separate
room in the house, should serve the pur-
pose. Scalding water in abundance is
the first necessity In the dairy, as clean
utensils are absolutely essential.
The containers should be uniform.
Cream should always be of the same per.
centsge of butterfst, and the butter al.
ways bear the same stamp. As soon as
the purchaser realizes that he can de-
pend on the article put up In that form,
great step toward making your market
has been accomplished.
Whether to sell to q creamery, q store
or direct to customers depends on your
location, the quantity Of your products
and your time. If you are located near Q
good market you can make your own
market, II you are willing to deliver the
goods. A special article for special
trade will, perhaps, net you ss much
profit as any other method, though at
times this kind of trade will make you
jump some.
II we are not satisfied with certain con.
ditions of our market, 1t will be we'll for
us to look first at our own methods and
find out II we are not to blame; If We are
not, then see wherein the market is at
fault and set about to remedy the fault.
It will be impossible to rearrange pro-
duction methods according to their true
value unless careful record of sales and
cost production is kept. After once
keeping such record, you will find 1t q
pleasure to check up your dairy business
each month and compare figures, which
will aot as great stimulator for the
months ahead.
We hear great deal about the middle
man. II the middleman between the
farmer and retailer or consumer IL q
prOfiteer, It Is In many cases our own
fault. We have actually invited him to
do business with Us. How many among
US sell our apple crops In the orchard or
on the trees, or our potatoes in the fieldsp
1t may seem best for our particular con-
ditions, but 1t serves to encourage the
commission man to bully others into sell.
ing cheaply. The profit which we might,
with work, have made goes to him. The
profit we might all enjoy, If We were
firmly organized, goes to him.
I am great believer In organization
and cooperation. No matter whether
you are large or q small dairymsn,
whether you have few or quantities of
products to sell, you will some time feel
the need of organization, to meet compe-
tition and realize fair profits.
Perhaps the New England Milk Pro-
ducers' Association has done a. much
for the dairymsn as any other organiza-
ton in helping him sell his products at
fair prices. It is through the efforts Of
this powerful association that dairy prod.
ucts to-day are sold at prices based on
cost Of production, plus reasonable
profit, and that is the kind of market
We oil want and must work for.