Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-08-10
Southern Maryland
Cooperative Creamery

The following article on the Southern
Mary land Creamery is a resume OF one
published few weeks ago
Back of Southern Maryland's en-
try into the creamery business is an
Interesting story. SO far as records
go, April IL, 1921, marks the date on
which the creamery emerged from a
hazy ambition to possible reality. On
that day j. N. Hamilton and J. b.
Jarboe, two Charles countymen, who
have shipped milk 70 Baltimore, drop
ped int the Office of County Agent j.
+ Burdette and discussed the POSSIBLE
ity of locating acreamery at Bel Alton.
Notice In the Charles county newspa-
pers and q meeting soon atterwa ard
spread interest in the project. Enthus-
iasm slipped over the border into Pr.
Georges county and found adherents
of the cause among the milk producers
of that section. Thereafter the cream
cry became project for all Southern
Maryland and an object of lively COM
petition so far as its location was
concerned.
Brandywine in Prince Georges coun-
ty put in q claim for the creamery be-
cause 1t was railroad junction and
had an established ice plant. La Plata
demanded consideration because il had
launched the movement. Waldorf, on
the other hand, as the junction Of the
railroad and the state roads, presented
q particularly strong case and won
out when the vote was finally taken
among those who subscribed stock in
enterprise.
There were other problems even more
complicated. knowledge of the cream
Iery business and the type of building
necessary TO house IL was essential and
was only to be obtained by actual Wis
its to the creameries in Fredericks-
burg and Waynesboro, Va, FEEDER
alsburg, Hurlock and Cambridge, Md.
Finally the contract for concrete
structure to be completed by January
i, 1922, was let only 10 be given up by
the contractor before actual construe-
tien work started. There followed a
period OF uncertainty during which
building plans we're changed. The new
plans provided for the installation of
ice-making machinery and specified a
building OF hollow tile instead of con-
crete. Additional stock was solicited
among the farmers but for some rea-
son they did not respond. Business
and professional men of the communi-
", however, rallied to the cause, the
money was obtained and Southern
Maryland built and equipped Its
creamery at a cost of $13 200.
The manufacture Of ice was begun in
September 1922, but it was not until
April Of this year that manager and
q butter maker could be secured. The
creamery is now under the manage
ment of W.. A. Cooke, of Virginia,
who has completed his study Of dairy
ing at the University of Wisconsin
and is an expert in the handling of
cream and the manufacture OF batter.
There Is much more TO the story of
Southern Maryland's entry into the
dairy business 1t concerns the vast
amount of work that had to be done to
pave the way for the dairy industry
among farmers who have had little or
no experience in that branch OF agri-
culture. Meeting after meeting has
been held in Charles county since the
creamery project was first suggested.
Sch DOL children, farmers, and farm
women have Witnessed scores of dem
onstrations and have heard scores of
lectures by representatives of the uni
versity Of Maryland Extension Ser
vics and the Ulited States Department
|of Agriculture.
County Agent J. P. Burdette and J..
A. Conover, dairy specialist for the
University of Maryland Extension
Service, have been tireless in their
campaigns for the production Of clean
milk, the proper feeding of dairy cat
tie, the Improvement of the dairy herds
OF the section and the use of milk and
milk products. For two solid weeks
they toured the various districts OF
Charles county, visiting farms by day
and attending meetings by night.
Their equipment consisted of a Bah
cock tester, cream separator, and
moving picture protector, which they
carried in the tonneau of an obliging
Lizzie.
For two years now the work has
been kept before the people and they
have responded nobly, says MIR. Bur
dette. They are acquiring good live
stock and in a few years will be pre-
pared to supply the very best cream.
The production of home grown dairy
feed, such as legume hay. is increasing.
There is still much to be done, but the
incentive for improvements will bring
results more quickly
Butter made in the Southern Mary
land Cooperative Creamery is finding
a ready local market and is replacing
butter that was formerly shipped in.
Some of it is going to Baltimore. The
most recent action on the part Of the
directors was to make the creamery
cooperative project so that its profits
will go back to the farmers of the sec
tion in the form of patronage divi-
dends rather than to the stockholders