184 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



ture. We tried to pass a bill that would leave that inspection 

 in the hands of our Department of Agriculture, so that Maine 

 would have something to say about what should be done with 

 Maine people and Maine products. What happened? This 

 happened ; when the time came I was absolutely alone in favor 

 of that measure. Everybody scared to death to have thai 

 power in your own Department of Agriculture; rather trust 

 it to the Board of Health of the state. I hope some one will 

 have interest enough in the next legislature to pass some inspec- 

 tion law so the State of Maine will have something to say about 

 it. 



Question : How much does it cost a day to feed a cow at 

 this time of year? 



Mr. McIntire: I have cows that cost me around $90 a year 

 to feed ; I do not know that I have it reckoned for the day. 

 here. Of course, the cost would vary with the prices, and upon 

 the condition of the cow. 



Question : When you are reckoning your cost of hay and 

 silage, do you reckon them at the highest market price ? 



Mr. McIntire : When you are selling your hay and silage, 

 you would reckon the cost at the price they would bring you. 



Mr. Fuller : And you are selling your labor, also, at a good 

 market price? 



Mr. McIntire: I am selling it at ten cents a day for each 

 cow ; can you feed her, and groom her and do all tliat is neces- 

 sary for less than $36.50 a year? 



Mr. McEdwards : What do you ofifer as a suggestion to 

 bring down the cost of feed? 



Mr. McIntire: Kill off some of these speculators (this 

 does not mean literally, with a gun, but in a business way). 

 When it comes to making feed dollars and dollars more than it 

 ought to be, it is radically wrong, and you are coming right 

 back to the question, what are we going to do if we are to live? 

 We are going to meet these terms in the same way in which 

 they are put up to us. We will cut down the dairy business 

 until it is made profitable. I keep twenty cows, if it is not 

 profitable. 



Mr. Blanchard: That card on the wall shows that they 

 have been cutting dowai the cows for the last ten years. 



Mr. Clough : Does your feed go down there at what it cost 

 you in the market? 



