l8o AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



conditions, but these are facts, gentlemen. This is why it is 

 such a struggle to keep our dairies together — why it is a struggle 

 to keep our Association together. Now, I am not speaking in 

 a spirit of criticism ; no one thinks more of the Dairy Asso- 

 ciation than I, because, as I said in the beginning, I have every 

 j-eason to wish for success. I have a son who has devoted 

 nearly twelve years of his life to farming and dairying; it is all 

 we know how to do ; can't you see I want to see it prosper ? 



These Cow Test Association records have brought out some 

 of these facts : In order to exist at all, we must have a better 

 class of stock. I have figures, I think, that will convince any- 

 one that even a herd of 8,000 pound cows cannot make a profit. 

 How many of you have herds of 8,000 pound cows? I have, 

 and there are others present who have, but they are not plenty ; 

 it is the exception and not the rule. 



In Mr. Adams' report I noticed it was spoken of that Mr. 

 Cummings and myself were at the Interstate Commerce hear- 

 ing. I was there ; I am going to tell how the records happened 

 to be presented at the hearing. I went to Boston, never think- 

 ing it was going to take several weeks ; I had appointments for 

 the next week and I was anxious to get home. Mr. Cummings 

 and I went to the Federal Examiner and asked if I could not 

 present my testimony and go home ; he did not think I could 

 that day for, as you will probably remember, the railroad men 

 had their hearing the first of any. However, I was told to go 

 over to the hotel that evening. I went, and I took the records 

 with me and in three minutes after it was seen just what they 

 were, I was told I could go on the stand the next afternoon so 

 I could go home. When the time came for me to be called, I 

 produced the records. I was asked if I was a shipper, and I 

 told them I was not. I said, 'T have nothing against the rail- 

 roads ; I am simply here to show from these records what it 

 costs to produce a quart of milk.'" I am not ashamed to tell 

 you that one of the railroad lawyers told me afterwards that I 

 was the first farmer he had seen at the hearing who did not 

 have a slam at somebody. 



Now, what did they think of the records? I was asked to 

 tell my story in my own way. They knew I had a modern cow 

 barn. John Orcutt asked me: "Does not the increased cost of 

 your new barn enter into the cost of the milk?" (I testified 



