REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. 7 



seem to justify the farmers in paying more attention to this branch 

 of stock husbandry. The poultry industry also offers induce- 

 ments to the Maine farmer. It is said that Maine consumes 

 between five and six million dollars worth of dressed poultry and 

 eggs annually, and we raise not quite three million dollars worth. 

 We believe that with close attention to details, the profits in this 

 industry would compare well with those in other branches of 

 farming, and that a larger proportion of these products should be 

 raised within our own state. 



Dairying is the leading agricultural pursuit in the State. As 

 Maine produces nearly ten million dollars worth of dairy products 

 annually, this branch of our agriculture is of sufficient import- 

 ance to demand our careful attention. This state has all the 

 requisites of a good dairy state, and there is no reason why as 

 good butter should not be produced here as in any state in the 

 Union. We regard the step taken by the Maine Dairymen's 

 Association at their annual meeting in Waterville, December 5th, 

 in relation to a dairy instructor, as one of special importance. 

 At that meeting the following resolution was adopted : 



"Resolved, That the welfare of the dairy and creamery inter- 

 ests of Maine requires the appointment of a dairy instructor, 

 whose duties shall be, first, to familiarize himself with the dairy 

 industry in all sections of the State, and by personal work seek to 

 harmonize and make common the interests of all dairymen and 

 creamery men for their mutual benefit ; second, to give instruc- 

 tion to butter and cheese makers, at the creameries and the farms, 

 and to instruct in and urge better methods in the production and 

 handling of milk and cream, said officer to be under the direc- 

 tion and control of the Commissioner of Agriculture." 



The dairymen at this meeting pledged their special efforts 

 towards making their representatives in the coming legislature 

 understand the needs of the dairy interests of the State, and we 

 are of the opinion that the legislature will see that these interests 

 are well protected. This resolve is in the line of education. If 

 better methods in caring for the product of the dairy cow were 

 adopted, so as to advance the price of the butter produced even 

 one cent a pound, this would mean a very large increase to the 

 dairymen of the State. There are about 60 creameries in the 

 State and if the quality of the product of these creameries could 

 be advanced, every patron would be largely benefited. 



