no AGRICULTURE OF MAINE- 



were a large number of cows entered, and during the evening 

 after the lecture the lights were turned on and there w^as a 

 great crowd and considerable disturbance from the presence of 

 the crowd. One of the cows that had tested 4.7 in the morning 

 and 4.9 at night, the next morning tested 1.9, and of course 

 there was a question as to the accuracy of the test and a second 

 test was made with the same result. The expert then called the 

 exhibitors together and used this as an object lesson and empha- 

 sized the necessity of appreciating what is involved in milk pro- 

 duction and the necessity of keeping the cow under a uniform 

 condition ; showing that the nervous condition resulting from the 

 glare of the electric light and the noise and disturbance had 

 affected the per cent of butter fat in the milk. This only serves 

 as a little illustration of the thought. 



If these fairs are to be continued in the future, wherever they 

 may be held, they must serve the purpose for which they wei. 

 created tmder the law of the State. They must stimulate cuiw- 

 petition ; they must help to a better education ; they should serve 

 the people by bringing the stock and products where the public 

 can see the work of awarding the prizes, and every step be made 

 helpful, so that the man who grows the product or show^s the 

 stock may go home seeing more of the great lessons which con- 

 front us all along the highway of life and which we must be 

 solving in larger measure than we have in the past. 



