76 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



DAIRYING IN AROOSTOOK COUNTY. 



By Hon. R. Alden, Winthrop, President Maine Dairymen's 



Association. 



While visiting your beautiful county last spring I was very 

 forcibly impressed with the great natural advantages you possess 

 for dairying. 



Your rich, nutritious grasses, pure water, cool climate and 

 intelligent farmers, all conspire to make this the leading dairy 

 section of New England, and when we saw it demonstrated just 

 over the line that they were producing butter second only to one 

 country in the world, I felt that the commissioner of agriculture 

 and our association ought to hold a special dairy meeting here, 

 hoping and believing that such a meeting might result in awak- 

 ening your people to a realizing sense of the great advantages 

 you possess for this business. 



For many years I have thought about the possibilities which 

 might result from dairying in Aroostook county, if it were once 

 undertaken with the same enthusiasm which has characterized 

 your methods of raising potatoes, and I believe results would fol- 

 low which would surprise the whole county. 



I am so thoroughly interested in dairying myself that what I 

 sav to vou mav sound visionarv, but I am a firm believer in 

 dairying in your county and shall continue to be until I am con- 

 vinced that I am mistaken, which I hope will never happen. 



The fine quality of butter and cheese they are prodticing in 

 New Brunswick, whose soil and climate are identical with yours, 

 goes to prove that I am correct in my assertion. Our dairy 

 mstructor is here, ready and willing to aid, assist and instruct 

 }OU in any possible way. 



I believe we shall see the wisdom of our last Legislature in 

 appropriating money for this purpose, as I think Maine is soon 

 to become one of the leading dairy states of this country. 



You have 14,484 cows, which is more than any other county 

 has in this state and yet you do not claim to be a dairy county. 

 You could easily double this number of cows, and by making a 

 choice article of butter that would command the highest market 

 price you would find a handsome profit in the business. 



