REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. 9 



month, and ascertains the amount of butter fat she is producing 

 and the cost and value of the daily ration. Thus the farmer 

 can know the profit from each individual cow, and the cost of 

 producing a pound of butter fat, and with this knowledge he 

 can select out his best cows and breed up his herd. Every man 

 in the association is also familiar with what his neighbor is 

 doing, and is stimulated, by comparison, to more economic 

 production. This work will be extended as much as possible. 



We believe that the organization of breeders' associations in 

 connection with the cow testing associations would be of much 

 advantage. The value of these organizations is well illustrated 

 by the fact that in Wisconsin, where many of them are in opera- 

 tion, from one county last year $600,000 worth of dairy stock 

 of recognized excellence was sold. The basic problem of dairy- 

 ing is the breeding of better animals, animals of higher produc- 

 tive capacity and stronger constitutions, from which better 

 returns may be obtained for the feed consumed. Dairymen 

 should give more attention to this line of work. 



The work of inspection of creameries, and of dairies as far 

 ; as practicable, has been very thoroughly carried on, with bene- 

 ficial results, and will be fully reported in the report of the State 

 Dairy Instructor, in this volume. 



farmers' institutes. 



Forty-five regular farmers' institutes have been held during 

 the past year. Ten of these meetings were held in March and 

 the remainder in the late fall and early winter. A list of the 

 dates and places is as follows: March 17, Lovell; March 18, 

 Denmark ; March 19, Kezar Falls ; March 20, Poland ; March 

 21, East Auburn; March 23, Greene; March 24, Freeport; 

 March 25, West Falmouth ; March 26, White Rock ; March 27. 

 Bridgton ; October 27, Calais ; October 28, Lubec ; October 29, 

 Cherryfield; October 30, Orland ; October 31, Bluehill; 

 November 2, Center Belmont ; November 4, Springfield ; 

 November 5, Winn; November 6, Kenduskeag; November 7, 

 Cuilford Center; November 10, Perham; November 11, Fort 

 Fairfield; November 12, Westfield; November 13, Ashland; 

 November 14, Milo; November 16, Hartland; November 17, 

 Norridgewock ; November 18, Madison; November 19, North 



