DAIRY MEETING. 1 63 



have with us Director C. D. Smith, from the Agricultural Exper- 

 iment Station, Mich. This was his first experience in the State. 

 He hardly ever addressed an audience but that he called their 

 attention to what they were doing in Michigan in this line. The 

 farmers were rather loth to take hold of it and thought it would 

 not amount to anything, but in a short time A got to talking 

 with B about his tests, and just as soon as they began to know 

 what each individual cow was doing and the amount of feed it 

 took to accomplish the result, every man began to study into 

 the conditions, and to see how he could better them, and cheapen 

 the product. In some sections I do not know but the herds that 

 are of special value are too far apart. I suppose in other parts 

 of the State, where the herds are not such a long distance apart, 

 such an association could be formed. If 30 herds could be found 

 within reasonable distance, so that each herd could be tested and 

 the product weighed once a month, then you will have the whole 

 thing officially. I have no doubt that this would be the right step 

 to take, and the farmers of the State of Maine would receive 

 much benefit from such an association. 



Mr. Gilbert — I believe if one association could be started 

 it would open the way for others. It is just a question of start- 

 ing. I would suggest that Mr. Thompson investigate this mat- 

 ter pretty carefully and work out a constitution, if it is neces- 

 sary to work out the details for a certain section, and see if he 

 cannot get one association started in this State. If we can get 

 one started I will guarantee that a good many more will be 

 started. If we can by the expenditure of $i per year save our- 

 selves $5, anybody can see that it is a grand financial investment. 



On motion of Mr. Gilbert it was then voted that in case any 

 dairymen wanted to form such an association, Mr. Thompson, 

 the State Dairy Instructor, be a committee to look after the mat- 

 ter and arrange the details. 



