I/O AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



work (lone at the creameries shows an improvement as well, both 

 in quality of product and amount of business, while the work of 

 the patrons has continued to improve as shown by the reports 

 from the creameries in the amount of defective cream received. 



The reports show an average increase of 8% in the amount 

 of busmess done by the creameries and all but one report either 

 no defective cream at all or a less quantity than last year, the 

 decrease in some instances reaching 50 per cent. About lo^^ 

 of all the creameries received no defective cream at all, while the 

 average amount received is reported at 5% of the whole. From 

 these facts, we learn that with one exception, the patrons are 

 doing better work now than in former years, thus making the 

 quality of all our product proportionally better, which, as I have 

 shown in other reports, means more money to the producers,, 

 besides a better reputation for our State in the dairy world. The 

 reports also show that our creameries sold more sweet cream 

 in proportion to butter than formerly. For 1905, 6-1 1 of our 

 product was sold as cream and 5- 11 as butter, while this year 

 16-25 was sold as cream and 9-25 as butter. With the prospect 

 of good prices and a good product to sell, there is no reason in 

 sight why the creamery conditions should not improve and the 

 business in this line increase. 



In accordance with the increase in prices for the creamery- 

 product, has come an increase in price in most localities for home 

 dairy products, which is very necessary to maintain an interest 

 in the industry, since the prices of feeds and labor have sO' 

 materially advanced ; but so far as I know, customers have paid 

 the advance willingly and feel that for quality they can afford' 

 to pay a reasonable price in comparison with all other material. 

 We are still producing but a small proportion of the cheese that 

 we consume and there is no tendency to increase in its manu- 

 facture, even at the high prices, though in certain localities, it 

 could certainly be done profitably with a great saving of labor 

 at the farms. We can expect but little increase, however, so 

 long as the high prices for cream remain, with facilities for ship- 

 ping from almost every part of the State, when the skim-milk: 

 can be kept on the farm and with no bother of delivering. 



During the year, I have given considerable attention to the 

 question of cow test associations, but I have not been able ta 

 assist in getting any into operation, much to my regret, for I 



