Report of Progress. 333 



them on their own farms, the Station workers become better 

 acquainted with their pecuhar surroundings and needs, and can 

 offer more appropriate assistance than they otherwise could do. 

 On the other hand, the farmers learn better how the Station can help 

 them and how to avail themselves of that help. Third, the experi- 

 ments serve as object lessons to the farmers. As such tliey impress 

 themselves upon a large class of farmers that would give little heed to 

 a printed description of experiments conducted at the Station. Foiii th, 

 the experiments have a high educational value for the farmers per- 

 forming them. Perhaps, at the present time this is the most important 

 considerntion. There are many questions affected by soil and climate 

 that must be decided for each locality individually, and the greatest 

 hindrance is the want of trained experimenters to take up the work. 

 It is hoped and believed that we shall find in various localities in the 

 state intelligent and public spirited farmers who, for the benefits to be 

 derived by themselves ana their fellows, will be willing to co-operate 

 with the Station in this work. 



Dairy Husbandry. 



Observations in the dairy districts led to the conclusion that this 

 branch of agriculture needed assistance. The theory of making butter 

 and cheese is fairly well understood, but the art, in many cases, was 

 found to be lamentably wanting. To bridge over this gap between 

 science and art, two expert dairymen Avere employed during the 

 summer, men who not only knew much of the science but of the art 

 of dairy husbandry as well. These men wer.t from factory to factory, 

 called a few dairymen tf)gether and gave valuable instruction by first 

 teaching the leading principles and then by practically applying them, 

 thus showing how art and science in dairy husbandry could be joined. 

 Many difficult problem.s appear in the factories during the midsummer 

 season ; these can only be solved by a trained dairyman at the factory. 

 Incidentally, these instructors did much valuable service by calling 

 attention to untidy surroundings and irrational treatment of cattle. 

 The location of dairy schools is shown in figure 173. 



