DAIRY me;eting. 1 15 



the desire is apt to enter in to try and beat his neighbor; and 

 he is apt to record his cows as giving a Httle more milk or mak- 

 ing a httle higher test than as a matter of fact they do. He does 

 this sometimes almost unconsciously. We have had samples of 

 Ayrshire milk brought to us that tested over 12 percent of fat. 

 The man was taking a sample from his own herd and had no 

 reason for raising the test. He simply was not carefully fol- 

 lowing out the sampling directions. A man may fool himself 

 unconsciously, or, what is worse, may fool himself intentionally, 

 thinking he is doing a good thing. It is only when candid, sin- 

 cere, careful, well informed men get together that this form of 

 the test association scheme will work well. The cost of the 

 outfit is less than $5. Weights nor tests are taken continu- 

 ally but periodically. We have had a herd under survey at 

 the Vermont Station since 1888. Every milking is weighed and 

 the milk is tested at semi-monthly intervals. A year ago I had 

 this data collated, including over 700 year records of cows, with 

 a view of finding out if weights and tests taken less frequently 

 would give correct results. We found that weights taken three 

 days a month and tests taken three times a year, virtually the 

 third, fifth and seventh months of lactation, would give results 

 close enough for all practical purposes. Hence when this type 

 of association is formed I advise weights three days a month 

 and samples three times a year; the individual farmer making 

 the weights, taking the samples, and (if he wishes) testing them, 

 or sending the samples to the creamery. Are the results 

 accurate? Sufficiently so. Can individuals do this themselves 

 without forming an association? Certainly. Are the results 

 public or private ? Either, as is desired. Where may counsel 

 be obtained? At any Experiment Station. The Vermont 

 Station has given particular attention to this matter. 



THE HIRED MAN WAY. 



The form of association, however, which it seems to me is 

 better adapted to your conditions in Maine is the Danish one 

 where the farmers band themselves together, not to weigh milk, 

 not to take samples, but to employ a man to do it for them. 

 This means a greater outlay of money than is involved in the 

 employment of the other scheme. It means ,however, as human 

 nature is constituted, and taking all things into consideration, a 



