158 agriculture; of maine;. 



RESPONSE. 



By J. A. Roberts. 



Representing the two large associated bodies gathered here 

 in convention this week, — the Maine State Dairymen's Associa- 

 tion and the Maine Seed Improvement Associaton, in their 

 behalf I thank you for your invitation to hold their annual 

 meetings in your city and also for the very cordial words of 

 welcome you have given us. 



I want you to know that we appreciate very highly the activ- 

 ity in our behalf of your Chamber of Commerce and of your 

 city. 



These two bodies, organized to extend and improve the 

 dairy and the seed interests of the state, are without a home. 

 They are dependent upon some city to furnish those con- 

 \eniences necessary to display their exhibits and a hall where 

 they may confer and discuss measures and methods to carry 

 forward and make efficient their future work. 



As you are aware, the dairy interests and the seed and plant 

 interests stand among the most important of the various lines 

 of farm work in this state, and their continued growth and de- 

 velopment concern not alone their devotees but affect every 

 other farm interest and every city business and profession. 



The last quarter of a century has shown great advance in 

 dairy work. In the hands of skilled men dairy animals have 

 made great progress in their capacity for production. Dairy- 

 men have studied carefully the science of economical feeding 

 and are realizing the necessity of keeping their stock under 

 sanitary conditions and of making and handling the, various 

 products of the dairy under conditons of the utmost cleanli- 

 ness. In all efforts at improvement, in the estabhshment of 

 ever higher ideals, the Maine Dairymen's Association has been 

 '.- strong and efficient leader. Its work and influence were a 



