240 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Mr. Hodges : I do not want it to be understood that 1 

 think the creameryman is not paying all he ought to. But I 

 will say that I have a herd of cows producing 300 pounds of 

 butter fat and there is not a cent of profit. I am not looking 

 for profit from my dairy. When you are breeding there is a 

 small i)rofit. When a man runs a dairy and buys his cows, if 

 he has almost 400 pound cows he cannot buy many luxuries 

 out of the dairy at present prices. 



The motion to amend the original motion was put and was 

 lost. 



Mr. Harris: Before I mentioned this matter I had some 

 doubts in my mind whether I ought to speak of it from the fact 

 that some here might know that I was a creameryman, but I 

 am glad it has been discussed. There is not a man here, I dare 

 say, that such a measure would affect in the least. Now then, 

 if the dair^^men here are all right and their barns are all right, 

 and the product all right, perhaps they are putting that product 

 right in with somebody's product that is not all right. Is it not 

 due to yourselves that some action be taken in a conservative 

 way that we may build up our dairy products? We all know 

 that the State of Maine cream and butter fat are paid for at a 

 higher price than is paid in any other state. Whether it is 

 enough so that the farmer will be satisfied, — that remains with 

 the farmer. 



Mr. Woods : I would like to know a little more definitely 

 just what action the creamerymen want taken. 



Mr. Beyer: The undesirable producers of milk would be 

 listed and then the Boston Board of Health would exclude their 

 product from the Massachusetts market. Mr. Harris' motion, 

 as I understand it, involves the appointment of a committee to 

 take action for our association in regard to this, with full power 

 to act for the association. The Chair will state its opinion that 

 any action which our association will take will be purely in an 

 advisory capacity to the legislature and the Boston Board of 

 Health or any other body with which it might come in contact. 

 Whatever action the committee could take would be advisory 

 and would have the authority of our association behind it. 



Mr. Woods: If that is the meaning of the motion I with- 

 draw any objection. 



