AGRICULTURE OF MAINK. 



INSPECTION OF EARNS. 



Besides securing samples of dairy products your agent has 

 inspected one hundred twenty-five barns, representing aver- 

 age conditions in the various parts of the State. In the dairy 

 barn we do not look for ideal conditions to be found only 

 in costly equipment, ^^^e do look for that simple, practical, 

 economical construction that will insure the health and com- 

 fort of the animals, and permit of the highest efficiency of 

 labor in maintaining the cleanly conditions necessary for the 

 welfare of the herd and essential in the production of pure 

 milk. The chief things lacking in the construction of our 

 dairy barns — points that can be remedied easily and cheaply 

 — are windows and a system of ventilation. The importance of 

 sunlight and fresh air to the well-being of the herd has received 

 too little attention from dairymen. However, when called to 

 their attention most dairymen agree that such is the case, and 

 in many instances changes have been made whereby these de- 

 ficiencies have been remedied. To light our average barn prop- 

 cily there should be allowed at least two square feet of glass — 

 and it would be better to have four square feet of glass — per 

 cow. These subjects will be more fully treated in bulletins to 

 be issued later. More attention is also being given to the con- 

 struction of stalls with as little surface as possible so as to 

 facilitate cleansing. The ceiling over the cows has in many 

 instances been sheathed to keep out the dirt from the hay 

 mows. In the barn we need the simplest construction — the 

 least surface to keep clean — in order to care for the cows and 

 produce milk most economically and of the best quality as re- 

 gards cleanliness. Dairymen are exerting more care in groom- 

 ing the cows. The comfort of the animals is of the greatest im- 

 portance. 



In all this work dairymen have responded willingly and with 

 a spirit of co-operation which is the surest means of bettering 

 dairy conditions. 



LAWS. 



The laws at present governing the production and sale of 

 dairy products are not broad enough in their scope to afiford 

 sufficient protection to consumers and dairymen. During this 



