REPORT OF DAIRY DIVISION. I9 



If would not be wise for me to make recommendations. This 

 is especially true because of the fact that those who remain in 

 the Dairy Division of the Department are thoroughly conver- 

 sant with all its plans and work, and it affords me pleasure at 

 this time to assure my successor of my sincere wish for the suc- 

 cessful prosecution of the dairy work, and of my willingness 

 and desire to give whatever assistance it may be in my power to 

 render to bring about that result. 



As I am about to bring my report to its close and realize that 

 it is my final report, I desire to express to you personally my 

 sincere thanks for the consideration you have always shown me 

 and for the many evidences of friendship and confidence you 

 have constantly bestowed. My relations with all persons con- 

 nected with the Department, both in field and office service, 

 have been very pleasant and I shall always regard the nearly 

 four years of official service with the Alaine Department of 

 Agriculture as among the best years of my life. 



Respectfully submitted, 



LEON S. MERRILL, 



State Dairy Instructor. 



To the Hon. A. W. Gilman, Commissioner of Agriculture: 



I herewith submit my report for the yeai' 1910, covering the 

 work up to December ist. • 



The first nine months, as Assistant Dairy Instructor, I had 

 charge of the Dairy Testing and Co-operative Breeders' Asso- 

 ciations ; since then, as Dairy Instructor. I have had an over- 

 sight of the work of the Dairy Division. This work has been 

 carried on on the same plans as outlined by former Dairy In- 

 structor, Leon S. Merrill. The dairy work of the State has ap- 

 parently met with the approval of the farmers, for this Depart- 

 ment has received more calls to assist in the work than could be 

 attended to. 



DAIRY TESTING ASSOCIATIONS. 



During the past year, only two testing associations have been 

 organized, due to the lack of competent men for testers. In 

 the summer months several men were available, but, as no asso- 

 ciation was ready for work at that time, they accepted other 

 positions. 



