26 AGRICULTURE OF MAIXE. 



five towns of largest cow population, were doing, save the 

 dairy industry in Maine. 



We had tried the glowing report business and every yeai 

 from 1904 to the time you assumed the duties of Commissioner 

 of Agriculture, Jan. i, 191 1, there was a continuous and alarm- 

 ing drop in the number of cows, one year right after another, 

 until it had amounted to nearly 35.000. Back in 1897 there 

 were cows enough, had they been equally divided among all of 

 the farms in Maine, to have had three for every farm, yet in 

 1910 there were only 2 1-5 for each farm. Perhaps you would 

 be pleased to figure it for yourself. Here are the figures as 

 taken from the state assessors' report of 1910, — 132,339 cows 

 to be divided among 60,000 farms in the State. 



19 10 was the low water mark for the number of cows in 

 Maine for a good number of years; in 191 1 and 1912 the 

 number increased almost 6,000. 



Perhaps it was a fear of this very thing that caused the 

 gentlemen who had regaled themselves for the last decade upon 

 the authority and honor which naturally follow the Department 

 positions, to make such a fearful noise when they started out 

 to pursue you. A fine bunch ! 



This institute work lasted almost without interruption until 

 the middle of May. Soon after this I began inspection of 

 creameries. 



CREAMERY INSPECTION. 



Before I started out from the office I was handed some blanks 

 in the nature of a score card to fill out upon my visit to each 

 creamery. They contained questions that could be easily put 

 under one of three heads : Does this creamery take measures 

 to keep its buildings and machinery clean and sanitary? Does 

 it handle its goods properly in the making? Does this building 

 need to be destroyed together with its equipment and a new 

 plant established in its place? 



I used this form for some time and tried, while using it, to 

 get the view point of the men who run the creameries and I 

 have to report that with few exceptions they were not only cour- 

 teous, but I believe were also conscientious and painstaking 



