22 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



The cost of feed may be decreased by : Raising more of our 

 feed, raising more of our farm teams, by a more economic 

 combination of dairy rations. 



More can be received for the products of the dairy by : A 

 more careful study of the market end of the industry, a more 

 judicious use of the bi-products, as skim milk, calves, care- 

 fully husbanding all the fertilizing material, a more systematic 

 organization for mutual protection. 



Nothing in my opinion so cripples the dairy industry in 

 Maine as the pernicious custom of killing the bulls before the 

 capacity of their daughters has been ascertained. At least 75 

 per cent of our cows are sired by bulls that were killed before 

 any of their daughters were tested at the pail. 



Prince Ybma Spofferd 6th was the sire of eleven daughters. 

 Before his value was known, he and three of his daughters were 

 killed. Of the eight living daughters, four, or fifty per cent, 

 have records of over 30 pounds in seven days. According to 

 the Blue Book, this bull stands far ahead of all others as the 

 sire of thirty-pound daughters. This young sire, valuable be- 

 cause prepotent, should have been kept to improve our herds. 



The efficient work of the cow test associations has demon- 

 strated their value. The plan of these associations is to join 

 the influence of twenty-six owners of cows, and to employ an 

 advisor whose duty it is to co-operate with the owners of 

 these cows in determining the production, cost of feed and the 

 most economical way to manage their herds. The records of 

 a herd serve as a guide in breeding, selling and feeding. 



There are now twelve cow test associations doing active 

 work, seven having been formed during the year. In some 

 instances the members of the associations are so far separated 

 that a meeting of all the members is impossible. This greatly 

 retards the work, as great benefit can be derived from all meet- 

 ings of the association, which are held regularly. I believe 

 these associations are of great value to the dairymen, and shall 

 endeavor not only to form new associations, but to strengthen 

 those already formed. Properly organized, a cow test associa- 

 tion should save in the purchase of grain, fertilizer, farm ma- 

 chinery and farm supplies, more than what it has cost. 



The county demonstrators, from the nature of their work, 

 are in a position to render great assistance in strengthening 



