Proceedings of Seventeenth Normal .Institute 179 



SUGGESTIONS FOR BROADENING AND MAKING MORE EFFECTIVE 

 THE WORK OF COW TESTING ASSOCIATIONS 



Edward van Alstyne 



The value of the cow testing association as a whole needs no 

 argument before this body. It is equally true that these asso- 

 ciations have not as yet attained the degTee of perfection that 

 their friends would desire, nor are they a " sovereigTi balm for 

 everv wound " of the dairvman. If we start from this stand- 

 point, realizing our shortcomings, we shall accomplish much more 

 for the future usefulness of such associations than were we to pat 

 ourselves on the back saying in effect, " How we apples swim." 

 My purpose is not to say a word as to what has been accomplished, 

 or as to the results as affecting individual dairymen; the place 

 for that is from the platform, cow testing literature, or in a heart 

 to heart canvas with the doubter or skeptic. This body is met 

 to get at facts relating to more effective service ; and, having such 

 facts, make them serve the purpose for which they are intended. 



T shall indicate some of the weak places as I see them, and sug- 

 gest remedies. This will avail little unless all of you having to 

 do with the work will be equally frank as to criticism, and not be- 

 cause '^ it is easy to sit on the fence and criticise, and he who 

 does nothing else is a poltroon and unworthy of attention." Be 

 as ready with suggestions for betterment, and, still more import- 

 ant, willing and anxious to put a shoulder to the wheel and help 

 to make those things effective that receive the approval and 

 endorsement of this gathering. 



THE tester 



I think you will all agree that above all other things the suc- 

 cess of an association depends on the tester. As to his qualifica- 

 tions, I should place his moral character and stamina first. We 

 have had some testers who, though apparently well qualified as 

 to their ability to do their work, nearly or wholly wrecked their 

 associations as a result of their personal doings. 



After these should come a thorough knowledge of his business. 

 He should not simply know enough to run a Babcock tester, and 



