210 ANNUAL, REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Maryland was begun ^^ay 1, 1911. It is the policy of the depart- 

 ment to work in cooperation with State authorities or institutions 

 and to turn the work over to these agencies when they are prepared 

 *,o carry it on alone. During the past year the assistance previously 

 *i;iven m North Carolina was withdrawn because the work there no 

 longer needed help from the department. The work in Tennessee 

 has been temporarily suspended until State cooperation can be 

 arranged for. 



For the past few years the Dairy Division has managed a demon- 

 stration dauy farm near Denison, Tex., owned by the Denison Board 

 of Trade. That the improvement of the herd on this farm has been 

 very marked is indicated by the fact that the average production of 

 butter fat per cow has been increased 55 pounds during the past year. 

 Although tlie work of the farm has been hampered by drougnt during 

 the past two years, it is still hoped it will 3^et serve fully the object for 

 wliich it is being conducted, namely, to demonstrate a successful and 

 profitable dairy farm in that section. 



Frequently promoters attempt to build and sell creameries in various 

 parts of the Southern States, the people of the community being 

 mduced to furnish the capital. The Dairy Division advises against 

 this in localities where conditions appear to be such as to make it 

 impossible for a creamery to be operated successfully. Of seven 

 creameries promoted in Georgia two years ago against the division's 

 advice six have been closed and the other is being operated at a loss. 

 It is very important that creameries should not be built under unfa- 

 vorable conditions, since the failure of a creamery gives the dairy 

 industry a great setback in the adjacent community. 



WESTERN DAIRYING. 



The work for the development of dairying in the Western States is 

 conducted along the same general lines as that in the South. It is at 

 present carried on in Colorado, Idaho, North Dakota, and Iowa. 

 The results indicate that the West offers a most favorable field for 

 this work, which it is believed will be the means of starting work in 

 the various States which in time will become an important factor in 

 developing the dairy industry in that section. Splendid opportuni- 

 ties for dairying are found in Idaho, where during the past year alfalfa 

 sold as low as $1.25 a ton, the average being $3. An opportunity is 

 offered t.iere to give the farmers assistance in securing cattle to con- 

 sume this alfalfa at a much better profit. Opportunities quite similar 

 have been found in Colorado and other Western States, where in the 

 past the farmers have devoted their attention largely to range cattle, 

 and therefore often know practically nothing of scientific dairying. 

 The reduced ranges and the increased prices of land are factors that 

 make dairying a very much more important part of the agriculture 

 of that section than it has been in the past. The great number of 

 mistakes commonly committed indicate the lack of knowledge of 

 economical dairy practice. By demonstrating such practice on a few 

 of the dairy farms, sufficient public sentiment is being created to 

 enable the States to secure funds to take up this work. In fact, some 

 assistance is already being given by all the States in which extension 

 work by the department is now in progress. The department's work 

 in the West can be extended to excellent advantage if more funds 

 are provided for it. At least one man should be assigned to each of 

 the States west of Kansas and Nebraska and also in the Dakotas. 



