VERMONT DAIRYMEN'S REPORT. 



butter produced from said milk and cream, should work to the 

 advantage of all by establishing more confidence between 

 patrons and creamery managers. 



We believe, if the law had gone further and required the 

 posting of the number of pounds of milk, and percent of but- 

 ter fat of each patron, it would cause our dairymen to test their 

 herds, rid our State of many unprofitable cows, be a means 

 of stimulating better feeding and better care, and put 

 thousands of dollars in the pockets of the creamery patrons. 

 We believe the law should also have required a uniform method 

 of sampling and statement of account. We have a law requir- 

 ing that the " basis for payment for milk at creameries shall be 

 four per cent, fat." As there is no penalty attached, little 

 attention is paid to it. This sometimes creates friction between 

 adjoining creameries. 



BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS. 



Our laws relating to bovine tuberculosis, which are the best 

 of any of the New England States, still stand upon our statute 

 books, thanks to a Senate composed largely of lawyers. Our 

 state has expended about $50,000 in the last four years in exter- 

 minating this disease. A large share of this sum has been paid 

 to farmers as compensation for diseased cattle that have been 

 slaughtered. It is for the interest of the State that this money 

 be not thrown away. The work of the past four years would 

 be largely undone if Vermont were allowed to become the 

 dumping ground of diseased cattle from other States, as is the 

 case with some of our neighboring States. Our herds have 

 been cleaned up to a large extent, and if we follow the wise 

 policy and judicious management of the past, Vermont will 

 soon be practically free from the disease. Then the products 

 of the dairy which is the leading industry of our State, will 

 have a gratifying pre-eminence in the market for its known 

 freedom from the germs of this dread disease, and our dairy 

 stock will command a premium in the markets of other States. 

 Far above these considerations, however, lie the safety and 

 security of our own families. 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



For a time the Board of Agriculture was gasping for breath. 

 After receiving a severe pruning, we believe enough of it re- 

 mains to start a healthy growth. As the temperance sentiment 

 in the State has been strengthened by the rallying of the tem- 

 perance people to oppose the high license bill, so, we believe, 

 the Board of Agriculture will be supported by its friends, and, 

 as a result, we shall soon have a more efficient system of insti- 



