Dairy Industry. 45 



along this line. Yet the point mentioned seems to be responsible 

 for some diminution of interest. 



Last winter we tried the experiment of opening the winter dairy- 

 course, as the other winter-courses, early in December, instead of 

 early in January. There are many advantages in this new arrange- 

 ment, as far as a dairy-course is concerned. We find it easier to 

 buy milk because we want to begin doing so at a time when milk 

 is far less scarce than it is early in January. The early opening 

 means also early closing, and this is an advantage to those who 

 secure positions requiring their presence in the month of March. 

 Furthermore, the early opening gives opportunity to conduct in- 

 struction work during the Christmas holidays, which is a distinct 

 advantage to the winter-course students as they then receive the 

 full time of the instructors. 



III. Correspondence. 



The department received and answered about six thousand letters 

 during the year. Many of these referred to difficulties in connection 

 with dairy work and the replies included a large number of care- 

 fully prepared and lengthy letters of advice. 



IV. Field Work. 



Former winter-course students were visited during the summer 

 for the purpose of determining their fitness to receive certificates of 

 proficiency. Whenever possible visits were extended to students 

 who were not candidates for certificates, and often also persons 

 who have not been connected with the University. Most of these 

 visits were made by Mr. Hall and Mr. Ayres, and a few by Mr. 

 Griffith and the writer. This is a highly important part of the 

 work of our college. It needs to be considerably extended. We 

 find that by means of an occasional visit the quality of the products 

 of some establishments can be maintained at a higher point than 

 would be obtained otherwise. 



The writer has attended numerous meetings in different parts of 

 the State and usually spoken on some subject connected with the 

 production of milk or its profitable handling. 



V. Investigation Work. 



An interesting study of the milk supply of Ithaca was begun 

 and well advanced during the year. In this work we are in co- 

 operation with Dr. H. H. Crum, health officer of Ithaca. We 



