1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 229 



THIKD DAY. 



The meeting was called to order at 9.45, and was presided 

 over by Mr. C. L. Hartshorn of Worcester, who intro- 

 duced as the first speaker Mr. S. W. Clark of Plainfield, 

 who presented the following lecture upon "Co-operative 

 Dairying." 



CO-OPERATIVE DAIRYING. 



BY S. W. CLARK OF PLAINFIELD. 



This subject of co-operative dairying has been presented 

 to the public for several years at farmers' institutes, grange 

 meetings, meetings of this Board, by the agricultural press, 

 and by talented newspaper correspondents and learned pro- 

 fessors, until it is worn threadbare. It has been presented 

 in every conceivable light, and there remains really nothing 

 that I can add. That was my first thought, when requested 

 by our secretary to present the paper ; but, upon second 

 consideration, it occurred to me that I might present some 

 facts that had come to my knowledge in the practical organi- 

 zation and management of a co-operative creamery, con- 

 ducted on the cream-gathering system. That is what I shall 

 call your attention to, leaving arguments and theories mainly 

 to others. 



Organization. 

 A co-operative association is a stock company, chartered 

 under general laws, by the commissioner of corporations, 

 upon application made by the officers of the company, who 

 are chosen by the stock-holders, consisting of a secretary, 

 treasurer and five directors, who elect the president from 

 their number. The amount of capital, number of shares, 

 the size of the same, and their by-laws, are optional with 

 the company, all being agreeable to the several provisions 

 of chapter 106 of Public Statutes relating to the same. 



