286 . Testing Milk and Its Products. 



SUGGESTIONS regarding the organization of co-operative 

 creameries and cheese factories. 



When the farmers of a neighborhood are considering the 

 establishment of a creamery or cheese factory, they should first 

 of all make an accurate canvas of the locality to ascertain the 

 number of cows that can be depended on to supply the factory 

 with milk. The area which may be drawn from will vary 

 according to the kind of factory which it is desired to operate. 

 A successful separator creamery will need at least 400 cows 

 within a radius of four to five miles from the proposed factory. 1 

 Small cheese factories can be operated with less milk, and 

 gathered-cream and butter factories generally cover a much 

 larger territory than that mentioned. In all cases, however, 

 the question of the number of cows contributing to the enter- 

 prise must be fully settled before further steps are taken, since 

 this is a point upon which success will largely depend. 



Methods of organization. The farmers should form their own 

 organization, and not accept articles of agreement proposed by 

 traveling agents. An agreement to supply milk from a stated 

 number of cows should be signed by all expecting to join the 

 association. When a sufficient number of cows has been 

 pledged to insure the successful operation of a factory, the farm- 

 ers agreeing to supply milk should meet and form an organi- 

 zation. This may be done according to either of the following 

 plans which have been known to give good satisfaction. 



Raising money for building and equipment. 



First. Each member will sign an agreement to pay on or 

 before a given date for a certain number of shares in the com- 

 pany at dollars per share; or, 



Second. An elected board of directors may be authorized to 



borrow a sum of money not exceeding thousand dollars 



on their individual responsibility, and the sum of cents, 



(usually five cents) per hundred pounds of milk received at 

 the factory shall be reserved for the payment of this borrowed 

 money. 



1 Bull. 56, Wisconsin experiment station. 



