170 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



The Dairymen's League is a stock corporation. The stock is 

 issued at the rate of $2.50 a share, and the producer subscribes 

 for stock at the rate of $2.50 a cow. 



We have made in the constitution of the Dairymen's League 

 a provision for local branches. The article of our By-Laws 

 which gives it is as follows : — 



Local branches of the Dairymen's League may be organized at any 

 point where there is a condensary, creamery, or shipping station, and may 

 meet at will for the purpose of assisting the directors and facilitating the 

 business of the corporation, and may levy such local dues for local pur- 

 poses as each branch may decide. 



It shall be the duty of the secretary of the local branch to report the 

 proceedings of these meetings, furnish a Ust of the members, and such 

 other information as may be required by the secretary of the League. 



Thus you will see that the local branches are merely a sort of 

 convenience for the operation and performance of the business 

 of the League, and each individual who becomes a member of 

 the Dairymen's League is a member of the central organization. 

 It is exactly the same as any large corporation would be, only 

 it is stated here that the branches are formed, not necessarily 

 where there is a certain cheese factory or condensary, but where 

 the geographical conditions are such that it is the natural gath- 

 ering place for a certain number of members. 



Co-operative Plants. 

 Apparently the farmers were not receiving money enough, or, 

 at least, were very backward in subscribing money and organ- 

 izing their co-operative plants. By the term "co-operative 

 plants" here we mean, particularly, milking stations. On the 

 first of June, 1916, on account of the rapid increase in the price of 

 labor and other conditions affecting the farmer, a special meet- 

 ing of the directors was called in Albany, and the fact was there 

 brought forth that it was necessary for the League to do some- 

 thing if it was ever going to amount to anything. Apparently 

 the opportune moment had come. One of the directors severely 

 scored the executive committee and its oflScers for not having 

 been more active, and, possibly, not having had the courage to 

 take up the proposition of what they called a "strike;" 



