118 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



I believe the ideal inspector has two lines of work to accom- 

 plish; one, to protect the consumer, and the other, to assist the 

 milkman. 



Inspectors can do much good by assisting the dairyman to 

 keep in touch with the available literature on different phases 

 of dairying. The successful dairyman must be a business man, 

 that is, one who has knowledge and applies it. Our federal, 

 State and college departments are continually publishing litera- 

 ture which should be in the hands of the milk producer, yet it 

 is surprising how few avail themselves of this free information ; 

 possibly, they do not know of these bulletins ; if not, inspectors 

 should help to keep them informed. I believe no successful 

 dairyman can afford to be without a dairy paper. By reading 

 and studying he becomes encouraged to produce better milk, and 

 will know how to secure more profit from his business. 



On the point of producing better milk there is much need of 

 education. Dairymen must be educated to the value of clean 

 milk. Large sums of money are lost annually because good 

 milk is allowed to spoil. It needs to be said with emphasis that 

 it is to the interest of every producer to have the best milk 

 ]30ssible; such milk is always worth more than that carelessly 

 produced, for whatever purpose it is to be used. 



Our main standard for quality is the bacteria count, yet 

 dairymen as a rule know little about bacteria. How many 

 farmers know what bacteria are, where they come from, and 

 what they do ? Possibly, they have heard something about their 

 dangers, but nothing about their value. Much education is 

 needed on the sources of bacteria and how their numbers can be 

 controlled. The bacteria problem, as now impressed on the 

 minds of many dairymen, is a factor of discouragement, and 

 a problem which they do not know how to handle. They need 

 encouragement and education on this subject. 



Good, clean, safe milk can be produced with a minimum of 

 expensive equipment. Why not encourage the dairyman to im- 

 prove quality by asking him to do two or three essential things, 

 rather than discourage him by telling him a multitude of re- 

 quirements ? I believe more energy should be spent on a few 

 essentials, instead of giving the dairyman the idea that it is 



