120 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



ings at some couvenient place, like the country schoolhouse. At 

 these meetings the dairymen should be encouraged to feel that 

 it is their meeting, that questions and discussions are expected. 

 Such meetings are being held by the inspectors of some cities, 

 and are a decided success. 



Another method of assisting the dairyman is by milk contests 

 in which good prizes are offered. With these contests are 

 usually held meetings that are of value to the dairymen, and 

 in these contests I think more good can be done the contestants 

 if good, practical prizes are offered ; for example, give pure- 

 bred stock, covered milk pails or separators. Education should 

 be the main purpose of such contests. 



At a recent milk contest, the results of which were based on 

 the average of four samples taken at random from cans as 

 delivered in the city, I had the pleasure of meeting the gentle- 

 man who won first prize. In conversation he told me that he 

 was then receiving about 19 cents a gallon for his milk, which 

 was more than was received by any other producer sending to 

 the same dairy company. Later I learned that in the preceding 

 year, which was his first time in a contest, he won a prize and 

 was at that time receiving about 17 cents a gallon for his milk. 



His score the first year was 89.4 per cent, and this year 95.8 

 per cent. This shows that the contest had been of considerable 

 educational value to him and that he had profited financially, 

 not only from the prize money, which amounted to $45, but, 

 also, he received more for his milk throughout the year. 



If results are to be accomplished, the inspector must spend 

 considerable time with the dairyman and not hurriedly try to 

 cover his territory. If this is done, it will mean that there must 

 be more inspectors and more money for this work; yet is not 

 this what must be done if results are to be accomplished ? And 

 results are what we want. ' 



I do not believe that as good results can be accomplished by 

 force. You might make a dairyman nse a covered pail, but if 

 he has to use it against his wishes, he is not apt to use it when 

 the inspector is not there, while on the other hand, if he is 

 educated to the value of the covered pail, he appreciates the 

 necessity for using it regularly. 



