88 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



must depend upon the laboratory to make such tests as cannot 

 be appHed by the senses. 



The First Attempt to Judge Milk and Cream on the Basis of a Score Card. 

 For many years the National Creamery Buttermakers' Asso- 

 ciation, as well as State Dairy Associations here, called for ex- 

 hibits of butter and cheese at their annual gatherings, and offer- 

 ed medals and diplomas for these products receiving the highest 

 scores. It seems very prope,r therefore, that the milk producer 

 should have an opportunity to exhibit his product and have it 

 scored in a similar way. 



The National Dairy Show, held at Chicago, in February, 

 1904, seemed to offer an excellent opportunity for such an ex- 

 hibit, hence the Dairy Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry 

 secured space and called for exhibits of milk and' cream through 

 the medium of the daily papers and by means of press bulletins. 

 Much interest was exhibited in the contest from the start, and ap- 

 plications for entry came from many states, the most distant 

 points being Massachusetts on the east, Maryland on the south 

 and Kansas on the west. Thirteen states were represented in 

 all and there were 45 exhibits. 



Difficulties Proved Only Imaginary. 



We had but little encouragement to attempt an exhibit of 

 this character. It seemed to be the general opinion that it would 

 be a difficult matter to bring together samples of milk from dis- 

 tant points and give them a test on any fair basis. Little diffi- 

 culty, however, was experienced. The milk was all required to 

 be produced and shipped on the same day, and as it was all iced, 

 distance had but little effect upon the product. It was thought 

 that an attempt to score milk and cream on a basis similar to 

 that used for butter, and giving a certain number of points to fla- 

 vor, composition and bacterial content, might present some diffi- 

 culties, but the plan was carried out with most satisfactory re- 

 sults. In fact, much less difficulty was experienced by the judges 

 in deciding upon the various points than was anticipated. The 

 scoring was done upon the produce when three days old. 



