ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 191 



scales and an ax, and the addition I think is a good one, 

 especially a vig-orous application of the last mentioned, when 

 we know for sure where it ought to be applied. It is a startling 

 statement though founded upon fact, that there are 300,000 

 cows in Illinois today, devoting what small misdirected energy 

 they have to milk production that can more nearly balance their 

 accounts with their owners now by presenting their hides, than 

 can they at any future time. To detect such cows the owners 

 should take composite samples from each once in nine weeks or 

 thereabouts, and test them to determine the average percentage 

 of butterfat in the milk of the individual. To obtain accurate 

 results the milk from each cow should be weighed continuously, 

 but good results can be obtained if weights are taken only during 

 the weeks when sampling is done. When proper arrangements 

 are made the time and labor required to test a herd are insigni- 

 ficant. In fact, the better dairymen weigh continuously and test 

 every week. 



Test Associations. 

 The test association has grown out of the effort of dairy- 

 men and teachers to make the testing of cows in dairy communi- 

 ties more general and less burdensome. These organizations 

 were first known in Denmark and have so thoroughly demon- 

 strated their great value there in raising the production of herds 

 that their introduction into this country is sought with consid- 

 erable hope of realizing equally good returns. The state cannot 

 test all the cows, it is too large a task; the creameries will not; 

 therefore, the owners must do it if it is ever done. About a 

 year ago the first Cow Testing Association to be found in this 

 country was started in Michigan. It marks an important epoch 

 if it can be followed up with still others. The management of 

 the different associations varies in different places. Usually the 

 members hire a competent person who has not only the ability 

 to test milk but is likewise familiar with the principles of feed- 

 ing and the care and management of a herd. His value is in- 

 creased with the ability to instruct those with whom he comes in 

 contact. The association should control cows enough to fully 

 occupy the time of the tester. The salary of the tester is the 



