642 The British Dairy Farmers' Association. [Oct., 



improved education and a proper training for those who contem- 

 plated taking up any branch of the dairy industry. 



The desirability of holding a National Dairy Show had occurred 

 to some of the original promoters, but it was not until 1878, two 

 years after the formation of the Association, that the Committee 

 held its first Dairy Show. 



On 1st October, 1879, the Association was incorporated, and 

 the Committee was then replaced by a Council. The members 

 gradually increased, and at the end of 1879 the number was 360. 



The influence exerted by a Society generally depends in large 

 measure upon the impressions which the ideas of a few members 

 make upon the body as a whole, and, as a corporate body, of 

 being able to further these ideas more widely and more rapidly 

 than could an individual. The Association has been fortunate 

 in this way. Among the pioneers, Mr. E. C. Tisdall 

 was destined to play a leading part, especially in the improve- 

 ment of dairy cattle. The necessity for such improvement had 

 long attracted his attention, and in a paper contributed to the 

 second part of the first Journal he impressed upon dairy 

 farmers that they should ' 1 breed a race of cows more consonant 

 with their own interest and the requirements of the 

 community." 



These views were enforced by careful records of the daily yield 

 of milk from each cow in a herd of 60. Such records, probably 

 the first of their kind, attracted considerable interest, and in 

 1881 Mr. T. Higgin, of Liverpool, offered a challenge cup for 

 the best dairy farm record, which was competed for in the 

 following year. Since that time the Association has continued 

 to impress upon dairy farmers the importance of records. 



Simultaneously Professor Sheldon, by active propaganda work, 

 was aiming at the improvement of methods of dairy farming. 

 The results of his efforts were important, and the work has been 

 continued by the Association. 



Milking Trials. — At the first three dairy shows, the prizes 

 appear to have been given to cows merely after inspection of the 

 animals. In 1879 and 1880 milking trials were instituted, and 

 a report on the results obtained was published. The trials have 

 been continued ever since, modified or extended as experience 

 dictated, and have thrown light upon many problems. They 

 have shown the natural fluctuations in milk, the peculiarities 

 of breeds and individuals, and the possibilities of improvement. 



Conferences. — In 1885 it was decided to extend the educa- 

 tional work of the Association by holding Conferences in the 



