645 



tion had the matter thoroughly investigated, and a report on 

 the results of the investigations was published in its Journal for 

 1910 and 1911. It was conclusively proved that what had been 

 taken by superficial observers to be pus cells were normal cellular 

 structures of healthy milk. 



Work During the War. — After the outbreak of the War the 

 work of the Association naturally declined. A show was held in 

 1915. but thereafter the shows fell into abeyance until 19H). At 

 a public meeting of dairy farmers held at Westminster on 

 6th February, 1918, under the presidency of Lord Desborough, 

 K.C.V.O., the following resolutions were passed unanimously : — 

 "1. It is desirable to discourage the slaughter of every 



healthy cow and female calf adapted for dairy purposes so as 



to ensure the utmost possible production of milk now and 



in the future. 



" 2. Cheese is the most perfect substitute for meat, hence 

 all milk that can possibly be spared should be converted into 

 cheese ; and as the whey from cheese-making is best utilised 

 when fed to pigs, the maximum number of pigs should be so 

 fed, and to attain this end a necessary supply of offal, particu- 

 larly from home-grown cereals, should be ensured." 

 Had the policy indicated in these resolutions been adopted from 



the very commencement of hostilities this country would not 



now be so heavily in debt to others. 



Such, in brief, are the foundations upon which the dairy 

 industry of this country has been built up since the inception 

 of the British Dairy Farmers' Association. It has been a natural 

 process of evolution, and during the period vast changes have 

 taken place. 



From the commencement of its activities the Association has 

 been impressing upon dairy farmers the necessity of improving 

 dairy stock, of increasing milk production, of economy in feeding, 

 and of skill in the manufacture of all dairy products. The War 

 emphasised the need of attention to these matters. 



By its thirty years' educational work the Association has taught 

 those engaged in the industry how to obtain results far beyond 

 what were previously thought possible ; it has sent authorities 

 oh dairying to all our colonies, and has helped to promote dairy 

 education throughout the British Empire. 



The great help which the Association gave the country during 

 the terrible years of War was not direct, but indirect. It had 

 trained an army of skilled workers, many of whom were found 



D 



