Dairy Conferences.

In the year 1884 Dr. Bond, M.D., F.R.S.E., of Gloucester, an enthusiastic and sound friend of dairying, organised the first conference which was held in England, and the success was so marked that the subject was brought before the council of the British Dairy farmers' Association, with the result that it was determined to hold annual conferences in different parts of the United Kingdom. As one who assisted in the establishment of this branch of dairy educational work, and who has attended every conference yet held I have been struck with the extraordinary success which it has achieved. The first conference was held in Cheshire, the dairy farmers of the county taking up the matter with great enthusiasm, although at head-quarters the movement was watched with some suspicion as to the results, many authorities who should have assisted evidently waiting until success had been assured. Then was, however, no doubt about it from the first; and in the following year I was authorised to invite four foreign authorities to attend the conference : Professor Arnold from America, Professor Lézé from France, Dr. Fleischman from Germany, and Professor Fjord from Denmark. The two former gentlemen came, and largely contributed to the information which was given to the dairy-farmers assembled in Derbyshire, where many were hospitably entertained by Lord page 95 Vernon. In the following year the association was invited to Ireland, and meetings were held in Dublin, Killamey, and Cork. In 1888 the eastern counties of Suffolk and Norfolk were selected, the meetings being held at Ipswich, Bury St. Edmunds, Framlingham Norwich, and Sandringham. During this visit the conference party, to the number of several hundreds, was entertained by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, by the President the Marquis of Bristol, by the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton, Mr. J. J. Colman, M.P., Captain Berners, and the Corporations of Bury and Norwich. The plan of operations is as follows: A sub-committee is formed from the council of the association, which arranges the scheme of the tour and addresses, in concert with a local committee. Members from all parts of the country assemble at a given town, staying at the different hotels. The first meeting is held in the town-hall, or in some other public building, where an address of welcome is given by a leading local gentleman and responded to by the president, after which a paper is read upon a dairy subject, this being followed by discussion. The party then adjourns either to lunch or to visit some factory, farm, herd, or dairy, after which a second paper is read, followed by another discussion. The three or four days allotted are thus filled up by a succession of addresses, discussions, and inspections of the best farms and dairies in the county. Everything goes like clockwork; carriages and breaks being provided when necessary in large numbers, and, when travelling by train, saloon ears are provided, so that the whole party travels together at reduced fares. The conference has hitherto left behind it distinct marks of its work, and many persons are induced either to take up dairying, or to improve it if they have hitherto followed no thorough system. More butter and cheese are produced, the cattle are more cheaply fed, and greater profits are made. I believe such a system, however simply it may be carried out, would prove of the greatest possible benefit in a dairy country. Dr. Bond is this year organizing some conferences on behalf of the Bath and West of England Society, which are to be held in May at Gloucester, where the society is establishing another dairy-school. I am asked to open one of these conferences with a paper on "How to sell butter and beat the foreigner." I would call the attention of colonial farmers to the extraordinary work being done in America in this direction. Several hundred conferences called "Farmers' Institutes" are held in Wisconsin every year, and other States are following the example thus set. It is, however, the dairy leaders who are foremost in the work.