No 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 401 



Second growth of clover was very good, but the heads were not 

 so well filled with seed as in 1907» but the grains were nicer and 

 plumper this year (1U08), though the yield was only from one-half 

 to one and one-half bushels per acre, and the price only half as 

 high as last year. Clover seed sown last spring made a good 

 growth, but the hot, dry weather after harvest killed some of it. 



Failure of clover to fill some years and need of pasture, compels 

 many farmers to buy all their timothy and clover seeds, and has 

 brought many foul and troublesome weeds on farms, among which 

 are wild carrot, thistles, buckthorn, ox-eye dais^^, and dodder. Per- 

 sons buying grass seed should be protected against loss and annoy- 

 ance by such, and other weed seeds. 



Alfalfa has been tried in a small way on many farms with differ- 

 ent results, but experience has taught us that this useful plant will 

 grow on properly drained, limed, fertilized, and prepared soils, v/ith- 

 out any bacteria, if all the conditions are favorable for its growth, 

 and it is hoped that many acres of it may be grown in this State for 

 its feeding and fertilizing value. 



Since clovers are one great source of fertility, and fertility is the 

 chief thing on a farm, let us grow more clovers to get more fertility 

 in one of the natural wavs. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON DAIRY AND DAIRY PRODUCTS. 



By W. E. PERHAM, Chairman. 



The dairymen of Pennsylvania were up against it in 1908. In 

 fact, it will have to go down in history as the hardest year in many 

 for the dairy farmer in some parts of the State. The drought and 

 high prices of feed, with prices of milk and butter fat remaining 

 about parallel with prices of last year, makes this condition. Yet 

 Pennsylvania makes a good showing, even though the dairy farmers 

 have lost money. Of the 23,000.000 cows in the United States, 1,- 

 200,000 are in this State, the approximate value of which is $43,000,- 

 000. The value of our dairy products alone is over $40,000,000. This 

 is exceeded by only one State — New York. 



The largest portion of this product is in butter and cheese. Butter 

 leads, but the production of cheese is on the increase. Especially is 

 this true in the northern and western tiers of counties. There has 

 been an increase in the sale of cream, whole milk, and ice cream, 

 and the ])rices seem fairly good until compared with the prices of 

 feeds. The tendency of farmers to sell milk is increasing very rap- 

 idly, because of the larger returns in cash, but it is a greater drain 

 upon their farms. 



The Borden's are getting a strong foot-hold in this State. They 

 are probably doing more to make the farmer produce a clean, whole- 

 some milk than any of the other large milk dealers, and they have 

 always led in price until this winter, when, for some reason, they 

 have cut the price ten cents per hundred. The New York Milk Ex- 

 change gives better prices this winter, buying milk at four cents a 



