448 



Bulletin 268. 



From this table it is seen that the prices of concentrated feeds have 

 increased on an average of 30% in the six years, the percentage increase 

 for each feed being approximately as follows: Cottonseed-meal, 15%; 

 linseed-meal, 25%; corn-meal, 35%; and wheat-bran, 45%. 



Considering the prices received by the farmer for his milk and butter 

 during the same time, it is observed that the increase has been only 

 about one-half as great, as is shown by the following table. The prices 

 of milk and butter were obtained by averaging the reports for the first; 

 week of each month throughout each year. ', 



Table II. Wholesale Prices of Milk and Butter, 1903-1908* 



* Weekly reports of New York Dairy Market iii "The Country Gentleman." 



These prices show for the six years an increase of approximately 

 only 14% for the milk and 15% for the butter. 



These facts indicate the importance of studying methods of produc- 

 tion and the value of home-grown crops to replace the high-priced 

 feeds on the market. In Bulletins 243 and 244 of this station, reports 

 have been made on the methods and cost of raising mangels, and it is 

 the purpose of this experiment to show the value of the dry matter in 

 the mangels in rations for milk cows. 



PLAN OF EXPERIMENT 



Before outlining the experiment, the writer inquired into the methods 

 employed at other experiment stations. Only one station seems to 

 have made a trial of the different methods of conducting a feeding 

 experiment of this kind. Director J. L. Hills, of the Vermont Station, 

 after a three-years' trial concludes . that the simple alternation system 

 is best for milk cows. He would use as many animals as possible in each 

 group and have the feeding periods as long as possible. 



