488 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



We have up in Columbia county another species of livestock in 

 a herd, flock or covey of ostriches. Some of them not long from 

 over the sea, they are said to be contented, and apparently to enjoy 

 their new home. It is not anticipated that any of their eggs will 

 come in competition in the market or be put in cold storage for 

 some time to come, nor will the}' come in competition with the turkey 

 for Thanksgiving? roast. Your Committee, however, is hopeful that 

 in the near future sufficient of the birds and feathers may be pro- 

 duced for ladies' hat trimmings so that song and insectivorous birds 

 may be exempt from such use. There may, however, be one draw- 

 back to tlieir use in this connection; if a whole bird be mounted the 

 hat will of neccessity have to be even larger than it is now. 



EEPOET OF THE COMMITTEE ON DAIKY AND DAIEY PEO- 



DUCTS 



By DR. M. E. CONARD, Chairman 



Dairy statistics of Pennsylvania today reveal rather surprising con- 

 ditions, notwithstanding the increase in population the number of 

 cows in Penna. is le-ss than a few years back. We also find a quite 

 general decrease in rural population of the State, with today about 

 55 per cent, of the entire population living in cities, towns and bor- 

 oughs leaving only 45 per cent, of the people in charge of the prinicpal 

 source of Pennsylvania's food production. Considering that a large 

 proportion of the 45 percent, of agriculturists by reason of location, 

 aptitude or inclination, are following other lines of agriculture pur- 

 suits, we find the dairy business is in the hands of a comparatively 

 small per cent, of the consuming public. And we will all agree that 

 there is no more important branch of agriculture than the dairy. 

 It is the one source a farmer has to sell his rough farm crops as a 

 manufactured product, and do the manufacturing himself. The 

 manufactured food on account of its vast importance should bring 

 him directly into the very best markets of the State. The high cost 

 and inefficiency of labor has done much to influence many farmers to 

 discriminate against the dairy business. The disproportion existing 

 between the prices demanded for commercial feeds and those paid 

 for the products of the cow has narrowed the margin upon which the 

 dairyman must depend for existence until it requires the most 

 strenuous efforts and careful management to keep the head above 

 water. Indeed, I venture the assertion, that if all dairymen in Penn- 

 sylvania were called to a financial reckoning today it would be a 

 small proportion that could show a net profit over cost of investment, 

 labor and feed. 



