4 P.D. 123 



if at all. High prices prevailed for fertilizers, machinery and feed, and in 

 fact everything used upon the farm. Sometimes crops were left upon the 

 fields because of insufficient help at harvesting time, and in any event the 

 margin of profit was grossly inadequate. 



Agriculture was first to feel the harmful after effects of a prosperity era 

 that enriched every part of the great producing United States while the vast 

 consuming populations of Europe were adjusting their industries and 

 agriculture. 



And agriculture began — a steady, progressive march toward readjustment 

 and reorganization at this time. 



Tractors have replaced many horses on our Massachusetts farms. Im- 

 proved machinery and implements have come into greater use. The size 

 of the average farm has probably decreased, but more productive crops have 

 been planted. Livestock of greater productive value is found upon our 

 dairy farms, our sheep farms and poultry farms. Farm management has 

 become more efficient; a better balance has been established among agri- 

 cultural enterprises and worthwhile progress has been made in adjusting 

 production to market requirements. 



This greater production has been obtained with relatively fewer farm 

 workers. Our agriculture has shown a high degree of resourcefulness in the 

 lean years following the World War. 



Increased Consumption of Quality Milk 



Milk is and will continue to be a fundamental food product. The per 

 capita consumption has been steadily increasing in Massachusetts. Schools, 

 stores, factories and homes fully recognize the value and increased efficiency 

 resulting from a greater use of milk and milk products. Production of fluid 

 milk in 1928 was close to 875,000,000 pounds and the value greater than 

 25 million dollars. A very noticeable factor in our milk production has 

 been the ' ever-increasing production per cow during the past ten years. 

 The necessity of getting greater production per animal has been our slogan 

 from the beginning, and in only rare cases in 1930 will a low-producing 

 animal be found in our dairy herds. 



At no time during the period from 1920 to 1930 has the co-operation 

 between producer, dealers and consumers been more in evidence than at 

 this time. The farmers have been urged to produce only quality milk and 

 substantial progress has been made. The dealers recognize the additional 

 value and importance of quality milk, and the consumer is willing to pay a 

 higher price for the quality product. 



Dairy farmers throughout New England have a strong producers asso- 

 ciation and the wholesale price of milk has been maintained at an increas- 

 ingly high level through the efforts of the New England Milk Producers' 

 Association. 



There should- be no question in the minds of farmers as to the market for 

 quality milk in Massachusetts, and we have many dairy farms where a greater 

 number of efficient milk producing cows would be a source of real profit. 



Progress in Marketing Graded Fruit 



Our fruit growers have made progress during the past decade. It is true 

 that many of the old and heavy producing apple trees have disappeared, 

 but thousands of young trees are coming into bearing each year. 



The Mcintosh is an apple that is creating a large demand in distant 

 markets. It is a fruit of special flavor and is probably unsurpassed as a 

 table apple. It has good keeping qualities and is selling at prices that bring 

 good profits to the fruit grower. 



The Department of Agriculture has stressed quality in the production of 

 apples. Massachusetts fruit growers have forged ahead on the basis of sell- 

 ing high grade fruit. 



Ten years of education, admonition and prosecution have very clearly 

 advanced the status of fruit growing in Massachusetts, and yet an entirely 

 satisfactory condition does not exist even at this time. 



