108 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



little over $2. Could there be a better argument for testing? 

 I venture that New Hampshire is not the oulj State that will 

 show such conditions. A short time ago a similar census 

 showed approximately the same results in Vermont. Another 

 test is being made in Maine, and when Massachusetts is 

 reached I do not expect to see all of our herds on the profit 

 side of the ledger. 



Even if you are selling milk in the city, you are interested 

 in this matter, — perhaps more especially in the matter of 

 weighing than in the testing for butter fat. There is a dif- 

 ference whether your cows are giving 3,000 or 4,000 pounds 

 of milk annually. Remember, there are but two kinds of 

 cows: cows that make more than they eat and cows that eat 

 more than they make. Get rid of the latter, and breed from 

 the former. Concerted effort throughout New England is 

 now being given on this subject, and do not miss the oppor- 

 tunity to identify yourself with whatever movement is de- 

 cided upon for Massachusetts. Prof. J. L. Hills of Burling- 

 ton, Vt., who is heading the movement, has been given a 

 special place on all the programs of the State dairymen's 

 associations in New England for this winter, and gratifying 

 results are sure to follow. 



Finally, I wish to heartily commend farmers for seeking 

 better prices for dairy products, especially milk. The price 

 of the last named is to-day ridiculously low to the producer, 

 compared with the food value of other products. On the 

 other hand, I firmly believe that if dairymen would give a 

 little more attention to lowering the cost of production, as 

 well as to advancing prices of the commodity, they would be 

 far better off. The margin of profit would be just as pleas- 

 ing to the producer, joyfully welcomed by the consumer, and 

 the probabilities of profits made doubly certain. 



Mr. P. M. Harwood (of Barre). This matter of cow- 

 testing, associations is a matter which was brought out at the 

 recent meeting at Amherst primarily by Professor Hills of 

 Vermont, and the idea is to establish such associations in 

 different localities over the State, wherever the farmers are 

 willing to co-operate, and have some one go out from time to 



