No. 4.] FARM ECONOMICS. 367 



twelve cows seven hundred and twenty dollars, or an aver- 

 age of sixty dollars per head. Had the weeding process 

 been applied, and six thousand pounds established as the 

 minimum, the profit would have been one hundred and 

 twenty dollars more than at the present, — for, be it re- 

 membered, these higher figures deal with profit entirely. 

 If it costs fifty dollars per head to keep a cow, Ave have in 

 one ease a net balance over cost of keep of one hundred and 

 twenty dollars and in the other of two hundred and forty. 

 Supposing the four cows arc removed from the herd, and the 

 production of the eight Avould return one hundred and sixty 

 dollars net profit, and the owner is richer by forty dollars 

 than with the twelve. This is a supposable case, but in a 

 large number of herds as wide variations will bo found, and 

 as great a per cent of cows not yielding enough to pay the 

 bills for hay, grain, pasturage and ensilage. 



The scales and record for three hundred and sixty-five 

 days form the only reliable test, and the story these tell 

 must be final with him who makes milk for market. 



Another loss along the same line lies in producing five per 

 cent milk for a four per cent market and standard. The 

 standard established by law or agreement is to be met, but 

 there is no reason why the producer should exceed that in 

 value, and give something for which he obtains no equiva- 

 lent. This calls for the selection of stock by the Babcock 

 test. Milk and butter fat are the products of nerve force, 

 and it is this which exhausts vitality most rapidly. For this 

 reason the producer must protect himself from waste by wise 

 selection with reference to the work the animal is to perform. 

 Economy here points to a conservation of nerve force, — an 

 item which receives far too little attention. We save at the 

 spigot and waste at the bung, when the principle here in- 

 volved is not applied by the individual farmer to his indi- 

 vidual animals. The standard is to be met, but skill and 

 care are called for not to exceed unless price is proportion- 

 ately increased. Deliver what } 7 our contract calls for, and 

 then protect yourself from loss. 



In butter making the question rests solely on production 

 of butter fat, Avith the same exactions regarding individuals. 



