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BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



The milk inspector of the city of Lowell estimates that 

 in his city the consumption of milk amounts to $6.77 per 

 capita per year. On that basis, for the population stated 

 above the total expenditure would be $12,660,000, or $660,- 

 000 more than my figures. At an average of eight quarts 

 per day the supply indicated above would require 60,000 

 cows. 



Is not such a business deserving the careful attention of 

 the State Board of Agriculture? When we consider the 

 amount of capital required to carry it on, in the farm, the 

 cows and the fodder, — raised or purchased, — and when we 

 also consider the necessary investment for the distribution 

 of the milk, we see that the sale milk business is a very 

 important agricultural interest of the State. But when we 

 also recall how generally this article of food is used, its 

 value in the dietary of both sick and well, of both infants 

 and adults, our realization of the importance of the indus- 

 try increases. And the State Board of Agriculture, stand- 

 ing, as it does, at the head of Massachusetts farm interests, 

 should make the sale milk business a prominent department 

 of its work. 



The amount of milk that is sold in the towns and cities 

 of the State can in some instances be ascertained by more 

 accurate statistics than the above approximation. The Bos- 

 ton wholesale dealers who supply the "greater Boston"' 

 have for several years had an understanding with each 

 other, by which their accounts are compiled at the end of 

 each month, and furnished to the Milk Producers' Union. 

 The table accompanying this gives the receipts and sales 

 for the year 1895, in 8^-quart cans : — 



