62 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



when there is ■ offered for sale more of any article than the 

 demand calls for the price must necessarily be weak. With 

 improving facilities for transportation the milk routes are 

 being extended or more territory added, so that no relief 

 seems likely. 



Three thoughts under this head are suggested : First, 

 the experiment stations are showing us that there are wide 

 variations in the cost of production ; some rations cost a 

 great deal more than others equally good, so that, with. 

 study and investigation on this point, the farmer can often- 

 times reduce the cost of production. Second, by appreciat- 

 ing thoroughly the value of the elements of fertility sold 

 from the farm in whole milk, there may be less of a desire 

 to rush so much whole milk upon the market. Butter takes 

 almost nothing from the fertility of the farm, the nitrogen 

 and mineral part of the milk being left in the skim-milk. 

 A butter farm, using its skim-milk at home, will constantly 

 improve ; but a milk farm must constantly buy grain and 

 fertilizer, or it will run down. The reiteration and expla- 

 nation of these facts by the State Board may possibly remove 

 the impetus to supply the market with so much of a surplus. 

 Third, the producing an extra quality of milk at an extra 

 price may be possible in more cases. Fourth, organization 

 of the producers has been of much benefit, and has even 

 more possibilities. 



Second Problem, — the Standard. 



Another problem growing out of the milk question relates 

 to the standard. Should there be any statute standard, — 

 that is, should the State by law prohibit the sale of pure 

 milk when its quality is below an arbitrary standard? 

 Some good and intelligent people say "No." A person 

 interested in maintaining the negative could quote the 

 English practice, which is in effect, to have no standard 

 but the poorest milk which it can be proved has been 

 drawn from the udder of a cow, and not artificially adul- 

 terated. In this country no less an authority than the 

 Hon. Edward Atkinson is on the same side. 



