22 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



PRODUCING AND MARKETING OF MILK. 



BY MR. FRANK B. ALLEN, LONGMEADOW. 



When we note the multiplicity of ways by which milk 

 finds its way into our every-day diet, — that there is hardly 

 a man, woman or child who does not partake of it in some 

 form, — it is then and only then that we realize what a neces- 

 sary adjunct milk is to our existence, and what a blessing 

 the cow is to humanity. 



There are but very few people who realize the amount of 

 capital, both in dollars and nerve power, it takes to produce 

 milk. The majority of people think that because it is liquid 

 its place is alongside of water, — a very necessary article in 

 our every-day life, but rather inexpensive ; in fact, there are 

 not a few farmers Avho produce milk w4io know what it costs 

 to make a quart of milk, or are informed as to how many of 

 the cows in their herd (if any) are paying expenses or run- 

 ning tliem in debt, or which ones are making a profit. I 

 think there is no business that requires more persistent 

 study, careful thought and the exercise of good judgment 

 than the production of milk, where it is carried on to make 

 a profit, — the choosing of a farm, the arrangement of build- 

 ings, the choice of a herd, tlie rations, the care of the milk, 

 and, last and most important, the marketing of the product. 

 No movement or enterprise, no matter how great or how 

 small, has ever amounted to anything unless it had some- 

 thing behind it to make it go. Brains, mone}^, industry, 

 economy and a genius for organization are some of the most 

 common elements regarded as essential to success ; and to 

 these, for the farmer who is producing milk, I would add 

 patience. 



What we as farmers need is more true knowledge of our 



