24 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



mai'ket value of this fodder the average cost of producing 

 one quart of milk, in case of" three cows, was lowest in this 

 period, namely, 1.76 cents. 



4. In feeding period IV. (corn and soja-bean ensilage), 

 where cows Gem, Lucy and Florence are considered, it will 

 be observed that the ensilage caused a marked increase in the 

 yield of milk from Gem, and not a very great decrease in the 

 case of the other two cows. These results, together with the 

 fact that the period lasted seventy-five days, during which 

 time the cows would naturally shrink some in their yield, in- 

 dicates that the corn and soja-bean ensilage was instrumen- 

 tal in stimulating the flow of milk. This period produced 

 milk, in case of five cows whose average yield was 10.5 

 quarts per day, at 1.84 cents per quart, which may be con- 

 sidered fairly low. 



5. In comparing the merits of rowen and the hay of peas 

 and oats, it will be observed that there is no great difference 

 in the results. The yield of milk was slightly increased by 

 the rowen over the peas and oats, but rather more rowen was 

 consumed, making the cost per quart of milk a trifle higher. 

 It can be stated, however, that hay of well-cured peas and 

 oats compares very favorably with a good quality of rowen 

 for milk production. 



6 . That the cost of milk per quart depends upon the abso- 

 lute yield is also worthy of notice. It is noticeable that 

 when the cows yield but 4 to 5 quarts of milk per day the 

 total cost of this milk is 3^ to 4 cents per quart ; and when 6 

 quarts are produced the cost is about 3 cents per quart. This 

 fact has been previously emphasized in the reports of the 

 station, namely, that a cow ceases to be profitable when she 

 yields but 6 quarts or less per day. If the farmer, therefore, 

 would make milk production profitable it is of the utmost im- 

 portance that he should select cows that are capable of giving 

 large and continuous yields of milk. A herd of cows in 

 which the average yield is but 7 to 8 quarts cannot be a very 

 profitable one, 



