No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. 23 



herds of dairy stock. Massachusetts figures generally gave this 

 as about 25 to 30 per cent, while in those sections of Maine 

 where young stock was being grown, there was no depreciation, 

 for the increase in the young stock raised offset the loss in the 

 old stock sold. Possibly this is one of the reasons why we 

 cannot raise milk as cheaply in Massachusetts as in Maine. 

 The question is certainly worth studying, and if our farmers 

 who are keeping dairy stock would consider the rearing of 

 young stock as a part of the dairy business, some at least might 

 be in better shape to compete with their neighbors across the 

 line. 



The Chamber of Commerce report takes up the whole 

 question under such headings as history, production, collection, 

 transportation, distribution, inspection and grading, and 

 finally makes a few recommendations, namely, for improve- 

 ments in farm economy, the establishment of country milk- 

 receiving stations, a better system of railroad transportation, 

 the improvement of city distribution, increased advertising of 

 clean milk as a food, and co-operation. 



Most of these recommendations are good, but we are left 

 considerably in doubt as to how they are to be carried out. 

 Could it be done without abolishing the leased-car^ system, the 

 readjustment of railroad rates on milk on a fair and equitable 

 basis, the rates increasing in proportion to the distance from 

 market, would benefit our dairymen, but Massachusetts 

 farmers should realize that the abolition of the leased-car 

 system all over New England would afford increased facilities 

 to out-of-State producers, which would operate to still further 

 flood our markets with foreign milk. That improvements in 

 farm economy can be made is true. Our farmers should know 

 more about the costs of production, the relative values of 

 butter fat and other solids m whole milk, and a number of other 

 important facts, but any agitation of this subject which does 

 not impress upon the consumer the necessity of paying more 

 for a high-grade milk, and that this advance in price should go 

 directly to the farmer, will leave this question much as it now 

 is. Our people in Massachusetts must not forget that this 

 report was made to cover New England and that its recom- 

 mendations refer to New England as a whole. 



