96 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The consumption of poultry and eggs, at retail prices, taken 

 separately, conies to at least the value of $200,000,000 per year ; 

 or more tlian the combined value of the product of the silver mines 

 and the product of the pig-iron furnaces, with the entire wool 

 clip added. 



These rations or proportions may well be considered when eco- 

 nomic legislation is under consideration. 



The least conspicuous industries are tlie most important ; and 

 the most aggressive and overbearing, like the silver interests (so 

 called), are of the least possible consequence. The product of 

 the hen yards, in eggs alone, is, as I have so often had occasion to 

 say of late, more than double that of the silver mines. 



At three and a half cents to each person per day for beef, the 

 value of the beef consumed within the limits of the United States 

 would be in the neighborhood of $600,000,000 a year; or more 

 than the entire product of all our textile factories put together. 

 How much more it is than three and a half cent's worth a day 

 cannot be computed. 



I have thus brought before you in a hasty manner three separate 

 directions in which the application of science has j'et a vast and 

 almost unexplored field : — 



First. Determination of the ration due to the land ; — science 

 applied to the production of protein, fat, and starch in vegetable 

 growths, in right proportions for the food of beasts as well as of 

 man. 



Second* Science applied to the consumption of protein, fat, 



which I have previously given you, the consumption of the present popula- 

 tion of the people of this country would be — 



Meat and fish, 11 cents a day, . . $2,007,500,000 



Milk, butter, cheese, and eggs, C " " . . 1.095,000,000 



Vegetable food, 8 " " , . 1,440,000,000 



25 §4,542.500,000 



Mr. David A. Wells estimates our liquor bill at about . 500,000,000 



Total, over $5,000,000,000 



This is too much, because we live better in Massachusetts than they do in 

 many ])lace.s, and our food costs more here than it does in the West. Yet I 

 think $4,000,000,000 would not be too high. 



How much of It is wasted? 



How much is badly cooked? 



Can you bear to think of it? 



