FROM FARM TO CONSUMER 247 



as has been represented in some quarters. The extra cost 

 of producing a clean milk of sanitary grade is not excessive. 



According to the census of 1900 the average price paid 

 the farmer for milk in this country was 8.7 cents a gallon; 

 that is, about 2.2 cents a quart. What can we expect at 

 such a price? At present, farmers are paid somewhat more 

 (the latest figures not being available), but still too low. 

 These figures justify the general belief that the farmer gets 

 too little for his milk. On the other hand, it is said the con- 

 sumer pays too much and the middleman gets all the profit. 

 Whether this is so or not is difficult to make out. One 

 thing, however, is sure; that is, that the farmer does not 

 receive enough and there is considerable economic loss in 

 transportation, handling, and distribution through lack 

 of cooperation. 



At the price ordinarily paid for milk in our large cities, it 

 is a food of reasonable cheapness, and at the prices pre- 

 vailing in small cities and country towns, milk is a very 

 economical food. Under any circumstances protein is ob- 

 tained at a much cheaper price in milk than in meat or eggs. 

 On the other hand, it is a more expensive food than cereals, 

 potatoes, and certain vegetables, flour, bread, crackers and 

 also beans and peas if considering only their caloric value. 



The comparative value of milk and other foods is shown 

 in the accompanying table, and has already been referred to 

 under the paragraph upon "Milk as a Food." In compar- 

 ing the price of milk with that of other foods, it is import- 

 ant to remember that it requires no preparation for the 

 table, which adds to the cost of foods, such as cereals and 

 vegetables, which seem cheap in their raw state. 



The variation in the composition of milk is so great that 

 it is entirely possible that one man may pay nearly twice 

 as much as his neighbor for the same amount of nutriments 

 when both buy it at the same price per quart. 



Hospitals, orphan asylums, babies' nurseries, and other 

 institutions and homes where children and invalids are 



