APPENDIX D 215 



on Agriculture, in cooperation with various agricultural 

 agencies, conducted throughout New England, in 1914, a 

 series of public milk hearings which were attended by about 

 2,500 farmers.* At these hearings the farmers were interro- 

 gated on the following points: 



What it costs per year to keep a cow. 



The average production per cow per year. 



Value of the calf. 



Value of manure. 



Other problems incident to the production of milk. 



Their views as to what ought to be done. 



The number of producers [reports the committee] who kept a 

 strictly accurate record of all the [necessary] items was naturally 

 small. During the last five or ten years, however, more attention 

 has been given to the question of the cost of keeping a cow, and the 

 number of producers who have kept accurate records has been 

 rapidly on the increase. As a matter of fact, it was shown that it 

 has been only within the last seven to ten years that serious con- 

 sideration has been given to an analysis of the items of cost in the 

 keeping of a cow. 



More accurate figures were furnished by the producers of Ver- 

 mont than by the producers of any other part of New England. 

 It was shown that Vermont was the largest dairy state in New 

 England and supports 34 cow test associations. 



The testimony given by the farmers in the various sections of 

 New England naturally showed a wide range of opinion as to the 

 value of calf and manure, and as to the amounts and prices charged 

 for the individual items. The peculiar conditions in each locality 

 proved to be a large determining factor. 



Taken over New England generally, under varying conditions 

 and with varying degrees of efficiency (varying ability) and varying 

 accuracy as to items of cost, the following range of figures represents 

 fairly the evidence obtained at the hearings. . . . 



* This was part of a general investigation of milk and cream condi- 

 tions in New England. See Appendix E. 



