248 APPENDIX E 



PROFIT OR LOSS: With the production price exceeding the selling 

 price a county-wide loss would seem self-apparent. This loss, how- 

 ever, is slightly more than redeemed by the value of calves and 

 manure produced. The farms included in the survey were, in al- 

 most every individual case and on the average, just about breaking 

 even. 



From the sale and utilization of milk and calves there was an 

 annual average loss per cow of $6; a loss offset by the manure which 

 a cow will produce in a year. So it seems that Baltimore County 

 is just about breaking even from its efforts to supply Baltimore 

 City with milk. 



Aside from the fertility factor an important but not a very 

 tangible reward the only other excuse for being in the milk busi- 

 ness seems to be the monthly check. This is an undoubted advan- 

 tage. In the present absence of any logical system of rural credit 

 many farmers are practically banking with the milk middleman; 

 pouring in their daily deposits of value and drawing out in cash at 

 the first of the month. 



WHAT is WRONG WITH THE MILK BUSINESS? This question, put 

 to 25 Baltimore County dairymen, elicited 23 decided opinions. 



One dairyman writes, "Allow me to predict that, if conditions 

 are not soon bettered, most of the men now engaged in the milk 

 business will be forced out of it." 



Where in Frederick County the disposition was to lay the blame 

 upon the present laws, Baltimore County was practically unani- 

 mous in blaming the system of marketing. 



Sixteen thought the present prices paid for milk to be insufficient 

 in view of the constantly growing production cost a belief some- 

 what supported by the facts obtained. Six attacked the middle- 

 men. One man thought the trouble to be in "over-production" 

 and counselled combination in view of finding "some method to 

 take care of the surplus." 



WHAT SUGGESTIONS HAVE YOU TO MAKE THINGS BETTER? The 

 great majority of answers to this question simply advocated a "fair 

 price." Some specified this price to be "20c. in summer and 25c. in 

 winter, showing that the farmers have at least an idea of what it is 

 costing them to produce the milk they are selling for 16.2c." 



"Milk should be graded as is the case of all other foodstuffs," 



