METHODS OF STUDYING AGRICULTURAL QUESTIONS 419 



The right way to keep a milk record is to weigh the product 

 each milking and have the milk tested for fat once a month. 

 It takes about five seconds to weigh and record the weight of 

 the milk where the record sheet and the milk scales are con- 

 veniently located. Weighing the product each milking is 

 worth while in itself as it is a means of knowing at once if for any 

 reason the herd or any particular cow in the herd is not doing 

 well. This record is also the basis for adjusting the grain 

 ration from time to time. The fat test can be made by the 

 farmer but the more practical way is for the farmer to have 

 the samples tested at the creamery. 



Labor records show the amount of time spent in the operation 

 of the dairy. In addition to keeping general labor records 

 which will show the time spent on the dairy herd as a whole, 

 it is desirable to take account once a month of the differences 

 in the amount of time required by the different cows. For 

 example, Mary and Molly give essentially the same amount of 

 product, but Molly is easily milked in five minutes whereas ten 

 minutes are required to milk Mary. The number of cows one 

 man can handle depends largely upon the ease with which they 

 can be milked. 



The first object of dairy accounts is to know whether or not 

 it pays better to operate the dairy than to sell the crops which 

 are fed to the cattle. In answer to this question the records 

 should give basis for an annual statement as follows : 



ACCOUNT WITH HERD OF TEN Cows FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH i, 1915 



Expenses 



Twenty tons of hay, farm value . . - $ 240 



Eight hundred bushels oats, farm value 480 



Sixty tons of corn ensilage, farm value 240 



Labor, 140x3 hours 280 



Interest on value of herd 60 



Depreciation on herd 70 



Interest on dairy barn and equipment 48 



Depreciation on dairy barn and equipment .... 40 



Salt 7 



Veterinary 22 



Total cost $1487 



