June, 1942] Agricultural Experlment Station 7 



twenty in villages, and twenty-two are special farms such as rec- 

 reational hotels and summer estates. It is estimated that about half 

 of these larger herds are more dependent on other than economic 

 ])roduction of roughage or marketing for their continuance. 



Even if the general decline in dairying on farms in these unfavor- 

 able areas continues, many locations will remain in use by families 

 who are not dependent on dairying for their livelihood. Some families 

 will keep one or more cows for their own use. The decline in com- 

 mercial production in these locations will not be very significant and 

 can be easily offset by an increase in production in the favorable areas. 

 There is evidence that the general trend is toward expansion of com- 

 mercial herds in the more favorable dairy sections and a gradual de- 

 cline in the unfavorable areas. The conservation program, the ed- 

 ucational activities, and the alternate possibilities of employment all 

 contribute to these diverging trends. 



The conservation practices and the educational program should 

 be examined critically and adapted to the changing conditions in each 

 type of area. Farmers in favorable areas should be encouraged to 

 build a permanent dairy industry, and in the unfavorable sections the 

 program might foster making the most of existing resources in dairy- 

 ing as long as they are available but directing the activities toward 

 the development of other resources that can be more permanent. 



Table 1. Distribution of farms and cows in New Hampshire by size of herds 



