THE MILK QUESTION. 17 



believe that the Massachusetts Agricultural College will never 

 lack for students or the funds needful for carrying on this in- 

 stitution founded by the joint action of the United States and 

 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 



The Chairman. We have with us to-day as our first essay- 

 ist, a young man born and nurtured in the Connecticut Valley, 

 transplanted to the broad fields of the Old Dominion, and now 

 working out the problems of the agriculturist on the Houghton 

 Farm, Mountainville, N. Y., Major Henry E. Alvoiid. 



THE MILK QUESTION. 



BY HENRY E. ALFORD OF HOUGHTOX FAKM. 



Notwithstanding the wonderful progress that has been made 

 by agriculture, during the present century, the improvements 

 in the implements and methods of cultivation, in live stock and 

 its feeding, all matters of deep interest to be specially and ably 

 presented later in this meeting, w^e find some of the soundest 

 advice as to practical farming among writings of an early 

 period in history.. 



The foundation principles of successful agriculture were 

 understood centuries ago. Among the truths then recorded, 

 there is none which we can more heartily endorse, than that of 

 an ancient Roman farmer, who wrote, " Cattle are the founda- 

 tion of all riches." 



In our oAvntime, the closest student of European and Amer- 

 ican agricultural economy is Sir John Lawes of Rothamsted, in 

 Herefordshire, England. Althougii an eminent scientific man, 

 he values science for what it does, not for what it is, and takes 

 broad and practical views of all questions of farm management. 

 Lately, writing for farmers of the older sections regarding their 

 competition with those on new lands, he gave this opinion : — 

 "The relation between grain and the various animal products 

 is no longer what it was ; while the price of the former has a 

 continuous declining tendency, that of the latter continues to 

 advance. There can be no reasonable doubt that profitable 

 agriculture in the future will depend, more than it has ever done 

 before, upon the successful management of farm stock." 



Farmers in the older States are doing more and more e\'ery 



