THE MILK QUESTION. 19 



■dollars in 1840, to eight and three-fourths million dollars in 

 1880. The greater numbers and higher value both mean more 

 milk. 



The growth of our cities and manufacturing towns enlarges 

 the demand for milk as food, and is another cause of the 

 increased production of this article. 



The tendency of the times is to lighten the burden of domes- 

 tic manufactures, Avhich include the making of butter and 

 ■cheese on the farm, and to sell off all raw materials as fast as 

 produced. This is a further cause for swelling the vohime of 

 milk thrown upon the market. 



Rapid as the growing demand for milk has been, the in- 

 crease in production has fully kept up with it, and for some 

 time the supply has exceeded the demand. In many parts of 

 the State, a surplus of milk is now to be found during parts of 

 the year, if not most of the time, and the question arises. 

 What is the best disposition to make of it? 



The milk question thus presents itself as one of the interest- 

 ing and important topics of the day, among the farmers of 

 Massachusetts. 



The consideration of this subject naturally divides itself into 

 three parts, as follows : 



1st. Shall the milk be sold ? 



2d. How shall it be sold ? 



3d. If not sold, what shall be done with it? 



I. "Shall the Milk be Sold?" 

 This is a question which cannot be briefly answered, in the 

 abstract. The reply must depend upon the various conditions 

 which surround the farm as to which the inquiry is made. 



On general principles it is safe to say, that it is poor policy 

 to sell milk ; that milk farming is poor fanning, except 

 under most guarded conditions. But many exceptions must at 

 once be made to cover cases where all the circumstances are 

 carefully considered, and the fundamental objections resolutely 

 removed. 



One great trouble is, that the steady cash income is so allur- 

 ing as to often become deceptive. The credit side is pleasingly 

 i'elt, while the debit side is not fully computed. When the in- 

 terest on the cost of the cow is given, and the cost of her feed 



