116 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



stuffs. This increase has not been sufficient to meet the in- 

 creased cost of production. 



Improved sanitation means more cost to produce; therefore, 

 when we are working with farmers who are receiving a low 

 price for milk, we must act with reason. ]^o one will deny 

 that in many cases the farmers are receiving little compensa- 

 tion for milking cows; however, I believe with existing prices 

 it is possible for the dairymen of this country to obtain more 

 profit and produce better milk. 



It is claimed that only about one-third of the dairy cows in 

 ISTew York State are kept at a profit. If this is true of Xew 

 York, it is probably true of many other States. As I visit the 

 dairymen of this country, I am impressed with the statements 

 that they make in regard to the amount of milk received per 

 cow. Some dairymen say their cows are averaging about one 

 gallon each, while others say theirs give three. Why this dif- 

 ference ? There are several things that might assist in this 

 condition of affairs, yet I believe it is principally accounted for 

 by the difference in cows. A profitable cow costs little more 

 to keep than an unprofitable one ; yet farmer after farmer is 

 keeping these scrub cows. It is also a question of the dairy- 

 man not really knowing which are his profitable cows and w^hich 

 the boarders. Too many think they have no time for the Bab- 

 cock test and the scales. If dairymen are to produce milk on 

 an economical basis, they must start with better cows. Then 

 they must properly care and feed these cows if best results are 

 to be obtained. Successful dairymen are using silos, growing 

 alfalfa, etc. ; therefore other farmers should study these matters. 



Again, as one travels over this country, he cannot help being 

 impressed with the many kinds of waste that are continually 

 occurring on our farais. The farm machinery that should last 

 a number of years is allowed to deteriorate rapidly because it 

 is not properly housed and cared for. One of the most valuable 

 assets to the farm, namely, the liquid manure, is allowed to 

 waste by soaking into the gTOund near the barn. Even the solid 

 maniTre is thrown under the eaves, and the soluble elements, 

 which are the best forms of plant food, are allowed to be lost. 

 So we might mention loss after loss that is continually occur- 

 ring on our farms, mainly because of poor management. I can 



