48 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Even if we question the accuracy of these estimates in rate 

 of human increase and shortage of food, the fact still remains 

 that we are coming soon to a condition where it will be im- 

 perative that all possible of the organic-energy-carrying ma- 

 terial about us be converted into human food in the most 

 unwasteful fashion. 



Around about us there are hundreds of thousands of acres 

 of hill and meadow lands, producing vegctal)le growth which 

 is absolutely valueless as food for man direct; and in addition 

 to this we find that 60 per cent of the energy-carrying mate- 

 rial of our field crops is likewise in such form as to recpiire 

 first being consumed by some food-producing animal before it 

 has any food value for man. 



In practice, the consumption of this otherwise waste stuff 

 limits itself down to the beef steer and the dairy cow, and 

 close study has shown that the cow will produce about seven 

 times as much human food per unit of feed consumed as will 

 the steer. In fact, the corn stalks, leaves and cobs produced 

 on one acre of good corn, if fed to a steer will provide material 

 for about 50 pounds edible dry matter in the form of flesh, 

 while if fed to a dairy cow about 330 pounds edible dry 

 matter will be produced. National economy, then, would de- 

 mand that our hill pastures and lowland meadows, as well as 

 the coarse fodders of cultivated fields, be employed in the pro- 

 duction of nulk. 



Our New England farmers are now engaged in milk pro- 

 duction more largely than in any other branch of agricul- 

 ture ; or, in other words, they are workiiig along the lines 

 of greater public good in food production. Yet it is a pain- 

 ful fact that for some reason, or many, the business can 

 scarcely be said to be a paying one. There is now a living 

 in it, but little more. 



On top of the present condition another is climbing, which 

 is tending strongly to make it yet more difficult to so handle 

 this most honorable of human callings as to make it profit- 

 able for those engaged in it. I have refei-ence to the great 

 popular demand for better milk without a corresponding bet- 

 ter price, and the fact that our milk producers already re- 



