MILK 115 



is unlimited, and in the larger towns at any rate, this 

 demand is effective. As a result of the causes noted 

 above the supply is very deficient. In some rural 

 tracts milk is fairly plentiful and cheap, but in the 

 towns it is scarce and dear, much of it is dirty and 

 most of it is heavily adulterated. As a result of this 

 it is probable that about 60 per cent, of the population 

 of the larger towns obtain no milk at all except the 

 little that they purchase for their children, and the 

 quality of the milk that can be obtained by the casual 

 purchaser is almost invariably very bad. In China 

 and Japan the people consume no milk, and regard 

 the use of milk or milk products as a disgusting 

 habit ; but in India people regard milk as a valuable 

 food, as indeed it is, and there is no reason why, with 

 proper organisation, the milk supply should not be 

 greatly improved. 



As compared with the dairy farmer in Europe the 

 Indian dairy farmer is at a disadvantage from the 

 fact that the cows and buffaloes in India give far less 

 milk than is given by any cow whose existence would 

 be tolerated in Europe. Another difficulty is the 

 absence of any succulent fodder during the dry season, 

 except where irrigation facilities occur. To improve 

 matters the obvious technical remedies are to breed 

 pedigree cattle, carefully selected for milk production, 

 and to introduce the use of ensilage. These meas- 

 ures have revolutionised the dairy industry in other 

 countries, and in India there is room for enormous 

 progress in this respect. But the problem of milk 



