THE AFTER-WAR DEPRESSION 4/7 



a bread-eating nation. While the total number 

 of milch cows has increased, the number of cows 

 per thousand of population has decreased. 

 While the production of milk sold has decreased 

 there has been a revolution in the dairy industry 

 so that the production of butter and cheese has 

 declined, the milk being needed for consumption 

 as whole milk rather than in the form of its 

 manufactured products. 



On the whole there has been nothing reassur- 

 ing in the last decade in agricultural develop- 

 ment from the national standpoint. It might be 

 assumed that this shrinking of agriculture as 

 shown by reduction in numbers of farms in re- 

 lation to population, might mean a larger field 

 for the American farmer to sell his product. 

 But on the contrary, he is faced with a declin- 

 ing net return. 



