24 UNIV. OF N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 217 



In view of this estimated return and the probable increase in prices 

 of pine, every encouragement should be given to this enterprise. The 

 owners of abandoned farms, and of those farms with only a small acreage 

 of tillable land which are likely to be abandoned in the near future, should 

 plant or encourage the natural growth of pine on suitable locations. 

 Hardwood is also a good investment when there is a natural growth, be- 

 cause of the probable increase in stumpage prices, although planting of 

 hardwoods would not be advisable. Farmers and those interested in the 

 agricultural development of this area should encourage plantings as an 

 investment by outsiders, because every increase in timber acreage will 

 furnish a better market for farm products and farm labor in the future. 



DAIRYING. 



Market. 



Local consumption constitutes the chief market for milk produced in 

 most sections of the county. Dairymen within hauling distance of 

 Bellows Falls and Brattleboro, Vt., have an opportunity to sell through 

 co-operative milk plants established in those towns, but in other sections 

 dairy products are marketed locally. Since the local demand for milk is 

 limited and is being supplied at the present time by local producers in 

 most sections of the county, an increase in milk production must be 

 shipped out to other markets. 



Keene represents the principal local market for milk, although there 

 are a number of villages scattered throughout the county that require 

 consideiuble amounts. The people of Keene consume approximately 

 5,964,000 lbs. of milk per year, or 523 lbs. per capita, comparing favor- 

 ably with 4()() lbs.* in Altoona, Pa., and 178 Ibs.j in Roanoke, Va. This 

 large use of milk is perhaps due lai'gely to the comparatively low retail 

 price of 10 to 12 cents per quart and to the high quality which enforce- 

 ment of strict health regulations has assured. 



The distribution of milk in Keene is very inefficient. One hundred and 

 eight inspected dairies produce the supply, and quite a number of these 

 dairymen distribute it directly to the consumers. Naturally one dis- 

 tributing company, whether co-operatively or privately owned, could do 

 the work with much less labor, but in view of the small amount of milk 

 handled and the large number of small producers, some of whom would 

 continue to retail their milk rather than sell through a central plant be- 

 cause they have the time and labor to do their own distributing, without 

 any extra cash cost, such an organization would not be practicable. 



Dairymen and farmers within hauling distance of the co-operative milk 

 plants at Brattleboro and Bellows Falls, Vt., have a market for an in- 

 creased jii-oduction of milk. These plants are at present bottling most 

 of their milk receipts and shii)ping them to chain stores in Boston and 

 Springfield, Alass. Any surplus above the demands for whole milk is 

 converted into butter. 



These plants were both organized in 1921. The one at Brattleboro 

 has no restriction on membership, while the one at Bellows Falls requires 

 each member to purchase $25 worth of stock for each milking cow in the 

 herd; and the amount of stock authorized is $100,000, of which $75,000 

 has been issued. This allows for a considerable increase in milk receipts 



* Pennsylvania State College Bulletin No. 184. 



t Findings of an economic survey at Roanoke, Va., which are soon to be published. 



I 



