vi INTRODUCTION 



the farm to corn production, the price of hay, the size of the 

 herd, the price of milk, whether winter or summer dairying 

 is followed, the amount of money available. No rule can be 

 made that will include all these points, for many of them may 

 be changed next year. 



It is fitting that the first book of the series should deal with 

 what is probably the most important source of income of 

 American farmers, dairy farming. 



As population increases we must of necessity depend more 

 on dairy products and less on beef cattle. The best methods 

 of producing beef are very different from the best methods of 

 producing milk. Many farmers who once kept beef cattle are 

 changing to dairying. For such farmers a study of dairying 

 is of particular importance because it will bring to them in- 

 formation that has been worked out by long experience in 

 dairy regions. Even in the old established dairy regions the 

 changes in prices of land, feed, labor, and dairy products and 

 the increasing importance of manure for growing cash crops, 

 make a study of the principles of dairy farming of prime 

 importance. 



The success of the teacher will depend in large measure on 

 the extent to which the conditions in the community are 

 studied. Many suggestive questions are given after each 

 chapter. Much time should be spent in finding answers to 

 these. A number of laboratory exercises should be given on 

 farms in the region. One should not too lightly condemn the 

 practices of the farmers, but should rather try to learn what 

 are the natural and economic conditions that led to the present 

 practices. Many farmers in the community are in all proba- 

 bility farming in a manner that is best for present conditions, 

 but that may not be best a few years from now when condi- 

 tions change. 



This book is adapted for use in schools and colleges that 



