774 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION M. 



5. Economics of Continuoiis Cropping. 

 By T. WiBBEKLEY, N.D.A., N.D.D. 



Introductory. — ^Brief survey of the agricultural economic position of Great 

 Britain and Ireland, special reference to latter country. 



Reasons for decline of tillage area in Ireland — climate, labour, markets. 



Influence of these three factors as regards tillage decline. 



Continuous Cropping.— A system of intensive arable farming, specially 

 designed to suit the climatic, labour, and market conditions obtaining in Ireland. 



Comparisons between growing ordinary farm crops and roots, corn and sub- 

 stitutes for these crops, in connection with continuous cropping. The relative 

 costs of productions to be discussed. 



Cost of production of certain continuous crops with reference to their 

 manurial value. 



Conservation of soil nitrogen in the winter months through continuous 

 cropping. 



Effects of continuous cropping on the soil texture in winter and summer. 



Evaporation of excessive soil moisture in winter through growth of con- 

 tinuous crops. 



Possibilities of motor tillage in connection with continuous cropping and 

 ordinary cropping compared. 



Relative stock-carrying capacity of land under continuous cropping as com- 

 pared Avith the grass farm. 



Milk and beef productions from continuous crops compared with same from 

 ordinary crops and artificial feeding. 



Discussion of balance sheet of a continuous cropping farm. 



FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. 



The following Papers were read : — 



1. Methods of Esli))iaiing ihe Cost of Food in the Production of Milk. 

 By J. Mackintosh, N.O.A. 



Investigations into the cost of food in the production of milk have been 

 carried out in several counties during recent years, but the methods of collecting 

 the information from the farms and of calculating the cost of food per gallon 

 have varied considerably. These differences make it impossible to compare the 

 results obtained in the various districts ; hence it is desirable that as far as 

 possible a generally suitable and accurate method should be devised and adopted. 

 As a basis for discussion, the methods adopted at University College, Reading, 

 will be described. 



Method of obtaining Information on: 



(«) Food used Indoors. — The farmers concerned were supplied with Food 

 Record sheets on which the kinds and quantities of the foods used each week 

 were entered. The foods were occasionally measured or weighed when the 

 Recorder visited the farms. This system is preferred to that of calculation 

 from an average ration, or the ration in use at the time of the Recorder's visit. 

 Still greater accuracy might be obtained if, as regards the bulky foods, definite 

 clamps of roots and ricks of hay or straw could be allocated for the cows' use 

 alone. 



(b) Food used Outdoors. — The acreage of pasture and aftermath grazed by 

 the cows Vk'as entered on the Food Record sheet ; also the aci-eage of any soiling 

 crops and cabbage fed to the cows either in the field or indoors. 



(c) Prices of Foods. — The farmer supplied particulars as to the cost price of 

 all purchased foods, and an allowance was added for cartage. All home-grown 

 foods were charged at the estimated cost of production on each farm. It was 

 difficult to get reasonably accurate estimates for crops producing only one food, 

 e.g., mangels, and much more difficult with crops producing two foods, e.g., 

 oats, but the principle of charging foods at cost price in place of market or 



