PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN" WASHINGTON. 11 



Noncommercial dry roughage applies to coarse feeds, such as corn 

 stover and velvet-grass hay, for which price quotations are not given 

 in the trade papers. Hay or other dry roughage so foul with weeds 

 or so damaged in curing as not to be readily salable is also classified 

 under this heading. 



Leguminous roughage includes alfalfa, clover, cowpea, soy bean, 

 and other commercial legume hays, when pure, or when so slightly 

 mixed with grasses as not materially to affect the protein content. 



Commercial carbohydrate roughage refers to all commercial hays 

 except those classified as leguminous roughage. 



Succulent roughage consists of mangels, potatoes, silage, and soil- 

 ing crops. 



The quantities of the various feeds used were obtained from actual 

 weights made by the field agent on his regular monthly visit to each 

 farm. 



Purchased concentrates were charged at the prices paid, less the 

 value of the sacks in which they were purchased. These sacks were 

 readily salable if not desired for use on the farm and were given the 

 same value for which they could have been sold. The home-grown 

 grains were given the farm price plus such extra charges as hauling 

 and grinding when necessary. When baling or hauling dry rough- 

 age was necessary the price for such was deducted from the market 

 value of the feed. If the succulent roughage was salable the farm 

 price was used in determining valuations per ton ; however, if it was 

 not salable a price which was commensurate with its value as com- 

 pared with the value of a marketable product was placed on it. 



PASTURE. 



In western Washington pasture plays a very important part in 

 milk production. With cool weather throughout most of the sum- 

 mer, plenty of moisture, and a rich soil there is abundant pasture 

 until late in the fall. During the pasture season almost 60 per cent 

 of the milk for the year was produced and at one-third the yearly 

 feed cost. 



The charges against pasture consist of interest, taxes, upkeep, and 

 repairs on fences, cutting thistles and weeds, and seeding. 



Interest was figured on the unimproved value of the land, which 

 was obtained by deducting from the improved value any increase in 

 worth due to the dairy buildings contributary to it. The rate of 

 interest allowed varied from 6 to 8 per cent. The rate was deter- 

 mined by the per cent the farmer would have to pay if he borrowed 

 money to buy the land. 



The amount of the taxes on the whole farm was ascertained from 

 the books of the county authorities ; from this the amount incidental 

 to pasture was calculated. 



