LABOR REQUIREMENTS AND MILKING MACHINES. 5 



In order to determine the effect of the milking machine upon the 

 organization and economic management of the dairy farm in gen- 

 eral, it "was necessary to secure data from farms of both these types 

 as Tvell as from farms representative of both the hand and the 

 mechanical method of milking. Further, it was necessary not only 

 to select areas which exemplified dairying under different conditions, 

 but also those in which a comparatively large number of mechanical 

 milkers was in operation. The data were obtained from 109 New 

 York dairy farms as representative of the intensive type and from 

 160 farms in the Central States as representative of the mixed type 

 of farming. These studies were made by interviewing the dairyman 



I-'i^. .,. — lyjjKJui \i)\»))ii-d.{)ny oi Ihe dairy larm of the Middle West, where cuuditious 

 are more favorable to crop production than on the Eastern dairy farm. 



in every case and learning his experience with milking machines. 

 The studies covered a period of several months during the summer 

 and autumn of 1915, and the data secured are representative of con- 

 ditions existing on these farms during the entire year. The dairy- 

 men interviewed had used the milking machine for periods varying 

 from one to six years. 



AREAS STUDIED. 



The areas chosen for this study are located in Delaware, Chenango, 

 and ChautaiKjua Counties, N. Y. ; Lenawee County, Mich.; Fulton 

 County, Ohio; and Mcllenry County, 111. Dairying in a very inten- 

 sive form is practiced in the New York areas. In the Ohio and 



