1905.] Apple Growing in New York State. 



557 



production under more liberal treatment. The average weekly 

 production of milk in 1901 was increased by 46 per cent, and 

 of butter-fat by 54-J- per cent, compared with 1900. It must be 

 remembered that the cows were not selected on account of any 

 apparent capacity to improve, but were taken as representative 

 of the whole herd. The increased yield was maintained during 

 the third period, when the ration, though still liberal, was materi- 

 ally reduced, but declined again to about the original amount 

 when the cows returned to their former scanty diet. 



With regard to the relative cost of production under the three 

 methods, it is estimated that the value of the food consumed 

 per 100 lb. of milk produced was 2s. 2^d. in 1900 (under- 

 feeding), 2s. 8 Jd. in 1901 (very liberal feeding), and is. lojd. in 

 1902 (moderate feeding). The production, therefore, in the third 

 year was not only greater, but was obtained at a cheaper rate 

 than under a system of grazing on poor pasture or feeding on 

 hay alone with but little addition of more nutritive materials. 



With reference to the arrangements which have been made in 



many counties for the testing of farmers' milk (see Leaflet 146), 



_ „ the Board are now informed that the Agri- 



Tests for 



Farmers' Milk.* cultural Sub-Committee of the Gloucester- 

 shire County Council have arranged that 

 farmers desirous of acquainting themselves with the character 

 of their milk can have the percentage of butter-fat determined 

 in any sample of milk at the County Council Dairy School, 

 Gloucester, for a fee of sixpence. 



Many agricultural problems admit of two methods of solution. 

 On the one hand they may be tested experimentally on small 

 plots by a trained scientific staff, or the 

 Apple Growing" me thods adopted by farmers in actual 

 York State. practice may be considered and the results 

 compared over a large area. The latter 

 method, if means were available and opportunity offered, would 

 often serve a most useful purpose, but it is rarely that investiga- 



* Journal, March, 1905, p. 743, and April, 1905, p. 47. 



