421 
PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF MILK. 
In no branch of agricultural statistics has there been more uncer- 
tainty than in that which relates to the production of milk. In 
view of the yearly increasing importance of the dairying industry, 
it had long appeared to the writer that an attempt — if only 
in the direction of the roughest “ pioneer ’’ work — was desirable, to 
ascertain what data were obtainable on the subject, and how far 
they might justify generalisation. It was with this object that the 
paper was prepared which was read before the Royal Statistical 
Society on April 26, 1892, under the title of “ An Inquiry into the 
Statistics of the Production and Consumption of Milk and Milk Pro- 
ducts in Great Britain.” While the subject of that paper is one in 
which many readers of this Journal may feel an interest, it is pos- 
sible that the form in which it was presented, and the lengthy tables 
with which it was necessarily encumbered, would only be considered 
readable by a few. A condensed summary, therefore, of the calcu- 
lations made and the conclusions arrived at may perhaps not be 
unacceptable in these pages, while those who wish to go more closely 
into the details may be referred to the Journal of the Royal 
Statistical Society, in which the paper will be published at lengtli. 
W'hile many farmers, it may be hoped, will recognise the im- 
portance of the investigation, none will deny the difficulties which 
surround and complicate it. Sir John Lawes wrote : — 
“ The subject is full of complication, and even to ascertain what 
is the average yield of a dairy of cows is most difficult. You may 
obtain, no doubt, how much milk a man sells or produces ; but one 
man brings up calves, another (and this is much more important) 
purchases cows just after or just before calving ; some bring in their 
heifers, which always yield less milk ; some only use cows. I have 
no doubt that you will obtain some useful information.” 
The problem was thus stated : — 
(a) Given an ascertained number of cows in Great Britain at a 
certain date, yielding or capable of yielding milk, what is the total 
quantity of milk which they will produce in the year, and, further, 
what proportions of such total quantity are made into butter and 
cheese respectively 1 
(b) What is the average annual consumption, per head of popula- 
tion, of (i) milk, (ii) butter, (iii) cheese in Great Britain ; and how 
much of each is home produce, the quantities imported and the 
population being known ? 
The attempt to fix the average yields of cows obviously in- 
volved, in the first place, an appeal to practical men. A large 
number of circulars were accordingly sent out to farmers in all 
parts of the country, and a considerable proportion of them were 
duly filled up and returned. The replies which were received 
vividly displayed the variety of conditions and circumstances which 
have to be taken into account. The calf is, first of all, 
