Connecticut western news., 1909-08-26
PAPER 0N THE MILK QUESTION
 TContinued from page l.l


 year from the Bordens for his milk was ' 3.3 cents per quart. He had very good herd of cows and found by close Invea- tigation that they averaged him nearly 5000 quarts each, per year. On this basis and tho average price his milk brought him S99 per COW, or SSl 10 above the cost of feed, as Il seeming profit. This profit really amounted to just about enough to cover the labor.
 The other farmer, likewise a success tul producer, said that he kept from l7 to IS cows during the year, and that he had found it good policy to concentrate his efforts on the winter production of milk. letting hls cows go dry for a long period during the summer. He said that, during a period of seven to eight months he was able to make his COWS average him ten quarts of milk per day; but that he was obliged to feed from eight to nine pounds of grain daily. This, at an average price of one and a- half cents pound, would amount to $25.2o, from October lst to May ist. Two tons of hay equals SEQ, two tons of fodder comes to Sl0, making total of $5520 for seven months feed during the winter.
 On the basis of ten quarts per day the 1 production for seven months would be l just about 2,0C0 quarts. The average price paid by the Bordens, for seven months, covering the winter season, is 1 inst about three and eiRhG.tenths cents, which would make the mans income for his COWS $76 each, leaving m apparent 1 income of S20.S0 per COW. This might be considered fair recompenso for winter season for thrifty farmer with s husky son. Had he been obliged to 1 pay hired man, fear that he would have found little left to meet the needs of his own family. It must be remem- | bered thst these were farmers wbo were acknowledged to be above the average 1 in skill and energy.
 There aro many more herds in the vicinity of Canaan that produce less than 2500 quarts per year than there are that produce more; aud the owners of these are the farmers who get practically nothing for their own labor.
 The general tendency among farmers during the past twenty years has been to keep cows that produce large quanti- ties, without regard to quality. and this policy is very wise, so long as milk of all kinds is rated at tho same price per quart, and so long as the present low wholesale pT1ce continues.
 There are three possible remedies for this serious state of affairs. One is for tho farmers to combine and control the marketing end of the business. This, believe, would be entirely possible, if farmers were less suspicious of each other and more willing to pull together. Another lesson would be to lessen the amount of production by turning more milk into fancy butter and fancy chseses. I believe that the fancy cheese industry has good future in tho east, but lack of space prevents me to enter upon its discussion here. Perhaps a more practicable solution would be for many farmers, especially those with good pastures, back from the shipping sta tions. to go into the production of fancy beef The high price of beef for the past few years seemed to warrant this. Farm lands in New England at present are cheaper than in the west, and with good nearby markets, this branch of farming could be most profitably re. newed.