The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-01-11

MUST MAINTAIN SUPPLY OF
MILK.
President Of State College Of Agri-
culture Submits to the Council
of Defense His Recommend
ations Regarding Inn
portant Food
Product.
DR.. A. +. Woods, president OF the
Maryland State College of, Agricul-
ture, has submitted to the Maryland
Council of Defense an exhaustive
report on the milk supply. He was
requested by Gen. Carl r. Gray,
former chairman of the Council of
Defense, to investigate the subject,
with view to increasing and i'm
proving the supply If possible.
After an investigation, which ex-
tended to every section of the state,
DR.. Woods, in conclusion says:
An adequate supply of milk must
be maintained at any cost. Any con-
sideration of an adequate price for
milk must include not only the act
ual cost of production and distri-
button, plus reasonable profit for
those engaged in the business, but it
must include also such guarantees to
the producer as will, under stu
alton that is growing constantly
more difficult, justify his remaining
in the business of producing milk.
The supply of milk can be stabil-
lied. In large part the shortage can
be avoided by distributing the breed
ing periods more generally through
out the year. The more general use
Of skim milk and the manufacture of
dry milk will aid the distributor in
taking care of the surplus during
pasture months. The reduction in
price consistent with the cost during
such periods would stimulate con-
sumption.
Quality and Purity.
The quality and purity of the
product must be maintained at a
high standard. This involves certi-
| fication, or pasteurization, together
with the Standardization, grading
and labelling of milk offered for sale.
Education of the public to an under
/ standing of the necessity FOR such
regulations is as important as their
rigid enforcement, If adequate re-
suits are to be secured.
Educational Campaign.
The consuming public needs to be
better informed concerning the Inn
portant place which milk occupies in
the human diet, and also concerning
the economic value of milk as food.
Only through campaign of educa-
ton, beginning with the public
school and carried into every home
in the community, can the great vital
truths concerning the real value OF
milk be brought home to our people
Unless milk is appreciated at its
1 true value and removed from the
field of customary valuation, based
on unsound economic reasoning.
there will always remain heavy
burden OF public opinion to be moved
when necessity compels fluctuations
in prices of this commodity. The
cooperation of the public press
would be Iof inestimable service In
such an educational campaign.
The poorer classes, especially,
should be educated to understand
that money invested in milk even
at prices considered by them high,
is the best food investment they can
make. In case of individuals or
classes unable to meet the cost OF
living. and therefore. necessarily the
subject of consideration by charit-
able organizations. provision should
be made by. these organizations to
furnish an ample supply OF whole
some milk for these people.
Cost OF Production.
The report deals with the cost OF
+ production, the cost or transporta-
ton and the cost Of distribution. In
studying the cost OF production 10
typical herds Of cows were selected
in each Of 10 counties, and records
as accurate as possible were kept.
The cost of distribution was ascer-
tanned from 10 representative plants
in Baltimore city.
The report shows that the average
cost of production was ALAG cents
per gallon. According to location.
the cost ran from 80 cents per gall
lon in Kent county to 56.S7 cents per
gallon in Queen Anne county.
The average cost of transportation
was 2.12 cents per gallon. The table
J, shows the average cost in Baltimore
county to- have been l.9 cents per
gallon, while the transportation cost