VALUE OF AN ACRE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 142, 5 March 1918, Page 8

VALUE OF AN ACRE

ITS PRODUCTIVITY.

■■.An absorbing and valuable bulletin lias been prepared by Morton 0. Cooper and W. J. Spillinan, of the United States Department of Agricu*■sure, entitled "Human Food From an Acre of Staple Farm Products." -This bulletin shows: that corn will produce more human food per aero tmui any crop grown on American farms; that is, it will supply more energy, leat building material. ■ Navy beans and soy beans produce mora tissuebuilding material. ; This bulletin shows that the dairy cows is the most efficient farm auimal in the production of-human food and that the hog is the most efficient in the conversion of-'grain into meat, producing 'live times as much per aero as does any other animal. it is well known that if we'desire to got. the ihighest amount '.of'., human food 'per acre that it should;not..be fed to-ani-mals and converted'.into 'animal products, but we can not expect to build a' strong, robust peoplo upon gram alone. -Milk, cheese, and meat are. important -articles of diet, and are necessary to our welfare. ■"'.'•Disoussing the bulletin, "Hoard's Dairyman," says: —"According to these authorities, an average acre will produce but 21901b./.of milk which will contain 72.31b. protein- and 711,750 calories (heat units).'; , Two thousand, one hundred and ninety pounds of milk .testing 4 per cent.;'.which is a .little above the average, contains 98.551b. fat. A good dairy'cow ,shQuld produce three times as much fat as tnis. At this' rate it would require threo acres of land, as it is ordinarily handled, to produce onougli, feed., for one good dairy cow. We cannot expert dairy farmers to advance very rapidly in their business oh such low average yields. We know that those .wio understand dairy farming, and follow right principles and practices, are producing more than 21901b. of milk per aero, and.that.it does not require threo acres to support a good cow.

"There are several encouraging things about this report. It' shows that the dairy ■cow'Js. the most economical producer'Of,:'.human food, and that even with low production dairy farmers have made progress in this country. With just a little effort twice as much milk covdd be produced per acre and would bring a tremendous increase in the profits ; of the {3airy farmers. It is discouraging to -note the average low production per aero of milk, but when we viewvit in another way, we can appreciate-that it is very nasy to double the production. This should be encouraging;"