the disparity is not so great as these figures indicate owing to the fact that a greater proportion of the total amount of milk produced is fed to calves on " produce" farms. 66 The wide variation between these two classes of dairy farms makes it a matter of considerable difficulty to estimate the total production of the country, as any correct estimate necessarily depends on the proportion of "milk" farms to " produce farms. In the returns giving complete particulars of the production of milk 73 per cent. of the cows were on "milk” farms and 27 per cent. on produce" farms. If this proportion were applied to the whole country (proportions arrived at in this way were so applied in 1908) the average yield per cow or heifer in milk or in calf would be 438 gallons, which is almost exactly the figure reached in 1908, and the total production of milk would be 1,180 million gallons against 1,029 million gallons in the earlier year. At the same time a large number of returns were received which, though not complete in all respects, indicated whether all the milk was sold as liquid milk or whether butter, cheese, &c., were usually made. 66 A careful examination of the returns for 1925 showed that a far larger proportion of "milk" farms than of "produce farms supplied complete particulars of production and disposal. This is not surprising, since a farmer who produces milk for sale only as liquid milk naturally finds it easier to give full particulars than one whose milk production is put to a variety of uses. Consequently, if the proportions of cows on milk or "produce farms respectively throughout the country are based solely on the fully completed returns, the tendency is for the production from the "milk" farms, where yields are higher, to be appreciably over-weighted at the expense of production from the latter. follows, therefore, that the inclusion of all returns which contain some indication of the method of disposal of milk on the farm provides a fairer indication of the proportion of cows on " milk" and "produce" farms throughout the country. The proportions so arrived at were 56 per cent. on milk farms and 44 per cent. on " produce produce" farms. 66 It It has been thought necessary to set out this difficulty at some length as it affects the calculation and is, in addition, of importance in showing the character of the dairying industry in this country. The prevalence of milk selling in many parts of the country is so great that many people would not think it surprising that 73 per cent. of the cows of the country should be exclusively used for the production of milk for sale, but on the whole, having regard to the diversity of conditions, the number of calves bred, and the quantities of butter and cheese made, it is probable that the proportion of 56 per cent. indicated by the combined returns is more nearly correct. If, therefore, these proportions are accepted as being approxi mately accurate the total production of milk is nearly 1,120 million gallons and the yield per head of the dairy herd 416 gallons. It is estimated that on this basis the total production in 1908 was probably about 975 million gallons and the yield per head of the dairy herd about the same as for 1925. As has been previously stated, these sets of figures, although subject to the large margin of error inherent in a calculation of this kind, are probably nearer the truth than those calculated solely on the fully completed returns. In any case it would appear that the total production of milk in this country has increased by about 150 million gallons since 1908, while the average yield per head of the dairy herd is about the same. Having regard to the greater attention given to dairying and to milk yields in recent years, it may be a matter for surprise that the yield per head of the dairy herd does not show an increase. The yield per head of the dairy herd is, however, a theoretical figure, which does not indicate the available production from an average full lactation of a unit of the dairy herd. For example, the dairy herd returned on 4th June includes not only a large number of cows which go to the butcher during the succeeding twelve months and consequently do not give a full lactation but also the heifers in calf at the beginning of the year which do not in the aggregate give anything like a full lactation in the following year. The proportion of heifers in calf to the total dairy herd was, it is believed, greater in 1925 than in 1908, so that the yield per head of the total dairy herd would tend to be less in the later year. The only satisfactory comparison of the milk yield is a comparison of the yield of an average full lactation. In 1925 the average lactation yield is estimated at approximately 482 gallons exclusive of whole milk fed to calves or pigs. Cows and heifers were not separately distinguished in 1908 so that a comparison on these lines with that year is impossible. The absence of such a figure for 1908 also makes it impossible to corroborate the evident indications of an actual increase in the average lactation yield. It is hoped, however, that the figure calculated in connection with the present inquiry may form a satisfactory basis of comparison for future years. It is of interest to note that on the assumption that 10 per cent. of the milk produced is fed to calves or pigs the estimated average lactation yield of 482 gallons given above is raised to 535 gallons. This figure compares with the average yield per cow recorded for the full year 1924-25, under the Milk Recording Scheme, of 670 gallons. The production of milk in the twelve months June 1924 to May 1925 in the various Divisions is shown in the following table: D 4 MILK PRODUCTION* IN EACH AGRICULTURAL DIVISION It will be seen that the north-western counties account for over 20 per cent. of the total milk production and the southwestern for nearly 15 per cent., whereas the eastern division produces less than 7 per cent. although the yielding capacity of the cows in the division is high. In Map XVI is shown diagramatically the relative production of milk in proportion to the area of crops and grass in each county. This takes into account the relative density of the cow population as well as the average milk yield of the cows kept in the different counties, which reflects the variations due to the production of milk for sale only, in comparison with mixed dairying. The north-western counties of Lancashire, Cheshire, Derby, Stafford and Flint produce most milk in relation to their size, followed by Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire in the south-west. The smallest production of milk in proportion to agricultural area is in the north-eastern counties, where pasture land is least plentiful. The Disposal of Milk.-Nearly three-quarters of the milk produced in England and Wales (other than that fed to calves. and pigs) is sold off the farms as liquid milk, and if allowance be made for the milk consumed in farm households as liquid |