Soil Fertility and Milk Production

Soil Fertility and Milk Production By A. A. Hinckley, Commissioner of Agriculture for Utah President Heber J. Grant once told a story of an old lady who ran a peanut stand. She claimed that her practice was to sell the stock in trade at an actual loss, and when asked how she could continue business in that way, replied, "Because I sell such an immense quantity." According to the findings of Professor 0. S. Jensen, of the Division of Chemistry, Michigan Agricultural College Experi- ment Station, ten tons of alfalfa on which he places a value of $100, contains 468 lbs. of nitrogen, 122 lbs. of phosphoric acid and 358 lbs. of potash. At 18c per pound for the nitrogen and 5c per pound for the phosphoric acid and potash, this fer- tility has a value of $108. In other words, as compensation for his labor in raising the alfalfa and finding a market for it, for interest on his investment in land and water and for $108 in fertility from his farm, he receives but $100 if the hay is hauled off the place. Truly, the farmer, like the old peanut lady, would have to handle alfalfa in immense quantities to make such procedure ultimately profitable. On the other hand, Professor Jensen declares that 200 lbs. of butter, on which he places the same value as is placed on 10 tons of alfalfa, takes away but four tenths of a pound of fertility. And the cow that cannot convert ten tons of alfalfa, or its equivalent, into at least 300 lbs. of butter is not worthy of the name of dairy cow, and should find her way to the butcher's block. Together with every other right thinking community the people of Utah want all of the temporal blessings which are obtainable through honest effort and intelligent and careful management. And yet, men prepared to speak with authority on the subject tell us that we have been entirely too prodigal with some of our resources, particularly with the fertility of our soil. Crop after crop has been taken from our lands with little thought of returning any of the elements thus removed. This statement will surprise many people, for we have hugged the comforting delusion to our souls that the deep, rich soil of this state is wholly inexhaustible. Utah does not stand alone in this regard, and doubtless she will heed the warning, as the nation at large is doing. Ac- cording to the U. S. Census Bureau, the amount expended by

SOIL FERTILITY AND MILK PRODUCTION 889 farmers of the United States for commercial fertilizer in the year 1919 was $329,189,912, as compared with $114,882,541 in 1909, representing an increase of 186% in the amount spent for fertilizer during the last ten years. Dr. F. S. Harris, in Bulletin No. 172, issued by the Utah Agricultural College Experiment Station, completely refutes the idea sometimes expressed that Utah soils are so fertile they do not need manure. He makes this statement, "Manure applied to sugar beets at the rate of five tons to the acre gave an in- crease of nearly two tons of sugar beets for each ton of manure. Applied to potatoes, it yields 13 bushels for every ton of manure." The lesson to be learned from these figures is too obvious to need much amplification. As far as possible the hay and grain raised on our farms should be fed thereon. Though the feeding of livestock of every description on our farms is to be encouraged, this article is being prepared specifically in the interest of the campaign for the increased use of milk and its products, which was set in motion as a result of the Governor's proclamation on this subject. There can be but one answer to the query, "Are dairy cattle profitable on the farm?" It is such a palpable truth, and one so easily dem- onstrated that no person need hesitate to make the positive statement that the dairy sections of the United States are the prosperous communities. But in this state, admirable as are its physical conditions for dairying, we fall far short of supply- ing our own needs. This condition is so at variance with the advice given the people by their leaders during more than seventy years, that it is indeed surprising. It does not seem possible that we import 1,600,000 pounds of butter and 1,500,000 pounds of cheese, net, each year. Yet these are the figures submitted by one of the large creamery houses of Salt Lake City.* In Utah, where sugar-beets form such an important crop, the statement quoted above from Dr. Harris should carry much weight. What a blessing it would be, in the present crisis, if the general average per acre of beets could be increased by three or four tons! The doctor's experiments lead him to conclude that *There must be some good reason for this. Is it in marketing, the distribution, monopoly in dairies, or where? Some years ago there were dairies in various parts of the state, apparently prospering. They are now closed, and to sell milk, the producer must ship his product for miles in the hot sun, to receive minimum prices that do not pay for the work. Yet the consumer complains that dairy products are so costly that he can only afford minimum portions. Will some one who knows answer these questions? — Editors.

890 IMPROVEMENT ERA the yield can be increased nearly ten tons if barnyard manure where used in sufficient quantities. The thought arises occasionally whether mother-earth does not express a similar sentiment to that of our heavenly Father given through one of his prophets, "Ye have robbed me," and whether she does not likewise continue, "Return to me a tithe of what I give you, and see whether the windows of heaven are not opened upon you that you do not have room for all the blessings." Though temporal gain will undoubtedly follow in earnest effort to produce more milk and its products, that was not the only, nor indeed the most important reason for the Governor's proclamation. Utah wants a better manhood and womanhood. Perhaps no community in the world gives more consideration to health questions than do we, and our vital statistics, showing such a remarkable low death rate, indicate that we are getting results. But still perfection has not yet been attained. Figures show that, even including the southern states where the con- sumption is very low, Utah is practically 30% below the United States average of consumption of milk and its products* But many will ask, "What has that to do with health or with manhood and womanhood?" The query has, been answered many times by experts. Surgeon General Hugh S. Cumming, Chief of the U. S. Public Health Service, in his article, "We feed the world and starve our own children," which appeared in the Ladies Home Journal, December, 1921, makes this state- ment regarding milk, "One quart of milk daily should be con- sumed by a growing child, and the same amount would be beneficial for most adults, and yet millions of our children do not get more than one half of the needed allowance. Illinois, Utah, Massachusetts and New Mexico report that one half of their school children do not drink milk regularly at all."* Califonria has been making extensive surveys on this sub- ject for the past three years. The following are some of the facts discovered: A survey of 55,000 children in 150 schools in Los Angeles, conducted by Dr. Everett C. Beach, supervisor of the depart- ment of physical education, showed that children who drink milk liberally complete the eight grades of school work two years younger than children who do not drink milk. They are also far superior in athletic contests. It cost $75 of the public's money, according to this survey, to keep a child one year in an elementary school. Where *See footnote page 889.

SOIL FERTILITY AND MILK PRODUCTION 891 20,000 are retarded approximately two years, as was the case in Los Angeles, it costs the taxpayer $3,000,000. This is without counting the school buildings and equipment necessary to care for 20,000 children for two years. Superintendent Geo. N. Child, of the Salt Lake City schools, very kindly consented to make an investigation at the instance of the campaign committee. His report has just been handed in and shows that this specific investigation covered three av- erage schools, the Wasatch, Washington and Uintah. The fol- lowing are some of the answers given by teachers and forwarded by the principals to Superintendent Child, answering his in- quiry as to results of their efforts to have the chidlren use milk at home as well as to use that furnished them at the school. "All in my room have improved." "A marked improvement in most pupils." "Nearly all have gained in weight and ability." "Eleven 'underweights' have come up to normal." "The children are more alert and attentive." "One boy who was extremely nervous has so far improved that he is able to be promoted." "We took up the matter with about fifty pupils who said they did not like milk and could not drink it. They are now using it regularly at home and at school. They are less nervous, more responsible, and say they feel better." It is estimated that 35% of expenditures for food in the United States is for meat and fish, and but 20% for dairy products. Scientists have estimated that the average American family's food expenditures should be: Meat and Fish 12% Milk and its products ». 44% Bread and cereals 13% Vegetables and fruit 17% Eggs 6% Sugar , 3% Miscellaneous 5% After a long series of experiments, Dr. Sherman of Columbia University, Dr. E. V. McCollum of John Hopkins, and many other accepted authorities on foods, agree that this schedule is as nearly correct as it can be made. They append to the schedule this statement, "If you will use more milk, butter, ice cream, and cheese, more vegetables and fruits, and less meat and fish, you will have better health, be more efficient, and save twenty per cent of your food money." The statement of Dr. Charles G. Plummer deserves con- stant and emphatic repitition: "A milkless world would soon be a childless world."