Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-02-17
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
WEDNESDAY,, FEBRUARY 16, 1916
The Manufacture of Cheese.


The growing Importance of the mann.
facture of butter and cheese has attracted
the attention Of our farming commune
ties, and the most economical and profita-
BILE methods are being sought and dis
oussed for the best method of manufacture
in general. Cheese making seems to have
assumed the largest proportions, and a
deep interest is prevalent in Vermont in
reference to the factory system. The be-
ginning of the system by which cheese is
now manufactured, together with the
progress made, may not be without inter-
est at the present time to those who are
about to engage in it.
Years ago, Jesse Williams of Rome,
Oneida county, N. Y, was counted the
best cheese maker in his neighborhood.
He could get seven cents, when the aver
age American article was slow sale at five
and half. :, In the spring of 1851, son
of his married and took farm some miles
distant from his fathers place. The
father contracted with cheese merchant
to furnish all both farms could make at
seven cents The son became uneasy he
saw that if he made an article inferior to
his fathers, the dealer would offer les,
for next years make, and the falling of
in price would be due to his lack of skill.
So he discussed with his father the policy
of having him attend to the process in
both places. But the objection became on
reflection conspicuous. TIL en- it was sug.
gested that the son should deliver the
milk from his herd daily at his fathers
milk-house. The plan worked. Other
neighbors wished to avail themselves OF
the skill and repute of Jesse Williams,
and the first cheese factory in America
was planned and put up. In 1854, '55,
$50 and '57 a few neighborhoods in Oneida
and Herkimer counties started establish.
ments. In 1860 seventeen were built; in
1861 as many more the next year TWEEN.
ty-fve. Then the business went up with
Q Q, bound-men were in the war, labor
scarce and the prices of all articles high
A hundred factories went up in 1868,
and in 1864 over two hundred. Begin
ming near Rome and Utica, the system
spread northward to st. Lawrence and
southwark to Oswego and Orange coun.
ties, New York. The enterprising people
o of the Western Reserve took it up and
factories sprang up apace. The idea
spread north into Michigan and westward
into Wisconsin. Now there are houses in
all the region west of the Alleganies and
north of the Ohio, and few have been
started with fattering success in the rich
blue grass counties of Central Kentucky.
Canada was not slow to see the value of
example, and to-day there are one thous-
and factories whose product, says the
Utica Herald, is, in the flush of the sea-
son, III, $50 boxes a week, of an average
weight of Ga pounds.
Since the spring when Jesse Williams
thought he was doing uncommonly well
to engage all his make at seven cents,
American cheese has been gaining ground
at home and in the English market. In
1854 the average was about twenty cents.
Last year many hundred tons were sold
for more than twenty. AT present the
price is seventeen and rising. The law
seems to be that American factory cheese
will command about fifteen in midsum-
mer, two or three cents more in the fall,
about twenty at Christmas, and from that
to twenty-five, according to keeping
qualities during the spring till May
cheeses are in market. On an average,
factory cheese sells at II cent OF u cont and
half more per pound than home dairies.
Vermont some years since caught the
rage for cheese factories, and to-day boasts
of some of the best managed and most
productive in the country. The well
conducted factory of Hon. e. d. Mason at
Richmond, was among the earliest and
perhaps has the most widely extended
fame of any in our State. Rutland
county early engaged in the congregated
manufacture of cheese. Mr.. A. d. Smith
of Dandy early adopted this method in
his own dairy, although he was among
the most successful of any individual in
this section. Dandy has been famed for
its cheese since Vermont was settled for
cheese was made in DANNY before the
American Revolution. 1t now has two
we'll organized factories Middletown
also has had Il successful factory for sew
eral years. Pawlet was among the earliest
in the field and its products under the
successful management of Mr.. X. @.
Wickham, have commanded the largest
prices. Many other towns have them in
successful operation.
Some two years ago factory was es-
tablished at East Poultney, which, under
the management of Charles A. Ram, Esq,
has been quite successful. Indeed, an in.
telligent gentleman of this county told us
that recently he had been in the Boston
market to sell the products of a factory
and his attention was called to the dairy
of East Poultney factory, and that it was
the most even and compactly made fact
DRY cheese he ever saw, aud that it COM
manded a cent more on u pound than any
other Vermont dairy.
Our observations ihave been extended
TO greater length than it was our origi-
nal intention, but the subject is one of
great Importance to our farmers, apd we
now propose to give the practical expert
ence of Vermont man abroad, for the
benefit of our readers who are interested
in this matter.
Mr.. John e. Marsh, of Union, ILL.,. a
son of Hon. John L. Marsh, of Clarendon,
has been and is now, one of the most ex-
tensive and successful cheese manufao-
turers in the United States, has recently
forwarded to friend some practical OBJ
servations of his. and the general expert
ence in cheese making, as well as remarks
upon cheese markets, and the value of
the product, which cannot fail to be of in
terest to farmers as well as to the general