Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1871-07-08

J
includes the a%nnotto, potash and other chem
icals, us well as the time employed in pre-
pairing and using them. According to the
latest statistics, there are no less than 1000
cheese factories in the United States. This
would make the cost of ~coloring the factory
made cheese of the present season, S200,000
For a decade, supposing there are no new
factories erected, this ridiculous fashion will
cost 80, 900, 900, of which sum every factory
must contribute $1,000. Against such an OPP
pressive tax us this, if it were imposed by
government for II useful purpose, factorymen
would murmur and protest.
And now we come to the question, why
all this wastep" No other answer can be
given to this than that some of our prede-
cessors in the dairy business colored their
cheeses, and by so doing educated their cus-
toners to believe that this artificial color
was indeed the natural color of superior
cheese. No combined effort has been made
to enlighten the public in relation to the mat
ter; but on the other hand, cheese makers
and cheese dealers have, by their practice,
helped to keep up this false impression
through several generations. Every new fac
tory that has gone into operation has, with
rare exceptions, helped to educate the peo-
pie to consider this artificial color us the
surest indication of superior excellence. The
first American cheeses sent to England were
made to resemble certain brands in favor
there, not only in size and shape, but in col
or. Many of these chcescs were sent to the
West, and did their missionary work in con-
verting our people to the belief that a full
cream cheese should be of the color of a soft
burned brick. AS New York factory men
colored their cheese to resemble those made
in Cheshire, so the Western factory men
made theirs in imitation of the New York
pattern. Every season we put up new fac
tories, which repeat the history of the older
ones; and every year we send our cheese in
to new sections, thereby educating our newly
gained customers in the belief that colored
cheese is best. Half II million dollars would
not pay the cost of this false teaching.
Is it policy, thcn-for l will put it on no
stronger %ground-to continue the Use of this
cosmetic for cheese any longerp From all |
can learn from British papers, or from men
who nave recently visited England, there is
II growing prejudice in that country against
colored cheese; and, in the opinion of many,
the demand for it would entirely cease, were
it not for the great amount of American
cheese i'm the market. Outside of Great Brit
ain no one wants colored cheese; and though
there promises to be n continual demand for
cheese as soon rs the present war terminates,
the fact that our cheese is OF n color unknown
there will operate against it.
Of course it will cost something to undo
what has been done. Every reformation,
social, political, religious, rs well as dietetic,
costs something-often what gold can not
buy. But history shows that they have all
been worth their price, dearly bought as
some of them have been. No man would
wish to run II cheese factory, or to leave it to
his family, with IN incumbrance on it that
required 800 IA year to satisfy. He would
rather raise the means mt once, and prevent
the future expense. In this instance it can
easily be done. In my opinion q contribution
of $40 from each factory would be sufficient
to afford all the means of information and
education necessary. 1t would print n sufli-
cient number of circulars, setting forth the
facts in relation to coloring cheeses, that ev-
cry consumer of this product could have u
copy. A hundred of them could he put in
each cheese box and given out to customers.
A few plain statements certified to by the
officers of our dairymen's associations, would
he all that is necessary IF rpuuastpd tO do