Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-05-07
BuuTer ana cheese.

THE future of dairy products is begin
ming to attract attention, and already
Eastern COMMISSIONER seem to be
working q "bear movement" to knock
down prices. The circular of one of The
leading prOducc-houses of New York
holds that dairy products will bring low.
er prices in the future than in the past,
and advises those contemplating the pur
chase of milk the coming season to make
their contracts at 90 or % per cent. less
than they have been in the habit of doing
One of the arguments stated by this firm
is, that prices of butter and cheese must
come down sooner or later, in keeping with
those of other produce; that we are now
in that transition state'which will change
butter and cheese from articles of luxury
to those of necessity, and prices accord.
ingly; that, from the paralyzation OF the
manufacturing interests ali over the
world, millions of unemployed people
will seek the farm, and thus, by increas-
ing the already ample production of all
classes of farm produce, including butter
and cheese, lower their money value,
not only in this, but in every civilized
country in the world. This firm also
hold that prices for butter and cheese are
too high; and that while cheese has not
been marked with so severe a loss in
price as butter, yet the long indifference
of the export trade proves that business
in this direction is without the stimulus
of satisfactory prices.
This firm seem to nave forgotten one
thing, and that is: Butter and cheese
are no longer regarded as a luxury, but
one of prime necessity. If it were not
so the annual consumption would not so
steadily increase. There is another
thing that workingmen are finding out
that cheese, at sixteen to twenty cents
per pound, is really cheap food in com.
parisOn with meat; and also that it stands
in the same relation to other human food
that flesh-meat does. 1t is a fact that a
pound OF cheese is equal to two pounds
of meat; and that butter is no longer a
luxury is evident from the fact that the
lower grades of butter are readily sold
to the poor, who cannot afford to buy
better grades.
1t is true that first class butter at forty
cents a pound is costly, and, in that
light, may be regarded as a luxury
Nevertheless, all who can buy will do SO
at this price, or even a higher one, il
they cannot get it for less. Gilt-edge OF
really extra butter is not always found
on the tables of our first-class hotels, and
not always on tables of our wealthy citi
zens-for the simple reason that com
paratively little is made, and, IN the win.
ter season, when scarce, the makers often
get whatever price may be put upon it.
1t IS somewhat astonishing that, at the
prices we have mentioned, and with the
certainty of their existence for at least
some time to come, more farmers do not
provide themselves with facilities for
making and keeping this article until
the winter season brings its usual scare
ity of good butter. So long as they do not
those who know how to make and how
to keep it will be sure of large profits
out of the necessities of their customers.
The fact that quantities of both inferior
cheese and butter will continue to be
made will, we think, insure price fully
remunerative for all the good that is of
fered for years to come.
1t is true that butter and cheese, like
all other articles of manufacture, will
iluCtuate; there will be years when the
profits will be small as compared with
years of scarcity; there may be years
when losses will ensue; but that con-
sumption will not keep pace with the
man iNluAt NC AO uOb btllthGs lut
fact is, we are only beginning to learn to
eat cheese as an article of daily
food. There is large margin yet for
increased consumption; and, as a slight
decrease in the price of meat at once
stimulates the consumption, so a slight
reduction in the price of cheese would
induce many to use who have not here
tOfore been in the habit of doing so.
Therefore, we see no present cause of
alarm Notwithstanding the very spe-
cious plea of this large and no doubt in.
terested New York produce house.
We have heretofore, as farmers, been
trying to get rich through the eXporta-
tion of wheat and corn. That has never
paid its cost. OF late years the more sa
gaciOus of our farmers have begun TO un.
derstand that it was losing game and
have turned their attention to the fatten-
ing of cattle and hogs and the produc-
tion of wool, and with sure reward
Let the West once increase the reputa-
tion, already favorable one in English
markets, for cheese, aud this industry,
already an important one, may be in
creased indefinitely and with profits as
sure as in any other branch of agricult.
ure.- Farm and Garden, On QhieagO
Tribune.