The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-01-04
BUTTER AND CHEESE.
Interesting Statistics Of the Dairy Interest.
ofthe united States.

sAAsH9NAhhAhh va ANNW AhAhl AiAAs
the chairman, made the following state
ment relative to the butter and cheese
interest in the United States. In 1858,
Sud Mr.. Willard, the associated system
began to move forward in earnest, About
ITO factories were erected that year, and
the whole number in operation was only
200. We were then exporting about 40.
OOO, 900 pounds OF cheese and $4,000, 600
pounds Of butter. In 1859 our exports
OF cheese were only trife over 9,25O,.
600 pounds, and butter about 2,500, 900.
Our cheese exports from 1859 to 1868
were increased ut the annual rite Of 4.
600, 900 pounds. At the end OF 1873 the
annual exports Of American cheese to
Great Britain amounted to 10i,000,0OO
pounds, an increase of 81, 900, 900 pounds
in ten years, But Of this, 10000, 900
pounds came from Canada. Inaddition,
we exported about 10000, 900 pounds to
other countries than Britain, making or
total annual exports over 10000, 900
pounds. The Canadians up TO 1856 pur.
chased their cheese from the United
States. Our bill on CauadA for cheese,
in 1865, amounted to $500, 900, repro
senting about 1000, 900 pounds 1t is
now estimated TINT there are 1900 and
upward Of cheese and butter factories in
New York alone, while the system has
been carried into the Northwest on u
large scale, and Of late is gaining q foot
hold in other sections, especially in
Maine, which offers n good field for its
operations. .....
Mr.. Willard thought there was but
little cause for alarm from fear Of over.
production. The increase Of population,
both ut home and in England, together
with tho barriers that limit the increase
Of dAirying, go to show that there Is no
good cause for alarm that there will be
m oyerproduction Of prime dairy goods
for some years to come. He said the i'll
crease OF our exports since 1868 was o..
000, 1000 pounds Of cheese. At 400
pounds OF cheese to the COW, II would
require 100000 COWS to make that quaii.
tity. But as our home consumption Ind
increased in as rapid ratio, there was
needed $40, 900 more cows than in 1853
to supply the increased exports aud con.
sumption Of cheese at home during the
time mentioned.
Statistics show that forty.one per cent.
OF tho milk produced In the United
States il consumed directly rs food, and
tifty-iour per cent. Is used for butter.
This leaves only five per cent. Of the milk
to be mado into cheese. Now, according
to the United States census, tho nlilch
COWS in the country in 1850 were 6,9S5,.
09i, in 1860 they numbered 1851, ,735,
and in 1870 they were II, ,008, ,925, the nv.
srage increase being less than 100000
COWS for each decade. In other words,
the increase Of population Is ut greater
rate tlan the increase OF dairy stock.
For the purpose Of showing tho great
tax on our dairies to supply tho needs Of
home consumption, he gave some statis-
tics in relation to the butter crop. The
annual butter crop has been yarioualy es.
timated at from 700,000,000 to 1000.
600, 900 Of pounds. This, he said, mp.
pears to be low estimate II We are to
take the figures sent out by the New
York Butter and Cheese Exchange. A
committee Of eminent merchants was mp.
pointed by the Exchange to consider the
subject Of classifying aud grading butter,
aud the committee, in their report, state
that the census statistics Of dairy pro.
ducts are incomplete and defective. A
more reliable estimate Is that made by
an experienced and careful statistician,
which the comnitte indorsc, making the
annual product Of butter TO be ], ,4i0,-
100000 pounds, which, at thirty cents
per pound, amounts to Si32, 900, 600.
At the rate Of 200 pounds to the COW,
it would require 1900, 900 COWS to make
the annual yield Of 1,440,O00, 900
pounds. II, "a has been estimated,
there are now 100000 cows in the
United States, then fifty.four per cent.
(the proportion heretofore stated to have
been employed for butter) would make
the number little over 100000 COWS.
He spoke OF the rapid increase OF butter
consumption in this country, aud at.
tributed it, npart, to tie introduction
of tho creamery system, and rs o conse-
quencc, the general Improvement in the
dunlity Of butter. He said the price Of
butter had been gradually advancing
abroad, and that, owing to scarcity and
great demand for it during the past year
In England, prices had advanced 10 ITO
shillings sterling per cwt. on tho finest
grades. This price, it would seem, offers
an inducement to us to export. He re.
forred IN tho demand In the West Indies
and South America for dairy goods, and
believed TINT New York will be more and
more the chief distributing market oi
the world for dairy products, and will
largely control tho prices in oil other
markets.
An allusion was made TO the heavy
burden which had accumulated on the
dairymen OF New York at the commence
ment Of the present seasons's operations'
This came from the low yield Of the hay
crop in 1873. The scarcity and conse'
quent high price compelled many dairy
men to sell stock at o low price, while
che early snow in fall, and the ,lnrstial
length OF the cold wcather loft stock h
!hih condition; consequently tho yield
Of milk carly in the season was below an
average. II all the items Of expense FOL
carrying stock through the winter Of 1879
4, together with the expense Of filling
up the herds in spring, be taken int
account, the dairymen of New York will
not find large balance Of profit for the
summers work. Still, prices have beer
more than werc expected, while the i'm
monse hay crop Of 1874 puts tho dairy
farmer in satisfactory condition fol
next years operations. And he ha,
abundant reason to feel encouraged at
the prospect Of 1875.