Arizona republican., 1908-04-01
DAiRYiNG IN THE SALT
 RIVER VALLEY, ARIZONA.

No section of the country would seem to offer such great possibilities for intelligent dairying as the Salt River valley. Arizona A very, mild equahle climate, the finest pasture in the world practically the year around, an abundance of pure fresh water close to the surface, no expensive barns. or sheds required for shelter. With pure dry air that tends to pro- mote health in animals and makes the care and handling of milk an easy matter has made the valley a veritable Garden of Eden for the bovine race. In providing thus bountifully for the production of milk. nature did not seem to forget the consumption of milk products for in the mountains of Arizona is stored a vast mineral wealth requiring for its extraction thousands upon thousands of men ready and willing to pay relatively high prices for butter, cheese and con. densed milk.
 There is no danger of an overpro- duction for years to come for with no gain in population it would take three or four times as many milch cows to supply the demands of the territory.
 PRESENT STATUS OF OAiRYiNG.
 At present writing, in the Salt River valley are found five creameries two of which manufacture some cheese, and one milk condensing plant which turns about seven per cent of it's milk sup ply into butter because of faulty care on the part of the producer which will not permit of it's use in the production of condensed milk. Four of these i plants are located in or quite near Phoenix. one at Mesa and the con- densary at Tempe. Mostly whole milk is delivered to the factory but many farmers living at a distance use the hand separator and no farmer in the valley or the Buckeye country to the west, is so distant from a creamery 1 that it can be made an excuse for not milking cows.
 From data supplied the writer by nearly all the different factory man. agers it would appear that in 1S97. six million pounds of milk was condensed and 90.600 pounds of cheese and one million pounds of butter made. An estimate of one-half million pounds of butter on farms and ranches through out the valley seems about right Farmers patrOnizing the creameries received an average of 24 cents per pound of butterfat and since a pound of butter fat will make a little more than pound of butter there was paid to farmers of the valley $350,000 for milk to make butter and cheese. As the farmer gets no skim milk return ed from the condesary he receives q somewhat higher price. In 1907 it amounted to $l.20 per hundred for four per cent milk.
 SOME HERD RECORDS.
 The above would indicate that dairying has gained a sure foothold In the valley. but of course the mere stating of the amount of milk pro- tduced and butter manufactured is no criterion as to the profitableness of the industry. That some figures might be presented showing there is good money In milking cows a number of farmers were interviewed regarding their herds, and the following facts secured. F. Gregg had F cows in his herd and in 1907 sold milk 10 the value of $951.l2. or an average Of s79.26 per COW; c. E. Adams, milked 10 cows and received SS3.36 per COW; Wm. Martin, milked F cows. receiving $7S.72 per COW; and, R. W. WestoYer. milked I2 cows and received an average of $s5.S6 per COW.