^ BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



fourths, and probably nine-tenths, of the cheese consumed by those 

 who are not themselves producers, is brought from other States. 



Upon inquiry of a business firm in Portland, which probably 

 deals more largely in butter and cheese than any other, the opinion 

 was expressed that, judging from their own transactions and what 

 they knew of others, not less than five hundred thousands pounds 

 annually were brought into Portland alone from other States. If 

 we look at the many towns on the seaboard and railroads which 

 also import directly, and think of the large consumption in manu- 

 facturing villages, we should be inclined to deem this less, rather 

 than more, than a quarter of the whole ; and if so, we have here 

 an importation of two millions of pounds, or a thousand tons, worth 

 at ten cents per pound, two hundred thousand dollars. 



Of the quality of the article now made here, little very flattering 

 can be said. I have eaten good cheese, excellent cheese, made in our 

 State, but such is the exception and not the rule. The great bulk 

 of it, so far as I have had opportunity to know, would not be ranked 

 higher than a second rate article by good judges, and much of it 

 would be deemed unsatisfactory by both the makers and con- 

 sumers, were they familiar with the distinguishing characters and 

 properties of a really good article. 



I have yet to learn of the existence of any insuperable obstacle 

 to the abundant and profitable production of cheese of prime 

 quality in this State. I firmly believe wherever it will pay to 

 raise veal calves, or young stock, or to make butter, at the prices 

 which these usually bring, that cheese can be made, with proper 

 management, at a larger profit, even for exportation, and to com- 

 pete with that from other States ; and to an extent sufficient to 

 supply the home market, amounting to hundreds, if not to thou- 

 sands of tons annually, it can be made at a profit greater still ; 

 for to this extent we should not bo obliged to compete in a distant 

 market, with freights and commissions to be deducted from the 

 proceeds, but could sell near home, at a price equal to that current 

 in the great marts of trade, loilh the cost affreight from thence and 

 dealers' profits added thereto. * 



The great similarity existing between the physical geography of 

 the most noted dairy sections of the country and large portions of 

 Maine, deserves consideration in its bearings on the adaptation of 

 Maine for dairy husbandry. They are emphatically hill countries. 

 Herkimer county, N. Y., the most famed, is quite hill}'^ ; so is 



