SECRETARY'S REPORT. 81 



cost for utensils and for a larger sized curing room, would be quite 

 small in proportion to the increase of product. In many localities 

 it might be advisable for neighbors living within moderate distances 

 of each other to arrange with one of their number to make cheese 

 from the milk which all might furnish, and receive a proportionate 

 amount of the product or of its proceeds when sold. In this way 

 the labor would be much lessened, and improvement in results 

 gained ; for with equal skill a better and far more uniform product 

 would be secured than if each made a smaller amount. 



In Herkimer county the dairies usually consist of from forty to 

 fifty or sixty cows, and each dairyman makes his own cheese, or 

 has thus far, although it is now proposed to unite and erect fac- 

 tories, as has been done in the adjoining county of Oneida, where 

 butter formerly received more attention than cheese. The first of 

 these factories was started about ten years ago, by Mr. Williams, 

 of Rome, and proving successful, seven or eight others have since 

 been erected within a circle of ten or twelve miles, several of which 

 I visited. At Mr. Williams', where the milk of four hundred cows 

 was daily manufactured, the arrangements were less convenient 

 and perfect than some built since, it having, as it were, grown up. 

 At Frazee & Crosby's factory, about three miles distant from Wil- 

 liams' and two or three years in operation, the arrangements were 

 much better and more convenient. About 1300 or 1400 gallons 

 were there brought by the farmers, morning and evening, in large 

 cans of uniform diameter throughout, so that the quantity was 

 ascertained at once by measuring the depth of milk with a guage 

 rod. They have a cover to fit the inside, also a faucet or gate at 

 the bottom through which the milk is conveyed by a pipe to the 

 vats. An attendant keeps an accurate account of what each brings 

 and passes the amount to his credit. At the end of the season 

 each receives his proportionate share of the proceeds, first deduct- 

 ing one cent per pound for its manufacture. The milk room is 

 twenty-six feet square, containing three or four vats, each thirteen 

 feet long and three and one-half feet wide, holding about five hun- 

 dred gallons each. There was also a steam engine of three horse 

 power for heating the milk, cooking the curd, &c. On one side of 

 the room, by the ends of the vats is a shallow sink upon wheels, on 

 a railway extending into a wing of the building containing the 

 presses. When the curd is properly cooked in the vats it is finally 

 drained of whey and salted in this shallow sink, and the whole run 

 along the rails till opposite the presses. 

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