STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



367 



CHEESE. 



In the above tables we have only shown the importations of butter. 

 "We now call attention to the following table, showing the amount of 

 cheese that has been imported into California for the last three j'cars : 



It will be seen that the total number of pounds imported in three 

 years is one million three hundred and seventy-six thousand two hun- 

 dred, and the cost to the State was two hundred and nine thousand 

 three hundred and seventeen dollars, equal to four hundred and fifty- 

 eight thousand seven hundred and thirty-three pounds per annum, at an 

 annual cost of sixty-nine thousand seven hundred and seventy-two 

 dollars. Add this sum to one million six hundred and twenty-eight 

 thousand and fifty-seven dollars, the annual cost of the butter we import, 

 and it shows that we pay annually the sum of one million six hundred 

 and ninety-seven thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight dollars for 

 the products of eastern dairies, while we have more than twice as many 

 cows in proportion to the number of inhabitants as any one of the States 

 from whom we buy this butter and cheese, and to whom we send our 

 gold in exchange. 



It is for our farmers to say how long this shameful and unnecessaiy 

 state of things shall last. We hope not long. The making of butter 

 and cheese is certainly a more profitable business than the raising of 

 grain, even when conducted as a specialty. But if each farmer here 

 would adopt the same system of farming that the farmers of New York 

 do for instance — that is, to raise or produce on his farm avariet}^; some 

 of all the staple products of the countr}- — he Avould soon find farming a 

 much more agreeable, independent, and profitable business tlian as at 

 present conducted. No farmer in this State should buy a pound of 

 butter or cheese, and none need do so. Yet each may have them in the 

 family as plentifully as desirable, and at the same time contribute his 

 mite and share towards suppl3'ing the non-producers of these articles 

 with what they need, and thus retain in the State, and among the 

 farmei'S themselves, over a million and a half of dollars, which is now 

 annually expended in exchange for these articles alone. 



» BACON, HAMS, PORK, AND LARD. 



By the census of eighteen hundred and sixty, there were in the State 

 of California four hundred and fifty-six thousand three hundred and 

 ninety-six hogs, and the Avhole population of the State that yc&v was 

 three hundred and seventy-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-four, 

 making vevy nearly- five hogs to cvcrj- four persons. This proportion of 

 hogs to population was greater than in any other 'section of the Union, 

 except the southern and western States. 



