160 [Assembly 



packed, when the same has been thoroughly freed from the 

 milk and water, when water is used, will keep pure for any- 

 desired period in our climate. When needed for use in California 

 and other warm latitudes, the kegs are packed in large casks, and 

 filled in w'Kh dry salt, and thus secured, our butter has been 

 opened after being packed for years, in perfect condition. 



When it is recollected that butter thus carefully prepared is 

 worth from six to ten cents per pound more than the ordinary 

 butter of the country, it is a matter of surprize that so many of 

 our dairymen still continue the practice of preparing their butter 

 with little care and wdthout any benefit derived from the experi- 

 ence of those who have secured yearly not only a ready market, 

 but extraordinary prices for all the proceeds of their dairies. 



It is encouraging, however, to be assured, that the efforts of the 

 Society to improve the character of our dairies has been success- 

 ful to a very large extent, and that every year adds to the num- 

 ber of our dairymen whose butter takes a place in the first rank. 

 There is scarcely a county in our dairy districts in which may 

 not be found quite a large number of dairies which command in 

 market, from the character of the dairies alone and without exa- 

 mination even, the very highest price paid for butter. 



If the labors of our Society had been productive of no other 

 beneficial results than those in this department, it is not too much 

 to say that the increased price obtained for our best butter has 

 secured to the farmers of this State a sum more than equal to all 

 the expenses that have been incurred in ihe promotion of agri- 

 culture. But when we add to this the improvement which has 

 taken place in the manufacture of cheese and the very large 

 increase in quantity per cow, the sum swells to an amount that 

 is most gratifying, testifying, as it does, in a manner that cannot 

 be denied, to the great advantages which have resulted to our 

 State by the exertions of the State and county organizations. 

 But if the producer has been largely benefited by the increased 

 price he has received, so also has the consumer been most richly 

 benefited in the superior article which has been furnished him, 

 and which contributes so materially to the comfort of his 

 household. \ 



