X98 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Two International Dairy Fairs have been held in New York city, \ 

 the first in December, 1878, the second, December, 1879. Analysis 

 of the premiums awarded on butter : 



2d. 3d. 4th. 5th. 6th. 



N. Y. Ills. Iowa. N. Y. Wia. 



Ills. Iowa. Iowa. N. Y. llo. 



Of the 32 highest premiums on butter, open to all the States : 



1878— Now York, 22; Iowa, 7; Illinois, 2; Wisconsin, 1. East, 22; West, 10. 

 1879 — Iowa, 15; New York, 10; Maine, 3; Illinois, 2; AVisconsin, 1; Vermont, 

 1. East, 14; West, 18. 



In confirmation of the change thus shown, 1 take the following 

 extract from a letter from a friend in Boston who is particularly 

 well informed on this subject : 



"Eastern dealers are now looking to Illinois and Iowa and the 

 west generalh' for their best butter. The best butter that now 

 comes to the Boston market at least, is from that quarter and it is 

 rapidl}- taking the place of the fancy butter made nearer home. 

 The most experienced Boston merchants give it as their opinion 

 that in a very short time nearl}' all the fine butter will come from 

 the West." 



Now turn to the market reports : It is useless to consider either 

 retail prices in general or the special rates obtained for the butter 

 product of certain dairies having a local reputation. The butter 

 sold in Boston above the general quotations, does not amount to 1 

 per cent, of the whole quantity handled weekl}-. To studv the 

 market we must deal with the wholesale rate of butter sold in 

 quantity-. The Boston market is the one of most interest here. 

 One time is as good as another, for illustration, let us look at 

 quotations: Saturday, Dec. 23, retail, creamer}^, 33-42c ; prime 

 tub, 30-35c. Wholesale, fresh creamery, 40-42c ; fall creamery, 

 37-38c ; choice New York and Vermont dairies, 29-33c. On an 

 average during the present 3'ear, creamer}- butter has commanded 

 4 to 6 cents per pound more than the same grade of dairy. General 

 average, western creamery in New York, 1882, 35 cents. Dairy, 

 less than 30 cents. 



Now the New York market : We quote from the xlmerican 

 Dairyman, Dec. 21, creamer}-, fanc}-, 44-45c ; good to choice, 

 . 38-42c; State dairy, choice, 28-32c. 



Even when eastern dairy butter is at its very best in the market, 

 almost everything labeled "Creamery" stands higher. As a general 



