Commissioner of Agriculture. 129 1 



Foreign markets were heavily supplied with butter from Rus- 

 sia and Siberia, arid thousands of tubs were placed on English 

 markets at prices much lower than those offered in the home 

 market. 



The quality of butter manufactured during the past year was 

 irregular. The June product was good, but dating from that 

 month the make was not up to the standard, excepting in a few 

 cases. Drought in the West during the months when the finest 

 stock is usually produced made it impossible to keep the quality 

 uniform. The amount made in New York was fully as large as in 

 former years, and during the months of May, June and July there 

 was keen competition among buyers from Boston, New York, 

 Providence and other cities along the Eastern coast. The high 

 prices realized must have been satisfactory to the various cream- 

 eries. There was no difference in New York quotations between 

 Eastern and Western butter, both going through the entire year 



on an equal footing. 



Cheese. 



The cheese market was not unlike butter inasmuch as high 

 prices ruled during the year, with the exception of one month. 

 At times quotations were at a point where speculators were 

 afraid to operate. The amount made in New York was esti- 

 mated to be considerably less than in former years. This condi- 

 tion was undoubtedly caused by the heavy demand for milk for 

 current consumption, and for condensing purposes. Contracts 

 were made with farmers for their output to a far greater extent 

 than heretofore, and at prices so attractive that creameries and 

 factories were unable to compete. 



The average quality was fairly satisfactory, but in some of 

 the Northern sections the product was especially choice, and 

 with attractive competition high prices were realized. Exports 

 for the year were disappointing, and during the month of Octo- 

 ber prices offered in Canada were so materially lower than those 

 quoted in New York that a large amount of business was di- 

 verted from Montreal. 



Consumption requirements in the home market are increasing 



yearly, and small size cheese are steadily growing in favor 



among Southern dealers and nearby Eastern markets. 

 



