DAIRY PRODUCTS. 9 



renewed prosperity. The assessments for local taxes throiigh- 

 out the State indicate a considerable increase in the number 

 of cows kept ; and under the stimulus of present prosperity 

 there is reason to look for a very heavy increase in the num- 

 bers and value of dairy stock, and in the products of the dairy. 

 But the greater number of cows is not the strongest proof 

 of increased product : the great improvement is in the fact 

 of careful selection, not only of breeds best adapted to our 

 uses, but also a discriminating selection based upon accurate 

 records, of the best individuals in those breeds. There is a 

 wide determination shown in the discussions of the farmers' 

 clubs and the institutes of the State Board to have the 

 best ; and the standard of what constitutes a good cow is 

 constantly advancing. 



The accurate records kept by some of our farmers, of the 

 product of the best cows in milk and butter, would have 

 been thought incredible until latel}^ 



Forty years ago the number of cows in the Common- 

 wealth was not far from the number now kept. The popula- 

 tion has doubled since that time, the great increase being in 

 the cities. This augmented population draws on the country 

 at large for butter and cheese ; but milk is mostly supplied 

 from farms within our boundary. 



In the smaller towns the demand is fully met in quantity, 

 and competition regulates the matter of quality ; but in the 

 larger cities the business is hampered and preyed upon by 

 middlemen and forestallers, who live upon profits that should 

 accrue to the farmer. It is also notorious that they add to 

 their gains by adulteration of the milk. 



It is also known that a considerable part of the milk sup- 

 plied to Boston is the product of cows kept in the vicinity 

 of the city in crowded stables, and fed upon swill and the 

 refuse of breweries. 



This condition of the trade is a great restriction upon the 

 consumption of milk, the amount used in the city of Boston 

 being less than half a gill to each inhabitant. If pure milk 

 was freely supplied, there would undoubtedly be a greatly 

 increased consumption. With the co-operation of consumers 

 the abases of the trade can be corrected. Companies of 

 farmers have demonstrated in the cities of London and Paris 

 that there need be no intervention of middlemen to secure 



