STOCK AND DAIRY STATISTICS. 37 



demand for dairy products, we remarked that considerable 

 signs of discouragement were manifested on the part of pro- 

 ducers of dairy products, because of the depressed condition 

 of the market ; but we expressed the belief that the low 

 prices then ruling would induce a greater consumption both 

 at home and abroad, which would result in raising the prices. 



If seems to have proved true as then stated, and no doubt 

 but in the future prices will fluctuate, consequent upon a 

 variety of causes. But it seems also equally true that the 

 demand which will be made upon this country, both by con- 

 sumers at home and abroad, for our butter and cheese, is 

 without limit. 



The high reputation which American cheese has abroad 

 will lead to an increased foreign demand. 



In 1878 the production of butter and cheese in this coun- 

 try increased thirty-three per cent. The annual production 

 of cheese is now estimated at three hundred and fifty million 

 pounds, and of butter at a billion five hundred million 

 pounds, and the value of both at three hundred and fifty 

 million dollars, — one-seventh more than the hay-crop, one- 

 third more than the cotton-crop, and only one-fifth less than 

 the corn-crop. There are thirteen million cows in the United 

 States; which is over six times the number of those in Great 

 Britain, and more than twice the number of those in France. 



The farmers of Franklin County are very much interested 

 in the prosecution of this industry which we have been con- 

 sidering. No small part of our farming operations consists 

 in the raising of neat-stock for sale, and the manufacture of 

 dairy products. We are sorry to find, that, in consequence 

 of the introduction of the smaller breeds, the number of our 

 steers and oxen, for which Little Franklin has been so justly 

 celebrated, is decreasing; but we have reason to boast of 

 our butter product. It is gratifying to know that we manu- 

 facture for sale out of the county annually, besides what is 

 used for home consumption, an amount not less than a mil- 

 lion pounds, which would load a train of fifty cars of ten 

 tons each, which, at an average price of twenty cents per 

 pound, would amount to the sum of two hundred thousand 

 dollars ; and, if the quality could be so improved as to add 

 to its value five cents per pound, the increase would amount 

 to the sum of fifty thousand dollars. We hope such may be 



