EXPORT OF BUTTER AND CHEESE. 



131 



city of Boston lias an extensive produce trade, and it is 

 growing fast. For several years there has been received at 

 that market alone from twenty to thirty million pounds of 

 butter annually (this year it will probably reach thirty-five 

 million pounds), and also about thirteen million pounds of 

 cheese. If we suppose that half the butter used in the 

 State passes through the Boston market (although it is not 

 likely that so large a part does), we then have seventeen 

 million pounds used without affecting that market, and a 

 demand for at least thirty-three million pounds there. It is 

 safe to say, therefore, that, in round numbers, fifty million 

 pounds of butter are required to supply the yearly demand 

 in Massachusetts, and fifteen million pounds of cheese. It 

 may be asked, how the surplus of fifteen million pounds of 

 butter and eight million pounds of cheese over and above 

 the needs of the people is disposed of. It is sold to other 

 States, and sent over the sea to other countries. Butter and 

 cheese are pur chased in Boston for consumption in New 

 Hampshire and Rhode Island, also some in Connecticut, and 

 some in Maine. From all our principal North -Atlantic ports, 

 the exports of dairy products to foreign countries are becom- 

 ing very large. This branch of the commerce of Boston 

 has been growing rapidly. Five years ago there was ex- 

 ported from Boston about half a million pounds of butter 

 and about the same weight of cheese ; last year, the quanti- 

 ties were about five times as great; and this year the butter 

 will exceed six million pounds, and of cheese, four million 

 pounds. The largest shipments are made to the West Indies, 

 Brazil, the South of Africa, Australia, Newfoundland, Nova 

 Scotia, and England. 



Table III. — Yearly Export Trade of Butter and Cheese in Boston. 1 



TEAKS. 



Butter, 

 Packages. 



Cheese, 

 Boxes. 



1874 

 1875 



1876 

 1877 

 1878 

 1879 



10,020 

 10,335 

 25,769 

 28,462 

 43,831 

 120,000 



17,855 

 46,270 

 58,353 

 80,000 



1 November and December estimated. Official reports to Nov. 1: butter, 

 5,710,000 pounds; cbeese, 3,404,000 pounds. For weights, reckon both butter 

 and cheese at fifty pounds per package or box. 



