132 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



In summing up this part of the subject, it is found that 

 the people of Massachusetts, and the domestic and foreign 

 trade of her chief city, create an annual market for these 

 dairy products : — 



Forty-five million gallons of milk (the milk of ninety 

 thousand cows) for use as food, fifty million pounds of 

 butter (the product of more than three hundred thousand 

 cows), and fifteen million pounds of cheese. 



The milk-trade is easily supplied by the stock now on our 

 farms and in our cities and towns. But, to produce this 

 quantity of butter, there would have to be six times as many 

 butter-making cows kept in the State as there are now, and 

 they would have to be of better quality. 



The sum and substance of all this is, that it is simply im- 

 possible to make more butter in tins State than its markets 

 annually require. 



Our farmers need, therefore, have no fear of an over- 

 production of butter, always provided the article be of the 

 kind and quality the market demands. 



The question which remains is : Can the farmers of Mas- 

 sachusetts do more towards supplying this great demand, 

 especially that for butter? Can they make and sell more 

 butter in their own markets at a profit to themselves ? 



The passing year has certainly been one of discouragement ; • 

 but it has been exceptional. Dairy products have ruled 

 lower in price than for thirty years ; and, in many parts of 

 the country, dairymen have realized at times but a cent a 

 quart for milk. But within a few weeks butter and cheese 

 have more than doubled in price, and new courage should be 

 taken for the future. The export trade has been the chief 

 cause of this improvement, and will probably continue to act 

 henceforth as a sort of safety-valve upon the business. 

 •When dairy products accumulate, and fall below certain 

 rates, they at once become available for shipment to foreign 

 markets ; the exporters clear out the stock on hand, the 

 demand increases, and prices advance. But when prices rise 

 above a certain point, unless there is unusual scarcity abroad, 

 exportation becomes unprofitable, and ceases. Then there 

 becomes a surplus in the home market, especially of the 

 lower grades, and prices fall. The prices lately ruling have 

 checked exports for the time being ; and, as it is the season 



