viii BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the demand for export to England has been steady and has 

 kept up a remunerative price. The total export from all 

 ports to March 1st amounted to 747,000 barrels, which has 

 given to the farmers more than a million dollars. This great 

 sum has been chiefly paid to New England. 



The total export of apples from American ports for six 

 successive years has been : — 



1879-80, 435,800 barrels. 



1880-81, 1,330,800 " 



1881-82, 239,000 " 



1882-83, 400,000 " 



1883-84, 60,714 " 



1884-85, 747,000 " 



The return to the orchardist from these exports must have 

 been more than eiiyht million dollars. The demand for our 

 apples abroad is increasing, and however large our crops may 

 be in future, we can safely count upon remunerative prices. 



The production of milk to supply our large towns and 

 cities is a branch of husbandry that in late years has not been 

 satisfactory ; the farmers have allowed shrewd contractors to 

 control tho supply and sale of milk, and have accepted prices 

 lower than the cost of the product. 



This year co-operation of the fjirmers in refusing to deliver 

 milk at the former low rates, and a rigorous inspection of 

 the milk sold in the cities, which has prevented its extension 

 by water, has made the present year prosperous to this im- 

 portant industry. 



Milk producers are heavy buyers of grain, and the enor- 

 mous crops and consequent low prices at the West have been 

 greatly to our advantage. 



It is to be hoped that the lessons that our herdsmen have 

 been compelled to learn in the school of adversity will not 

 be forgotten in prosperity. They have learned that they can 

 control their market when they unite for that purpose, and 

 that they have the support of the community against the 

 rapacity of the middlemen. 



It is clearly proved that a faithful inspection of milk and 

 a strict enforcement of the laws punishing adulteration is to 



