CHAPTER XVIII 



HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE 

 CHEESE INDUSTRY IN AMERICA 



JUST when the first cheese was made is not known. 

 By the time the first immigrants came to America, 

 cheese-making was rather generally known in Europe, 

 so that the early settlers brought with them and practiced 

 established methods. The countries of Europe developed 

 different kinds of cheese and have since become noted for 

 such particular varieties, for example : France, Camem- 

 bert and Roquefort ; Switzerland, .Swiss cheese ; England, 

 Stilton and Cheddar; Germany, Limburger; Holland, 

 Edam and Gouda; Italy, Parmesan and its allies, 

 also Gorgonzola cheese. The manufacture of these 

 various cheeses has been attempted in this country. 

 Because of the difference in climatic conditions and 

 in some cases the use of milk of sheep or goats, it was 

 and still is difficult to manufacture some of the European 

 cheeses in America. Since the climatic conditions of this 

 country and certain parts of England are somewhat similar, 

 the manufacture of the cheeses of England predominated, 

 and there was also more information on their manufacture. 

 These are probably the reasons why the United States and 

 Canada have become famous for Cheddar cheese. 



The first cheeses of the Cheddar group were made on 

 the farms. The work was usually performed by women, 

 and the process was very simple. The methods were crude, 



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