in numbers since 1896 of about 289,000, or 56 per 

 cent, and their value is ^25,726,464, or an in- 

 crease during the same time of over 95 percent. 



The United States Department of Agriculture 

 places Kansas seventh in rank in number of 

 milch cows, and since once fairly awakened to 

 the importance and possibilities of dairying there 

 is every reason to believe that her progress will 

 be continuous and permanent. The 1901 aggre- 

 gate value of butter and cheese made and milk 

 sold for other purposes was $7,729,784, the 

 largest in the history of the State, being 3.6- 

 per cent, more than in the preceding year, and 

 $2,470,032 or 47 per cent, more than in 1897. 

 While the unthinking might regard the products 

 of the cow as of minor importance, it is interest- 

 ing to know that their total 1900 value was 22O' 

 per cent, greater than the output of the rich 

 Kansas zinc and lead mines during the same 

 period, and that it probably would have paid the 

 total State, county, city and township taxes for 

 the year. If the values of the large quantities of 

 butter and milk consumed in the homes on the 

 farms were added, the grand total would be 

 considerably increased, but unfortunately, there 

 is no official account taken of that. 



During the past ten years the manufacture of 

 cheese has increased over 137 per cent, the total 

 output for 1901 being 1,456,093 pounds, valued 

 at $145,609. 



The table given below shows the quantity of 

 butter made in Kansas and its value in each of 

 the ten years named, compiled from the official 

 records of the State Board of Agriculture : 



Pounds. Value. 



I90I 43,771,076 $ 6,880,143.44 



1900 41,745,759 6,641,692.06 



1899 43,757,767 5,890,273.07 



1898 41,450,981 5,320,144.8^ 



1897 37,213,928 4,585, 271. I& 



1896 35,007,334 4,225,896.44 



1895 31,154,220 4,050,048.60 



1894 27,412,211 4,385,953.76 



1893 27,347,613 4,375,618.08 



1892 27,705,466 4,155,819.90 



Total 356,566,355 $50,510,861.39 



