CHAPTER VII 



The Present Organization of the Butter Market 



the distributing centers 



The total production of butter in the United States in 

 1909 was over 1,600,000,000 x pounds which expressed in 

 value is considerably over $400,000,000. This commodity 

 must therefore be regarded as an important article of com- 

 merce. Its importance can be better appreciated when it is 

 compared with the value of the wheat crop in 1909, which, 

 according to the census, was $657,656,801. Of the total 

 amount of butter produced in 1909, more than half was 

 made on the farm. Most of the farm-made butter is con- 

 sumed locally, and only the portion that is renovated is of 

 importance in big markets. While renovated butter forms 

 a large part of the butter consumed in cities, its production 

 seems to be gradually decreasing. This is of course due to 

 the fact that the manufacture of butter is gradually passing 

 from the farm to the factory, leaving less and less poor 

 butter to be renovated. Most of the butter produced in the 

 factory, however, is sent to the city. In 1909, the factory 

 product was 624,764,653 pounds. 2 During that year 47,- 

 345,361 pounds 3 were renovated. Adding these two 

 amounts we have a rough estimate of the quantity that was 

 distributed during 1909 among the more populous centers 

 of the United States. 



1 According to United States Census. 



2 From United States Census. 



3 From the Report of the United States Internal Revenue Commission. 



377] 153 



