866 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



The Patron Cheese Factory. The most common sys- 

 tems of cheese factories are the patron and stock, the first 

 owned by the cheese-maker, who is sole owner and director. 

 He makes the butter and the cheese ready for the salesman, for 

 a stipulated sum per hundred pounds, this sum being subtracted 

 pro rata from each man's butter and cheese each time a sale is 

 effected. The dairyman delivers the milk at the factory once 

 or twice per day, as the patrons may agree among themselves 

 at the monthly meeting. The custom at all such factories is to 

 make half-skims the night's milk being set and skimmed at the 

 farm, and then mixed with the morning's new milk, and brought 

 to the factory. Often, when butter commands a better propor- 

 tionate price than cheese, the farmer skims all the milk, leaving 

 the morning's mess at home. The patrons elect a salesman, or 

 often a committee of three, who sell the cheese, strike the divi- 

 dends, and divide the net proceeds among the patrons. 



The Stock Factory. The stock factory differs somewhat 

 in detail from this. The factory and its equipment is built by 

 a number of persons, who subscribe shares of $25 each to the 

 amount of $1,500, or the estimated cost. Officers are chosen 

 (but more frequently an executive committee), who build the 

 factory, equip it, canvass for patrons, and work up the matter 

 in detail. They hire a foreman and assistants, and have official 

 oversight ; and the absolute cost of manufacture is charged to all 

 patrons alike, proportioned to their patronage. They sell to 

 local buyers, or consign to well-known commission houses in the 

 general markets ; and, after deducting expenses, and allowing 

 six per cent interest annually on capital, the net result is di- 

 vided. This reduces cost of manufacture to the lowest possible 

 point, and at the same time secures the outside quotations of 

 the supposed best markets. 



The third example is, for a large-dealing firm, whose integ- 

 rity is undoubted, to organize their own factory, receive the 

 milk, manufacture it, place it on the market, and charge the 

 farmers so much per hundred pounds for the whole transaction, 

 including commission, freight, insurance, usually about two dol- 

 lars per hundred pounds of cheese. 



