viii BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



$2,700,000, the corn crop at $1,000,000, and potatoes at 

 less than $2,500,000. In the last ten years the fruit prod- 

 uct of the State has very largely increased. This increase 

 has been particularly marked iu the smaller fruits. By 

 comparing the Census of 1875 with that of 1885, we find 

 that the crop of grapes for 1885 was more than four times 

 that of 1875. The strawberry and cranlierry crops have 

 trebled, and the currant crop doubled, in ten years The 

 suj)ply has become so abundant that prices have been re- 

 duced, and these healthful and most agreeable luxuries are 

 now sold at prices within the reach of all classes. The 

 future promises more abundant supplies and perhaps still 

 lower prices. The capabilities of our State, in this' direc- 

 tion, are almost unlimited. Should the demand increase 

 and prices be remunerative, we n3ay expect a still more 

 wonderful increase in the amount of these products. 



The business of dairying seems to be the favorite industry 

 of the stock-growing portions of the State. While cheese- 

 making proves unprofitable and is declining, butter-making 

 and the })roduction of milk for market have been receiving 

 increased attention. 



The system of co-operative cream-gathering creame'ries 

 has commended itself to many farming communities that 

 have no facilities for marketing milk. In most cases, vent- 

 ures in this direction have proved successful, and are giving 

 new impetus to agriculture in neighborhoods where they are 

 located. By this plan, a market at the door is assured for 

 all the cream the farm can produce. The price received is 

 dependent upon the economy and business tact displayed in 

 the management of the creamery. By making the butter 

 from the cream of several hundred cows, at one place, the 

 services of a skilled butter-maker can be afforded, and advan- 

 tage can be taken of the best l)usiness talent of the neigh- 

 borhood in making purchases and sales. The skim-milk all 

 remains at home, to be fed to calves and pigs, thus retaining 

 upon the farm very nearly all the elements of fertility that 

 our products afford. Oleomargarine has not been al)le to 

 crowd fine butter to the wall. Prices have been well sus- 

 tained, and the demand for fine butter seems to keep pace 

 with the supply. 



