1891.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. xix 



Westminster. — Price of milk sold at the door is five cents per 

 quart the year round. Contractors returned eighteen and one- 

 half cents per can for May. 



In our circular to correspondents for the October crop 

 bulletin, the following questions relating to the dairy interest 

 were asked : — 



First. " Has the season been favorable for the production of 

 milk and butter?" The correspondents were almost unanimous 

 in stating that it had. The drouth from the middle of June to the 

 middle of July materially checked the flow of milk, but, as the 

 feed on the whole was unusually abundant, the total production of 

 milk was above the average. 



Second. " How have dairy products averaged in price as com- 

 pared with former seasons?" Of the ninety-one replies to this 

 question, forty-eight stated the price to have been about the same 

 as in former seasons, thirty-three that it had been lower, and ten 

 that it had been higher. It is thought that the price of milk has 

 not materially differed from the average price in years past, but 

 that the price of butter has averaged lower. 



Third. " In your section, what is the chief disposition made of 

 the dairy products produced ? " It is a little difficult to condense 

 the replies received to this question. Producers living near co- 

 operative creameries generally send their cream to them, where it 

 is made into butter. Others make butter on their own farms and 

 sell in local markets, or, if they are fortunate enough to have a 

 permanent city trade, dispose of their butter product in that way. 

 The milk used in our cities is largely obtained from the Massa- 

 chusetts fanner, and considerable is sent to Boston over the several 

 railroads, where it is disposed of by milk contractors. Some of 

 this milk comes to Boston from points more than one hundred miles 

 westward. Other milk is retailed by the producer. Some is made 

 into cheese, which is largely sold in Massachusetts markets. 



Fourth. " Do you consider the business of dairying profitable 

 to the farmers in your section?" The replies to this question 

 covered quite a range of ground, but the central idea seemed to be 

 that, if properly managed, dairying in this State is perhaps as 

 profitable as any other branch of farming. It is not safe to say 

 that those who are engaged in it are making much money. The 

 farmer must have manure in order to grow crops, and he therefore 

 cannot get along very well without keeping dairy animals. 



Fifth. " What are the chief drawbacks, at present, to the 

 carrying on of this industry ? " The following were given as a 



