DAIRY PRODUCTS. 199 



the entire grain crop of the State, and three times as much as 

 the whole wool clip. From the United States census of 1860, 

 we learn that the value of the dairy products of all the States, 

 at that time, could not have been less than two hundred millions 

 of dollars, that it was worth nearly as much as the cotton crop, 

 and was one-ninth of the total agricultural products of the whole 

 country. The product of cheese, now made in the United 

 States, is greater than that in Great Britain, and a large quantity 

 is annually shipped there. It has been estimated that there are 

 now, almost one thousand cheese factories in the State of New 

 York alone, and over twenty in the State of Massachusetts. 

 There are also many butter factories in the country, and butter- 

 making has become a specialty with many farmers. 



But, although dairy farms are becoming valuable, and dairy 

 farming profitable, we can hardly expect, in Massachusetts, where 

 our farms are small and our population large, to produce much 

 butter or cheese for export. If we can supply the demand for 

 home consumption, we shall do well. But we ought, at least, 

 to make good cheese and good butter, and this we can do with 

 proper care. To be sure, we need good, healthy cows, and good 

 feed, but these we usually have. Then, as in bread-making, we 

 want care ; indeed, oftentimes, hard work, for as dough must be 

 kneaded, butter must be "worked." The question of salting 

 seems to us to be, in a great measure, a matter of taste ; some 

 like more and some less, but a certain amount of salt is neces- 

 sary, of course, for all butter that is to be preserved. 



Arthur Lincoln, Chairman. 



