No. 4.] REPORT OF DAIRY BUREAU. 



365 



Butter. 



Notwithstanding- the fact that the average wholesale price 

 of butter for tiie entire year has been slightly higher than 

 for the seven years next preceding, the siunnier price was 

 abnormally low, and this low price extended well into the 

 autumn. The copious rains and a consequent large amount 

 of green food were apparently responsible for this. Massa- 

 chusetts creameries have been obliged, however, to sell 

 their butter at lower prices than formerly. Report comes 

 from the west just at the close of the year that there is a 

 shortage of butter production in some sections. 



The following table shows the extreme quotation for the 

 best fresh creamery butter in a strictly wholesale way in 

 the Boston market for the last eight years : — 



The Chamber of Commerce's figures regarding the butter 

 business in Boston for 1903 and the immediately preceding 

 years are as follows : — 



