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HANDBOOK OF CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURE. 



DAIRY INTERESTS OF CONNECTICUT. 



J. B. Noble, Commissioner ; R. O. Eaton, Deputy Commissioner. 



Dairying in Connecticut at the present time is one of the 

 most important branches of our agricultural interests. In 

 the western part of the State large herds of cows are kept 

 and the milk shipped to New York city. In the eastern part 

 many of the farmers are sending milk to Providence and Bos- 

 ton. While the milk trade is an important part of our dairy- 

 ing, the butter business is, on many accounts, of still more 

 importance. There are fifty-six creameries in the State 

 doing a good business. Some of them are quite large. They 

 are making a first-class grade of butter, which finds a good 

 market at quite a remunerative price. Quite a large amount 

 of butter is still made in private dairies and much of it is of 

 extra good quality. In the last fifty years the number of 

 cows in Connecticut has increased from eighty-five thousand 

 four hundred and sixty-one to nearly one hundred and fifty 

 thousand, with an average value, at the present time, of 

 $34.80 each. The increase in numbers does not represent 

 nearly all the increase in the business, for better cows are 

 now kept and more care and thought are given to breeding 

 and feeding. The average milk production per cow has in- 

 creased in the past forty years from two hundred and seventy 

 gallons to four hundred and thirty gallons. The amount of 

 butter made in the State has increased in the past fifty years 

 from 6,498, 119 pounds to 11,000,000 pounds. Dairymen in 

 Connecticut are thoroughly alive to their business, intelligent 

 and progressive men, and through their efforts much has been 

 accomplished in bringing their business to a high and satis- 

 factory standing. 



CONNECTICUT DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



This association was incorporated in 1889 for the purpose 

 of helping the dairy and all of its related interests. The an- 

 nual meeting is held the third week in January, at Hartford, 

 where prominent dairymen from different parts of the coun- 

 try speak upon live questions connected with their business. 



