HANDBOOK OF CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURE. ,-Q 



Third. Increase of population, which caused a transition 

 from cheese and butter production to the sale of milk as a 

 dietary. 



The introduction of specific dairy animals was practically 

 commenced in 1850 by the importation of Jerseys by Mr. 

 John A. Taintor of Hartford. Mr. Taintor's efforts were 

 soon followed by others, and in turn these importations were 

 followed by the introduction of other notable dairy breeds, to 

 wit, Holsteins, Ayrshires, and Guernseys. The superiority 

 of these dairy animals so commended itself that within a few 

 years the whole State became permeated with the blood of 

 their descendants, and Connecticut soon became a veritable 

 Mecca of breeding stock. This prestige has ever since been 

 maintained, and much of the foundation stock of full-blooded 

 herds of other States has been derived from the breeders of 

 our State. 



Associated or co-operative dairying was first attempted by 

 Mr. Lewis M. Norton at Goshen, Conn., in about 1810. Sub- 

 sequent events justified Mr. Norton's ideas, but co-operative 

 dairying was not successfully established until the last third 

 of the nineteenth century. Following then, as it did, the in- 

 troduction of specific dairy animals, the conditions for suc- 

 cessful co-operative dairying were more propitious. The 

 quality of the butter was very much improved, as evidenced 

 by the increased sale value of the product of all co-operative 

 creameries. 



The success of the pioneer associations gave a strong 

 impetus to co-operative butter production, and creameries 

 were rapidly erected, equipped, and put in active operation 

 throughout the State. The zenith of this movement was 

 attained at about 1890, since when, owing to various causes, 

 the most prominent of which will be discussed later, co-oper- 

 ative butter production has slightly declined. Numerous co- 

 operative creameries are successfully operated to-day, while 

 the competition resulting from them has stimulated private 

 dairies to greater and better efforts. Despite this progress 



