CREAMERIES AND FACTORIES 145 



over 20 a head has formerly been realized on 

 herds of from eighty to one hundred cows. As, in 

 many cases, rents have not decreased, as labour 

 has maintained its value, and as the reductions 

 in food stuffs and manures have been compara- 

 tively small, it would seem that the deficiency is 

 to be made up out of the farmer's pocket. The 

 Irish factories realized an average price of 

 iO'22d. per pound for butter in 1894, which 

 was i '2gd. per pound less than in the previous 

 year. While prices have fallen, however, the 

 quality of the milk has risen. Thus, in 1893 the 

 Irish factory milk produced 6' 19 oz. of butter per 

 gallon, but in 1894 6*33 ozs., and this is one 

 feature to which closer attention will have to be 

 paid in the future. Prices cannot fall below 

 a certain figure ; and it is possible that the 

 farmer may, by the exercise of higher and still 

 higher skill and care, not only increase the yield 

 of milk per cow, but the quality of that milk 

 also. It is, for example, quite possible to main- 

 tain a herd of Jerseys which will yield a still 

 higher average than 435 gallons per annum, and 

 at the same time to produce milk which will 



