INTRODUCTION. 



Ix.xxv 



The following table shows the amount of butter and cheese made in the different sections of the 

 country in proportion to population: 



It will be seen that the States and Territories raised about thirteen and a half pounds of butter 

 to each inhabitant in 1850, and fourteen and five-eighths pounds in I860, showing an increase of one 

 and one-eighth pound to each person. In cheese, however, the production has not kept pace with the 

 population. It has fallen off over three-fourths of a pound to each person. Cheese docs not enter as 

 largely into the dietary of the United States as in most other countries, and small as is the amount 

 produced less than four pounds to each inhabitant it more than meets the demand, leaving a con 

 siderable balance for exportation. 



The production of butter in the New England States more than keeps pace with the increase in 

 population. Over sixteen pounds of butter is produced to each person. 



In the middle States twenty-one and a half pounds of butter is made to each person. In 1850 it 

 was only sixteen pounds, showing a very remarkable increase. 



The western States produced about fourteen pounds to each person in 1850, and sixteen pounds 

 in I860, also showing a decided increase. 



In the southern States, too, the production of butter keeps pace with the population. The amount 

 made, however, is small, only six and a half pounds to each inhabitant. 



The Pacific States, which produced only a little over one and a half pound of butter to each per 

 son in 1850, produced nearly eight pounds in 1860. 



In cheese, all the different sections, with the exception of the Pacific States, show a marked decline 

 as compared with population. The New England States, which produced nearly ten pounds of cheese 

 to each inhabitant in 1850, produces less than seven pounds in 1860. It will be observed, however, that 

 New England still produces more cheese in proportion to population than any other section. 



The middle States have fallen off from nearly eight pounds of cheese to each person in 1850, to 

 about six pounds in 1860. 



The Pacific States have increased their cheese product from less than half a pound to each per 

 son in 1850, to nearly three pounds in I860. 



Since the census was taken, the production of cheese, especially in the great dairy districts of 

 New York, has greatly increased. The &quot; cheese factory &quot; system which was introduced a few years 

 ago has been stimulated into an astonishing development by the high price of cheese caused by the 

 high premium on gold and sterling exchange. The cheese made in these factories is generally of better 

 quality than that hitherto made in private dairies, and pains have been taken to adapt it to the wants of 

 the European market. The cheese is sent to England, and, being sold for gold, the price in this coun 

 try increases with the premium on gold and sterling exchange. At the time of this writing, (Novem 

 ber, 1864,) cheese in New York sells for twenty-two cents per pound. In 1859 the highest price of 

 cheese in New York at the same period was eleven cents per pound; in 1860 eleven and a half cents, 

 and in 1861 seven and a half cents. Cheese is now more than double the average price obtained before 

 the war. The effect of these high prices, as we have before remarked, is seen in the increased atten- 



