TEN DAIRY FARMS IN BLUEGRASS REGION OF KENTUCKY. 5 



the other hand, the production of tobacco, hemp, hay, beef cattle, 

 and sheep, characteristic of the more general profitable types, had a 

 marked increase during the same period. In 1890 the census enumer- 

 ators found 5,357 pounds of cheese produced in Madison County and 

 2,025 pounds in Mason County. In the census years of 1900 and 

 1910, practically none was reported for these counties. In Jefferson 

 County, bordering on the bluegrass region, 10,120 pounds was 

 reported in 1890 and 13,817 pounds in 1900. None, however, was 

 reported in the census of 1910. Three counties bordering Jefferson 

 produced about 15,000 pounds during the period covered by the 

 census of 1890 and 1900, but none was reported for these counties 

 in 1910. Between 1900 and 1910, however, there was a large increase 

 in the production of market milk for the Louisville market in these 

 counties. The cheese production that still persists in Kentucky is 

 confined largely to the low mountains and hills bordering the, blue- 

 grass region, known as "The Rim," where there is some bluegrass 

 land, though rather unfavorable for general farming and low in price. 

 In this region spring water is abundant and the climate is somewhat 

 cooler than in the more level bluegrass country. On the hilly, 

 cheaper land along the Ohio River a small quantity of cheese was still 

 heing produced in 1910. 



These facts relative to dairying in Kentucky emphasize the truth 

 that farm enterprises once started in a locality will develop only to 

 the extent that they find a favorable environment and are found 

 to be profitable by practical farmers. The production of butter and 

 cheese would no doubt be profitable in the bluegrass region and pos- 

 sibly at the present time would be a thriving industry if other enter- 

 prises such as tobacco, hemp, wheat, beef cattle, swine, and sheep had 

 not proved to be more generally profitable. The fact, however, that 

 the production of butter and cheese has not yet developed into a 

 profitable and extensive business here is not conclusive evidence that 

 it would not be profitable on many farms favorably situated for these 

 enterprises. Ev,en on many general diversified farms in this region 

 profits could be increased by keeping better dairy cows and producing 

 butter and even some cheese as a side line. Many farms in the 

 bluegrass region have excellent springs which may be used to advan- 

 tage in connection with such enterprises. 



An important factor in retarding the development of the dairy 

 industry even under favorable conditions is the general reluctance of 

 bluegrass farmers to engage in it. While negro laborers as a rule are 

 experts in growing and handling tobacco, they are not f amiliar with 

 the processes of dairying and share the common objection to it. In 

 some sections, however, where dahying has become profitable and 

 where it has been practiced a long time, this dislike is being gradually 

 overcome. 



