64 



BUTTER AND CHEESE. 



During the past few years there has been a large increase 

 in the quantity of butter made in the State. There has also 

 been a marked improvement in its quality, showing that 

 Texas cows and Texas grasses will make a first class ar- 

 ticle of butter. Many of the grass lands at the north, 

 used for dairy purposes, are valued at more than fifty dol- 

 lars per a^re, and with these high priced lands, large 

 profits are realized in the dairy business ; hence there can 

 be no doubt but that still greater profits can be made in 

 Texas in the same business. 



At the north they have a co-operative systemin the large 

 dairy districts, the cheese and butter being made in fac- 

 tories, which is a decided advantage, it being a great 

 saving of labor and expense. But, here similar factori'es 

 can be established, and in Texas tljp cost of keeping cows, 

 both summer and winter, is much less than a.t the north. 



From the last data at hand, the make of butter in the 

 entire country, for 1875, was 600,000,000 pounds, averaging 

 this at thirty cents per pound, and it amounts to §180,000, 

 000. Of cheese th.ere was made about 200,000,000 of 

 pounds, which at twelve and a half cents per i50und, 

 amounts to $25,000,000, or the aggregate sum of S20.?.000, 

 000, marketed in one year from the dairj- This of course 

 does not include the quantity consumed on the farm. 

 120,000,000 pounds of cheege were exported from the 

 country, and of butter 5,000,000 pounds. 



FENCES. 



Westward from Fort Mason, as far as El Paso, we found 

 few fences, generally no more than sufficient to restrain 

 stock at night. By day the stock are in charge of herds- 

 men. This course is found to be much cheaper and better 

 than to endeavor to fence lands for crops. The general 

 absence of fencing material, excepting rocks and adobes, 

 both of which are used for fencing to a small extent, has 

 compelled people to adopt this course. 



Were such measures prevalent throughout the prairie re- 

 gion of the State, it would bring more land into cultiva- 

 tion and be better for all parties. 



