DAIRYING OUT WEST. 



CHAPTEE XII. 



THE GIFT OF THE COWS. 



The Growth of the Dairying Business — Butter and Cheese pro- 

 duced in the United States — Letter from a Dairyman — What 

 can be made in the Business. 



In 1840 there were 4,837,043 milch-cows in the 

 United States ; in 1850 there were 6,385,094; in 1860, 

 8,728,863; in 1870, 11,000,000; and now about 

 12,000,000. In 1850 the production of butter was 

 313,345,306 pounds; in 1860, 469,681,372 pounds; 

 in 1870, 560,000,000 pounds; and now about 800,- 

 000,000 pounds. In 1860 the production of cheese 

 was 103,663,927 pounds ; in 1870, 275,000,000 pounds ; 

 and now about 400,000,000 pounds. In 1860 the 

 United States exported 15,515,709 pounds of cheese; 

 in 1870 they exported 70,000,000 pounds. In 1860 

 prime cheese sold for 11 cents per pound in New York 

 and Boston ; in 1870 it sold for 25 cents per pound. 

 In 1860, butter averaged in Boston 21 cents per pound ; 

 in 1870, 50 cents per pound. In 1851 the first cheese- 

 factory was started in the United States ; in 1870 New 



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