190 



FOREIGN OFFICE REPORTS. 



[Sept. 189G. 



A great drawback to the expansion of this branch of industry is 

 referred to in the fact that transport of cattle by the moun- 

 tainous region of the coast is too difficult and expensive, while the 

 other route by the great interior waterway of the Orinoco 

 River is almost prohibitive, seeing that its navigation is a 

 monopoly held by a company possessing but two steamers. 



[Foreign Office Report, Annual Series, No. 1730. Price Id] 



Dairying in the State of Washington. 



In a report dated 29th April, 1896, Mr. Alexander, Her 

 Majesty's Vice-Consul at Tacoma, states that dairying in 

 the State of Washington is advancing rapidly to a position 

 amongst the leading industries. The climate, on the whole, is 

 adapted to this business, and each of the sections of the State is 

 suited to it in its own peculiar way. The luxuriant growth of 

 the clovers in Western Washington and the ease with which 

 grasses are grown render that section eminently adapted to 

 dairying, while the wonderful growth of alfalfa (lucerne) in 

 Central Washington and the cheapness of grain make it possible 

 to feed a dairy cow on an ideal ration for less than 54. a day. 

 In Eastern Washington the various root crops, especially carrots, 

 mangolds, sugar-beets, ruta-bagas, and potatoes, are produced in 

 great abundance. Cereals, also, grow there to perfection, but 

 the one thing lacking, so far, is leguminous crops, without which 

 no system of agriculture, and particularly dairying, can long be 

 successful. There are said to be indications, however, that some 

 of the less common leguminous crops such as sweet melilot and 

 the hairy vetch may be grown advantageously, and it is hoped 

 that others may be found to do equally well. Red clover thrives 

 fairly in many places. 



In the year 1895 there were 52 creameries and cheese fac- 

 tories in operation in the State, the daily output of which was 

 7,000 lbs. of butter and 2,400 lbs. of cheese, making an annual 

 production of 2,190,000 lbs. of butter and 547,000 lbs. of cheese. 



An Act was passed by the State Legislature in 1895 regulating 

 the manufacture of dairy products and to prevent deception or 

 fraud in the sale of the same or imitations thereof. It also 

 provided that milk, in order to comply with the standard, 

 should contain not less than 3 per cent, of pure butter fat, when 

 subjected to chemical analysis ; that all dairy herds should 

 be free from disease ; and further, that all dairy products 

 should be stamped so as to show their exact nature. In the 

 case of cheese, it was provided that there should be three grades, 

 to be known as Washington full cream, skimmed, and half 

 skimmed, respectively. The first grade to contain the whole 

 portion of the butter fat and other solids, the second to be 



