Convention — The dairy interest. 
139 
over four million dollars, a large share of which goes directly to 
Europe, in exchange for gold, and so far as this enterprise spreads 
in our state, is certain to create taxable proj^erty that will more 
than compensate the outlay asked for. A better understanding of 
the most approved method of manufacturing butter and cheese than 
now prevails is imperatively required, to reap the full benefits of 
this enterprise, and the information can be obtained nowhere else 
so cheaply, and when obtained there is no doubt it would add from 
one to three cents per pound to most of the cheese sold, and not 
less than five cents per pound to nearly all the butter made in the 
state. I would not detract in the least from the value and impor¬ 
tance of fish culture, or question the wisdom of furnishing state aid 
to further that enterprise. It is both wise and timely, but com¬ 
pared with the dairy interest to the people of the state, it is of 
much less importance, for it adds scarcely anything to the taxable 
property of the state, and is not expected to bring in millions of 
British gold for the product obtained. I hope these suggestions 
may receive consideration, and some plan be devised that will im¬ 
prove the quality and increase the quantity of dairy products, and 
Wisconsin be placed permanently in the front rank of dairy 
states. 
Secretarv Field asked Mr. Smith to state to the convention how 
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Wisconsin cheese products compared with other states at the Cen¬ 
tennial Exposition. 
Mr. Smith: Wisconsin stood higher than any other state in the 
Einion, and the number of awards to the state on cheese was 95. 
Said he had received many applications for Wisconsin cheese which 
he could not supply; that the demand was never better than the last 
autumn, and he believed it to have been in consequence of the high 
standing of our products at the International Exhibition. 
Mr. Hoxie, Cooksville: Would you brand your cheese Wiscon¬ 
sin? 
Mr. Smith: I have never been in favor of branding. New York 
dealers had sold Wisconsin cheese under New York brands. Deal¬ 
ers know how to manage that. 
Mr. Gill, Green County: Thought a commission might be estab¬ 
lished in England to sell our cheese products with good results to 
the manufacturer, and asked ]\Ir. Smith to give his ideas upon that 
