210 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
but other and more potent causes have been, I think, 1st, the 
great improvement in the average quality of American cheese ; 
2d, the sound judgement you dairymen have shown in judi¬ 
ciously meeting the English demands by free sales all the sum¬ 
mer, and thus retaining your hold on that market. 
And now what is the conclusion of the whole matter ? Chief¬ 
ly, I think, that you never need be afraid of making too much 
fine cheese. This year, with the largest shipments to England 
ever known, we have the highest average price. A very short 
time ago one of the largest dealers in the old country assured 
me that in the course of forty years’ experience he had never 
been burdened with more fine cheese than he knew where to 
sell at good prices. Of course, as the gold premium declines, 
the currency value of your product must more or less sympa¬ 
thize with it, but in the general shrinkage of values, rendered 
inevitable by the improving financial condition of the country, 
your interest appears to be one of those which will suffer least. 
There is every prospect that by the first of May next, stocks 
of American cheese will everywhere be closely used up, and 
we shall enter on the new season with a^good demand at remu¬ 
nerative prices to the producer. I have done my best to make 
clear the promising future that lies open before you. If you 
would insure success in that future you must continue to deserve 
it. What you have gained must move you to redoubled effort 
and not serve as an excuse for relaxation ; only in this way 
can you maintain the position you have so far reached. Only 
in this way can you hope to advance your product to the first 
place in the English market, and when that crowning point 
has at last been achieved, sleepless vigilance alone can insure 
you in its permanent occupation. 
