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SECOND  ANNUAL  REPORT 


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SECOND  ANNUAL  REPORT 


AMERICAN  DAIRYMEN'S 


WITH  ACCOMPANYING  PAPEES.  &c. 


,      \XJ^J,J 


FOR  THE  YEAR   1866. 


TO   WHICH   IS   ADDED  THE  ANNUAL  REPORT   OF   THE 


®HI®  ©AIlIMIl'S  ASS®eitATI®I, 


ron  the:  year  iseo. 


UTIC-A^    N^.    Y. 

ROBERTS,  BOOK  AND  JOB  PRINTER,  60  GENESEE  STREET^ 

186Y. 


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/ 


PREFATOKY   REMARKS. 


In  sending  out  this,  the  Fourth  Eeport  issued  since  the  organization 
of  this  Association,  the  Secretary  feels  that  it  will  receive  a  wann 
welcome  from  members,  and  from  all  practically  interested  in  dairy- 
ing and  the  advancement  of  the  science  of  cheese-making  in  our 
land. 

The  same  rate  of  increase  in  the  number  of  cheese  factories  in 
America,  which  has  been  adverted  to  in  former  Eeports,  still  con- 
tinues. So  far  from  diminishing  in  force  it  is  probable  that  at  no 
former  period  has  the  increase  been  so  great  as  it  is  to-day. 

The  list  of  factories  herein  contained  numbers  52-i,  against  294 
last  year,  and  it  is  yet  very  incomplete.  Not  only  in  the  Middle, 
Eastern  and  "Western  States  has  this  system  been  established,  but 
Yirginia,  Kentucky,  and  perhaps  other  Southern  States,  nave  facto- 
ries in  operation. 

Indeed,  so  rapidly  are  these  estaTDlishments  multiplying,  that  fears 
are  entertained  in  the  minds  of  many  that  the  production  of  cheese 
will  soon  so  far  exceed  the  demand,  as  to  render  dairying  unprofita- 
ble, particularly  on  the  high  cost  lands  of  the  East.  It  may  not  be 
amiss  to  remark,  however,  that  the  best  offset  against  an  over-supply 
is  to  continue  to  raise  the  standard  of  quality  of  our  dairy  products 
so  as  to  induce  their  more  general  use  amongst  us.  With  quality  to 
suit  their  taste,  Americans  will  not  be  slow  to  learn  that  cheese  is 
cheaper  and  more  nutritious  than  meat.  It  will  be  noticed,  too,  that 
in  the  address  of  Mr.  Anson  Bartlett,  of  Ohio,  found  in  these  pages, 
it  is  stated  that  there  are  now  no  more  cows  in  America  in  propor- 
tion to  the  population,  than  there  has  been  for  over  half  a  centuiy. 

The  past  season  was  very  unfavorable  for  cheese-making  on  ac- 
count of  the  excessive  heat  of  the  early  summer,  and  perhaps  less 
progress  was  made  in  improving  cheese  than  has  been  made  in  some 
previous  years. 


But  tliat  the  quality  of  our  clieese  is  being  steadily  and  surely 
advanced  from  year  to  year,  is  fully  acknowledged  by  dealers  at 
home  and  abroad.  It  is  no  small  achievement  so  far  to  remove  the 
prejudice  of  the  English  against  our  dairy  products,  as  to  find  ready 
introduction  into  their  markets,  and  a  not  unfavorable  comparison 
with  their  own  productions.  Mr.  Willard's  experience  and  observa- 
tions in  Great  Britain,  as  set  forth  in  his  letters,  private  circulars,  and 
in  the  address  contained  in  this  Eeport,  give  us  far  clearer  views 
and  juster  impressions  of  what  our  cheese  really  is  in  England,  and 
what  is  thought  of  it  there,  than  we  have  ever  had  before. 

It  is  probable  that  the  question  regarding  the  real  value  of  whey, 
and  the  most  profitable  use  to  which  it  can  be  put,  will  receive  vastly 
greater  attention  during  the  coming  season  than  ever  before.  Cer- 
tainly the  fact  as  to  whether  good,  clean,  sweet-flavored  table-butter 
can  be  made  from  whey,  will  doubtless  be  solved.  If  decided  afiirm- 
atively,  it  will  induce  an  immense  saving  to  dairymen,  and  may  also 
so  considerably  increase  the  production  of  butter,  as  to  bring  the 
price  of  that  article  within  the  means  of  thousands  to  whose  tables 
it  is  now  interdicted  by  reason  of  its  dearness. 

It  is  an  interesting  phase  of  our  calling,  to  see  how  largely  the 
spirit  of  investigation  and  improvement  is  being  carried  into  the  per- 
fecting of  the  aj)paratus  and  implements  used  in  producing  cheese 
and  butter.  The  best  possible  qualities  and  quantities,  with  the  least 
manual  labor  involved  in  their  production,  are  the  aims,  and  are  to 
be  the  results,  of  this  state  of  things. 

The  arrangement  of  the  accompanying  Eeport  is  very  similar  to 
that  of  its  predecessors.  The  address  of  X.  A.  Willard,  A.  M. 
needs  no  commendation  here.  It  is  certain  to  receive  that  consider, 
ation  which  it  so  justly  merits.  Surely  those  members  of  this  Asso- 
ciation, and  others  who  contributed  towards  defraying  the  expenses 
of  an  agent  abroad  last  season,  must  feel  abundantly  repaid  by  the 
fullness  and  value  of  the  information  which,  in  various  ways  has  ac- 
crued to  them,  as  growing  out  of  this  mission. 

Attention  is  also  called  to  the  able  and  characteristically  practical 
address  of  Mr.  Anson  Bartlett,  before  the  Ohio  Dairymen's  Associa- 


tion ; — a  report  of  whose  Convention  at  Cleveland,  in  February,  will 
be  found  in  the  latter  part  of  this  volume. 

The  Weekly  Circular,  to  which  allusion  was  made  in  our  Conven- 
tion, has  so  far  been  abandoned  by  the  committee  having  the  matter 
in  charge,  as  to  relinquish  all  thoughts  of  publishing  a  separate 
paper.  The  weekly  reports  and  statements  from  factories,  if  sent  to 
X.  A.  Willard,  Esq.,  Agricultural  Editor  of  the  'Utica  Herald,  will 
be  published  in  that  paper. 

Again,  the  Secretary  acknowledges  his  obligations  to  the  gentle- 
manly Keporters  of  the  Utica  papers,  (more  especially  the  Herald.) 
Their  reports  of  the  proceedings  of  the  annual  meeting  hare  been 
largely  relied  upon  in  making  up  the  transactions  as  published  herein. 

Injustice,  also,  to  himself,  the  Secretary  would  state  that  this  Ee- 
port  would  have  been  issued  nearly  a  month  earlier  had  he  not  been 
obliged  to  wait  for  the  manuscript  of  Mr.  Willard's  address. 

The  American  Dairymen's  Association  is  slowly  but  surely  mak- 
ing for  itself  a  permanent  and  prominent  position  in  the  land. 
There  have  been  times,  as  doubtless  there  usually  are  in  the  buildino- 
up  of  all  similar  enterprises,  when  even  its  best  friends  have  almost 
despaired  of  its  success.  The  apathy  and  indiflference  of  dairymen 
have  been  and  are  the  most  serious  impediments  against  which  we 
have  to  contend. 

Happily  these  are  being  gradually  overcome,  and  dairymen  are 
getting  to  see  that  their  own  interests  are  best  subserved  in  sustain- 
ing and  upholding  this  Association,  and  the  objects  for  which  it  was 
formed. 

Hoping  that  the  Keport  herewith  submitted  may  add  to  the  use  ■ 
fulness  and  advance  the  interests  of  the  Society,  it  is  respectfully 
submitted. 

GARDNER  B.  WEEKS, 

Secretary. 
Verona,  K  Y.,  April,  1867. 


ARTICLES   OF   ASSOCIATION. 


"Whereas,  It  is  deemed  expedient  to  merge  the  New  York  State 
Cheese  Manufacturers'  Association,  which  was  organized  in  January, 
1864,  into  an  American  Association,  through  which,  as  a  medium, 
results  of  the  practical  experience  of  dairymen  may  be  gathered  and 
disseminated  to  the  dairying  community ;  therefore, 

Resolved^  That  we,  the  undersigned,  do  hereby  associate  ourselves 
together  for  mutual  improvement  in  the  science  of  cheese-making, 
and  more  efficient  action  in  promoting  the  general  interest  of  the 
dairy  community. 

Article  I.  The  name  of  the  organization  shall  be  The  Ameri- 
can Dairymen's  Association. 

Art.  II.  The  Officers  of  the  Association  shall  consist  of  a  Presi- 
dent, ten  Vice-Presidents,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

Art.  hi.  The  President,  Vice-Presidents,  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer, shall  constitute  the  Executive  Board  of  the  Association. 

Art.  IV.  The  officers  of  the  Association  shall  be  elected  at  the 
regular  annual  meeting,  and  shall  retain  their  offices  until  their  suc- 
cessors are  chosen. 

Art.  V.  The  regular  annual  meeting  shall  occur  on  the  second 
Wednesday  in  January  of  each  year,  and  at  such  place  as  the  Exec- 
utive Board  shall  designate. 

Art.  VI.  Any  person  may  become  a  member  of  the  Association, 
and  be  entitled  to  all  its  benefits,  by  the  annual  payment  of  two 
dollars. 


\ 


OFFICEES  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION  FOE  1867. 


PKESIDEKT. 

GEOKGE  WILLIAMS,  Delta,  Oneida  County. 

VICE   PEESIDENTS. 

HoK  B.  K  HUNTINGTON,  Oneida. 

SETH  MILLEE,  Lewis. 

M.  H.  COCHEANE,  Canada  East. 

BEADFOED  STILES,  Madison. 

DWIGHT  J.  WOODWOETH,  Cattaraugus. 

A.  D.  HALL,  Ohio. 

ALANSON  SLAUGHTEE,  Orange. 

A.  A.  MOOEE,  Vermont. 

KINNEY,  Illinois. 

C.  E.  CHAD  WICK,  Canada  West. 


secretary  and  treasurer. 
GAEDNEE  B.  WEEKS,  Yerona,  N.  Y, 


LIST  OF  MEMBEHS 

,  OF   THE 

AMERICAN  DAIRYMEN'S  ASSOCIATION, 


Foi*  tlie   Year   ISGT". 


Avery,  Eli,  Clayville,  Oneida  co. 
Avery,  A.  L,,  Ilion,  Herkimer  co. 
Allen,  M.  S.,  Tenner,  Madison  co. 
Ansted,  A.,  Oneida,  " 

Brooks,  J.  W.,  Steuben,  Oneida  co. 
Blue,  Archibald,  N.  Gage,  Oneida  co. 
Blue,  J.  C,  " 

Brown,  James  P.,  Utica,  " 

Brown,  H.  E.,  W.  Winfield,  Herk.  co. 
Bonfoy,  S.,  Winfield,  " 

Broat,  Hiram,  Little  Falls,  " 

Brayton,  H.  E.,  Newport,  " 

Brown,  Hiram,  New  Berlin,  Clien.  co. 
Babbitt,  Chester,  Fly  Creek,  Otsego  co. 
Brown,  James,  731  Broad  St.,  New  York. 
Blakeley,  Dan'l,  E.  Aurora,  Erie  co. 
Baker,  N.  R.,  Schuyler's  Lake,  Otsego  co. 
Blanding,  Wm.,  Hawleyton,  Broome  co. 

Clark,  J.,  Delta,  Oneida  co. 
Coates,  J.  G.,  Holland  Pateut,  Oneida  co. 
Clark,  F.,  Vernon,  " 

Cornish,  S.,  Camden,  " 

Comstock,  Wm.  H.,  Utica,  " 

Curtis,  T.  D.,  Paris,  " 

Cooper,  B.  W.,  Little  Falls,  Eerk.  co. 
Campbell,  Gaylord,  Frankfort,     " 
Chapman,  J.  K.,  Oneida  Lake,  Madison  co. 
Cole,  G.  T.,  Potsdam,  St.  Lawrence  co. 

De  Angelis,  W.  W.,  Hoi.  Patent,  Oneida  co. 
Devendorf,  H.  A.,  Fort  Hunter,  Mont.  co. 
Douglass,  Geo.  B.,  New  York. 

Eaton,  J.,  Little  Falls,  Herkimer  co. 
Ellison,  J.,  Middleville,  " 

Ellison,  H.  D.,  Newport,        " 

Foster,  F.,  Durhamville,  Oneida  co. 
Folts,  L.  H.,  Lowville,  Lewis  co. 

Gouge,  Jacob,  Trenton,  Oneida  co. 
Goodier,  A.  K.,  Bridgewater,    " 
Griswold,  John  C,  Ftedonia,  Chau.  co. 
Griswold,  H.  E.,  Morrisville,  Madison  co. 
Gilbert,  M,  A.,  Gilbert's  Mills,  Oswego  co. 

2 


Alexander,  Eaton,  Henderson,  JefiF.  co. 
Andrews,  J.  W.,  McLean,  Tomp.  co. 
Adams,  John,  IngersoU,  C.  W. 


Blanding,  F.,  Brookfield,  Madison  co. 
Brockett,  D.  Z.,  Bouckville,      " 
BeattJe,  W.,  Trxixton,  Cortland  co. 
Brown,  J.  I.,  Flat  Creek,  Montgomery  co., 
Buchanan,  Edwin,  East  Otto,  Catt.  co. 
Brainard,  A.  L.,  Perrysburgh,       " 
Berry,  Dwight  W.,  Middletown,  Orange  co. 
Burnham,  Asahel,  Sinclairville,  Chautau.  co. 
Baker,  Rufus,  Fairfield,  Lenawee  co.,  Mich. 
Bacon,  T.  W.,  St.  Clair,  St.  Clair  co.,  Mich. 
Brown,  L.  M.,  Woodbury,  Wood'y  co.,  Iowa. 
Bardwell,  C.  S.,  Pawlet,  Vt. 
Bartlett,  S.  R.,  N.  Madison,  Lake  co.,  Ohio. 


Chase,  Benj.,  Macedon,  Wayne  co. 
Conover,  J.  W.,  Glen,  Montgomery  co. 
Carr,  J.  J.,  Root,  " 

Chamberlain,  L.  A.,  Fowler's  Mills,  Geauga 

CO.,  Ohio. 
Carter,  H.  N.,  Perry,  Lake  co.,  Ohio. 
Collins,  Miles  A.,  Davenport,  Iowa. 
Cochrane,  M.  H.,  Montreal,  C.  E. 
Chadwick,  C.  E.,  IngersoU,  0.  W. 


Downes  &  Co.,  Seneca  Falls. 

Dewey,  J.  A.,  Potsdam,  St.  Lawrence  CO. 

Dick,"j.  B.,  WiUink,  Erie  co. 

Ensign,  P.  W.,  Sheridan,  Chautauqua  co. 
Elliott,  S.,  IngersoU,  C.  W. 


Freeborn,  A.  H.,  Solsvillc,  Madison  co. 
Farrington,  H.,  Norwich,  Oxford  co.,  C.  W. 

Gould,  Ira,  Phoenix,  '* 

Gildersleeve,  C.  F.,  Kingston,  C.  W. 
Grosvenor,  E.  &  J.  F.,  Claridon,  Geauga  co., 
Ohio. 


10 


Herbert,  Samuel,  Ava,  Oneida  co. 
Haskius,  L.  S.,  Vienna,        " 
Huntington,  Hon.  B.  N.,  Rome,  Oneida  co. 
Hopson,  E.  R.,  Brockett's  Bridge,  Herk.  co. 
Hart,  D.  D.,  Oneida  Lake,  Madison  co. 
Hunt,  S.,  Hubbardsville,  " 

Harrington,  M.,  CowasaloD,         " 
House,  C.  C.,  Houseville,  Lewis  co. 
Hamlin,  D.,  Watertown,  Jefferson  co. 


Hughes,  A.  A.,  Stone  Mills,      " 
Harrington,  H.  H.,  Southville,  St.  Law.  CO. 
Hawley,  Jas.  S.,  Bingbamton,  Broome  co. 
Hubbs,  S.  E.,  Johnstown,  Fulton  co, 
Hitchcock,  Noah,  Homer,  Cortland  co. 
Harris,  James,  Ingersoll,  C.  W. 
Hamilton,  Geo.,  Cromarty,  Perth  co.,  C.  W. 
Hunter,  W.  S.,  Derby  Line,  Vt. 
Hall,  A.  D.,  Ohardon,  Ohio. 


Ligraham  &  Lewis,  Adams,  Jefferson  co.         Irish,  R.  K.,  Collins  Center,  Erie  co. 


Jarvis,  F.  G.,  Fly  Creek,  Otsego  co. 
Jones,  S.  E.,  Gowanda,  Cattaraugus  co. 

Lair,  M.  S.,  Utica. 

Lewis,  Ebenezer,  Utica. 

Leach,  Nehemiah,  Norwich,  Chenango  co. 

Lamunion  &  Clark,  Munnsville,  Madison  co 

Mitchell,  H.  W.,  Rome,  Oneida  co. 
Moon,  Bowen,  Norway,  Herkimer  co. 
Miller,  Seth,  Constableville,  Lewis  co. 
Markham,  H.  C.  CoUiersville,     " 


Johnson,  W.  C,  Butterfly,  Oswego  co. 
Judson,  Thomas,  Brant,  Erie  co. 

Lewis,  Sidney,  Syracuse. 

Lawrence,  Philip,  Walworth,  Wayne  co. 

Lewis,  Harris,  Frankfort,  Herkimer  co. 


Morse,  B.  G.,  Red  Falls,  Greene  co. 
Miller,  J.  Y.,  De  Witt,  Onondaga  co. 
Morton,  Geo.,  Morton,  Leeds  co..  C.  W. 


Nicholson,  Thos.,  Springfield,  Susq.  co..  Pa.     Otis,  Parley,  Columbus,  Chenango  co. 


Preston,  C.  B.,  N.  Gage,  Oneida  co. 
Poppleton,  G.  H.,  State  Bridge,  Oneida  co. 
Potter,  Enos,  Paris,  " 

Putnam,  J.  M.,  Newport,  Herkimer  co. 
Pahner,  W.,  W.  Winfield,         « 

Roberts,  T.  D.,  Floyd,  Oneida  co. 
Ralph,  Wm.,  Utica,  " 

Reynolds,  A.  G.  Springville,  Erie  co. 

Spinning,  Edmund,  Taberg,  Oneida  co. 
Scott,  L.  R.,  Bridgewater,  " 

Shearman,  J.  A.,  Utica,  " 

Schermerhorn,  L.,  N.  Gage,  " 

Seeley,  Isaac,  Vienna,  " 

Smith,  C.  W.,  Cedarville,  Herkimer  co. 
Smith,  P.  H.,  Brockett's  Bridge,     " 
Smith,  H.  W.,  Fulton,  Oswego  co. 
Sweet,  H.  T.,  Phoenix,  " 

Stow,  Geo.,  Bouckville,  Madison  co. 
Saunders,  G.  C,  S.  Brookfield,  Madison  co. 

Talman,  J.,  N.  Y.  Mills,  Oneida  co. 
Tucker,  A.,  Sauquoit,  " 

Thomas,  Stephen,  Cassville,  *' 

Vanderveer,  J.  L,  Root,  Montgomery  co. 

Ward,  N.,  Holland  Patent,  Oneida  co. 
Wight,  L.  L.,  Whitesboro,  " 

Williams,  Geo.,  Delta,  " 

Weeks,  G.  B.,  Verona,  " 

Walker,  Hiram,  Union  Square,  Oswego  CO. 
Wilson,  W.  C,  Cherry  Valley,  Otsego  co. 
Wilson,  Geo.  Wm.,  Dansville,  N.  Y. 
Walts,  G.,  Fort  Plain,  Montgomery  co. 
White,  Jobn  H.,  Gowanda,  Catt.  co. 


Peck,  A.,  Burtonville,  Montgomery  co. 
Pierce,  M.,  S.  Richland,  Oswego  co. 
Page,  J.,  Lorraine,  Jefferson  co. 
Pope,  J.  L.,  S.  Edmeston,  Otsego  co. 


Riggs,  C.  G.,  Turin,  Lewis  co. 
Rann,  C.  A.,  E.  Poultney,  Vt. 
Reigash,  J.  H.,  Beloit,  Rock  co.,  Wis. 

Scott,  J.  G,,  Watertown,  Jefferson  co. 
Shepherd  &  Grinnell,  Mannsville,  Jeff.  co. 
Smith,  Henry,  West  Exeter,  Otsego  co. 
Smith,  B.  &  F.,  Spooner's  Cor.         " 
Sage,  A.  J.,  New  Berhn,  " 

Safford,  H..  East  Otto,  Erie  co. 
Smith,  Reuben  P.,  Tully,  Onondaga  co. 
Simpson,  Wm.  Jr.,  New  Hudson,  AUe'y  co. 
Slaughter,  Alanson,  Middletown,  Orange  co. 
Smith,  J.  Harvey,  Fort  Plain,  Mont.  co. 
Smith,  Sam'l  G ,  Montreal,  C.  E. 

Titus  &  Sisson,  City,  Dutchess  co. 

Turner,  A.  H.,  2  Bowling  Green,  New  York. 


Welch,  P.,  Gowanda,  Cattaraugus  co. 
Woodworth,  D.  J.,  Yorkshire,  Catt.  co, 
Wilbur,  S.  W.,  Farmiogton,   Oakland  CO., 

Mich. 
Waterman,  H.  C,  Rosendale,  Fond  du  lac 

CO.,  Wis. 
Wilder,  C.  H.,  Evansville,  Wis. 
Wickham,  R.  C,  Pawlet,  Vt. 


Young,  D.  G.,  Cedaryille,  Herkimer  co. 


York,  J.,  Elgin,  Elgin  co,,  C.  W. 


LIST  OF  CHEESE  AND  BUTTER   FACTORIES. 


3Sr    K    ^^r       YORK. 


ONEIDA 

COUNTY. 

N( 

5.  of  Cows. 

No.^ 

01  Cows  . 

M.  Mitchell's  Factory,  Eemsen, 

400 

Peter  Charton's  Factory, 

,  Lee  Center, 

400 

D.  Thomas'            " 

** 

400 

L.  S.  Davis' 

Florence, 

5no 

Tho=.  Koberta       " 

Floyd. 

a50 

David  Waldo's 

Westernyille, 

300 

Rathbun's              " 

Stittville, 

700 

Green's                     " 

Vernon, 

675 

South  Trenton      " 

South  Trenton, 

GOO 

J.  A.  Shearman's       " 

New  Hartford, 

500 

Wignt's                 " 

Whitesboro, 

865 

Mai.  Miller's              " 

Trenton, 

8  0 

South  Comers      " 

"Vienna, 

COO 

Excelsior                  " 

Rome, 

600 

Blossviile              " 

Swiss  Cheese, 

450 

D.  Cady's                  " 

«* 

300 

Glenmore              " 

Annsyll'e, 

700 

Hampt  m 

Hamnton. 

500 

Baegs'                  " 

Holland  Patent, 

SCO 

J.  K.  Schuyler's        " 

" 

807 

Cotes'                   " 

((                 a 

300 

Rome  CM.  A.          " 

Fome, 

850 

Hiesinsville          " 

Hieeinsvilie, 

^45 

F.  Foster's                 " 

Durhamvllle, 

300 

M.  Convprse's       '• 

North  Bridgewatcr,      600 

Ciiuckery 

Paii^  Hill, 

601) 

Deansville            " 

Deansville, 

275 

J.  ri.  Brooks'            " 

Steuben, 

500 

Henry  S.  Hill's    " 

Western  ville. 

400 

F.  Clark's                   " 

Vernon  Center, 

439 

H.  Williams' 

'* 

300 

A.  S.  King's                " 

Sanqnoit, 

400 

J.C.  Owpns' 

Treuron, 

K.  A .  Palmer's          " 

Clayville, 

180 

E.  Lewis' 

Deerfield, 

1,200 

S.  Thomas'                " 

Cassville, 

250 

L.  Tanners'           " 

Marcy, 

1.(100 

J.  Crosby's,               " 

Rome, 

240 

Wilcox's                " 

*• 

6C0 

r'old  spring                " 

Florence, 

400 

E.C.Lewis'           " 

Kirkland, 

."^00 

Mad  Kiver,                 ' 

** 

500 

H.  L.  Kose's         " 

Lowell, 

600 

Camden,                    " 

Camden, 

510 

G.  B.  Weeks'        " 

Verona, 

6.'5 

Knoxboro,                 " 

Knoxboro, 

30O 

Oneifia  Central     " 

300 

J.  F.  Pierci's            " 

Holland  Patent, 

7C0 

Smith  &  SqulPr'a  " 

Delta, 

600 

Curtiss'                      " 

Waterville, 

250 

Wm.  Wallace's     " 

West  Branch, 

400 

A.  Blue's                    " 

North  Gaffe, 
Westmoreland, 

140 

J.  L,  Dean's           '' 
J.  M.  Tufts' 

Hecla, 

200 

Hampton  C.  Assoc.    " 

700 

Vernon, 

100 

Bronson  &  Earl         " 

Vernon  Center, 

SOO 

Woods'                   " 

Lee, 

500 

Dunlap  &  Elvenburg" 

Vernon, 

300 

"W.  Saxton's         " 

" 

SOD 

HERKIMER  COUNTY. 


Northrrp's         Factory,  Litchfield. 

North  Winfleld         "        North  Winfield, 

J.  H.Clark's 

E.  Bartlett's 

H.  (;.  Brown's 

Walter  Palmer's 

Samuel  Smith's 

E.  ("!.  Warren's 

Kinney 

Fort  Herkimer 

Bicliards'jn's 

Daniel  Hawn's 

Shell's 

foland 

J.  Mather  &  Co.'s 

Coon's 


Winfleld, 
West  Winfleld, 


Warren, 

Litchncld, 

Fort  Herkimer, 

Schuyler, 

StarkviUe, 

Russia, 

Fairfield 
Russia. 


R.  Brown,  Cole  &  Co.'s  Factory,  Fairfield, 
Eatonvillc  Factory,  Eatonvllle,  1 

Hopson's  Cold  Creek  Factory,  Salisburv  Center 
Green  &  Ostrander's  Herkimer  Co.  Union, 
Little  Falls, 


300 
EOO 
300 
303 
400 
200 
200 
400 
000 
4C0 
SOO 
800 
6  0 
400 
,000 
i5) 
fiOl 
,000 
,800 


Geo.  W.  Pine's       Factoty,  Herlrimer 

7Cn 

s.  A.  Farnngton's        " 
L.  N.  &  G.  Harvey's     " 

Frankfort, 

600 

Graefenberg, 

300 

J.  W.  Runyan's             " 

North  Litchfield, 

400 

W.  Budlong's               " 

West  Schuyler, 

1,000 

Herkim'-r,                      " 

■Rerkimer, 

500 

First  ffational              " 

Frankfort, 

651 

Cedarville                    " 

Cedarville. 

TOO 

Cook,  Ives  &  Co.'s       " 

Salisbury  Comers 

,  GO 

Avery  &  Ives'              " 

•'       Center, 

830 

.las  D.Ives'                  " 

Korway, 

L.  H.Carr's                   " 

SallstiuVy, 
Fairfield. 

Mather  Rees  &  Co.'s    " 

S.  Eysaman's                " 

Katonville, 
BrocKett's  Bridge, 

Helmer&  Favill's       " 

800 

L.  Snell  &  Co.'s            " 

.T.    " 

Rice,  Broat  &  Co.        " 

Manheim  Center, 

Little  Falls, 

950 

Geo.  Davis'                  " 

'■       " 

Cold  Spring                 " 

"       " 

Hoikimer  Union         " 

Herkimer, 

MADISON    COUNTY 


West  Faton 

Inzram 

Pecksport 

ErieviUe 

Seymour's 

Smith  Valley 

Morse's 

Georgetown 

SiUcs' 

Cazenovia 

Canaearafi'a 

/Clockvilie 


Factory,  600  Peterboro  Factory,  900 

500  Stockbridge  "  500 

"  FOn  De  Rnyter  "  700 

"  700  Woodstock  "  SOO 

"        Lebanon,  400  Hunt's  "         Hubbardsvllle,  600 

"  too  Lsmnnion  &  Clark's  fact'y.  No.  3,  StocKbridge,  400 

"        Eaton,  G'JO  Nelson  Factory,  Nelson,  roo 

"  80i)  Hart's  "        Oneida  Lake,  250 

Oneida  Castle,  600  Mile  Strip  "        Fenner,  850 

"  500  Ellison's  "        Brookfleld,  20o 

"  4.->0  Excelsior  "                 "  800 

"  SOO  Fenner  "  450 


12 


LEWIS  COUNTY. 


FoltB' 

Peter  Bent's 

Hall's 

Kees' 

MiUei's 

High  Market 

HouaeviUe 

Glensdale 

Sugar  Kiver 

Wood's 

Bush's 

Sheplierd's 

Williams' 

Carpenter's 


Factory,  Lowville, 


Barnes'  Corners, 

Martinsburgh, 

Constableville, 

High  Market, 

Houseville, 

Glensaale 

Leyden, 

Turin, 


Houseville, 


No.  of  Cows, 
750 
400 
600 
150 
750 
460 
Sno 
700 
9C0 
400 
500 
250 
150 
150 


No.  of  Cows. 


Dnnton's        Factory,  Martinsburgh, 

W.  Martinsburgh  "        West  Martinsburgh, 

Green's  "  " 

Kelsev's 

West  i.owville, 

Searles' 

Alexander 

Sulphur  springs 

Vary 

Clark's 

Lanphere's  "  " 

Deer  Kiver  ''        Deer  River, 

Austin  "        Denmark, 


West  Lowville, 


LowTille, 
Hamsburgh, 


1,000 
500' 
400 
450 
8u0 
500 
300 

suo 

500 
600 
EOJ 
■lO) 
700 


OSWEGO   COUNTY. 


Bennet  &  Bonfoy' 

s  Factory, 

M.  Pierce's 

do 

Gilbert  Mills 

do 

A.  M.  Gregg's 

do 

Volney  Center 

do 

Whittemore's 

do 

Ingell  &  Smith's 

do 

Blodarett's 

do 

RobJms  &  Co. 

do 

Suydam'8 

do 

Trumbull's 

QO 

Hall's 

do 

Cold  Spring 

do 

Jones' 

ao 

L.  Willis' 

do 

Moscow 

do 

Blunt's 

do 

Union, 

do 

Moleno, 

South  Kichland, 

Gilbert  Mills, 

Eennelivllle, 

Volney, 

Scriba, 

Volney, 

East  Sandy  Creek, 

do        do 

do        do 
Pulaski, 

do 

do 
South  Richland, 
do  do 

Orwell, 

do 
Colosse, 


400 
300 
430 

310 

noo 

875 

600 
600 
400 
270 
3 10 
300 
400 
SOO 
400 
150 
400 


Union  Factory,        Mexico, 

Wdvffint'3  do  Prativille, 

Smith's  do  New  Haven, 

Daggett's  do  do 

Donnelly's        do  North  Scriba, 

South  West  Oswego  Factory, 
Vermillion       Factory,    VeriHilUon, 
Smith's  do  Volney, 

Brown's  Corners  do 


do 


Hubbard's 

Jennings'  do 

East  Scriba,  do 

Sweet's  do 

Gregg's  do 

Phoenix  do 

Central  Square  do 

West  Manual  do 


Palermo, 

Schroeppel, 

do 
Phoenix, 


500 
500 
2'0 
800 
400 
400 
400 
830 
iOO 
250 

too 

260 
200 
260 
850 
200 
2S0 


JEFFERSON   COUNTY. 


Westcott's 

Wilson's 

SKeel's 

Cascade 

D.  Hamlin's 

Harper's  Ferry 

Wicfcs' 

Babcock's 

Hadsall's 

Wnrdwell  Settlement 

Salisbury  Mills 

Smithville 

Hill's 

Heaton's 

Vroman's 


Factory,   Watertown,      303 


do  do 

do  do            S"0 

do  do             300 

do  Rutland,           50J 

do  do 

do  Champion, 

do  do 

do  do 

do  Pierrepont  Manor,  600 

do  600 

do  Pmithvillp, 

do  Bodman, 

do  do               230 

dtf  do                403 


Dry  Hill                        Factory, 

Bodman, 

Loveland                          do 

Adams 

Woodville                         do 

600 

Belleville                          do 

500 

Mannsville                        do 

610 

Ingrabam,  Lewis  &  Co.'s  do 

Adams, 

900 

Union                                do 

Watertown, 

170 

Leffingwells'                     do 

Henderson, 

17a 

Parker's                            do 

Wnrdwell, 

450 

Stanley's                             ao 

Adams, 

5'0 

Philadelphia                      do    Barber's  Corners 

.  400 

Bonfoy.  Hettinger  &  Allen's  Factory.  Loraine,  530 
Kvans  Mills  l''actory,     Evans  Mills, 

Brownville  do  Brownville, 

Wilson's  do         Rutland. 


MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


Charleston  4  Corners  Factory, 


Smith  Creek 

do 

Empire 
Hallsville 

do 

do 

Frysbush 

do 

Hessville 

do 

Cold  Spring 

do 

Watervllle 

do 

Flat  Creek 

do 

Fort  Plain, 
Burtonviile, 
Hallsville, 
Frysbush, 
Sprout  Brook, 
Stone  Araba, 
Ames, 
Flat  Creek, 


523 
675 
^6J 


(Seven  others  in  contemplation.) 


Cayadutta 

A.  Snell&Co.'s 

Snell,  Smith  &  Co.'s 

Root 

Wler's 

Glen 

Dievendorf's 

Florida 

Switzer  Hill 


CHAUTAUQUA   COUNTY. 

Crowell&  Session's  Factory,  Hamlet,  800  Coon's 

J.  E.  Robertson's          do        Busti,  GOO  do 

«;l  ear  Spring                do  700  Canadawa 

Bumham's                    do        Slpclairville,  1,04'J  Gerrv 

J.  S.  Hulbert'8             do        Forrestville,  400  Casadaga, 


Factory, 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 


St.  JohnsviUe, 

do 
Root, 

do 
Glen, 

Amsterdam, 
Minaville, 
Fonda, 


Factories  (3)  M'na, 
do        Snerman, 
do        Arkwnght, 
do 
uo        Casadaga, 


845 


1,250 
450 
687 
500 
430 


OTSEGO  COUNTY. 


J.  Wycoll'' 
Ellison's 

David  Lock's  ao 

Center  Brook  do 

Stocker  &  Fox's     do 
easier  &  Andrews'  do 
Charles  Russell's     do 
Pitt  Cusliman's 
Col.  Gardner's 
Rd.  GardnHr's 
Bcnl.  Smltti's 
Brockway's 
Chas.  Smith's 
Babbit  &  Jarvis 

Parley  Phillips' 
BuBBCl  Bowers' 


Factory,  Richfield  Springs, 
do        TTnudlUa  Forks, 
ao        Richlleld, 

Otego, 

least  Springfield, 

Springtleld  Center, 

Ifartwick, 

Edmeston  Center, 

Burlington  Flats, 
do 

Spoonor's  Corners, 

Blchflcld, 

AVest  Exeter, 

Fly  Creed, 

Burlln'iton  Green, 

Unadilla  Forks, 

Exeter, 


500  Parker's  Fa  c  lory, 

s;20  Gates  E.  Pope's  do 

800  L.  N  Brown's  do 

loO  Ed.  Loonns'  do 

600  L.  O.  Vebber'fl  do 

450  H.&  S.  Smith's  do 

200  D.R.  JoBlyn's  do 

200  Lyman  .Johns&n  do 

]50  Coleman's  do 

150  Nfwcl  N.  Talbot's  do 

400  Wm.  Brown's  do 

.",00  Clark's  do 

500  .lames  Ackcrman's  do 

200  Warren  (Jhaso  do 

250  Joseph  Kine's  do 

200  George  Clark's  do 
SOO 


South  Edmeston, 

do 
West  Edmeston, 
Richfield, 
Exetpr  Center, 
West  Exeter, 

do 
Burhngton  Flats. 

do 

do 
T'nndllla  Forks, 
Scliuylcr's  Lake, 
Kdineston  Center, 
West  Edmeston, 
Burlingtoti  Green, 
Hyde  Park, 


400 
400 
500 
150 
iOO 
3  0 
100 
500 
200 
150 
400 
200 
400 
250 
800 
800 


13 


CHENANGO  COUNTY. 


No.  of  Cows. 
Tuttle  Factory,  Columbus,  iSO 

Hiram  Brown's      do  do  400 

A.  K.  Sage's  do      New  Berlin  Center,      800 

Holmes  &  Rlcher'sdo      Columbus  COO 

George  Buel's        do      King  Settlement,         600 


Holmes  ville      Factory 
Daniels'  do 

LlQcklaen  do 

Norwich  C.  M.  Co.  do 


No.  of  Cows. 

Holmesvllle,  650 

McDonougti,  6u0 

Lincklaen,  500 

Norwich,  500 


CORTLAND  COUNTY. 


Lewis  Sears' 
L.  Sears' 

>\  enney  do 

Beattie's  do 

Blodgrtt's  Mills.  do 
Keeney's  Settlement  do 

New  Boston  do 

iiast  Homer  do 


Factory,   Cuyler,  1,000 

do       UeRuyter,  1,100 

Truxton,  l,-2oO 

Traxton,  50-) 

Cortlandvllle,  300 
1,00) 

Cuyler,  600 

Bast  Homer,  4S0 


Preble 

Factory 

.  Preble, 

eno 

Homer 

do 

Homer. 

SOD 

Freetown 

do 

Freetown, 

80J 

Cincinnatns 

do 

Clncinnatus, 

4U0 

S.  Cortland 

do 

S.  Coriland, 

400 

Meecham's 

do 

Marathon, 

3i0 

Taylor 

do 

Taylor, 

400 

CATTARAUGUS  COUNTY. 


Woodwortb's  Factory,  Yorkshire  6C0  Champlins' 

Franklinville  do  Franklinville,  700  Fast  Otto 

Lewis  &  Wi.der's  do  Sandusky,  5<>0  Waveily 

Elton  do  Elton,  400  Foilett's 

Ashford  do  Asbford,  400  Farmersville 

Eiceville  do  K.    do  £50  Hopkin's 

Lowe  (to  Stocking's  do  Snringville,  Perrysburg 

Poor  &  Gary's  do  Yorkshire  Center, 


Factory,  Napoli,  SOD 

do  E.  otto  Comers, 

do  AVaverly, 

do  Machias, 

do  Farmersvill?,        COO 

do  Man-field, 

do  Perrysbuig, 


CAYUGA  COUNTY. 
ThroopsvilleC. M.Assoc.  Factory,  Auburn,     450 

ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


OUn  &  Smead's  Factory,  Canton, 
Southville  do       Southville 

Barker's  do      Riehville, 

Potsdam  do      Potsdam. 


675  South  Canton  Factory,  South  Canton, 

200  De  Kalb  do       Dp  5alb, 

f40  Gouvernenr  do       Gonverneur, 

500  W.  Fowler  do       "W.  Fowler, 


450 
700 
500 
430 


L.  H.  Webster's  Factory,  Fabins, 


&eymour. 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY. 

500       DeWlttC.M.  A.  Factory,  DeAVltt 


ALLEGANY  COUNTY. 


Bimpson's 

Factory, 

Perry's 

do 

Elmer's 

do 

Forsythe's 

do 

Nile 

do 

Kichburg 

do 

AUred 

do 

Friendship 

do 

Centerville 

do 

Dryden  Union  Factory, 

Groton 

do 

oc^  muui , 

Rushlord, 

Indepenilence, 

Nile. 

Kichburg, 

Alfred, 

Friendship, 

Centerville, 


400 

Akerly's             Factor 

COO 

Barn's                      do 

200 

Andover                  do 

200 

Black  Creek            do 

125 

E.  Rushford             do 

100 

Oramel                     do 

;.23 

Almond                   do 

150 

Clarksville  Center  do 

000 

Fillmore, 
/vndover. 
Black  Ceek, 
E.  Uushford, 
Oramel, 
Almoud, 


TOMPKINS  COUNTY. 

600       McLean  Association  Factory,  McLean, 
500       Freeville  Union  uo        Freevllle, 


8:o 


503 


1,300 
'(00 


FULTON   COUNTY. 
E.  K.  Hopson's  Factory,  Cold  Creek,  550 

BROOME  COUNTY. 


Maine                  Factory,  Afaine, 

230 

Squires  Creamery 

,        1 

Hawleyton 

do 

Hawieyton, 

273 

ERIE  COUNTY. 

Collin-? 

Factory 

Collins, 

1,100 

Concord  Centor  I 

"acto 

"W.G.  Huntington 

s 

do 

Pontiac, 

800 

Boston  Corners 

do 

Moore  &  Adams' 

fiO 

Concord, 

Wales 

do 

First  Collins 

do 

560 

Faxon's 

<lo 

Collins  Center 

rto 

Collins  Center.     663 

Collins. 

do 

Brant  Center, 

do 

Brant, 

830 

Risson's 

do 

Marshfleld 

do 

Marshfleld, 

1,1100 

North  Evans 

do 

Morton's  Comers 

do 

M.  Corners 

COO 

AU'^ola 

do 

Spnngvllle 

rto 

Sprlngviile 

1,101 

Brant 

do 

Rej-nold's 

00 

Sardinia, 

soo 

Juoson 

do 

Glcnwood 

do 

Glenwood, 

40J 

D  wight 

do 

200 


Factory,  "Woodward's  Hollow  ."00 


B.  Corners, 

4  0 

43) 

Eden  Corners, 

bOO 

GownBda, 

600 

Shirley, 

4C0 

N.  Evans, 

500 

Angola, 

530 

Collins, 

500 

Brant. 

50J 

Gowanda, 

2J0 

Walworth  Factory,  Walworth, 


WAYNE  COUNTY. 

500      Macedon  Factory,  Macedon, 


14 


ORANGE  COUNTY. 


Circlevllle  Factory, 

Coliabur^h  do 

Kockville  do 

Unionvine  do 

"Wallkill  Association,      do 


No.  of  Cows- 
4C0 
8'<;5 
4v5 
250 
475 


J.  F.  Vatl  &  Co, 

Hrown,  Lane  &  Co, 

"Wawanda 

J.  B.  Halsey  &  Co. 


No.  of  Cows. 

Factory, 
do 
do 
do 

450 
250 
375 
SCO 

FACTORIES  WHERE  MILK  IS  BOUGHT,     (Orange  County,) 


T>.  Mnllock's 

Orange  Co,  Milk  Assoc, 

do         do 
Gouge  &  WoodhuU 
Bates  &  Co. 
Gouge  &  Toungs' 
T.J.  Jaylor 
Carpenter  Howi  11 

do 
Sanford  &  Smith 
R.  Millbui  n 
T.  Iiurland 
Brown,  Baiiev  &  Co. 
Foster  Clark's 
Wood's 


Middletown, 
Micbisan, 
Chester, 
Hamptonburgh, 

do 
Florida, 

do 
Amity, 
Warwick, 

do 

do 

do 
Elenville, 
Wickham's  Pond, 
Chester, 


250 
550 
333 

600 
250 
40) 
175 
4 '5 
830 
300 
2511 
150 
400 
851 
3U0 


E.  Bull's 
Bankers  Brothers 

F.  Davis 

P.  Holbert's 
Mapes  &  Stewart 
Jas.  Hulse 
Wm.  Mead  &  Co. 
Cristee  &  Hayne 
O.  F.  Green, 
H.  Keamey 
Corwin  &  Moore 
J.  A.  Wood 
Howell  &  WoodhuU 
W.  H.  Clark  &  Co. 


George  Hoye's  Factory,  Attica, 


WYOMING  COUNTY. 

800 


Chester, 
do 
do 
Middletown, 
do 
do 
do 
TJnIonville, 
Greenville, 

do 
Otisville, 
81ate  Hill 
Monroe, 
Minisink, 


150 
250 
225 
275 
425 
250 
250 
SOO 

.■too 

135 
325 

200 
400 
SOO 


FACTORIES  IN  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Sorin'iiville  Factory,  Soringville,"  Susq.  Co.        300 
Bndgewater     do      Brldgewater,     do  200 

Gage  do  do  80 


New  Milford  Creamery,       N.  M.    Sasq,  Co.       200 
Spring  Hill  Factory,  S.  H.,  Bradlord  Co.  150 


FACTORIES  IN  VERMONT. 


F.  Berkshire  f^actory.  E,  Berkshire,  800 

EQOsburgh  Factory  Co.,  Enosburgu,  l.ono 

N.Eaosbur^h  Kactory,  N.  iinosbarsh,  tiOO 

E,  FrankliQ  Cheese  Factory,  E.  Franklin,  GOO 

Middletown     do          do       Middletown,  500 


Wickham's  Cheese  Factory,  Pawlet, 
Mason's  do  do        Richmond, 

Valley  do        HmesDurg, 

E,  Poultney,  do        E,PouUney, 


800 
£0 
500 
500 


FACTORIES  IN  MASSACHUSETTS, 


AVorcester  Co,  Factory,  Warren,  500 

Union  Cheese        do       Hardwiek, 

New  Braintree       do       N.  araintree  Center,    543 

Barre  Central  Cheese  Co,,  Barre  do 

Barre  Cheese  Co.,  Barretown,  375 


Petersham  Cheese  Co.,  Petersham, 

Cheshire  do       do    S.  Adams, 

Westboio        do       do    Westboro, 

Lewis'  Milk  r'ondensing  Factory,  W,  Brootfleld, 

Coy's  Hill  Chetse  Co,,  Warren,  SOO 


FACTORIES  IN  ILLINOIS. 


Hain^svllle  Factory,  Hainesville,  Lake  Co., 
Burchard'3       do      Sumner,  Kankiikee  Co.: 


Huntley  Grove  Factory,  H.  G.  McHenry  Co.,      250 
Wanzer  &  co.'a     do       Herman,  Kane  Co., 


FACTORIES    IN    OHIO. 


GEAUGA  COUNTY. 


Ayer's 
A.ndrew's 
Lucius  Bartlett's 

d) 
R.  Hood's 
Snntii  &  Biker's 
Hall  &  Freeman's 
A.  D,  Hall's 

do 
L.  J.  Randall, 


Fac'  ory ,  Pond  Station,  800 

do       Bisst-ls,  900 

do       Chester,  300 
do           do    cross  Roads,  1,200 

ao       Bridge  Creek,  1,000 

do       Ford,  81)0 

do       iNewbury,  800 

do       Fowler's  Mills,  800 

dJ       Charaon,  900 

do             do  700 


do 
do 


J.Bndlong's 

D.  L.  Popp, 

L.  J.  Kaudall 

P.  Hall 

Armstrong  &  Chacedo 

H.  J.  Lanaston  do 

B.  Armstrong  do 

L.  ,T.  Randall  do 

F.  Smith  do 


Factory,  CUardon. 
do       Welshtleid, 
Burton, 

do 
East  Claridon, 
J^arkman, 
Huntsburg, 
Moniville, 
Thompson, 


LAKE  COUNTY. 


fl.  N.  Carter  Factory,  Perrv, 

8.  E.  ii,  a.  N.  Carter        do       Lcroy, 


400 
300 


R.T  Httt 
Bartlelt  &  McICeo 


TRUMBULL  COUNTY. 


1.200 

1.200 
<J0O 
400 
800 

1,000 
950 

1,000 
700 


Factory,  Willoughby,        500 
do       S.  Kirlland,         400 


R.  C.  Cox 
J.  M.  Trew 


Factory,  Mesopotamia, 
do       W.  Farmington, 


903 
1,00  J 


McConnell  &  Harshman  Factory,  Southington,  800 


SUMMIT   COUNTY. 


Gilbert  Roach          Factory,  Twlnshurg,  1,300  Hudson 

Akron  CM.  Co.            do       Akron,  800  Wolcott's 

Conl<-y       do                 do       Copley,  400  Strclght  &  Terry 

Hopkins,  McMlllen  &  Co.,  Factory,  Bath,  500            do          ao 


Faitory,  Ilndpon, 
do       Little  York, 
do       Hudson, 
do      Twinsbarg, 


500 
40 
800 
450 


15 

PORTAGE  COUNTY. 

Uo.  of  Cows;  No.  of  Cows. 

Strelght  &  Terry's         Factory,  Streetsboro',   60D  O.  C.  Eisden  &  Co.'s  Factory,  Shalersville,    8no 

Hura  &  brother's               do        Aurora,           600  Bradley's  do       Mantaa,           750 

W,  G.  Eldredge                 do            do              250  H.  S.  Johnson  do      Garretsville,     8jO 

CUYAHOGA  COUNTY. 

Lord's  Factory,  Mayiield.  530      J.  Q.  Lander  do      North  Solon,   l.OCO 

LORAIN  COUNTY. 

J.  C.  &  C.  W.  Horr         Factory,  Wellinston,  1,?00       Camden  Cheese  Co.,  Kipton  Sta.  800 

Snow's  do      Huntington,    400       Mussey  &  Viei's  Factory,  Elyria,  330 

HURON  COUNTY. 
L.D.King         Factory,  Few  London,  aOO      J.  B.  Bissel  do      Wakenian,  1,000 

ASHTABULA  COUNTY. 

fl.  F.  Giddlng's  Factory,  Lindenvllle,  400 

MEDINA  COUNTY. 

Chamberlin  &  McDeWeU's  Factory,  Medina,      500      G.G.Crane  Factory,  Sharon  Center.  fiOfl 

A.C.Benedict  do       Lllchfleld,    COO 

FACTORIES  IN  WISCONSIN. 

C.  H.  Wllder's  Factory,  Evansville,  Eock  Co.,   400      Rosendale  Factory,  Ro^'endale.Fond  du  Lac  Co. ,600 
Bpringvale  do      Nanaupa,  Hazen's  do        Springvale,       do        do      450 

FACTORIES  IN  IOWA. 
Smith's  Factory,  Mason  City. 

FACTORIES  IN  MINNESOTA. 
Anderson's  Factory,  Mower  City. 

FACTORIES  IN  KENTUCKY. 
Chlldsburg  Factory  Chlldsburg,  Fayette  Co.      SOO 

FACTORIES  IN  MICHIGAN. 

St.  Clair  Factory,  Pt.Clali-,  450       Horton's  Factory,  Adrian, 

Fairfield      do      Fairfield.  400 

FACTORIES  IN  CANADA. 

Smith  &  Rons',  Norwich,  Oxford  Co.,  C.  W.,       400  Losung's,  Durham,  C.  "W.      230 

Galloways's,  InKerjioU.          do  do             150  Kearn's                          Oxford,  do        200 

Joslah  CoHins,  Mount  Elgln.do  do            8jO  Dodge's                              do  do        200 

Moyer's,  West  Zorra,            do  do            100  Sllverthorn's                     do  do          70 

Adams'  Niasourl,                   do  do             4"i0  Tlio.  Abram's,               Norwich,  do        275 

Wade's,  Coburg,                    do  do            450  G.  Dunldn                         do  do        200 

Jas.  Harris,        ingersoll,  Oxford  Co.,  C.  W.      400  Wm.  Bailey,                      do  do        175 

do       Branch  do            do  do        300  Andrew  Fictert,Lowyil]e,  Halton  Co.  i50 

H.  Farrington,        Norwich,  do  do       800  Kich  Carter.  Bramton,  Peel  Co.  175 

do          Branch     do       do  do        200  Wilmot's,  Milton,  Halton  Co.  250 

Chas.  Banbnry,  St.  Mary's,     do  do        300  »;ambeH's      do          do  209 

Harrlf!  &  Adams,  Mt.  Elsin,    do  do        250  Smith  &  Cochrane,  Complon,  C.  E.  250 

Soott's,                        Lobo,  C.  W.                          (About  50  others  erecting-) 


ANNUAL   ADDRESS 

Delivered  before  the  American  Dairymen's  Association,  at  Utica, 
Wednesday  Evening,  January  9,  1867. 

By   X.  A..  W^ILLi^HD,  A..  M., 

OF    HERKIMER    COUNTY,    N.    Y. 


Mr.  President  and  Members  of  the  American  Dairymen's 
Association — Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : 

Before  entering  upon  the  topics  for  the  evening,  it  will  be  proper 
for  me  to  state  some  facts  in  regard  to  my  mission  to  Europe. 

It  is  •well  known  that  a  committee  was  appointed  at  the  last  Con- 
vention to  raise  funds  to  send  an  agent  abroad.  Soon  after  the  close 
of  the  Convention,  Mr.  Shearman,  its  chairman,  inaugurated  a  plan 
for  obtaining  the  funds,  and  through  his  indefatigable  exertions, 
assisted  by  Mr.  Williams,  Mr.  Bartlett,  Mr.  Farrington  and  others, 
the  money  was  raised,  and  I  was  invited  to  go  abroad  on  the  mis- 
sion. I  am  not  insensible  to  this  honor,  (unsolicited  as  it  was  on  my 
part,)  nor  to  the  general  approbation  which  the  committee  assured 
me  was  had  from  all  parts  of  the  dairy  region. 

Though  going  abroad  was  to  me  a  serious  pecuniary  loss,  it  does 
not  lessen  my  obligations  to  those  who  were  active  in  the  move- 
ment, and  reposed  confidence  in  my  ability  to  obtain  the  expected 
information.  I  duly  considered,  before  accepting  the  mission,  its 
advantages  and  disadvantages,  and  did  not  expect  to  reap  pecu- 
niary reward. 

In  raising  the  fund,  the  subscribers  made  a  condition  that  the 
more  important  matter  elicited  should  come  to  them  in  private  cir- 
culars. I  saw  from  the  first  that  this  mission  was  one  of  considera- 
ble responsibility ;  that  the  excursion  was  to  be  no  pleasure  trip, 
but  one  of  steady,  active,  laborious  work. 

In  looking  over  the  ground  before  me,  I  determined  upon  the 
following  course  of  action :  1st.  To  have  no  part  with  dealers  or 
shippers  of  cheese,  in  business  transactions,  no  matter  what  offers  or 
inducements  might  be  held  out.  2d.  To  obtain  facts  from  actual 
observation  ;  to  sift  opinions  and  statements,  and  get  at  the  truth  at 
8- 


18 

all  hazards ;  to  be  earnest  and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  duties ; 
to  be  true  to  the  interests  of  those  who  sent  me  abroad  ;  and  finally, 
to  bring  back  a  perfectly  clean  record. 

The  committee  placed  $1,630  in  my  hands,  about  one-third  of 
which  was  given  to  convert  the  balance  into  gold.  After  paying 
necessary  expenses  and  passages  across  the  Atlantic,  it  left  some 
$800  in  gold  for  prosecuting  observations.  I  traveled  over  a  large 
part  of  England,  from  the  extreme  south  to  the  extreme  north — 
was  in  Scotland,  Ireland,  France  and  Switzerland.  I  went  out  early 
in  May  and  returned  in  October,  drawing  while  abroad  considerably 
on  private  funds. 

In  regard  to  my  reception  in  England,  I  have  no  fault  to  find. 
I  received  attentions  from  some  of  her  most  distinguished  men ; 
such  men  as  Dr.  Yoelcker,  the  great  chemist  of  the  Eoyal  Agricul- 
tural Society ;  Professor  Gilbert,  noted  throughout  the  world  as  the 
rival  of  Liebig,  Mr.  Freer,  editor  of  the  Journal  of  the  Royal  Agricul- 
tural Society,  and  many  others  of  celebrity.  I  could  name  many  acts 
of  kindness  received  in  England  from  persons  who  knew  something 
of  me  from  reputation,  but  must  not  occupy  time  in  this  way.  I 
mention  these  things  here  in  no  spirit  of  boasting,  but  because  I 
know  you  have  an  interest  in  hearing  in  what  manner  your  agent 
was  received  abroad. 

I  sent  out  thirteen  circulars,  eleven  only  of  which  were  received 
and  published.  They  embrace  facts,  rather  than  opinions.  Some 
of  them  contain  statistics  and  information  requiring  much  labor  to 
obtain,  and  never  before  made  public.  As  a  basis  of  future  opera- 
tions, they  must  prove  of  great  value.  The  object  of  the  mission 
was  not  of  an  advisory  character.  It  was  simply  to  collect  facts, 
and  transmit  them  at  as  early  a  date  as  practicable.  Somebody  took 
the  pains  to  write  out  my  circulars,  and  send  them  back  to  London 
shippers.  I  cannot  say  what  was  expected  of  me ;  but  I  did  not 
engage  to  keep  track  of  the  markets  in  both  countries,  to  control  the 
price  of  gold,  to  be  responsible  for  panics  in  the  provision  markets, 
to  ensure  that  factories  should  make  prime  cheese,  or  to  compel 
buyers  to  come  to  the  door  and  take  it  at  monstrous  prices.  If  any 
factory  anticipated  some  grand,  overwhelming  result,  that  should 
unsettle  the  laws  of  commerce,  laws  built  up  by  a  thousand  years  of 
labor,  that  factory  lias  probably  been  disappointed. 

It  was  claimed  abroad,  by  persons  competent  to  judge,  that  had 
it  not  been  for  the  factories  sending  abroad  an  agent,  prices  here 
would  have  gone  down  in  July,  and  the  best  American  cheese  could 
have  been  bought  during  the  season  at  15  cents.  The  attempt  was 
made  and  failed,  simply  because  the  factories  had  the  necessary 


19 

information  and  stood  firm.  Men  in  New  York  wrote  back  to  En- 
gland, that  it  was  useless  to  try  to  break  prices  in  America,  that 
the  factories  stood  firm,  and  that  your  agent  was  doing  immense 
damage  to  the  trade  by  his  circulars.  It  is  not  the  first  time  that 
I  have  been  accused  of  injuring  the  dairy  public.  Last  year  in 
open  Convention,  you  will  remember,  it  was  stated  that  my  editorials 
in  the  Herald  had  done  great  damage,  by  inducing  men  to  hold 
cheese  and  not  sell  it  to  speculators  at  a  low  price.  Factories  that 
had  their  cheese  on  hand,  it  was  said,  would  be  very  likely  to  keep 
it,  and  yet,  in  two  weeks  after  the  Convention,  up  went  prices,  veri- 
fying  my  predictions. 

Now,  I  have  no  war  to  make  against  dealers ;  many  of  them  are 
honorable  men,  engaged  in  a  special  branch  of  commerce,  requiring 
vast  sums  of  money,  and  the  running  of  large  risks.  They  operate 
precisely  as  you  or  I  or  anybody  else  would,  under  similar  circum- 
stances. They  do  not  buy  cheese  for  a  mere  pastime,  but  to  make 
money. 

Some  people,  however,  infer  that  I  am  hostile  to  them,  because  my 
sympathies  are  with  the  farmer,  and  must  therefore  be  put  out  of 
the  way.  I  could  mention  names,  and  refer  to  insinuations  circu- 
lated in  the  hope  of  damaging  me  in  the  good  opinion  of  friends, 
but  it  would  do  no  good.  It  is  come  to  be  considered  almost  a 
crime  for  a  man  in  any  public  capacity  to  take  sides  with  the  pro- 
ducer. Somebody  must  have  a  bite ;  and  if  you  remonstrate  that 
the  nip  is  too  large,  you  are  accused  of  being  a  dangerous  person. 

I  hear  that  some  factories  held  their  cheese  till  December,  had  no 
place  to  keep  it,  and  then  became  uneasy  and  sold  it  at  a  low  figure. 
If  the  cheese  was  good,  in  my  opinion  they  made  a  great  mistake. 
They  should  have  shipped  to  New  York,  and  held  a  few  weeks  for 
better  prices.  If  they  charge  they  have  been  misled  by  my  circu- 
lars, it  is  ungenerous.  I  advised  no  one  to  hold  or  to  sell ;  I  but 
stated  facts  truthfully.  I  labored  incessantly  to  sustain  prices.  I 
could  have  written  the  market  down,  and  have  been  well  paid  for  it. 
You  would  never,  perhaps,  have  been  the  wiser,  but  I  should  have 
had  the  consciousness  of  being  treacherous  and  dishonest.  The  price 
of  cheese  is  now  advancing  on  the  other  side,  as  was  anticipated. 
The  consumption  is  large  and  the  supply  limited.  It  must  be  had 
from  America.  Time  will  prove  whether  my  estimates  have  been 
warranted  or  otherwise.  I  have  not  proposed  to  use  the  matter  of 
the  circulars  in  my  address.  Those  who  keep  them  for  reference  in 
next  year's  transactions,  will  more  than  get  back  the  money  that  has 
been  paid  for  them.  In  my  opinion,  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dol- 
lars have  been  saved  this  year  to  the  dairymen  of  America,  by  hav- 


20 

ing  the  exact  condition  of  the  Englisli  markets,  the  foreign  produc- 
tion and  the  probable  demand,  placed  in  the  possession  of  factories. 
The  intelligence  might  have  reached  them  through  sources  other 
than  the  circulars,  but  it  did  not,  and  judging  from  the  past,  the 
chances  are  entirely  opposed  to  it.  It  is  not  to  the  interest  of  com- 
merce to  post  up  the  producer,  and  it  ought  not  to  be  expected. 

Last  year,  (1865,)  with  gold  and  exchange  at  a  high  premium, 
with  an  unprecedented  home  market  that  kept  up  all  the  season,  the 
average  prices  obtained  for  our  best  factories,  was  only  15  cents  and 
a  fraction  per  pound.  This  year,  with  a  greatly  increased  produc- 
tion, with  an  early  break  down  in  the  home  market,  with  a  mass  of 
poor  flavored  cheese  made  in  July,  and  with  poorer  average  rates  of 
gold  and  exchange,  we  have  realized  a  considerable  higher  average 
for  cheese  than  last  year.  Eeasoning  from  analogy,  the  price  should 
have  been  less  this  year  than  last.  Will  you  tell  me  what  has 
brought  about  this  result?  a  result  unparalelled  in  the  history  of  the 
cheese  trade.  Is  it  because  commercial  men  have  been  more  liberal  ? 
Dealers  claim  that  no  money  was  made  on  cheese  sold  from  June  to 
September.  Has  it  been  simply  a  matter  of  chance?  No ;  it  is  be- 
cause you,  dairymen,  inaugurated  a  plan  for  getting  a  true  account  of 
the  foreign  demand  arid  markets.  That  knowledge  gave  you  cour- 
age, and  you  were  prepared,  and  able  to  meet  the  commercial  man 
upon  an  equality.  I  claim  nothing  for  myself,  because  I  simply  did 
my  duty ;  but  if  any  one  is  simple  enough  to  believe  that  prices 
could  have  been  kept  up  as  they  have  been  without  this  knowledge, 
kept  up  till  the  great  panic  in  the  provision  market  in  the  fall,  then 
he  must  reason  upon  a  new  line  of  observations  which  it  would  be 
well  for  you  to  know  for  conducting  next  year's  operations.  What 
have  been  the  prices  paid  for  cheese  here  the  past  season  ?  In  look- 
ing over  the  reports  of  sales  for  the  different  weeks  and  months,  I 
find  that  prime  factory  cheese  commanded  during  the  season  up  to 
the  1st  of  September,  19  cents  and  upward.  On  the  4th  of  Septem- 
ber, the  best  sold  at  18^  cents.  The  week  ending  September  11th, 
a  flurry  in  the  cheese  market  is  reported,  and  a  statement  is  made 
that  the  buyers  in  New  York  had  combined  to  drop  prices.  Farm 
dairies  at  Little  Falls  at  that  date,  brought  only  17  cents.  On  Octo- 
ber 23d,  the  factories  were  selling  at  17^  cents,  and  on  October  30th, 
at  16i  cents,  November  5th,  16J  cents.  On  November  6th,  the 
Herkimer  county  Citizen^  of  Ilion,  reports  nine  factories  selling  in 
that  market  at  16^  cents.  On  November  12th,  fixctories  sold  at 
Little  Falls  at  16|  cents.  This  last  figure  is  a  penny  a  pound  above 
average  sales  of  1865.  On  November  19th,  farmers  were  selling 
Zate  ends  at  Little  Falls,  at  J 6  cents.     The  market  for  fine  factory 


21 

make  did  not  go  below  that  figure  in  December,  though  some  may 
have  forced  sales  at  lower  figures.  It  was  worth  more  money,  and 
those  who  bought  knew  it.  I  have  letters  from  Messrs.  Anderson 
&  Son,  of  London,  saying  that  a  large  profit  was  being  made  on 
cheese  invoiced  at  the  low  rates  of  November  sales.  I  am  told  that 
dealers  in  New  York  could  not  readily  get  money  from  the  banks 
to  operate,  hence  competitors  were  kept  out  of  the  market.  I  do 
not  blame  dealers.  A  combination  of  circumstances  has  favored 
them,  and  they  will  make  money.  This  is,  perhaps,  better  than  to 
have  had  them  sustain  losses.  I  am  always  glad  to  have  them  do 
well,  and  believe  they  should  be  amply  paid  for  services.  I  do  not 
object  to  their  taking  a  fair  proportion  of  the  profits.  It  is  only 
when  they  take  all,  that  complaint  is  made. 

From  reports  of  factories  sent  to  me  and  published  in  the  Herald 
since  my  return,  I  find  the  average  sales  of  Miller's  Factory,  of 
Constableville,  to  be  $18.01  per  100  lbs.  This  is  2  cents  higher 
than  last  year's  sales  of  the  same  factory. 

Weeks'  Factory  averaged  $17.92  per  100  lbs.,  over  2  cents  higher 
than  last  year's  sales. 

The  following  statement  sent  to  me  from  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Verona  Central  Cheese  Factory,  will  probably  give  a  fair  idea  of  the 
fluctuations  in  the  market  during  the  season  : 

RECEIPTS. 

May  25,  sold    5,048  lbs.  to  Cary,  at  19^  c. $984  86 

June    7,     "       4,119      "      Van  Evera,  at  19  9-16c.  805  77 

"     18,     "       8,774      "      Burrell,  at  19c 1,667  06 

July  14,     "       6,830      "      Bradt,  at  19^0 1,33185 

"     28,     "     23,114      "      Stiles,  at  18ic 4,276  09 

Aug.  29,     "     19,080      "      Bradt,  at  19c 3,434  40 

Sept.  24,     "     19,101      "      Cary,atl6ic.. 3,080  04 

Nov.  12,     "     14,680      "      Cary,  atl6|c 2,415  60 

"     26,     "     17,988      "      Tomlinson,  at  16c 3,038  08 

Add  to  sale  of  Nov.  26, 5  00 

1,145  lbs.  sold  to  patrons, 188  92 

120,839  lbs.  of  cheese, $21,227  17 

Average  per  100  lb?,  for  whole  season,  $17.56§. 

The  extra  two  cents  this  year  upon  the  Miller  and  Weeks'  facto- 
ries alone,  amount  to  $8,856.54 ;  of  the  Verona  Factory  there  is 
no  statement  of  last  year's  sales  in  the  report. 

I  am  not  here  to  give  a  manual  on  cheese-making,  or  to  act  in  the 
capacity  of  teacher.  If  I  shall  be  able  to  throw  out  suggestions 
here  and  there  for  thought — suggestions  which,  after  having  been 
revolved  and  worked  up  by  you,  shall  result  in  the  further  devel- 


22 

©■pment  of  our  art — it  will  be  all  I  have  ever  hoped  to  accomplish. 
It  ehoald  be  remembered  that  no  written  exposition  of  a  science 
cm  be  substituted  for  experience.  You  can  not  write  out  the  art  of 
cheese-making  as  you  would  a  prescription  or  a  compound,  which 
requires  only. the  scales  to  weigh  out  the  different  ingredients.  Gen- 
eral principles  can  be  stated.  From  these,  deductions  must  be  made 
and  results  watched,  and  thus,  through  a  series  of  experiments  and 
observations,  the  art  acquired.  What  is  desirable  for  us,  and  it  is 
all  that  should  be  expected,  is  to  have  the  facts  connected  with  the 
business  presented  in  a  clear  and  lucid  manner.  Then  each  one 
must  bring  his  intelligence,  his  judgment,  and  experience,  to  group 
them  together,  and  make  them  subserve  his  purpose. 

At  your  Convention  last  year  I  presented  some  new  features  of 
the  factory  system,  obtained  in  my  tour  through  Orange  county — 
the  manufacture  of  butter,  in  connection  with  cheese,  at  factories. 
The  statistics  and  deductions  were  given  as  a  matter  of  intelligence, 
to  be  duly  considered  and  disposed  of  by  you,  as  your  judgment 
and  good  sense  should  dictate.  Some  established  butter  and  cheese 
factories  made  large  profits,  and  have  been  well  pleased  with  their 
operation.  Others,  I  learn,  have  not  been  successful,  and  charge 
that  the  system  is  a  great  damage  to  the  dairy  interest,  and  should 
never  have  been  suggested.  That  may  or  may  not  be.  All  are  not 
equally  skillful  and  successful  in  the  management  of  their  business, 
whether  it  be  upon  the  farm,  in  the  dairy,  or  in  the  counting  house. 
But  I  submit,  it  is  not  generous  to  cast  one's  bad  luck  upon  the  per- 
son who  furnishes  you  information  and  facts  with  which  you  have 
been  hitherto  unacquainted. 

Suppose  Mr.  A.  T.  Stewart,  or  some  other  successful  business 
man,  should  address  you  on  the  art  of  money-making,  giving  his 
own  experience ;  how  from  poverty  he  rose  to  afiiuence,  giving  in 
detail  every  step  of  his  successful  career;  it  does  not  follow  that 
every  one  in  this  audience  could  work  out  similar  results.  The 
principles  set  forth  might  be  of  great  service,  and  be  so  applied  as 
to  be  generally  beneficial ;  but  some  in  attempting  to  put  them  in 
practice  would  signally  fail.  But,  would  Mr,  Stewart  be  responsible 
for  the  bad  luck  or  ill  success  of  these  persons?     By  no  means. 

Now,  while  I  hold  myself  responsible  for  the  truth  of  the  state- 
ments which  I  may  present,  I  wish  every  one  to  reason  upon  them, 
to  make  up  his  own  mind  upon  the  deductions,  and  not  adopt  them 
unless  he  is  satisfied  they  are  sound. 

I  know  there  are  a  great  many  people  in  the  world  who  are  de- 
lighted to  make  a  profound  sensation,  who  write  and  speak  to  please 
the  popular  ear ;  and  perhaps  something  of  the  sort  is  expected  of 


23 

me  this  evening  ;  but  my  friends,  there  is  other  work  to  do,  for  I  am 
in  earnest,  and  have  no  words  to  waste  in  figures,  and  tropes,  and 
rounded  periods. 

The  dairyman  has  a  great  work  to  do.  Standing  as  I  do  in  that 
relation  with  my  farm  and  herd,  I  feel  with  intensity  every  move- 
ment which  affects  our  common  interest.  I  desire  to  see  the  Ameri- 
can farmer  stand  in  the  position  to  which  his  worth  entitles  him. 
He  is  the  capital  of  the  nation,  the  source  of  its  wealth  and  power, 
and  yet  other  classes  have  the  controlling  influence.  They  make 
our  laws,  they  place  the  burthen  of  taxation  on  our  shoulders,  they 
arrange  the  prices  for  our  products,  they  write  for  us,  and  do  the 
most  of  our  public  speaking.  Even  at  our  agricultural  gatherings 
and  fairs,  it  is  usual  to  employ  some  speaker  who  knows  nothing  of 
farming  practically,  and  who  has  no  sympathy  with  the  calling  or 
feelings  of  those  in  our  profession.  We  listen  to  such  speakers  and 
are  perhaps  tickled  at  the  heartless  compliments  they  pay  us,  and 
the  paradise  on  earth  which  they  pleasantly  picture  we  are  enjoying. 
But  however  much  we  may  be  pleased  with  the  picture,  we  know 
it  is  quite  different  from  the  reality  ;  and  whatever  is  suggested  by 
way  of  practice  passes  by  without  confidence,  because  we  suspect  it 
is  not  genuine.  So  far  as  any  real  usefulness  is  concerned,  nothing 
has  been  gained.  Whereas  if  some  plain,  practical  farmer  had 
merely  stated  his  experience  in  what  way  he  had  been  successful, 
and  how  losses  had  been  sustained,  many  would  have  been  in- 
structed, and  some,  at  least,  greatly  benefited.  We  need  to  be  told 
the  truth,  even  if  it  cuts  down  to  the  quick.  If  on  the  wrong  road, 
it  is  better  to  know  it  at  once.  It  may  be  pleasant  for  the  time 
being  to  be  told  you  are  in  the  right  way,  that  the  road  is  good  and 
pleasant,  and  all  that,  but  after  miring  in  its  sloughs  and  ditches,  we 
feel  that  it  would  have  been  better  to  have  had  the  unpleasant  truth 
at  first. 

This  is  quite  a  common  fault  among  farmers ;  the  idea  that  knowl- 
edge has  no  moneyed  value,  but  that  it  can  be  picked  up  by  hook  or 
crook  for  nothing.  I  have  heard  men  say  that  they  did  not  care 
to  spend  their  time  and  money  at  farmers'  clubs,  or  even  at  these 
conventions,  saying  they  can  get  all  the  proceedings  the  next  day 
from  the  papers  at  no  cost.  Men  have  actually  asked  me  to  intro- 
duce topics  for  discussion,  upon  which  they  desired  information,  and 
who  expected  to  get  it  all  without  any  trouble  or  expense. 

When  in  England,  going  among  the  farms,  I  visited  an  intelligent 
and  extensive  farmer  having  many  acres  of  wheat,  which  the  con- 
tinued wet  weather  had  spoiled.  We  walked  through  a  field  where 
a  great  force  of  workmen  were  employed  in  opening  the  sheaves  to 


24 

get  them  dry.  This  had  been  done  over  and  over  again,  but  each 
time  before  they  could  be  made  ready  for  the  stack,  the  rain  would 
come  wetting  them  again,  and  now  the  wheat  was  sprouted.  I  said 
to  him  that  it  made  me  sad  to  see  such  a  waste  of  grain,  in  a  country 
where  there  were  so  many  poor  and  needy  people  that  required  it, 
and  that  thousands  of  acres  of  wheat  in  Great  Britain  could  have 
been  saved  this  year,  by  the  adoption  of  a  little  Yankee  contrivance 
called  the  "  Hay  Cap,"  and  then  I  explained  its  construction  and 
use.  Oh,  said  he ;  that  suggestion  a  few  weeks  ago  would  have 
saved  me  hundreds  of  pounds,  and  I  shall  adopt  it  at  once ;  but  why 
could  you  not  have  told  our  English  farmers  of  this  through  the 
papers,  in  time  to  have  spared  us  this  great  calamity?  You  see  he 
blamed  me  me  for  not  anticipating  his  bad  luck  and  want  of  knowl- 
edge. And  so  it  is  at  home.  Men  cannot  see  what  a  simple  sug- 
gestion is  sometimes  worth  until  too  late.  This  is  one  reason  why 
progress  is  slow. 

Last  year  the  greater  part  of  the  time  of  this  Convention  was  em- 
ployed in  discussions  which  had  no  point — in  accusations  that  some- 
body was  running  this  Society  to  make  money  out  of  it,  or  to 
advance  some  private  end.  People  came  here  from  a  great  dis- 
tance and  at  much  expense,  in  the  hope  of  learning  something,  and 
when  they  saw  the  time  wasted  in  this  way,  they  felt,  and  had  a 
right  to  feel,  that  it  was  an  abuse.  The  aspersions  cast  against  some 
of  the  oflBicers  were  baseless.  I  believe  that  every  member  of  the 
board  has  ever  been  actuated  by  the  purest  motives,  laboring  with- 
out hope  of  reward  to  sustain  this  institution  and  make  it  servicea- 
ble to  the  farmers  of  the  country. 

My  friends,  I  beg  of  you  to  think  of  these  things  in  their  proper 
light.  Occupying  no  position  in  the  Society — never  having  sought 
a  favor,  or  expected  it — I  can  afford  to  stand  here  and  tell  the  truth. 
I  am  earnest  for  the  advancement  and  success  of  this  Society,  be- 
cause I  am,  like  you,  engaged  in  the  dairy  business.  I  know  that 
among  so  large  a  body  of  practical  men,  some  new  hints  and  practi- 
cal suggestions  must  have  been  developed  during  the  year.  It  is  to 
your  interest  and  to  mine  to  have  them  discussed,  since  difference 
in  experience  may  modify  ultra  views.  Hence  it  is  important  that 
there  should  be  a  good  feeling  among  members,  and  that  each  strive 
to  promote  the  general  good,  rather  than  to  distract  by  unworthy 
suspicion.  The  Society  has  accomplished  a  vast  amount  of  good 
for  the  country  at  large.  The  reports  of  your  proceedings  have 
attracted  great  attention,  not  only  throughout  this  country,  but  in 
Europe.  Dairymen  everywhere  are  looking  to  you  for  information, 
and  are  watching  the  result  of  your  deliberations.  Let  them  be 
worthy  of  yourselyes  and  the  great  interest  which  you  represent. 


25 

THE   DAIRY   INTEREST  IN   GREAT   BRITAIN. 

The  dairy  interest  in  Great  Britain  is  large,  but  it  has  not  been  rep- 
resented, I  think,  to  be  more  extensive  than  it  really  is.  One  would 
suppose  that  a  people  so  intelligent  as  that  of  Britain,  would  have 
inaugurated  a  system  of  statistics,  from  year  to  year,  giving  the 
annual  yield  of  agricultural  products ;  but  this  is  not  done,  for  the 
assumed  reason  that  the  farmers  oppose  it,  and  will  not  give  the 
requisite  information. 

I  think  there  are  other  reasons  of  a  commercial  nature  which 
have  more  weight.  The  English  are  a  manufacturing  nation.  The 
country  is  densely  populated,  and  is  unable  to  supply  the  food 
needed  for  consumption.  She  must  look  abroad  to  supply  this  de- 
ficiency ;  and  would  it  be  policy  to  lay  bare  her  necessities,  so  that 
the  people  that  have  food  to  sell  may  take  advantage  of  them? 
Every  man  in  the  nation  is  interested  in  purchasing  food  cheaply. 
The  poor  must  be  fed,  and  if  food  is  dear,  the  prices  for  labor  must 
advance,  or  starvation  ensue.  If  the  price  of  labor  advances,  man- 
ufactures also  must  advance,  and  then  it  is  not  easy  to  dispose  of 
the  goods,  since  Britain  maintains  her  supremacy  in  the  markets  of 
the  world  by  underselling.  Hence  we  never  know  what  her  real 
deficiency  of  food  may  be.  Her  commercial  men  operate  with  more 
success  by  having  these  matters  covered  up,  and  making  their  pur- 
chases as  cheaply  as  possible.  This,  it  would  seem,  is  the  chief 
reason  why  the  statistics  of  crops  are  so  meager. 

They  keep  track  of  all  the  markets  of  the  world,  and  when  there 
is  likely  to  be  a  deficiency  or  falling  off  in  the  production  of  any 
particular  product,  they  seek  new  fields  and  in  some  way  induce 
nations  and  individuals  to  engage  in  its  production.  They  are  a 
great  commercial  people,  and  their  wealth  is  immense  and  well 
directed.  Their  most  intelligent  dairymen  were  unable  to  give  me 
an  estimate  of  the  annual  yield  of  cheese  in  the  kingdom.  All  of 
them  have  an  erroneous  idea  of  the  annual  product  of  cheese  in 
America.  They  say  they  are  told  the  supply  of  American  cheese  is 
unbounded — that  the  imports  from  year  to  year  are  to  be  upon  a 
gigantic  scale,  and  unless  home  prices  are  moderate,  supplies  must 
be  looked  for  abroad  and  the  English  dairymen  go  under.  They  are 
told  that  the  American  cheese  is  quite  equal  to  the  best  English,  and 
hence  that  large  prices  must  not  be  looked  for  in  the  home  product. 

On  the  other  hand,  we  get  accounts  of  an  entirely  different  char' 

acter.     The  yield  of  English  cheese  is  always  represented  to  be  from 

year  to  year  the  largest  ever  before  had,   and  that  our  cheese  is 

vastly  inferior  to  English  make,  which  they  assume  is  verified  by 

4 


26 

the  difference  in  the  comparative  prices  which  each  brings  in  their 
principal  markets.  It  is  hard  to  find  out  how  these  contradictory- 
statements  get  abroad,  for  many  of  the  great  commercial  houses 
seem  to  be  the  soul  of  honor,  and  bear  unblemished  reputations.  I 
owe  to  many  of  them  courtesies  and  kindnesses,  which  I  wish  here 
publicly  to  acknowledge.  And  among  this  class  I  only  found  in  a 
few  instances  a  studied  desire  to  deceive  and  mislead.  Among  the 
London  dealers  I  might  make  honorable  mention  of  the  Messrs. 
Anderson  &  Son,  the  Messrs.  Corderoy,  Messrs.  Laming  &  Co.,  Page 
&  Son,  Mr.  Downes,  the  Messrs,  Webbs,  and  others.  In  Liverpool 
I  received  much  assistance  from  Mr.  McDonald,  a  high  toned  gentle- 
man and  of  strict  business  integrity,  from  Mr.  Morell,  Mr.  Cockbum 
and  others. 

But  there  are  dealers  in  London  who  have  large  transactions  in 
American  cheese  whom  I  found  untruthful,  and  who  took  great 
pains  to  mislead  me,  and  perhaps  might  have  done  so,  had  I  not 
ferreted  out  the  desired  information  through  other  sources.  These 
are  among  the  men  who  authorize  their  agents  in  New  York  to 
erase  the  name  from  the  box  of  every  factory  which  sends  forward 
prime  cheese.  But  I  shall  have  more  to  say  on  this  head  in  its 
proper  place. 

The  cheese  districts  of  England  are  grouped  together  in  counties 
lying  contiguous.  Thus,  in  the  south,  we  have  Gloucester,  Somerset, 
Wilts,  Dorset,  &c.,  while  in  the  north  there  are  Cheshire,  Lanca- 
shire, Derbyshire,  Leicestershire,  and  Shropshire.  Other  counties 
produce  cheese  in  limited  quantities,  but  not  to  that  extent  to  make 
it  a  leading  business. 

I  went  into  the  southern  districts  first,  and  found  three  styles  of 
cheese,  each  having  a  different  shape,  and  character,  and  differently 
manufactured.  They  were  the  Cheddar,  the  double  and  single  Glos- 
ter,  and  the  Wilts. 

I  had  never  seen  any  large  tract  of  country  so  beautiful  as  this 
part  of  England.  It  was  in  June,  when  the  hedges  were  covered 
with  dark  green  foliage,  and  the  pastures  flecked  with  the  daisy  and 
butter-cup,  flowers  celebrated  by  the  poets.  But  the  English  daisy 
is  not  to  be  confounded  with  that  pest  of  our  fields,  the  ox-eye  daisy, 
for  it  is  small  and  unpretending,  and  does  not  suck  up  the  life  of 
the  land.  Then  the  smooth  roads,  the  villas,  the  farm  houses,  and 
the  hamlets,  with  their  adornments,  together  with  the  garden-like 
cultivation  of  the  land,  formed  a  picture  ever  to  be  remembered. 

For  quiet  pastoral  scenery,  England  is  surpassingly  beautiful. 
Every  thing  seems  to  be  picked  up  and  in  place.  You  see  no  tum- 
ble down  fences,  no  unsightly  stone  heaps  disfiguring  the  land,  no 


27 

cheap  wooden  houses  falling  to  pieces,  no  remains  of  wood-piles 
and  other  accumulated  trash,  like  a  cancer,  blotching  the  premises, 
but  everything  seems  to  be  swept  up  and  in  order,  or,  to  use  a, 
homely  phrase,  "  prepared  for  company." 

SOMERSET,   AND   ITS   SYSTEM   OF   FARMING. 

Somerset  has  a  rolling,  undulating  surface,  and  it  is  in  this  county 
that  the  famous  Cheddar  cheese  originated.  In  form  the  county  is 
difficult  to  describe,  perhaps  partaking  more  of  an  oblong  figure 
than  any  other.  We  enter  it  from  Devonshire  on  our  way  to  Bris' 
tol,  three  or  four  miles  south  of  Wellington,  which  is  a  respectable 
market  town.  According  to  recent  returns  of  live  stock,  &c.,  its 
area  is  1,047,220  acres,  containing  444,873  inhabitants,  84,262  cows, 
89,257  young  stock,  636,975  sheep,  and  75,469  pigs.  The  surface 
of  the  country  is  generally  uneven,  and  towards  the  west,  on  tho 
borders  of  North  Devon,  approaching  to  mountainous. 

The  principal  hills  lie  east  and  west,  and  are  nearly  parallel  to 
each  other.  Of  these  are  the  Porlock  and  Anantock  in  the  south, 
the  Paulet  or  Polden  in  the  center,  and  the  Mendips  in  the  north. 
These  ranges  are  generally  poor,  affording  pasture  for  a  coarse  kind 
of  sheep,  and  some  young  cattle.  The  hill-tops  of  the  south  and 
south-west  are  covered  with  heather,  among  which  are  found  grouse. 
The  geological  features  of  the  country  are  varied,  and  are  chiefly 
composed  of  mountain  limestone,  inferior  oolite,  the  white  and  blue 
lias,  and  the  new  red  sandstone.  The  highest  hills  are  mountain 
limestone,  which  has  been  forced  up  from  its  proper  place  and  is 
found  overtopping  the  upper  strata,  to  a  height  of  six  or  seven  hun- 
dred feet.  The  eastern  part  of  the  country  is  generally  oolite, 
stretching  away  northward  to  Bath,  at  which  place  it  produces  some 
of  the  finest  building  stone  in  the  kingdom.  The  lias  comes  next 
in  rotation,  cropping  out  from  under  the  oolite  westward.  The  red 
sandstone  is  not  so  prevalent.  This  with  the  oolite  are  the  lightest 
soils  upon  which  large  flocks  of  sheep  are  kept,  which  in  the  south 
are  chiefly  of  the  South  Down  breed,  but  in  the  northern  district 
toward  Bath  are  crossed  with  the  Leicester,  which  forms  a  larger 
and  more  remunerative  animal. 

The  method  of  farming  is  the  four  or  five  field  shift :  1st  crop, 
wheat ;  2d,  green  crop,  (turnips,  vetches,  &c. ;)  8d,  barley ;  4tli  and 
5th,  clover  first  and  second  year.  The  wheat  crop  is  from  24  to  40 
bushels  per  acre ;  barley  from  32  to  60  bushels — sometimes  more. 
A  heavier  kind  of  laud  is  found  on  the  lias  formation.  A  team  of 
four  horses  or  six  or  even  eight  oxen  are  employed  in  plowing  it ; 
this  also  is  farmed  in  a  similar  mannev  to  the  lighter  land,  and  is 


28 

more  productive  of  grain.  In  some  places,  what  is  termed  a  dog 
flock,  that  is,  young  sheep  of  a  year  or  so  old,  are  fattened  for  the 
Bristol  and  Bath  markets.  The  lowlands  and  valleys  are  rich  and 
productive.  Between  the  ranges  of  hills  before  noticed  are  some  of 
the  richest  plains  in  England.  The  vale  of  Taunton  Dean  in  the 
south  of  the  county  is  extremely  rich,  in  which  is  situated  the  neat 
town  of  Taunton.  Another  nearly  level  plain  extends  from  the 
town  of  Bridgewater  to  the  Mendip  hills  and  eastward  to  the  city 
of  Wells. 

Another  plain,  but  rather  more  uneven,  stretches  north  of  the 
Mendip  towards  Bristol.  These  plains  are  largely  devoted  to  the 
fattening  of  beef  and  mutton,  for  the  supply  of  the  local  and  also 
the  London  markets.  Somerset  is  noted  for  its  cheese,  of  which 
large  quantities  are  made.  It  bears  the  name  of  Cheddar,  from  a 
small  village  at  the  foot  of  the  Mendip  hills.  The  name  originated 
from  the  farmers  of  the  village  uniting  the  milk  of  their  cows,  for 
the  purpose  of  making  a  larger  cheese.  This  was  done  at  each  oth- 
er's houses  in  turn.  From  that  time,  which  was  about  one  hundred 
years  ago,  the  thick  cheese  made  in  Somersetshire  has  borne  the 
name  of  Cheddar,  and  bears  the  highest  quotations  in  the  London 
and  other  markets  of  any  English  cheese.  It  is  made  much  thicker 
than  was  at  first  anticipated.  The  size  that  now  is  in  request  ranges 
from  40  to  60,  80,  and  up  to  100  lbs. ;  the  shape  is  from  10  to  14 
inches  in  depth,  and  15  1-2  in  diameter. 

HThis  county  and  the  others  south  have  suffered  very  little  from 
the  cattle  plague.  Dairy  cows,  however,  during  the  past  season, 
have  been  high,  commanding  from  £18  to  £20  sterling  per  cow,  or 
from  $90  to  $100.  The  dairy  cows  are  mostly  grades,  and  so  far  as 
I  have  seen,  do  not  show  any  better  milking  qualities  than  the  first 
class  dairies  of  Herkimer  and  Oneida. 

The  cattle  kept  in  the  county  at  this  time  are  the  Devon  and 
Sort  Horn — the  former  pure  of  their  kind,  the  latter  rarely  so,  but 
have  been  employed  to  improve  the  original  stock  of  the  county. 

The  Devons  are  sjiid  to  have  been  formerly,  with  a  very  few  ex- 
ceptions, a  small  three-cornered  nondescript  animal,  of  little  use  to 
the  dairymen,  and  less  to  the  breeder  and  grazier.  Their  home  is 
South  Somerset  and  North  Devon.  The  race  is  wonderfully  im- 
proved, through  the  energy  and  perseverance  of  some  farmers,  who 
have  taken  the  best  animals  they  could  find,  and  bred  from  them, 
until  they  have  succeeded  in  producing  one  of  the  best  animals  En- 
gland can  boast  of  In  the  opinion  of  some,  no  beef  is  equal  to  it ; 
the  fat  and  lean  so  nicely  intermingled.  Their  milking  qualities 
Are  not  yet  equal  to  other  kinds.     Some  years  since  they  had  what 


29 

was  called  the  Hampshire  cow,  a  good,  useful  animal  for  any  pur- 
pose, fall  of  constitution,  size,  milk,  and  beef  Mr.  Harding  gave 
me  a  description  of  a  cow  of  this  breed,  nearly  the  last  of  the  race, 
which  was  twenty  years  old,  and  had  been  milked  the  previous 
summer,  and  in  the  March  following  went  to  the  butcher  at  £20  Is. 
Fifty  years  ago,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Mendip  hills,  I  was 
told  they  had  what  was  termed  the  "  Mendip  cow,"  of  little  service 
but  to  milk ;  but  both  these  good  and  inferior  animals  have  passed 
away,  and  they  have  scarcely  any  cow  but  what  partakes  in  a 
greater  or  less  degree  of  the  Short  Horn  breed. 

The  increased  quantity  of  cheese  supplied  by  this  county,  is  not 
due,  it  is  said,  to  the  change  of  stock,  so  much  as  to  the  superior 
management  of  the  present  day ;  such  as  feeding  stock,  clearing  the 
hedge  rows,  and  draining  the  wet  lands,  &c.  Fewer  cows  were  kept 
thirty  years  ago  than  now.  It  was  then  generally  supposed  that  no 
more  could  be  kept  to  advantage  beyond  what  half  the  pasture  or 
grass  land  would  supply  with  grass  in  the  summer,  and  the  other 
half  cut  for  hay  in  the  winter.  Now  they  keep  more  cows,  mow 
less,  and  in  order  to  do  with  less  hay,  feed  with  straw  and  oil-cake 
while  the  cows  are  dry,  so  that  they  get  little  or  no  hay  till  they 
calve.  Three  pounds  of  cake  per  day,  (the  best  American,)  they 
say  will  keep  a  cow  in  fair  condition,  if  straw  be  given  ad  libitum. 

In  some  particular  districts,  as  much  as  600  weight,  or  672  pounds 
of  cheese  per  cow,  it  is  said  are  made.  This  is  on  the  best  cheese 
producing  land,  and  this,  from  long  observation,  is  chiefly  on  some 
one  of  the  oolite  formations.  Not  only  does  it  produce  the  largest 
amount  of  cheese,  but  also  of  butter.  There  are  no  statistics  of  the 
quantity  of  cheese  made  annually  in  the  county,  but  from  all  I  can 
gather  it  is  from  18,000,000  to  25,000,000  of  pounds. 

WILTSHIRE. 

For  diversity  and  beauty  of  scenery,  Wiltshire  is  not  equal  to 
Somerset.  Its  geological  formation  in  general  terms  may  be  classed 
in  three  divisions :  namely,  the  white  lias,  which  is  lowest,  the  sev- 
eral classes  of  oolite,  and  the  chalk.  According  to  the  late  returns 
the  area  is  865,092  acres ;  the  number  of  cows  kept,  44,760  ;  young 
stock  and  oxen,  32,967  ;  sheep,  596,822;  and  pigs,  261,012. 

The  natural  division  of  the  county  is  so  remarkably  distinct,  that 
it  must  be  described  accordingly,  namely :  north  and  south.  The 
south  part  with  a  few  exceptions  is  the  chalk  district,  and  forms  what 
is  called  the  Wiltshire  Downs.  L3nng  high,  the  land  is  very  thin ; 
still  the  valleys  and  slopes  are  rich  for  growing  grain  and  turnips. 
The  farms  are  large,  some  1000  to  2000  acres.     Large  numbers  of 


sheep  known  as  the  South  Downs  are  kept  upon  these  farms.  They 
have  black  faces  and  feet — the  wool  short  and  fine.  The  mutton 
obtains  the  highest  price  in  the  London  market  of  any  in  the 
kingdom.  Though  small  in  size,  they  will  frequently  load  them- 
selves with  flesh  so  as  to  reach  120  pounds  in  weight. 

In  this  district  is  the  celebrated  Salisbury  Plain,  also  on  the 
chalk.  It  is  not  strictly  a  plain  except  in  general  appearance,  but 
is  beautifully  undulating,  not  unlike  the  ocean  with  its  long  swells 
after  a  storm.  The  farming  of  this  section  is  generally  the  four 
field  system.  In  some  places,  such  as  the  white  clay  and  the  sandy 
loam,  at  the  bottom  of  the  hills,  it  is  worked  in  the  three  field 
system.  All  the  light  land  is  plowed  with  two  horses.  Neat  and 
good  farming  is  here  everywhere  seen,  and,  it  is  claimed,  is  scarcely 
surpassed  in  England.  North  Wiltshire  is  very  different  in  appear- 
ance from  the  south.  The  broad  and  uninclosed  downs  are  no 
longer  seen,  but  instead,  inclosed  fields,  with  numbers  of  trees  in 
the  hedges,  giving  the  appearance  from  the  surrounding  heights,  of 
forests.  This  is  the  oolite  district,  and  is  farmed  in  much  the  same 
manner  as  the  south,  being  all  light  lands.  The  temperature  of  the 
climate  being  warmer,  the  grain  comes  earlier  to  ripen,  and  is  there- 
fore less  liable  to  blight.  * 

The  lias  is  but  a  very  small  portion,  and  may  be  merged  into  the 
dairy  district,  which  is  principally  in  the  middle  and  northern  parts. 
The  cows  are  Short  Korns,  and  regarded  here  as  the  most  useful  in 
England,  milk  and  meat  being  both  alike  studied.  A  large  quantity 
of  cheese  is  made,  which  finds  its  way  to  the  London  and  other  mar- 
kets. The  quality  of  the  cheese  is  not  the  best ;  a  little  milk 
butter  is  usually  taken  out,  but  not  always,  but  a  large  quantity  of 
whey  butter  is  often  made.  The  method  of  cheese-making  is  labo- 
rious, not  so  much  in  the  manipulation  of  the  curd,  as  in  the  salting, 
pressing,  and  preparation  for  the  market ;  all  being  unnecessary 
labor.  The  salting,  which  might  and  ought  to  be  done  in  the  curd, 
is  continued  over  two  or  three  days,  rubbing  it  in  with  the  hands 
over  the  external  parts  of  the  cheese,  which  receives  a  fresh  cloth 
every  time  it  is  salted,  which  in  some  instances  is  twice  a  day.  The 
cheese  is  then  continued  in  the  press,  turned  every  morning,  for 
from  four  to  six  days,  after  which  it  may  venture  to  the  cheese 
room,  which  is  a  large  airy  room,  supposed  to  be  requisite  for  its 
drying  properly.  The  cheese  is  then  allowed  to  throw  out  a  coat, 
generally  blue.  This  coat  must  be  scraped  off,  and  a  new  one 
formed,  after  which  it  goes  to  the  market,  realizing  from  10*.  to  155. 
under  the  improved  Cheddar  price.  I  was  in  Bath,  on  June  6th, 
and  took  the  railroad  for  Chippenham,  in  Wilts,  to  see  the  Wiltshire 


31 

cheese  market.  Wiltshire,  up  to  the  21st  of  April  last,  had  lost  but 
99  cattle  on  account  of  cattle  plague.  We  heard  of  no  recent  cases 
in  the  county  during  the  summer.  The  principal  dairy  district  of 
Wilts  ranges  from  Westbury  in  the  south,  to  Chippenham  in  the 
northward,  around  Chippenham,  and  towards  Swindon,  from  forty 
to  fifty  miles  in  length.  It  is  generally  narrow  from  Westbury  to 
Chippenham,  and  from  Chippenham  to  Swindon,  from  ten  to  twelve 
miles  wide,  and  a  pretty  level  tract  of  country. 

Before  reaching  Salisbury,  to  the  south,  you  strike  the  chalk  form- 
ation which  underlies  the  "  Salisbury  Plain."  In  going  to  Salisbury 
from  the  north,  the  chalk  first  shows  itself  in  a  range  of  high  bluffs 
or  hills,  upon  one  of  which  is  cut  in  the  chalk  an  immense  figure 
of  a  horse,  which  can  be  seen  from  a  great  distance.  I  was  told  that 
the  figure  was  cut  in  commemoration  of  King  Alfred  conquering  the 
Danes.  It  is  about  a  hundred  yards  long,  the  soil  being  removed 
down  to  the  white  chalk,  leaving  the  surrounding  soil  covered  with 
vegetation,  which  gives  form  to  the  figure.  The  chalk  lands  are 
rather  light,  and  are  worked  with  two  horses,  while  with  the  heavier 
lands,  three  and  four  horses  are  used  attached  to  the  plow.  Upon 
the  lowlands  the  soil  is  of  richer  character,  and  is  excellent 

In  passing  through  this  county,  one  is  continually  coming  upon 
large  flocks  of  sheep  in  charge  of  the  shepherds.  Of  course,  mut- 
ton sheep,  since  the  production  of  meat,  is  always  an  important  ele- 
ment in  the  resources  of  British  agriculture. 

MANNER   OF   MAKING  WILTS   CHEESE. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  manufacture  of  Wilts  cheese  that  would 
be  of  any  account  to  the  dairymen  of  America,  and  it  is  a  matter  of 
surprise,  that  the  people  of  this  district  are  so  bound  up  in  old  prac- 
tices as  to  waste  then*  time  and  substance  in  manufacturing  cheese  of 
this  character.  Comparing  the  Wiltshire  method,  and  the  apparatus 
in  use,  with  our  factory  system,  the  latter  is  about  a  century  in  ad- 
vance. I  give  some  of  the  leading  features  of  the  Wilts  method  of 
manufacture,  not  for  the  purpose  of  benefiting  anybody,  but  rather  as 
a  matter  of  curiosity^  if  I  may  so  term  it. 

I  was  upon  some  of  the  best  farms  of  Wiltshire,  and  among  some  of 
the  most  intelligent  of  its  cheese-makers,  and  shall  give  their  best 
practice.  The  night's  milk  is  skimmed  in  the  morning,  and  added  to 
the  morning's  mess.  Milk  set  at  80  deg.  and  left  about  an  hour  to 
coagulate.  It  is  then  broken  up  with  a  circular  breaker,  having  an 
upright  handle,  and  used  as  you  would  push  a  churn  dash  down 
and  up.  The  breaking  is  done  gently  at  first.  In  cooking,  the  mass 
is  raised  to  100  deg.,  stirring  all  'the  time  with  the  breaker.     It  is 


32 

then  left  at  rest,  and  as  soon  as  the  curd  can  be  handled  or  taken  out 
of  scald,  is  put  to  press.  It  remains  in  press  20  minutes,  is  then 
taken  out,  ground  and  salted,  at  the  rate  of  two  pounds  of  salt  to 
the  hundred  weight  of  curd.  It  is  then  ground  again  and  put  to 
press.  The  next  day  the  cheese  is  taken  out  of  press  and  salted  on 
the  outside,  receiving  a  new  cloth,  and  put  back  to  press,  the  same 
course  being  pursued  for  two  successive  days,  after  which  it  gets  no 
more  salting,  but  is  kept  in  press  eight  days,  each  day  being  taken 
out  and  turned. 

It  is  then  put  into  a  stone  cheese  room,  and  left  for  a  week  or  two 
and  turned  every  day.  At  the  end  of  this  time  the  cheese  will  be 
covered  with  mold,  when  it  is  put  in  a  tepid  bath  or  moistened,  and 
the  mold  scraped  off,  when  it  goes  to  the  dry  room.  Here  it  is 
turned  every  day  until  fit  for  market,  say  from  60  to  90  days  old,  or 
according  to  the  demand  and  price.  The  Wiltshire  cheese  is  less 
solid  than  the  Gloucester,  to  which  I  shall  refer  hereafter. 

At  one  of  the  farms  I  visited  where  60  cows  were  kept,  and  very 
nice  stock  too,  the  product  was  a  trifle  over  two  pounds  of  curd 
per  day  from  each  cow,  and  one  and  one-half  pounds  of  butter  for 
each  cow  per  week.  Here  Cockey's  cheese  apparatus  was  in  use, 
which  consists  of  a  tub  having  a  double  bottom,  the  upper  one 
copper ;  heat  being  applied  between  the  two,  either  with  hot  water 
or  steam ;  but  generally  the  old  fashioned  tubs  hold  sway. 

The  hoop  for  pressing  the  cheese  is  turned  out  of  a  solid  block  of 
wood,  with  a  bottom  to  it  pierced  with  holes  for  the  whey  to  escape. 
When  put  to  press,  some  eight  cheeses  are  piled  up  together,  one 
above  the  other,  and  pressure  applied  to  the  lot  at  one  time.  The 
milk  pails  are  made  of  tin,  and  hold  about  24  quarts ;  they  are 
formed  with  a  projection  or  handle  on  one  side,  and  are  carried  upon 
the  head  while  taking  the  milk  to  the  dairy. 

The  Wiltshire  dairies  are  very  cleanly.  The  dairy  rooms  are 
built  of  stone,  with  stone  floor,  and  whey  vats  of  lead,  and  every- 
thing kept  in  the  neatest  possible  manner.  In  this  respect  they  are 
models ;  but  the  amount  of  labor  in  cheese-making  is  very  great,  and 
the  dairy  women  adhere  with  pertinacity  to  old  customs,  giving  no 
reason  for  this  foolish  waste  of  labor,  except :  "  That  is  the  way  we 
always  do."  In  Wiltshire  I  found  the  stock  better  than  in  Somer- 
setshire, some  attention  being  paid  to  breeding.  Wiltshire  has  a 
great  cheese  market  at  Chippenham. 

CHIPPENHAM   CHEESE   MARKET. 

The  market  place  is  an  open  court  surrounded  by  buildings,  one 
Bide  of  which  is  open  and  supported  by  pillars,  thus  giving  a  spacious 


33 

place  for  the  storing  of  cheese  under  cover.  The  whole  open  court 
is  nicely  paved,  and  the  arcades  on  either  side  have  a  stone  floor. 
The  cheese  is  brought  in  carts,  packed  loosely  in  straw  without 
boxing.  They  are  taken  from  the  cart  and  placed  upon  the  stone 
floors  in  the  arcades,  spread  out  or  piled  up.  Each  dairy  farmer  has 
his  lot  together,  and  they  are  thus  exposed  for  sale. 

The  cheese  mongers  or  dealers  come  down  from  London,  Bristol, 
Bath,  and  other  places,  and  make  their  purchases.  There  is  a  con- 
stant hum  of  voices  and  tread  of  feet,  as  one  can  readily  imagine, 
where  a  large  number  of  people  are  collected  together,  intent  on 
selling  or  purchasing,  or  are  here  out  of  curiosity,  or  perhaps  to  meet 
persons  in  other  business  than  the  cheese  trade.  The  dealers  go 
about  testing  the  cheese,  making  their  purchases,  and  ordering  it  to 
be  sent  away  as  sales  have  been  made.  No  boxes  are  used  in  the 
transportation  of  cheese  as  with  us  in  America.  The  market  days 
here  are  twice  a  month,  and  often  I  was  told  as  much  as  two  or  three 
hundred  tons  of  cheese  are  in  the  market  during  the  fall  sales. 
There  was  a  considerable  quantity  on  sale  at  the  time  of  our  visit, 
all  new  cheese,  and  most  of  it  Wiltshire.  The  Wiltshire  cheese  is 
a  small  flat  cheese,  from  four  to  five  inches  thick,  fifteen  to  sixteen 
inches  in  diameter,  and  taking  four  to  make  one  hundred  weight, 
(112  lbs.)  They  are  an  inferior  cheese  to  the  Cheddar,  and  very 
much  inferior  to  American  factory  make,  and  the  highest  prices  are 
not  realized  except  occasionally. 

GLOUCESTERSHIRE. 

I  think  there  are  no  statistics  giving  the  number  of  pounds  of 
cheese  annually  produced  in  Gloucestershire,  but  some  estimate 
may  be  made  from  ofiicial  returns  of  the  number  of  cows  in  the 
county.  It  is  put  at  34,744.  Loss  from  cattle  plague  up  to  21st  of 
April,  116.  I  do  not  understand  that  the  losses  since  that  time  have 
been  of  much  account. 

Its  geological  features  are  the  oolite,  the  lias,  and  the  new  red 
sandstone.  The  former  comprises  the  principal  part  of  the  hills  and 
high  lands,  the  lias  the  more  level,  and  the  latter  the  richer  and 
deeper  soils  of  the  valleys,  which  are  chiefly  pasture  lands,  upon 
which  meat,  butter  and  cheese  are  largely  produced.  The  oolite 
strata  in  its  varied  character  runs  from  north  to  south,  forming  the 
Cots  wold  hills.  Entering  Somersetshire  at  Lansdown,  near  Bath, 
where  it  furnishes  the  beautiful  Bath  stone,  passing  onward  into 
North  Somerset,  widening  as  it  enters  Wiltshire,  soon  after  which, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Westbury,  it  is  no  longer  the  surface  soil, 

5 


34 

but  becomes  loaded  witb  the  green  sandstone  and  chalk  formation, 
like  the  snail  which  bears  its  shell  upon  its  back. 

The  Cotsvvold  hills  are  well  farmed,  on  the  four,  five,  or  six  course 
system,  according  to  the  capability  of  the  soil.  Wheat,  barley,  and 
turnips  are  successfally  grown.  The  hills  give  the  name  to  the 
Cotswold  sheep,  which  upon  them  are  universally  bred  and  fed.  It 
is  a  beautiful  animal,  with  white  face,  and  of  highly  improved 
quality,  botli  as  regards  meat  and  wool,  the  latter  of  which  is  long 
and  fine,  the  fleece  weighing  from  fiye  to  ten  pounds.  A  ram  will 
sometimes  turn  ofi"  fifteen  or  sixteen  pounds  of  wool.  They  are 
generally  heavier  in  mutton  than  the  Downs.  On  the  western  side 
of  the  Cotswold  hills,  extending  to  the  Severn  river,  and  fifteen  or 
twenty  miles  in  length,  is  what  is  called  the  vale  of  Berkley.  It 
has  every  appearance  of  having  been  in  past  time  covered  with  the 
sea.  This  valley  is  the  chief  dairy  district  of  the  county  of  Glou- 
cester. The  native  cow  is  of  a  dark  color,  with  a  black  nose,  short 
on  the  legs,  is  a  thick  set,  well  built  animal,  altogether  a  very  use* 
ful  beast ;  but  the  Short  Horn  and  Herefords  are  replacing  her. 

GLOUCESTER  CHEESE-MAKING. 

In  the  regular  Gloucester  dairies  the  cheese  are  made  thin,  eight 
of  them  only  weighing  120  pounds.  They  are  made  twice  a  day. 
They  commence  about  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  finish  about 
ten  or  eleven  o'clock.  In  the  afternoon  they  commence  with  the 
evening's  milk,  about  five,  and  finish  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock. 
These  cheeses  have  a  name  in  the  cheese  consuming  world  as  the 
famous  Berkley  cheese.  If  made  well,  they  are  rich  and  sweet.  The 
makers  of  them  are  quite  as  tenacious  of  their  reputation  as  those 
who  make  cheese  worth  from  ten  to  twent}'  shillings  per  cwt.  more 
money.  Cows  are  generally  kept  more  or  less  over  the  county, 
except  on  the  uplands.  The  south  and  south-west,  around  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Bristol,  are  the  coal  meadows. 

This  di.strict  is  farmed  not  so  well  comparatively  as  other  sections, 
from  various  circumstances ;  being  in  the  coal  district  the  surface  is 
uneven,  and  the  inclosures  small,  as  are  also  the  farms ;  besides  it  is 
near  Bristol,  at  which  place  hay,  straw  and  milk  are  continually  sold. 

At  a  nice  farm  in  the  southern  part  of  Gloucestershire,  which  I 
visited  in  June,  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  the  operations  of  making 
"Single  Gloster  cheese,"  the  dairy  consisted  of  thirty-five  cowfi. 
These  were  Short  Horns,  large,  handsome  stock,  but  not  showing 
extraordinary  capacity  for  milk.  The  dwelling,  dairy  and  outbuild- 
ings were  all  of  stone,  large,  commodious,  and  everything  kept  in 
the  neatest  manner.     The  place  where  the  cheese  was  made  was"  & 


35 

spacious  room,  witli  stone  floor,  clean  and  well  ventilated,  and  as 
cool  and  sweet  an  apartment  as  the  most  fastidious  cheese-maker 
could  desire.  The  utensils  or  appurtenances  for  cheese-making  con- 
sisted of  an  unpainted  tub  for  holding  the  milk,  leaden  vats  for 
holding  the  whey,  a  circular  wire  curd  breaker  having  an  upright 
handle  springing  from  the  center,  dippers,  skimmers,  &c.,  with  two 
box  presses  for  pressing  the  cheese.  These  last  were  nnlike  any 
thing  I  had  ever  seen,  and  consisted  of  large  square  boxes,  moving 
up  between  standards,  by  means  of  pulleys  and  ropes  attached  to  a 
windlass.  The  boxes  were  filled  with  stones,  iron,  &;c.,  making  a 
weight  of  several  hundred  pounds,  and  are  applied  directly  on  the 
cheese.  These  presses  were  ver}''  nicely  made  of  dark  wood  and 
varnished,  evidently  intended  to  be  ornamental  as  well  as  useful, 
From  the  manner  of  their  make,  and  the  power  to  be  applied  in 
raising  the  weight,  the  services  of  a  strong  man  would  be  required, 

The  milk  was  being  made  up  twice  a  day,  making  eleven  cheeses 
of  14  pounds  each  for  every  two  days,  the  cheese  being  about  2| 
inches  thick  by  14  or  15  broad.  There  was  no  heating  apparatus  in 
ithe  room,  and  none  is  required  in  the  "Single  Gloster"  process  of 
(Cheese  making. 

As  soon  as  the  milk  is  all  deposited  in  the  tub,  the  rennet  is  added, 
when  it  is  left  to  coagulate.  As  soon  as  properly  coagulated,  it  is 
broken  up  with  the  wire  breaker,  by  moving  it  up  and  down,  which 
has  a  tendency  to  pulp  the  curd  rather  than  break  it,  as  the  word 
breaking  is  generally  understood  by  our  cheese-makers.  The  mass 
is  thus  left  for  the  curd  to  settle,  and  after  it  has  arrived  at  a  proper 
degree  of  firmness  to  be  handled,  the  whey  is  dipped  off  down  to  the 
curd,  the  tub  canted  up  to  drain  off  what  whe}'-  remains,  and  the  curd 
gathered  to  the  upper  edge  of  the  tub.  The  whey  being  removed, 
the  curd  is  cut  across  and  heaped  up,  and  pressed  with  the  hands,  to 
expel  as  much  of  the  whey  as  possible,  when  it  is  put  to  press.  It 
remains  in  press  till  morning,  when  it  is  taken  out,  turned  and  salted 
on  the  outside.  It  is  then  returned  to  the  press,  and  goes  through 
the  same  operation  for  from  four  to  six  successive  days. 

When  taken  from  the  press,  it  is  put  upon  the  shelf  for  a  few  days, 
to  be  turned  every  day,  and  finally  goes  to  the  cheese  room,  where 
it  will  be  ready  for  market  in  two  or  three  months,  if  prices  suit. 
The  cheese  room,  or  drying  room,  is  in  the  upper  part  of  the  dwelling 
house,  and  the  cheese  when  taken  here  arc  placed  close  together 
upon  the  floor. 

TESTING  THE   CHEESE,   PASTURES,   AC. 

A  cheese  dealer  from  Bristol,  who  was  present  with  us,  rna^e  a  test  of 
the  cheese,  by  walking  upon  th-e^  as  they  lay  spread  out  upojB  ithe  floor, 


36 

which  we  were  assured  was  the  usual  method  of  determining  their  firm- 
ness and  solidity.  They  stood  the  test  of  his  weight  and  boots,  and 
were  pronounced  one  of  the  best  dairies  in  Gloucestshire.  The  hoops 
in  which  the  cheese  are  pressed,  are  turned  out  of  a  solid  block  of  wood, 
and  each  has  a  stationary  bottom  pierced  with  holes,  similar  to  the 
hoops  used  in  Wiltshire.  In  one  of  the  presses  I  counted  fifteen 
cheeses  piled  up,  one  above  the  other,  all  of  which  were  being  pressed 
together. 

I  think,  from  the  above  description,  none  of  our  dairymen  in 
America  will  care  to  make  "Single  Gloster  cheese,"  and  I  cannot 
see  why  the  people  there  will  continue  to  keep  along  in  the  old  rut 
of  their  forefathers  without  making  some  effort  to  improve. 

I  have  now  presented  some  of  the  general  features  of  this  great 
daily  district.  The  country  is  very  well  watered  with  springs  and 
streams,  but  no  better,  if  as  well,  as  in  many  parts  of  the  central 
counties  of  New  York.  When  watering  places  are  constructed,  the 
plan  is  somewhat  different  from  ours ;  small  ponds  being  more  uni- 
versal. The  pastures  perhaps  produce  more  feed  than  with  us,  from 
several  causes.  In  the  first  place,  they  are  freer  from  weeds  ;  they 
are  better  cared  for  in  top-dressings  of  manures,  while  the  humidity 
of  the  climate  produces  a  fresher  feed  and  greater  quantity  of 
verdure. 

The  permanent  pastures  have  a  fine  thick  sod,  filled  with  a  variety 
of  nutritious  grasses,  among  which  the  following  may  be  of  interest 
in  this  connection.  The  sweet  scented  vernal  grass,  {Anthoxanthum 
odoratum)  flowers  in  May,  and  grows  freely  in  all  soils  and  situations  ; 
it  is  one  of  the  earliest  of  grasses,  and  the  fragrant  odor  it  affords 
when  dried,  gives  to  meadow  hay  much  of  its  sweetness.  Meadow 
foxtail  {Alopecurus  pratensis)  flowers  in  May  and  June.  Its  early, 
abundant,  leafy  produce,  is  much  liked  by  cattle  and  sheep,  and  ren- 
der it  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  pasture  grasses.  It  forms  part  of 
the  best  pastures,  and  thrives  under  judicious  irrigation.  Meadow 
fescue  {Festuca  2^ratensis)  flowers  in  June,  likes  a  good  soil,  and 
does  not  attain  its  full  growth  until  three  years  from  the  time  of 
sowing.  The  produce  is  nutritious  and  abundant,  and  it  forms  a 
uniform  and  abundant  turf  Cocksfoot  grass  {Dactylis  glomerata) 
flowers  in  June  and  July,  grows  three  feet  high  and  upward,  and 
forms  a  large  portion  of  all  the  best  natural  pastures,  and  is  regarded 
superior  to  most  grasses,  in  the  quantity  and  quality  of  its  produce. 
Its  coarse  and  tufted  character  make  it  unsuitable  for  lawns.  Crested 
dogstail  {Cynosurus  Christatus)  flowers  in  July,  and  is  found  in  all 
pastures.  It  suffers  but  little  from  dry  weather,  but  produces  only 
a  moderate  quantity  of  fine  herbage.    Hard  fescue  grass  {Festuca 


37 

dunuscula)  grows  two  feet  bigli,  and  forms  a  portion  of  all  dry 
pastures,  and  retains  a  permanent  verdure ;  it  flowers  in  June. 
Sheeps  fescue  {Festuca  ovina)  is  found  in  all  dry  soils  from  the  sea 
land  to  a  great  elevation,  and  flowers  in  June.  Meadow  grass,  {Poa 
pratensis,)  our  June  grass  or  Kentucky  blue  grass,  produces  an  early, 
nutritious  herbage,  and  is  regarded  as  particularly  suited  to  light 
soils.  Eough  stalked  meadow  grass,  {Poa  trivmUas,)  fibrous  rooted, 
with  rough  stalks,  forms  a  portion  of  almost  all  mixtures  for  perma- 
nent pasture  grasses,  and  is  particularly  desirable  in  grounds  shaded 
with  trees. 

Timothy  is  also  found  in  pastures  and  meadows,  but  is  not  grown, 
to  that  extent  as  with  us.  Then  there  are  the  clovers,  the  red  and 
white,  which  are  so  largely  grown  with  us.  And  the  Alsike  clover, 
{TrifoUum  hyhridum,)  a  true  perennial,  very  productive  on  moist,  rich 
soils,  and  will  succeed  where  red  clover  fails.  It  is  regarded  by  many 
as  superior  to  white  clover  in  bulk  and  quality  of  produce,  and  equala 
it  in  duration. 

These  are  among  the  leading  grasses,  and  in  seeding  for  permanent 
pastures,  composed  of  the  best  grasses  and  clovers,  as  much  as  two 
bushels  of  the  light,  and  twelve  pounds  of  the  heavy  seed  are  often 
used  per  acre. 

I  think  the  question  of  pastures  is  better  understood  in  England 
than  with  us,  and  it  is  a  point  on  which  we  have  something  to  learn 
from  them.  I  can  not  say  that  the  quantity  of  grass  from  permanent 
meadows,  or  those  long  in  grass,  is  larger  than  is  often  found  with 
us,  but  the  quality  is  finer  and  better :  that  is,  the  hay  has  less 
woody  fibre  than  with  us.  At  Kothamstead,  Lawes'  celebrated 
experimental  farm,  my  attention  was  particularly  called  to  the  fine- 
ness of  the  grass  made  into  hay.  The  old  stacks  which  had  been  cut 
down  presented  a  solid  mass  of  hay,  almost  as  fine  as  hair,  and  its 
nutritive  quality  must  have  been  a  third  more  than  our  Timothy,  on 
account  of  the  less  waste  or  woody  fibre. 

Allusion  has  been  made  to  permanent  meadows ;  but  generally 
what  we  term  meadows,  that  is,  lands  devoted  to  the  production  of 
hay,  are  treated  widely  different  from  ours.  Much  of  the  hay  is 
grown  on  what  is  termed  the  four  or  five  course  shift.  It  comes  in 
regular  rotation  after  grain  crops.  It  is  mowed  once  or  twice,  and 
then  is  broken  up  for  a  crop  of  wheat.  Various  mixtures  are  sown, 
and  large  yields  often  result.  I  went  upon  a  splendid  meadow  in 
Devonshire,  where  the  yield  of  grass  upon  the  ground  must  have  been 
at  least  2|  tons  of  hay  per  acre,  and  perhaps  more;  and  it  was  the 
first  crop.  The  seeding  per  acre  was  as  follows :  8  lbs.  Ked  clover ; 
2  lbs.  White  clover ;  4  lbs.  Trefoil  clover ;  3  pecks  Italian  Rye  grass. 


38 

This  is  not  given  as  an  illustration  of  the  best  mixture,  but  ratber  as 
a  specimen  of  what  our  farmers  would  term  heavy  seeding.  Lands 
often  get  more  and  a  greater  variety  of  seeds. 

Perhaps  I  am  wearying  you  by  going  so  minutely  into  details,  but 
I  feel  earnest  for  the  success  of  our  farmers,  and  have  thought  that 
it  might  be  of  interest  for  you  to  get  a  little  insight  into  the  manner 
in  which  farms  are  managed  abroad.  Perhaps  you  may  appreciate 
this  the  more,  when  you  are  told  that  a  farmer  in  the  dairy  regions 
of  England  often  pays  from  $3,000  to  $3,500  per  annum  in  rents 
and  taxation  for  a  three  hundred-acre  farm.  He  pays  this  for  the 
land  alone,  and  gets  no  use  of  any  personal  property  whatever.  He 
then  stocks  it  at  his  own  expense.  He  is  to  all  the  cost  of  utensils. 
labor,  and  of  keeping  the  farm  in  repair.  As  the  "  well-to-do"  far- 
mer never  lays  his  hand  to  any  labor,  beyond  superintendence,  you 
will  naturally  conclude,  as  I  did,  that  pretty  shrewd  management,  at 
least,  is  required  to  pay  this  sum,  support  his  establishment,  and  lay 
up  money  from  his  business. 

By  the  judicious  use  of  capital,  by  the  liberal  use  of  fertilizers, 
and  by  a  system  of  mixed  farming,  he  is  able  to  accomplish  these 
results.  It  is  true,  labor  is  cheap.  He  pays  his  laborers  from  30  to 
40  cents  per  da}'-,  and  in  harvest  a  little  more,  but  he  does  not  board 
them.  They  have  cottages,  good,  substantial  buildings,  and  little 
gardens.  The  cottages,  like  the  more  pretentious  mansion  of  the 
farmer,  are  erected  by,  and  at  the  expense  of  the  landlord ;  but  a 
certain  number  of  people  go  with  the  farm,  and  they  pay  rent  to  the 
farmer  for  their  cottages,  say  about  a  shilling  per  week. 

The  condition  of  the  peasantry  is  in  many  respects  most  wretched  ; 
but  that  need  not  be  discussed  here.  The  farmer  s  position  is  infi- 
nitely above  them,  and  he  lives  for  the  most  the  life  of  a  gentleman. 
He  is  a  man  who  is  expected  to  have  some  means — say  from  £8  to 
£10  per  acre ;  or,  in  other  words,  a  floating  capital  of  from  $40  to 
$50  for  every  acre  of  his  farm.  This  he  uses  in  his  business,  pur- 
chasing stock,  buying  fertilizers,  and  making  such  improvements  as 
he  judges  will  pay  him  back  remunerative  profits. 

CHEDDAR   CHEESE-MAKING. 

Having  described  the  Gloster  and  Wilts  process  of  cheese-mak- 
ing, perhaps  I  can  not  do  better  in  this  connection  than  to  say  some- 
thing of  the  Cheddar  process.  The  improved  English  Cheddar 
cheese,  as  you  are  aware,  is  regarded  by  Englishmen  as  the  finest 
cheese  that  is  made  anywhere  in  the  world.  It  suits  the  general 
taste  better  than  any  other  description  of  cheese  manufactured. 

The  fact  that  Cheddar  always  commands  the  highest  price,  that 


39 

there  is  an  immense  demand  for  it,  and  that  its  manufacture  has  been 
brought  more  to  a  science  than  with  other  kinds,  make  it  important 
for  us  to  study  somewhat  its  character.  I  was  among  the  Cbeddar 
dairymen  for  more  than  two  weeks,  studying  the  process  of  manu- 
facture, and  saw  some  of  their  most  noted  dairies ;  I  was  at  Mr. 
Gibbons,  who  was  awarded  the  gold  medal  for  the  best  dairy  at  the 
international  exhibition  at  Paris ;  at  Mr.  Harding's,  of  Marksbury ; 
Mr.  McAdam,  of  Gorsty  Hill,  Cheshire,  and  others ;  and  after  hav- 
ing seen  all  the  different  styles  of  cheese  in  Great  Britain,  I  am  of 
the  opinion  that  the  Cheddar  is  the  only  process  from  which  the 
American  dairymen  can  obtain  suggestions  of  much  practical  utility. 
I  may  remark  here  that  John  Bully  like  his  blood  relation,  Jonathan, 
is  a  man  of  strong  prejudices,  and  will  often  prefer  a  Cheddar  cheese 
of  no  better  quality  than  good  American,  at  IO5.  to  lo?.  per  cwt. 
more  in  price,  simply  because  the  English  Cheddar  has  a  better  rep- 
utation. This  feeling  has  very  much  to  do  in  regulating  the  differ* 
ence  of  price  between  the  best  samples  of  cheese  of  the  two  countries. 
But,  laying  all  prejudice  aside,  I  must  in  truth  say  that  we  have  not 
yet  been  able  to  surpass  in  excellence  the  fine  specimens  of  English 
Cheddar.  It  is  a  very  high  standard  of  cheese,  and  is  deserving  of 
all  the  encomiums  which  it  has  received  from  time  to  time. 

The  quantity  of  extra  Cheddar  made  in  England  is  comparatively 
small,  and  its  peculiar  excellence  has  been  rarely  reached  in  Ameri- 
can dairies.  Its  requisites  may  be  briefly  summed  up  in  the  follow- 
ing points  :  1st.  Mildness  and  purity  of  flavor  ;  2d.  Quality,  which 
consists  of  mellowness  or  richness  under  the  tongue  ;  3d.  Long  keep- 
ing qualities ;  4th.  Solidity,  or  freedom  from  eyes  and  holes ;  and 
dth.  An  economical  shape  as  regards  shrinkage,  handling  and  cutting. 

In  my  address  before  the  Cheese-makers'  Convention  in  1865,  I 
gave  the  leading  features  of  Cheddar  manufacture,  as  described  by 
•Mr.  McAdam,  of  Gorsty  Hill,  Cheshire;  and  in  one  of  my  circulars 
from  London,  the  process  is  described  as  I  saw  it  in  operation  among 
the  Somerset  dairymen,  and  at  Mr.  Joseph  Harding's,  of  Marksbury. 
I  need  not  repeat  the  facts  therein  given,  but  rather  present  some 
of  the  points  of  difference  between  their  process  and  our  own. 

In  the  first  place,  the  English  dairymen  has  a  cleaner  and  better 
flavored  milk  than  generally  obtains  with  us.  The  milking  is  per- 
formed with  great  nicety,  in  tin  pails.  At  Mr.  Harding's,  the  milk- 
ers were  not  allowed  to  enter  the  milk-room  ;  the  pails  being  emp- 
tied into  a  conductor  at  the  window.  The  milk-rooms  are  perfect 
models  of  neatness.  They  have  stone-floors,  and  the  joints  of  the 
flagging  are  cemented  together,  so  that  no  slops  or  decomposed  milk 
can  have  an  entrance.     They  are  situated  in  a  cool,  airy  place,  and 


40 

the  walls  are  of  stone  or  of  hollow  brick,  thus  rendering  them  cool 
and  of  an  even  temperature.  Every  part  is  well  ventilated,  and  out 
of  the  reach  of  disagreeable  or  foetid  odors.  The  j9oor,  the  utensils, 
and  cheese  apparatus  are  kept  as  sweet  and  clean  as  the  table  and 
crockery  of  the  most  fastidious  housewife. 

This  condition  of  things  I  found  univei'sal  wherever  I  went  among 
the  dairymen ;  at  the  Eoyal  dairy  near  the  Queen's  palace  at  Wind- 
sor Castle,  and  radiating  from  thence  through  all  parts  of  England. 
Nothing  connected  with  cheese-making  abroad  struck  me  with  more 
force  and  admiration  than  this  perfect  neatness,  and  cleanliness  of 
the  dairy.  In  this  respect  they  are  greatly  in  advance  of  us  ;  and 
in  my  opinion  it  is  one  of  the  chief  reasons  why  they  are  able  to 
obtain  that  fine,  clean  flavor,  which  is  a  distinguished  characteristic 
of  their  choice  cheese. 

There  is  nothing,  perhaps,  which  indicates  the  progress  and  skill 
of  our  manufacturers  more  than  the  fact,  that  they  are  able  to  take 
nasty  milk  from  the  hands  of  patrons,  manipulate  it  among  the 
foetid  odors  of  whey-slops,  decomposed  milk,  and  pig-sty  emanations, 
and  yet  turn  out  a  cheese  that  will  compete  with  the  great  bulk  of 
English  make.  But  these  conditions  will  not,  and  can  not,  produce 
the  fine,  delicate  flavor  of  the  best  Cheddar ;  and  it  is  one  reason 
why  there  is  such  a  great  bulk  of  American  cheese  condemned 
abroad,  as  "  not  just  right  in  flavor."  You  see  this  putrid  innocula- 
tion  does  not  show  its  whole  character  at  first,  but,  like  an  insidious 
poison  in  the  blood,  increases  from  week  to  week,  until  it  puts  on  a 
distinctive  feature  which  spoils  all  the  good  materials  with  which  it 
comes  in  contact. 

I  saw  American  cheese  abroad,  perfect  in  shape  and  color,  rich  in 
quality,  splendidly  manufactured,  and  having  a  bright,  handsome 
appearance  that  would  have  placed  it  on  an  equality  with  the  best 
in  the  world ;  but  the  trier  showed  a  flavor  that  could  be  plainly 
traced  to  a  bad  or  imperfect  condition  of  the  milk  before  manipula- 
tion. I  have  been  extremely  mortified  while  testing  cheese  abroad, 
to  catch  the  taste  and  smell  of  putrid  rennet,  and  of  the  stables. 

You  can  not  expect  me  to  stand  here  and  hide  from  you  these 
facts.  They  are  unpleasant  for  you  to  hear  and  for  me  to  state,  but 
I  shall  not  deceive  you. 

This  is  one  point  of  difference  in  the  dairy  practice  of  the  two 
nations. 

In  the  Cheddar  process,  the  milk  is  set  at  a  low  temperature,  from 
78  deg.  to  80  deg.,  using  sour  whey  with  the  rennet,  according  to 
the  condition  of  the  milk.  After  coagulation  is  effected,  which  takes 
from  40  to  60  minutes,  the  curd  is  cut  in  largo  cheeks,  and  soon 


41 

after  they  commence  breaking  with  a  wire  breaker  attached  to  a  long 
handle.  The  breaking  is  at  first  slow  and  gentle,  and  is  continued 
till  the  curd  is  minutely  divided.  This  is  effected  before  any  addi- 
tional heat  is  applied.  They  claim  that  the  curd  can  not  be  properly 
broken  at  90  deg.,  or  above  90  deg.,  and  that  there  is  a  better  sepa- 
ration of  the  whey  and  condition  of  the  curd,  by  breaking  minutely 
at  75  deg.  or  80  deg.  without  an  increase  of  heat  during  the  process. 
This  process  of  minute  breaking  in  the  early  stages  of  the  curd,  ap- 
peared to  me  to  result  in  loss  of  butter ;  and  this  is  the  chief  reason, 
I  think,  why  Cheddars  have  less  butter  in  their  composition  than  our 
American.  That  it  does  not  result  from  inferior  milk  is  shown  from 
the  quantity  of  whey  butter  manufactured.  The  breaking  at  Mr. 
Harding's  usually  occupied  a  full  hour.  The  heat  is  raised  in  scald- 
ing to  100  deg.  Their  cheese  apparatus  is  inferior  to  ours,  and 
hence,  I  think,  that  part  of  the  process  is  not  capable  of  being  done  so 
well  as  with  us,  since  heat  is  not  applied  so  evenly  to  all  parts  of  the 
mass  ;  but  from  this  point  there  is  a  wide^difiference  in  the  treatment 
of  the  curds.  / 

When  the  curd  has  reached  a  firm  consistency,  and  the  whey 
shows  a  slightly  acid  change,  a  change  so  slight  as  to  be  detected  only 
by  the  experienced  observer,  it  is  immediately  drawn,  and  the  curd 
heaped  up  in  the  bottom  of  the  tub.  I  am  not  sure  but  that  this 
early  drawing  of  the  whey  is  an  improvement. 

When  in  London,  I  had  some  conversation  with  Dr.  Yoelcker,  the 
celebrated  chemist  of  the  Koyal  Agricultural  Society.  Among  other 
things,  he  said  :  "  One  of  the  greatest  faults  of  cheese-makers  is  in 
the  application  of  heat.  Many  use  too  high  heat.  The  lower  the 
temperature  that  can  be  used,  and  the  more  uniform  or  evenly  it  can  be 
applied,  the  better  flavor  will  obtain  to  the  cheese."  Another  point 
of  importance,  he  said,  in  cheese-making,  and  one  not  generally  un- 
derstood, was  in  relation  to  the  whey.  It  should  be  drawn  off,  got 
rid  of,  just  as  soon  as  possible,  or  as  soon  as  consistent  with  the  ne- 
cessary operations.  He  would  draw  the  whey  sweet.  The  reason 
he  gave  was  that  you  can  never  tell  what  matter  you  have,  or  what 
you  are  dealing  with  in  the  whey.  It  may  contain  taints  of  the  worst 
character.  You  can  not  well  determine  the  degree  of  its  acidity, 
and  hence  great  risks  arc  run  in  steeping  the  curd  for  a  long  time  in 
the  fluid.  He  would  prefer  to  draw  the  whey  as  early  as  possible, 
and  allow  the  curd  to  undergo  its  proper  change,  and  arrive  at  matu- 
rity heaped  up  in  the  bottom  of  the  vat. 

Soon  after  the  whey  is  drawn,  and  the  curd  heaped,  it  is  cut 
across  in  pieces  a  foot  or  more  square,  and  thrown  again  in  a  heap 
to  facilitate  drainage,  and  develop  further  acidity.  It  remains  in 
6 


42 

this  condition  for  half  an  hour,  the  whey  meanwhile  flowing  slowly 
from  the  heap,  when  it  is  taken  out  of  the  cheese  tub  and  placed  in 
the  sink  or  cooler.  It  is  then  split  by  the  hand  into  thin  flakes,  and 
spread  out  to  cool.  The  curd  at  this  stage  has  a  distinctly  acid 
smell,  and  is  slightly  sour  to  the  taste.  It  is  left  here  to  cool  for  15 
minutes,  when  it  is  turned  over,  and  left  for  the  same  length  of  time, 
or  until  it  has  the  peculiar  mellow  or  flaky  feel  desired.  It  is  then 
gathered  up  and  put  to  press  for  10  minutes,  when  it  is  taken  out, 
ground  in  a  curd  mill,  and  salted  at  the  rate  of  two  pounds  salt  to 
the  112  pounds  curd.  It  then  goes  to  press,  and  is  kept  under 
pressure  two  or  three  days.  The  curd  when  it  goes  to  press  has  a 
temperature  of  from  60  deg.  to  65  deg.,  and  when  in  the  sink  it  is 
preferred  not  to  get  below  this  point.  A  proper  temperature  is 
retained  in  the  curd  during  the  various  parts  of  the  process  in  cool 
weather,  by  throwing  over  it  a  thick  cloth. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  whey  being  disposed  of  at  an  early  stage, 
the  attention  of  the  manufacturer  is  to  be  directed  only  to  one  sub- 
stance, the  curd.  By  draining  the  whey  and  expelling  it  under 
the  press,  and  then  grinding  and  salting,  a  uniform  incorporation  of 
this  material  is  effected.  The  cooling  of  the  curd  before  going  to 
press,  and  the  removal  of  the  cheese  after  pressure  to  a  cheese  room, 
where  an  even  temperature  is  kept  up,  differing  but  little  from  that 
of  the  cheese  when  taken  from  the  press,  effects  a  gradual  trans- 
formation of  the  parts  into  that  compact,  mellow,  flaky  condition 
which  is  characteristic  of  the  Cheddar,  and  at  the  same  time  pre- 
serves its  milky  or  nutty  flavor. 

Now,  apparently,  there  is  nothing  difficult  in  the  process  ;  but  the 
great  art  in  this  as  in  other  methods  of  cheese-making  is  to  under- 
stand the  condition  of  the  milk  and  the  state  of  the  curds  during 
their  various  manipulations.  This  cannot  be  described,  but  can 
only  be  learned  by  experience.  The  process,  however,  is  easier 
acquired  than  that  usually  practiced  at  the  factories ;  since  the  whey 
being  got  rid  of,  the  curd  is  placed  under  better  control  of  the  oper- 
ator, and  the  pressing,  grinding,  and  salting,  must  in  this  respect 
make  a  more  uniform  product. 

We  can  scarcely  yet  appreciate  the  part  that  chemistry  plays  in  the 
manufacture  of  cheese.  We  use  a  chemical  agent,  rennet,  the  nature 
of  which  even  the  most  learned  chemists  do  not  fully  understand. 
We  note  the  changes  that  this  produces  in  the  milk,  and  manipu- 
late it  in  its  new  condition.  We  then  employ  heat,  another  agent, 
and  develop  an  acid ;  then  another  agent,  salt,  and  what  wonder  that 
in  all  these  conditions  and  changes,  the  careless  and  unskillful  ope- 
rator should  fail  in  the  quality  of  the  article  which  he  produces,  oi 
the  standard  which  he  sets  out  to  reach. 


43 

The  most  profound  cTiemists  are  often  tliwarted  in  t"heir  operations 
by  inexplicable  conditions,  -whicli  at  first  sight  seem  easy  of  solution. 
Thus,  for  instance,  take  four  well  known  substances,  viz  :  grape 
sugar,  cane  sugar,  starch  and  wood ;  each  of  which  is  made  up  of 
only  three  elements,  carbon,  hydrogen  and  oxygen,  which  it  would 
seem  easy  to  use  so  that  any  of  these  substances  could  be  converted 
into  the  other.  There  is  very  little  difference,  you  will  see,  in  the 
composition  of  any  of  these  substances,  and  yet  how  widely  differ- 
ent are  they  to  our  senses.  It  would  seem  a  very  simple  thing  to 
convert  one  of  these  substances  into  another,  by  merely  adding  or 
subtracting  an  element;  yet  we  find  that  the  most  expert  chemists 
experience  the  greatest  difficulty  in  bringing  about  a  result  which 
nature  is  constantly  accomplishing  in  her  silent  laboratories. 

The  more  we  can  reduce  cheese-making  to  a  science,  and  confine 
it  within  certain  rules,  the  better  will  be  our  practice,  and  the  more 
uniform  our  product.  It  may  not  be  advisable  to  adopt  any  one 
system  exclusively,  since  fine  cheese  can  be  made  by  various  meth- 
ods ;  but  the  study  of  the  cheese-maker  should  be  to  seize  upon  a 
good  point  whenever  he  can  find  it,  and  combine  it  in  his  own 
practice.  Mr.  Harding,  of  Marksbury,  believes  a  sharp  cutting 
instrument  in  breaking  the  curd  is  injurious,  and  that  the  curd 
ehould  be  allowed  to  split  apart  according  to  its  natural  grain. 
Other  persons  in  England,  quite  as  good  cheese-makers,  believe  in 
ehai-p  cutting  implements ;  of  these  I  might  mention  Dr.  Voelcker, 
of  London,  and  Mr.  McAdam,  of  Gorsty  Hill,  who  has  not  only 
written  well  on  cheese-making,  but  has  done  much  in  introducing 
the  Cheddar  system  into  Scotland  and  Cheshire.  Of  this,  however, 
we  may  assure  ourselves,  by  no  system  can  good  cheese  be  made 
unless  the  manufacturer  study  his  business,  and  learn  by  close  ap- 
plication, by  observation  and  experience,  the  changes  that  are  going 
on  in  the  process  with  the  curds  and  "whey,  and  can  properly  man- 
ipulate them. 

CHESHIRE   CHEESE-MAKING. 

I  suppose  that  many  of  our  cheese-makers  would  hardly  suspect 
that  a  really  fine,  delicious  cheese  could  be  made  by  the  following 
process,  which  is  the  one  in  general  practice  in  Cheshire,  and  yet 
some  of  this  cheese  cannot  be  surpassed  in  flavor  and  excellence. 

The  Cheshire  mode  of  cheese-making  is  somewhat  peculiar,  and 
to  an  American  would  appear  decidedly  antiquated.  The  night's 
milk  is  usually  set  in  pans,  and  added  to  the  morning's  mess,  when 
it  is  set  with  rennet  at  a  temperature  of  about  75  deg.  Often  no 
lieat  is  applied  to  the  morning's  milk,  being  sufficiently  warm  to 


keep  tlie  mass  up  to  the  desired  temperature  for  setting.  After  the 
rennet  is  applied,  the  coagulation  is  perfected  in  about  an  hour,  when 
it  is  carefully  broken  up  with  a  wire  or  tin  curd  cutter,  of  similar 
make  to  the  old  American  curd  cutter. 

The  breaking  being  perfected,  and  the  curd  becoming  sufficiently 
firm  without  any  additional  heat  being  applied,  the  whey  is  dipped 
off.  The  curd  is  then  lifted  into  a  drainer  or  kind  of  sink,  where 
the  whey  can  drain  off  more  thoroughly,  and  from  time  to  time  the 
curd  is  cut  across  and  heaped  up,  so  as  to  facilitate  a  more  thorough 
separation  of  the  whey.  It  is  then  salted  by  guess  and  ground  in  a 
curd  mill,  when  it  is  put  into  the  hoops ;  but  not  immediately  to 
press.  The  hoops  filled  with  curd  are  set  in  a  warm  place  for  a  day 
or  so,  generally  in  a  kind  of  oven  constructed  for  the  purpose,  and 
on  the  second  day  are  put  under  press.  Here  they  are  kept  several 
days,  similar  to  the  plan  pursued  in  the  Wiltshire  and  Gloucester- 
shire districts.  The  hoops  have  no  followers.  They  have  a  bottom 
pierced  with  holes  which  is  stationary.  A  strip  of  tin  four  or  five 
inches  wide  is  placed  about  the  curd,  on  the  inside  of  the  hoop  and 
above  it,  so  as  to  raise  the  curd  above  the  top  of  the  hoop.  A 
board  is  now  placed  on  top  of  the  curd,  and  as  the  press  is  applied, 
the  tin  sinks  down  with  the  curd  until  it  is  pressed  even  with  the 
hoop.  If  the  cheese  is  not  found  to  be  solid  enough,  another  hoop 
of  less  height  is  used,  and  the  tin  put  around  that  portion  above  the 
hoop,  and  pressed  in  a  sirnilar  manner.  Many  of  the  presses  are 
nothing  but  large  square  blocks  of  stone  raised  by  a  screw.  They 
are  rude  affairs.  The  bed  piece  on  some  is  of  stone,  with  a  flue 
beneath  for  conducting  heat,  in  order  to  keep  the  cheese  warm  while 
pressing.  The  milk  is  worked  up  into  curd,  and  the  utensils  cleaned 
up  every  day  by  12  o'clock,  M. 

It  was  really  a  matter  of  surprise  to  me,  to  find  that  fine  cheese 
could  be  made  by  this  process,  where  everything  is  done  by  guess, 
where  all  the  operations  are  so  different  from  our  method.  But  a 
great  deal  of  poor  cheese  is  made  in  the  Cheshire  dairies,  and  as  a 
whole,  is  inferior  to  our  factory  make.  That  which  is  the  best  is  as 
fine  in  flavor  and  quality  as  any  cheese  made,  and  will  command  the 
highest  prices.  The  texture  of  Cheshire  cheese  is  different  from  the 
Cheddar,  being  what  is  termed  open-meated,  that  is,  loose  in  texture 
without  being  porous.  Their  best  cheese  appears  richer  in  butter 
than  the  Cheddar. 

I  have  merely  given  the  outline  of  the  Cheddar  mode  of  cheese- 
making,  as  a  matter  of  curiosity.  In  my  judgement,  there  is  nothing 
in  the  process  adapted  to  America,  we  being  at  least  fifty  years 
ahead  in  our  appliances  r^nd  mode  of  manufacture.    I  must  say  this, 

Errata, — Page  4:4,  fourth  line  from  bottom,  for  Cheddar  read  Cheshire, 


45 

lio\srever,  in  favor  of  the  Cheshire  dairymen.  Everything  connected 
with  the  dairy  is  kept  scrupulcusly  clean.  The  floors,  the  utensils, 
and  every  part  of  the  dairy,  are  all  sweet  and  clean.  And  here, 
perhaps,  is  the  secret,  or  at  least  a  part  of  it,  of  the  fine,  clean  flavor 
of  their  best  cheese.  During  a  portion  of  the  time  the  Cheshire 
cheese  is  undergoing  the  process  of  curing,  the  cheese  is  placed  on 
straw  or  hay  upon  the  floor  of  the  curing  room. 

APPEARANCE    AND     COMPARATIVE    MERITS    OF    AMERICAN    CHEESE 

ABROAD. 

Having  now  described  the  manufacture  of  the  leading  styles  of 
English  cheese,  you  may  desire  to  know  something  as  to  the  appear- 
ance of  American  cheese  in  England,  and  what  is  thought  of  it  in 
the  foreign  markets.  I  went  in  nearly  all  the  principal  market 
towns  in  England,  from  the  south  to  the  north,  and  heard  hundreds 
of  people  discuss  the  merits  and  faults  of  American  cheese,  at  the 
storehouses,  the  shops,  and  at  the  table.  I  took  much  pains  to  get 
at  the  true  state  of  feeling  in  the  country,  and  I  think  I  may  safely 
say,  that  American  cheese  to-day,  as  a  whole,  has  more  quality,  and 
is  better  manufactured,  than  the  bulk  of  English  make.  I  have 
given  them  the  credit  of  producing  a  limited  quantity  of  cheese  of 
the  finest  type  that  has  ever  been  reached  by  any  manufacturer,  but 
the  quantity  is  comparatively  small,  and  when  the  whole  bulk  is 
considered,  there  is  nothing  like  the  richness  and  uniformity  of  that 
from  our  factories.  This  is  not  only  my  own  opinion,  but  that  of 
many  of  the  best  judges  of  cheese  in  Great  Britain. 

I  have  been  at  hotels  where  American  cheese  is  always  purchased 
in  joreference  to  English,  and  I  have  been  amused  to  hear  English- 
men contend  that  no  such  cheese  could  be  produced  in  America,  and 
no  where  else,  except  in  the  best  dairies  of  England,  but  who  were 
forced  to  give  way  on  pointing  out  to  them  the  bandage,  which  is  an 
indisputable  proof  of  American  manufacture.  Country  dealers, 
cutters,  middle-men,  and  shippers,  all  admit  that  the  highest  grades 
of  our  factory  cheese  has  more  qualit}'-,  and  is  superior  to  the  gen- 
eral run  of  English  make. 

I  have  often  heard  dealers  declare,  in  a  spirit  of  vexation,  that  if 
the  Americans  continued  to  progress  in  the  ratio  of  the  last  four 
years,  two  or  three  years  more  would  place  their  cheese  at  the  top 
of  the  market,  and  English  make  must  rank  secondary.  They  say 
the  Cheshire  dairymen  are  "  dough-heads,"  not  to  try  to  keep  pace 
with  modern  improvements.  I  have  seen  a  dealer  look  at  American 
and  English  cheese,  side  by  side,  and  while  admitting  that  the  Amer- 
ican was  in  every  respect  the  best,  take  the  English  at  a  higher 


46 

price,  because,  as  lie  said,  some  of  his  customers  had  such  foolish 
prejudices  that  they  would  not  try  the  American,  and  therefore  could 
not  judge  of  its  quality.  A  leading  dealer  in  Manchester  told  me 
he  had  many  times  tried  to  introduce  American  cheese  among  cer- 
tain of  his  customers,  and  that  they  would  not  purchase.  By  and 
by,  when  they  sent  up  an  order,  he  would  slip  in  a  few  of  nice  grade 
factory  make,  and  after  that  the  customer  would  be  eager  to  pur- 
chase, declaring  he  never  cut  up  better  cheese. 

Now  this  is  the  condition  of  things  all  over  England ;  there  is 
prejudice  to  overcome,  because  formerly  our  cheese  was  of  bad  char- 
acter, and  there  is  a  feeling  that  it  is  of  such  a  perishable  nature  that 
it  will  spoil  if  not  immediately  consumed.  These  remarks  apply  to 
our  nice  grades  of  cheese. 

There  is  another  class  of  our  cheese,  that  comes  into  market,  that 
does  great  injury  to  sales.  It  is  cheese  that  is  rich  and  well  made, 
but  out  of  flavor.  This  with  large  shipments  of  inferior  make,  the 
accumulated  refuse  from  good  and  indifferent  lots  which  can  not  be 
sold  alone,  are  mixed  up  with  good  samples  and  shipped  abroad,  to 
clean  out  New  York  storehouses.  These  lots  drag  on  the  market ; 
they  are  constantly  accumulating,  and  sales  are  forced  which  break 
the  market,  besides  carrying  a  prejudice  wherever  they  go  against 
American  cheese. 

As  to  the  outward  appearance  of  American  cheese  as  I  saw  it  abroad, 
it  is  generally  good.  Of  course,  some  of  it  comes  to  hand  soft,  melted, 
and  in  wretched  condition  ;  but  generally  the  great  bulk  of  factory- 
make  comes  in  store  quite  as  bright  and  handsome  as  does  the  En- 
glish manufacture.  Many  of  the  large  houses  told  me  they  had 
never  had  cheese  come  to  market  with  handsomer  outward  appear- 
ance than  this  year's  make.  And  I  think,  in  getting  the  comparative 
merits  of  the  two  nations,  we  have  often  been  misled  and  wrongly 
informed.  Great  condemnation  has  been  made  of  our  poor  cheese, 
all  of  which  was  well  deserved  ;  but  while  great  stress  has  been  laid 
upon  these,  there  has  been  a  studied  care  to  conceal  the  merits  of 
our  best  goods.  This  is  but  natural.  Men  engage  in  the  cheese 
trade  to  make  money  ;  they  run  great  risks,  and  you  can  not  expect 
them  to  post  you  up  to  their  own  disadvantage.  The  laws  of  trade 
are  to  buy  cheap  and  sell  dear ;  and  so,  after  all,  they  are  not  so 
much  to  blame. 

Some  of  the  dealers,  acting  in  concert  with  parties  in  New  York, 
take  great  pains  to  keep  factories  which  make  prime  cheese  in  ignor- 
ance of  the  fact.  The  factory  names  are  erased  from  the  boxes,  and 
so  customers  are  supplied  with  a  line  of  cheese  which  they  can  only 
trace  to  the  private  brand  of  the  dealer.    Some  have  acquired  in  this 


47 

way  quite  an  enviable  reputation  for  handling  choice  American 
cheese,  and  have  made  largely  by  the  practice.  It  is  a  great  damage 
to  the  factories,  since  other  dealers  are  kept  ignorant  of  the  brand, 
and  can  not  enter  into  competition  for  the  purchase.  I  know  of  no 
way  for  this  to  be  remedied,  except  by  branding  the  name  of  the 
factory  upon  the  bandage.  Perhaps  a  good  way,  also,  would  be  to 
have  the  name  of  the  factory  neatly  cut  in  rather  broad  letters  upon 
the  pressing  followers,  so  that  the  cheese,  when  pressed,  will  show 
the  name  of  the  factory  in  raised  letters.  There  is  no  difficulty  in 
this,  and  no  hurt  will  result  to  the  cheese.  I  have  seen  samples  of 
English  cheese,  where  elaborate  figures  were  raised  upon  the  surface 
in  the  manner  suggested ;  but  I  would  advise  no  "  gingerbread 
work  :"  nothing  but  plain  carving. 

STYLES   OF   CHEESE  DEMANDED. 

The  styles  of  cheese  demanded  for  the  trade  will  depend  somewhat 
upon  the  market  for  which  they  are  intended. 

In  London,  small  Cheddar  shapes,  of  40,  50,  60  or  70  pounds,  are 
popular,  and  will  command  an  extra  price  over  cheese  of  large  size, 
of  the  same  quality.  The  true  Cheddar  shape  is  15^  inches  in  diam- 
ter  by  12  inches  high,  and  by  preserving  this  proportion  for  larger 
and  smaller  cheese,  that  style  is  obtained.  Cheddars  are  made  va- 
rying in  size  from  those  named,  up  to  80  and  100  pounds ;  but  the 
larger  are  not  so  common.  A  limited  number  of  those  weighing  100 
pounds  would  readily  find  sale. 

Those  weighing  about  70  pounds  are  not  objectionable,  but  the 
smaller  sizes  are  of  readier  sale,  and  often  on  account  of  their  size 
bring  better  prices.  It  costs  more,  however,  to  manufacture  small 
cheese,  and  there  is  greater  loss  in  shrinkage,  so  this  ought  to  enter 
into  the  account  in  determining  the  size  that  will  be  most  profitable. 
It  would  be  well  for  factories  to  make  two  sizes  of  Cheddars — a 
larger  and  smaller — regulating  each  somewhat  in  accordance  with 
their  own  convenience.  The  Cheddar  shapes  are  popular  all  over 
England,  and  therefore  may  be  regarded  as  best  adapted  as  a  general 
rule  for  our  factories  to  make  for  exportation. 

There  is  another  style  called  the  Derby  shape,  which  when  made 
of  fine  quality  brings  the  highest  prices.  It  is  a  small  flat  cheese, 
14  to  15  inches  in  diameter,  about  3  inches  thick,  and  weighing 
25  to  30  pounds.  If  care  were  taken  in  boxing,  two  cheeses  might 
be  put  in  a  box,  and  thus  the  expense  on  that  score  lessened.  There 
should  be  two  heavy  scale  boards  between  the  cheeses,  and  none  but 
well  made,  substantial  boxes  used. 

There  is  a  moderate  demand  for  our  old-fashioned  shaped  cheese, 


48 

that  is,  a  cTieese  half  as  high,  as  its  diameter,  and  weighing  from  60 
to  80  pounds ;  but  it  should  not  exceed  100  pounds.  In  Liverpool, 
a  variety  of  styles  are  readily  worked  off.  Several  of  the  dealers 
there  told  me  they  had  no  difficulty  in  disposing  of  cheese  weighing 
120  to  150  pounds,  provided  it  was  all  right  as  to  quality  and  flavor  ; 
but  I  am  satisfied  after  going  among  the  country  dealers,  in  different 
parts  of  England,  that  preference  is  always  given  to  cheese  of  smaller 
size  when  other  qualities  are  satisfactory. 

COLOR. 

The  matter  of  color  is  a  question  which  has  long  occupied  the 
attention  of  American  Dairymen,  and  upon  which  very  indistinct 
notions  have  been  entertained.  It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  when 
the  different  markets  in  England,  give  preference  to  a  variety  of 
shades,  and  different  dealers  ask  only  for  the  color  of  their  particu- 
lar market.  The  Londoner  likes  a  cheese  of  considerable  color, 
something  like  the  rich  shade  of  butter,  made  when  the  dandelions 
are  in  bloom.  It  must  be  clear  and  pure,  not  lemony  or  dirty,  or 
mottled  through  the  cheese,  but  a  rich  shade  of  cream  that  gives  a 
pleasing  effect  to  the  eye,  thus  serving  to  heighten  the  imagination 
that  a  delicious  morsel  is  before  you. 

There  are  no  persons  in  the  world  more  particular  about  their  food, 
than  the  people  of  London ;  they  loill  have  the  choicest  qualities  of 
every  kind,  and  it  must  have  a  nice  tidy  appearance.  London  is  the 
great  commercial  metropolis  of  the  world,  where  wealth  is  unbound* 
ed.  They  claim  that  there  is  no  delicacy  on  the  face  of  the  earth 
but  may  be  had  in  London.  In  ordering  a  dinner,  they  will  tell  you 
that  any  delicacy  that  can  be  named,  may  be  had,  and  will  be  pro* 
vided  at  your  order. 

I  sometimes  surprised  them,  by  ordering  Buffalo  steak,  green  corn, 
succotash,  pumpkin  pie,  and  a  string  of  delicacies  of  this  sort.  I 
would  order  them  in  a  sober,  earnest  manner,  when  the  waiters  would 
look  blank  astonishment,  and  soon  come  back,  saying  they  could  not 
be  obtained  even  in  London. 

But  the  best  articles  of  food  readily  find  a  market  here,  and  com- 
mand the  highest  prices  of  any  in  the  kingdom.  If  they  can  only 
get  the  best,  they  are  willing  to  pay  for  it,  and  this  is  the  reason 
why  choice  cheese  never  goes  begging  at  top  prices. 

When  I  went  through  the  Manchester  cheese  market,  they  told  me 
that  colored  cheese  was  a  drug,  and  did  not  suit  that  market  A 
rery  extensive  dealer  had  just  returned  from  Liverpool,  disappointed 
in  not  obtaining  a  supply  of  pale  colored  cheese.  In  price,  quality, 
and  shape,  he  said  there  was  no  difficulty  in  being  suited ;  but  his 


49 

customers  insisted  upon  an  uncolored  article,  and  as  tliat  was  not  to 
be  had,  he  did  not  purchase.  It  was  in  this  man's  storehouse  that 
I  saw  some  of  the  Herkimer  County  ""coarse  curds,"  and  they  were 
commended  for  their  texture  and  quality.  There  are  large  quanti- 
ties of  pale  colored  cheese  made  in  England,  and  considerable  of  the 
high  priced  Cheddar  has  no  color,  except  that  which  results  from  the 
natural  condition  of  the  milk. 

I  went  down  to  Chippenham  to  see  the  great  anotta  manufacturer, 
Mr.  Nichols.  His  preparation  bears  the  reputation  of  the  best  in 
England,  and  I  thought  it  might  be  worth  while  to  have  him  send 
over  samples,  and  thus  have  an  article  that  was  approved  by  English 
dealers.  Mr.  Nichols  is  a  pleasant,  companionable  man,  and  was 
veiy  courteous  and  attentive.  He  was  willing  to  send  out  samples, 
on  my  assurance  that  they  would  be  properly  distributed.  But 
when  I  got  up  to  London,  I  learned  from  the  chemists  a  secret,  which 
is  worth  a  good  many  thousand  dollars  to  dairymen.  It  is,  that  all 
preparations  of  anotta  depend  for  their  excellence  not  so  much  upon 
any  patent  for  dissolving  or  cutting  the  crude  anotta,  as  upon  the 
purity  of  the  anotta  itself.  All  the  best  English  liquid  anotta  is  cut 
with  potash,  so  that  our  dairymen  can  just  as  well  make  their  own 
coloring  material,  as  to  send  abroad  at  great  expense  for  the  English 
article.  But  it  is  important  that  you  obtain  a  pure  article ;  and 
this  can  only  be  secured  by  purchasing  of  a  reliable  person,  who  is 
a  good  judge  of  it.  If  you  use  a  bad  article,  you  are  sure  to  get  a 
hrichy^  uneven  color,  which  is  objectionable,  and  which  reduces  the 
price  on  your  cheese. 

BANDAGES,   BOXING,   AC. 

I  gave  you  in  my  circulars  from  London  important  information  in 
regard  to  bandaging  and  boxing  cheese,  and  need  not  repeat  it  here, 
but  may  only  remark,  that  no  cheese  should  be  made  for  shipping 
abroad  without  bandage,  and  without  being  put  up  in  strong  boxes, 
with  heavy  scale  boards.  I  have  seen  considerable  quantities  of 
English  cheese  in  the  storehouses,  split  open  at  the  sides,  a  prey  to 
skippers,  and  upon  which  losses  were  sustained.  The  Cheddar  dai- 
rymen put  a  coarse  linen  bandage  upon  their  cheese  during  the  pro- 
cess of  curing.  It  is  brought  round  tight  and  temporarily  secured. 
Some  work  eyelet  holes  in  the  ends  of  the  bandage,  and  bring  it 
snugly  about  the  cheese,  by  lacing,  as  you  would  fasten  a  shoe  upon 
the  foot.  These  bandages  are  stripped  off"  when  the  cheese  go  to 
market. 

The  cheese  would  be  better  protected,  if  they  had  permanent 
bandages  on  our  plan,  and  some  of  the  English  dairymen  advocate 
7 


50 

its  introduction  in  their  dairies.  By  not  bandaging,  something  per- 
haps might  occasionally  be  gained  in  helping  the  English  dealer  to 
deceive  his  customers,  by  palming  off  our  cheese  as  of  English, 
manufacture ;  but  good  factories  would  lose  their  identity,  and  the 
loss  from  breakage  and  other  sources  would  overbalance  by  far  this 
advantage.  Besides,  it  should  be  our  object  to  make  for  American 
cheese  a  reputation  that  shall  stand  unchallenged,  as  the  best  in  the 
world. 

DEFECTS  IN"  AMERICAN  CHEESE,   BAD  FLAVOR,   &C. 

We  come  now  to  consider  the  two  leading  defects  in  American 
cheese,  porosity  and  bad  flavor ;  and  the  last  may  be  said  to-day  to 
overbalance  all  the  other  defects  put  together,  two  or  three  times  over. 
I  need  not  waste  time  upon  that  character  of  cheese  known  as  soft, 
spongy,  or  salvy ;  or  the  poor  grades  which  come  from  carelessness, 
inefliciency  or  ignorance  in  manufacture.  Good  cheese-makers  know 
at  once  how  these  may  be  corrected ;  but  I  refer  to  the  better  class 
of  cheese  made  at  factories.  The  English  acknowledge  that  the 
American  factories  stand  unrivaled  as  sending  out  a  cheese  full  of 
meat,  that  is,  full  of  butter,  or  rich  in  quality.  They  speak  in  high 
terms  of  the  improvements  that  have  been  made  in  texture,  firm- 
ness, and  solidity ;  but  to  see  a  cheese  handsome  in  appearance,  the 
meat  having  scarcely  an  objectionable  feature  to  the  eye  and  finger, 
yet  under  the  nose  a  disagreeable  odor,  is  what  they  can  not  well 
understand.  It  is  the  large  exportations  of  this  poor,  indifferent,  or 
bad  flavored  cheese,  that  break  prices  and  do  immense  damage. 

The  causes  of  bad  flavor  in  cheese  are  various :  inefficient  or  un- 
even salting,  a  faulty  separation  of  the  whey  from  the  curd  before 
going  to  press,  and  while  pressing,  putting  the  curd  in  press  too  hot, 
high  heat,  and  a  rapid  manipulation  of  the  curds,  getting  them  in 
press  before  the  proper  chemical  changes  have  been  effected ;  but  the 
chief  cause  of  bad  flavor  in  well  manufactured  cheese,  as  I  saw  it 
abroad,  is,  in  my  opinion,  due  to  bad  milk,  bad  rennet,  and  the  bad 
curing  of  the  cheese.  I  am  satisfied  that  the  cool,  even  climate  in 
England,  and  the  excellent  condition  of  the  milk,  together  with  uni- 
form temperature  of  their  curing  rooms,  enable  them  to  succeed, 
where  we  often  fail.  We  have  a  hot,  bad  climate  to  contend  with, 
and  milk  is  often  spoiled  when  it  reaches  the  factory.  If  farmers 
would  only  look  upon  this  matter  in  its  proper  light,  instead  of  lay- 
ing all  the  blame  of  bad  flavored  cheese  upon  the  manufacturer, 
there  would  be  some  hope  of  improvement.  You  send  to  the  factory 
tainted  milk,  and  demand  from  it  a  perfect  cheese.  You  impose 
upon  the  manufacturer  conditions  which  no  skill  has  yet  been  able 


51 

to  surmount.  High  skill,  and  great  experience  in  manipulating  milk, 
together  with  favorable  weather,  and  the  putting  the  cheese  in  mar- 
ket just  at  the  right  moment,  may  enable  the  manufacturer  to  coun- 
teract, in  part,  the  fault  of  tainted  milk;  but  with  intensely  hot 
weather,  and  under  unfavorable  circumstances,  it  is  beyond  his  art. 

Bad  rennet,  and  tainted  milk,  is  one  reason  for  the  early  decay  of 
our  cheese.  You  are  told  that  American  cheese  will  decay  early. 
I  have  seen  American  cheese  in  England  more  than  a  year  old,  per- 
fect in  flavor,  and  in  the  best  preservation,  but  it  was  not  made  in 
hot  weather.  The  cheese  made  in  July  this  year,  and  sent  to  Eng- 
land, was  all  of  it,  more  or  less,  out  of  flavor.  The  complaint  was 
universal,  and  against  some  of  the  most  noted  factories  in  America. 
My  friends,  we  must  look  upon  these  things  from  the  practical  side. 
I  am  not  going  to  stand  here  and  deceive  you  with  a  fine  spun 
theory  !  We  have  been  greatly  led  astray  in  regard  to  this  matter  of 
flavor,  led  to  believe  that  the  people  of  the  old  world  had  discovered 
some  wonderful  process,  which  would  ensure  a  perfect  cheese  under 
all  conditions  of  the  milk. 

You  know  that  milk  not  divested  of  its  animal  odor,  and  closely 
confined  in  hot  weather,  soon  becomes  putrid ;  cheese  manufacturers 
tell  me  that  milk  often  comes  to  the  factory  having  a  most  foeted  and 
sickening  odor.  In  extremely  hot  weather,  when  cows  have  been 
exercised  and  unduly  excited,  the  milk  is  often  of  a  rank,  bad  odor, 
as  soon  as  drawn.  The  practice  of  putting  warm  milk  in  tight 
cans,  and  conveying  it  a  long  distance  to  the  factory,  is  objection- 
able, especially  in  hot,  sultry  weather.  Here  is  the  commencement 
of  bad  flavor.  The  good  milk  is  inoculated  with  putrid  matter, 
which  shows  itself  sooner  or  later,  and  carries  with  it  decay,  like  any 
other  decomposition. 

Some  plan  should  be  adopted  for  cooling  the  milk,  or  exposing  it, 
so  that  the  animal  odor  may  pass  off,  especially  in  hot,  sultry  weather. 
I  feel  certain  from  my  observations,  both  here  and  abroad,  that  this 
is  a  leading  cause  of  bad  flavor,  and  hence  the  practice  of  the  Cheddar 
dairymen  in  getting  rid  of  the  whey  as  early  as  possible,  and  the 
exposure  of  the  curd  a  long  time  to  the  atmosphere,  is  founded  ujDon 
philosophic  principles. 

My  friends,  I  do  not  want  to  mislead  you.  If  you  could  only 
appreciate  how  earnest  and  anxious  I  am  for  your  success,  with  what 
pure  motives  I  have  labored  for  improvement  in  our  dairy  practice, 
and  for  sustaining  remunerative  prices,  these  suggestions  would  be 
duly  heeded,  and  you  would  take  hold  of  the  matter  and  help  bring 
about  a  reformation.  I  can  assure  you  there  is  no  time  to  be  lost, 
since  movements  are  on  foot  to  establish  the  factory  system  in  North- 
ern Europe. 


52 

Again,  tlie  cheese  producing  sections  of  the  Union  are  being 
developed  so  rapidly,  and  in  such  large  proportions,  that  competition 
every  year  must  be  larger  and  larger.  Every  factory  should  now 
establish  a  reputation  for  "extra  fine  goods."  You  should  keep 
your  best  manufacturers  in  the  country.  Make  it  an  inducement  for 
them  to  stay  with  you.  High  skill  and  experience  command  ample 
remuneration  the  world  over.  Old  and  established  factories  can 
afford  to  pay  for  it  rather  than  let  new  districts  pick  off  your  best 
cheese-makers.  The  London  dealers  complain  that  there  is  no  relia- 
bility of  factories  sending  forward  prime  cheese  year  after  year. 
They  want  a  brand  that  can  be  relied  upon,  and  when  they  find  such, 
will  pay  an  extra  price  for  it.  The  curing  rooms  ought  to  be  arranged 
so  that  temperature  may  be  controlled.  The  curing  rooms  of  En- 
gland have  walls  of  stone,  or  of  hollow  brick.  The  climate  is  cooler, 
more  moist,  and  less  variable  than  ours.  These  facts  ought  to  afford 
suggestions  in  the  construction  of  our  curing  houses. 

There  is  another  way  in  which  flavor  is  lost.  The  shipments  of 
cheese  in  hot  weather,  to  lay  in  New  York  until  heated  through  and 
through,  and  then  stowing  away  in  the  vessel  with  cargoes  of  grain, 
oil-cake,  or  some  other  freight,  from  which  taints  are  absorbed. 
Much  of  our  nice  cheese  is  injured  in  this  way.  In  Bristol,  Bath, 
London,  Chester,  Liverpool,  Manchester,  and  in  fact  all  over  En- 
gland, the  commercial  houses  for  cheese  are  well  constructed  for  the 
purpose  of  preserving  flavor.  They  have  stone  floors,  are  cool  and 
well  ventilated.  Cheese  that  comes  in  bad  condition  is  often  taken 
out  of  the  boxes,  or  the  covers  removed,  and  then  laid  upon  the 
floor  to  cool.  But  I  have  detained  you  so  long  that  I  must  not  dwell 
on  these  points. 

The  fine,  compact  texture  of  English  cheese,  in  my  opinion,  results 
in  a  great  measure  from  their  process  of  expelling  the  whey,  grinding 
in  the  curd  mill,  and  then  salting  and  pressing.  I  may  remark  that, 
while  porousness  is  an  objection,  if  the  texture  is  not  of  a  honeycomb 
character,  but  will  fill  the  trier  with  a  tolerable  compact  mass,  dealers 
do  not  urge  a  reduction  of  price,  if  the  flavor  and  quality  are  perfect. 
Extreme  porosity  shows  a  defect  in  manufacture,  and  carries  with  it 
the  impression  that  the  cheese  will  soon  go  to  decay,  and  is  therefore 
dangerous  to  handle,  requiring  quick  sales. 

THE   ENGLISH   MARKET. 

In  closing,  a  word  may  be  offered  in  reference  to  the  prospect  of 
fature  exportations  and  prices.  The  English  are  a  great  cheese  eat- 
ing people.  We  have  no  conception  of  the  extent  in  which  this 
food  enters  into  general  consumption.     Those  who  can  afford  to  eat 


53 

a  good  article,  purchase  the  best,  and  the  poor  take  up  with  that 
which  is  inferior  and  bad.  I  have  seen  tons  and  tons  of  the  most 
worthless  stuff,  apparently  fit  only  for  the  pigs,  in  the  shops  and 
public  market,  and  it  had  a  rapid  sale.  The  cutters  are  extremely 
expert.  They  use  a  thin,  circular  knife,  like  a  half  moon,  having  an 
upright  handle  springing  from  the  center,  and  with  this  they  cut  the 
cheese  upon  the  counter.  They  also  use  a  fine  wire,  with  handles  at 
each  end,  for  splitting  large  cheese.  I  have  been  surprised  at  th 
accuracy  with  which  they  will  cut  the  different  weights.  The  crumbs 
are  laid  on  one  side  to  be  used  for  balancing  the  scales.  There  is  an 
immense  demand  for  inferior  or  low  priced  cheese.  If  we  could  man- 
ufacture cheese  so  as  to  sell  on  the  counter  at  4f?.  to  6d.  per  pound, 
I  think  they  would  take  our  whole  product 

Cheese  does  not  come  upon  the  table  with  pastry,  as  with  us,  but 
is  brought  on  as  a  separate  and  last  course.  A  half  or  quarter  of  a 
cheese,  placed  upon  a  silver  dish,  with  a  clean  napkin  under  it,  is 
set  upon  the  table,  and  you  cut  from  it  as  desired.  I  became  very 
fond  of  eating  it  in  this  way.  Then  bread  and  cheese  and  ale  are 
used  as  a  lunch.  I  have  seen  the  best  people  make  a  hearty  meal  in 
this  way,  and  have  often  done  it  myself  v  I  have  seen  very  respecta- 
ble looking  people  eat  shippery  cheese  with  a  relish.  I  did  not  get 
so  far  along  as  that,  but  after  seeing  horse  flesh  eaten  in  Paris,  the 
thing  did  not  seem  in  the  least  repulsive. 

I  think  there  must  be  a  good  demand  for  our  cheese  the  coming 
year.  The  production  has  been  cut  off  in  the  Northern  districts. 
The  cattle  plague  has  been  terrible  in  its  ravages  through  this  sec- 
tion. In  Cheshire  and  the  adjoining  counties,  the  losses  have  been 
fearful.  Th«  Cheshire  people  feel  very  melancholy,  and  many  of  the 
farmers  are  unable  to  pay  their  rents.  Some  of  them  are  trying 
sheep-farming,  but  with  indifferent  results.  They  have  been  long  a 
dairy  people,  and  understand  the  management  of  cows.  I  am  con- 
vinced they  will  go  back  to  dairy  farming  when  the  cattle  plague 
shall  be  effectually  crushed  out,  and  that  appears  now  to  have  been 
almost  accomplished  but  they  will  hardly  get  established  by  next 
spring.  They  will  not  abandon  dairying  till  we  can  furnish  cheese 
so  cheaply  as  to  drive  them  from  the  market.  The  cost  of  transpor- 
tation, and  the  high  prices  of  labor,  and  heavy  taxation,  are  against 
the  production  of  a  cheap  cheese  on  this  side,  at  least  in  the  older 
States.  Holland,  too,  enters  into  competition  with  us.  She  is  now 
shipping  to  England,  80,000,000  pounds  of  cheese  per  annum.  Last 
year  the  quantity  imported  was  nearly  73,000,000  pounds.  The  pass- 
age can  be  made  in  a  day,  and  the  cost  of  exportation  is  a  mere 
trifle.     Their  cheese  is  very  good,  but  not  equal  to  ours ;  but  they 


54 

are  improving  every  year  in  quality.  They  make  tliree  styles  of 
cheese  which  are  popular  among  the  poorer  classes.  The  Edams  and 
middle-bars  are  round  like  a  cannon  ball,  and  weigh  from  6  to  12 
pounds.  The  Goudas  are  a  small  flat  cheese  of  about  20  pounds 
weight.  The  agricultural  laborers  like  the  Edams,  as  they  can  take 
a  cheese  into  the  field  and  eat  it  without  waste.  Their  cheese  sells  at 
from  8  to  10  shillings  per  cwt.  below  American.  There  is  less  dif- 
ference in  the  Derby  Goudas,  often  no  more  than  45.  less  than  ours. 

Our  future  success  it  seems  to  me,  will  depend  upon  our  making 
fine  cheese,  and  getting  it  to  market  at  cheap  rates.  Something 
might  be  done  in  opening  up  new  markets.  The  English  export 
cheese  to  Australia,  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Brazil,  and  various  other 
points. 

There  will  be  a  good  market  for  cheese  next  year  in  Paris ;  but 
I  doubt  whether  any  of  our  dealers  will  have  pluck  to  try  it. 

Something  should  be  done  by  the  cheese-makers  and  shippers  in 
the  way  of  regulating  exportations.  If  you  could  give  England  a 
steady  supply,  without  rushing  forward  immense  quantities  to  clog 
the  market,  prices  would  be  maintained,  and  greater  profits  realized. 
In  November  and  December,  dairymen  became  uneasy,  they  lost  all 
courage,  and  were  glad  to  sell  at  any  price.  The  cheese  should  have 
been  shipped  to  New  York,  stored  and  held.  In  my  opinion  a  great 
mistake  has  been  made.  The  cheese  product  of  Great  Britain  has 
been  cut  off.  They  commenced  early  in  the  season  to  use  their  own 
make.  They  drew  all  they  could  upon  Holland,  and  now  have  noth- 
ing to  fall  back  upon,  except  supplies  from  America.  They  will  get 
no  new  cheese  till  June,  and  prices  must  necessarily  advance  in  that 
market. 

The  shipments  from  New  York  to  Liverpool  and  London,  during 
the  month  of  October  this  year,  were  7,798,150  pounds,  and  last 
year  only  1,309,850.  In  November  this  year,  3,804,250  pounds ; 
last  year  only  2,298,150.  In  December  this  year,  5,853,050  pounds ; 
last  year  only  2,027,300.  In  other  words,  the  exportations  this  year 
during  the  three  months  have  been  17,455,250  pounds,  while  for  the 
same  time  last  year  they  were  only  5,635,300  pounds — showing  an 
increase  this  year  over  last,  of  nearly  12,000,000  pounds  during  that 
time. 

I  was  told  in  London,  that  last  year  prices  went  down  to  635.  per 
cwt  This  year,  the  lowest  price  reached  for  extra  cheese  was  66s., 
and  on  the  15th  of  December,  notwithstanding  the  immense  ship- 
ments, prices  advanced  to  705.  per  cwt.  The  whole  exportations,  this 
year,  from  May  to  January,  have  been  over  7,000,000  pounds  more 
than  for  the  same  time  last  year.     I  learn  that  the  stock  in  New 


55 

York  is  much  smaller  than  usual  at  this  season  of  the  year,  and 
where  the  cheese  is  to  come  from  to  supply  the  English  market  till 
June,  is  not  easy  to  be  seen. 

I  do  not  pretend  to  predict  the  fature  market ;  no  one  can  do 
that  with  certainty,  since  there  may  be  disturbing  causes,  and  events 
shrouded  in  darkness,  and  known  only  to  Him  "  who  doeth  all  things 
well."  These  may  have  controlling  influence;  but  so  far  as  human 
foresight  may  be  trusted,  the  present  condition  of  things  indicate 
extreme  prices  on  the  other  side  for  the  winter  and  spring  sales. 

I  have  but  one  more  suggestion  to  make.  It  is  that  some  plan  be 
inaugurated  whereby  factories  may  ship  cheese  to  New  York  and 
hold  it,  whenever  desired.  Most  especially  is  this  needed  in  the 
fall  when  prices  are  low.  Many  factories  have  no  place  for  storing 
cheese  in  winter.  They  wish  to  get  it  off  before  navigation  closes, 
in  order  to  take  advantage  of  low  freights.  They  become  uneasy, 
and  often  sell  at  a  sacrifice,  when,  did  they  know  of  some  feasible 
way  of  shipping  and  storing  in  New  York,  they  would  gladly  avail 
themselves  of  it,  rather  than  make  a  sale. 

The  matter  is  an  important  one  for  the  producer's  interest,  since  a 
repetition  of  this  year's  transactions  should  be  guarded  against. 

I  should  have  been  glad  to  have  touched  upon  many  other  points 
of  interest,  but  have  already  drawn  too  largely  upon  your  patience 
and  good  nature,  and  must  close,  thanking  you  for  your  attention, 
and  hoping  some  of  the  suggestions  offered  may  be  useful. 


TRANSACTIONS  AT  THE  SECOND  ANNUAL  MEETING 

OF    THE 

l^nteman  gairpien's  ^bbuMqw, 

held  at  the  court-house,  utica,  n.  y., 
On  Wednesday  and  Thursday,  January  9  and  10,  1867. 


At  half  past  eleven  on  Wednesday  morning,  the  Convention  was 
called  to  order  by  the  President,  Wm.  H.  Comstock,  Esq.,  of 
Oneida,  who  spoke  substantially  as  follows: 

Gentlemen  :  The  hour  having  arrived  for  proceeding  with  the  business 
ot  tuis  Convention,  I  take  this  opportunity  to  call  your  attention  to  some  of 
tne  subjects  which  should  receive  your  careful  deliberations. 

I'rovidence  has  favored  us  the  past  season,  and  given  us  large  products  • 
a  rich  reward  for  our  patient  labor  and  toil  ;  let  us  worship  him  as  the  au- 
tlior  ot  every  blessing  we  enjoy. 

The  Dairymen  have  not  only  been  blessed  with  large  products  from  their 
labors  ;  but  also  through  the  influence  of  this  Association  in  connection 
Troduct    ''"'^'^^^'^  ^^  ^England,  have  received  remunerative  prices  for  those 

The  misidon  to  England,  with  X.  A.  Willard,  Esq,  as  a  representative 
ana  agent  for  the  American  Dairymen,  created  a  lively  and  healthy  compe- 
tition among  cheese  dealers  and  shippers,  and  strengthened  the  confidence  of 
tne  producer  by  keeping  him  posted  about  the  English  markets,  thereby 

r^w-   "^''^^  "P  ^^  ^  ^^"'  ^^■'^^'  tlii-ough  the  whole  season. 

Mr.  Willard  sent  to  us  the  only  correct  and  satisfactory  report  of  the 
condition,  quality  and  flavor  of  American  cheeae,  when  it  arrived  on  the 
ottier  side  of  the  waters.     Tlirough  him  we  learn  tliat  American  Factory 
Cheese  IS  taking  the  place  of  English  cheese  upon  the  tables  of  the  wealthy 
as  well  as  upon  the  tables  of  the  poor. 

The  thanks  of  all  Dairymen  are  due  to  our  committee,  with  J  A  Shear- 
man, Esq.,  as  their  Chairman,  for  their  energy  and  skill  in  procurino-  the 
money  necessary  to  sc;ud  an  agent  to  England,  and  to  their  wisdom  in  se- 

-vr.  ¥  K  w-n  K^'  ^'^•l-'  ^^  °"^*  representative.  Great  credit  is  due  to 
:  A.  A  Willard,  for  his  energy,  his  skill,  and  integrity,  in  obtaining  and 
leportiug  to  us  desirable  information,  and  in  making  timely  and  valuable 
suggestions.  _ 

The  propositioii  made  at  our  last  annual  meeting  to  publish  a  paper  by 
the  American  Dairymen,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  did  not  meet  with  that  pecunia- 
ly  encouragement  necessary  to  warrant  your  committee  any  success  in  the 
cHitcrpnse  ;  but  let  me  urge  upon  your  attention  the  importance  of  a  weekly 
circular,  which  shall  contain  the  correct  markets  of  England  and  America 
ana  also  give  each  week  the  amouut  of  cheese  made,  and  shipped,  and  such 

r^l  ^"'^™ation  as  will  be  useful  for  our  Dairymen 

The  law  to  prevent  the  adulternting  of  milk,  should  be  so  amended  that 
uiere  will  be  no  questions  as  to  the  proper  parties  who  may  commence  an 
action  under  said  law. 

By  the  rulings  of  the  Commissioner  of  Internal  Revenue,  a  tax  has  been 
iaid  upon  the  manufacture  of  butter  and  cheese.  Bv  the  tax  law,  butter  and 
cneese  are  exempt  from  tax,  and  we  think  the  ruling  of  the  Commissioner 
wiong,  caused,  probably,  from  a  want  of  any  practical  knowledge  of  cheese- 
making,  borne  have  called  the  making  of  cheese  similar  to  the  manufacture 
8 


58 

of  flour.  Wheat  is  an  original  product  that  can  be  preserved  for  a  long 
time  without  change,  or  it  may  be  carried  any  distance,  while  milk,  on  the 
other  hand,  must  be,  as  a  rule,  made  into  butter  or  cheese,  before  it  can  be 
preserved  any  considerable  length  of  time,  or  carried  any  great  distance. 
The  producing  milk  and  making  it  into  butter  or  cheese,  has  always  been 
connected  together  as  one  and  the  same  business,  while  wheat  has  always 
been  produced  by  the  farmer,  and  carried  to  market,  and  sold  like  butter  or 
cheese  ;  while  the  miller,  who  manufactures  the  wheat  into  flour,  may  be 
thousands  of  miles  from  the  producer. 

Dairymen  should  give  more  attention  to  making  and  curing  cheese.  The 
factory  system  has  caused  a  large  increase  in  the  product  of  cheese  ;  many 
])]aces  never  before  engaged  in  the  Dairy  business,  liave  this  past  season 
started  a  factory  and  the  dairy ;  and  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  its 
growth  will  be  unprecedently  large  the  coming  season.  With  this  fact  in 
view,  I  would  ask,  how  much  can  we  increse  the  product  of  cheese  and  not 
have  the  supply  greater  than  the  demand  ?  can  we  not  increase  consump- 
tion by  improving  the  quality  ?  Are  there  not  other  countries  in  which  we 
can  introduce  our  cheese  ?  can  we  not  induce  our  American  people  to  use 
cheese  as  a  necessary  article  of  food  instead  of  using  it  as  they  now  do  as  an 
article  of  luxury  ?  Let  ns  use  every  effort  to  improve  the  quality  of  our- 
cheese,  and  to  create  a  demand  which  will  equal  the  increasing  supply.  Ev- 
ery Dairyman  should  help  with  his  money,  with  his  influence,  and  with  his 
counsel,  to  advance  the  interest  of  this  Association,  thereby  advancing  his 
own  interest.  In  conclusion,  I  ask  your  indulgence  and  co-operation  while  I 
preside  over  your  deliberations. 

COMMITTEE   OlS"   ORDER   OF   BUSINESS. 

On  motion  of  I^.  Leach,  of  Chenango,  the  following  Committee  of  five, 
on  Order  of  Business,  was  appointed  by  the  Chair  : 

.  Messrs.  Nehemiah  Leach,   Chenango  ;    A.  A.  Moore,  Vermont ;   D.  J. 
Woodworth,  Cattaraugus  ;  S.  Wheeler,  Oneida  ;  C.  E.  Chadwick,  C.  W. 

COMMITTEE    ON    NOMINATIONS. 

On  motion  of  11.  Farrington,  of  Canada  West,  the  following  Committee 
of  five,  on  Nomination  of  Officers  for  the  ensuing  year,  was  appointed  by 
the  Chair  : 

Messrs.  Harvey  Farrington,  of  C.  W.  ;  A.  Burnham,  Chautauqua  ;  N. 
Leach,  Chenango  ;  E.  R.  Hopson,  Herkimer  ;  L.  L.  Wight,  Oneida. 

COMMITTEE  ON   FINANCE. 

On  motion  of  K.  C.  Wickham,  of  Vermont,  the  following  Committee  on 
Finance  was  appointed  by  the  Chair  : 

R.  C.  Wickham,  Vermont  ;  Dwight  Ellis,  Mass.  ;  M.  H.  Cochrane,  C.  E.  ; 
D.  Hamlin,  Jefferson  ;  S.  Bonfoy,  Herkimer. 

THE   AGENT   IN   ENGLAND. 

Mr.  Farrington,  of  C.  W.,  called  for  the  report  of  the  Committee  on 
sending  an  Agent  to  England. 

Mr.  Shearman,  Chairman  of  such  Committee,  stated  that  the  Committee 
would  be  ready  to  report  in  the  afternoon,  if  then  desired.  He  might  state, 
however,  that  some  $1,900  had  been  raised  for  the  purpose  of  sending  an 
agent  to  England  ;  of  that  amount,  about  $1,600  had  been  paid  Mr.  Wil- 
lard  for  his  services. 

Jacob  Ellison,  of  Herkimer,  desired  to  know  the  name  of  every  man  who 
had  subscribed  to  tlie  fund  raised  to  send  an  agent  to  England,  together 
with  the  respective  amounts.  He  moved  that  Mr.  Shearman  so  report, 
together  with  the  names  of  those  subscribers  who  paid,  and  those  who  have 
not.  Mr.  Farrington  seconded  the  motion.  The  motion  prevailed.  Ad- 
journed to  2  P.  M. 


59 

AFTERNOON    SESSION. 

The  Convention  re-assembled  at  2  P.  M. — President  Comstock  in 
the  chair. 

ORDER  OF   BUSINESS. 

Mr.  N.  Leach,  of  Chenango,  from  the  Committee  previously  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  the  order  of  business  for  the  Convention,  reported 
the  following  subjects  for  discussion,  together  with  the  names  of 
gentlemen  to  whom  the  introduction  of  the  various  topics  had  been 
assigned : 

1.  Ought  farmers  to  be  taxed  on  the  manufacture  of  cheese  ;  and 
should  not  measures  be  taken  to  have  the  internal  revenue  laws  or 
the  Commissioner's  decision  in  this  regard  changed  ?  Milk  differs 
from  other  raw  materials,  since  it  is  of  such  a  perishable  nature 
that  it  can  not  be  disposed  of  in  the  ordinary  way  like  other  pro- 
ducts.    E.  G.  Storms,  Montgomery. 

2.  Is  the  branch  factory  system  practicable  ;  and  is  its  adoption 
to  be  advised  ?     Lemuel  N.  Brown,  Otsego. 

3.  "What  are  the  requisites  of  purity  of  flavor  in  cheese ;  and  how 
can  it  be  secured  ?     G.  Williams,  Oneida. 

4.  How  can  fair  prices  for  dairy  products  be  best  maintained  the 
coming  year  ?     J.  Jones,  Oneida. 

5.  Should  not  the  Convention  adopt  some  measures  to  secure  a 
more  substantial  and  uniform  cheese  box  ?     W.  E.  Paxton,  Erie. 

6.  Best  stock  for  dairy  purposes ;  and  should  not  choice  calves  be 
more  generally  raised  for  replenishing  our  dairies,  rather  than  to 
rely  upon  droves  from  Canada  and  elsewhere  ?  S.  S.  Whitman,  of 
Herkimer. 

7.  The  advantage  and  profits  of  connecting  butter-making  with 
cheese  manufacture.     L.  Carryl,  Herkimer. 

8.  What  are  the  best  hours  for  milking  ?  and  in  what  way  should 
it  be  conducted  to  get  the  best  results  ?     Hiram  Walker,  Oswego. 

9.  Is  there  not  danger  that  dairying  in  America  is  being  too 
largely  extended  and  increased  ?  What  is  the  present  limit  to  which 
it  can  be  safely  carried?     Harvey  Farriugton,  Canada  West. 

10.  Best  grasses  and  grains  for  dairy  stock ;  and  to  what  extent 
can  soiling  be  generally  adopted?     Hon.  Harris  Lewis,  Herkimer. 

11.  The  cause  of  the  loss  in  flavor  in  cheese  which  was  made 
prior  to  or  during  the  excessively  warm  weather  in  July.  A.  Bart- 
lett,  of  Ohio. 

On  motion,  the  report  was  adopted  and  the  committee  discharged 

REPORT  ON   SENDING   AGENT  TO   EUROPE. 

Joseph  A.  Shearman,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  send- 
ing an  agent  to  Europe,  here  made  a  report.  Mr.  S.,  read  the  names 
of  subscribers  to  the  fund  raised  for  sending  Mr.  X.  A.  Willard  to 
Europe,  as  an  agent  of  the  Association,  together  with  the  names  of 
those  who  had  paid  their  subscriptions  and  those  who  had  not.  He 
had  personally  received  $631,  together  with  additional  amounts  first 
collected  by  others.     The  tptal  amount  received  towards  defraying 


60^ 

the  expenses  of  an  agent  to  England  was  $1,980.  Of  this  amount 
$1,630  was  paid  Mr.  Willard. 

Mr.  S.  Miller,  of  Lewis  county,  mored  that  the  report  be  received. 

Jacob  Ellison,  of  Herkimer,  rose  to  make  a  personal  explanation  ; 
but  he  "explained"  so  pointedly,  that  he  was  called  to  order  by  Mr. 
Farrington,  of  Canada  "West. 

The  Chair  ruled  that  Mr.  E.,  under  the  circumstances,  was  not 
entitled  to  consume  much  time  of  the  Convention. 

Mr.  Ellison  thereupon  sat  down. 

Mr.  Leach,  of  Chenango,  offered  an  amendment  to  Mr.  Miller's 
motion,  to  the  effect  that  the  report  be  laid  upon  the  table.     Carried. 

EEPOET   OF   THE   COMMITTEE   ON  NOMINATIONS. 

Mr.  Farrington,  from  the  Committee  on  Nominations,  reported  the 
following  names  for  Officers  of  the  Convention,  for  the  ensuing  year : 

President — Wm.  H.  Com  stock,  of  Oneida. 

Vice  Presidents — Hon.  B.  N.  Hunthigton,  of  Oneida ;  Seth  Miller, 
of  Lewis ;  M.  H.  Cochrane,  of  Canada  East ;  Bradford  Stiles,  of 
Madison ;  Dwight  J.  Woodworth,  Cattaragus  ;  A.  D,  Hall,  of  Ohio  ; 

Alanson  Slaughter,  of  Orange ;  A.  A.  Moore,  of  Vermont ;  

Kinney,  of  Illinois ;  C.  E.  Chadwick,  Canada  West. 

Secretary  and  Treasurer — Gr.  B.  Weeks,  Oneida. 

Mr.  Williams,  of  Oneida,  moved  the  adoption  of  the  report  of  the 
Committee.     Carried. 

.  Mr,  Comstock  peremptorily  declined  the  re-nomination  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  Association. 

Mr.  Walker,  of  Oneida,  moved  that  the  report  be  referred  back  to 
the  Committee,  with  instructions  to  substitute  a  name  for  that  of 
Mr.  Comstock.     Eeport  so  referred. 

Mr.  Farrington,  of  C.  W.,  Chairman,  reported  the  name  of  Dr. 
L.  L.  Wight,  of  Oneida,  as  President. 

Dr.  Wight  declined  the  honor. 

Mr.  Leland,  of  Oneida,  nominated  Mr  Walker,  of  Oneida,  for  the 
Presidency. 

Mr.  Walker  respectfully  declined. 

Mr,  Farrington  now  presented  the  name  of  George  Williams,  of 
Oneida,  as  President.  * 

Mr.  Williams  was  thankful  for  the  honor  conferred,  but  begged 
leave  to  decline.  He  closed  by  nominating  Ebenezer  Lewis,  of 
Oneida. 

Mr.  Lewis  thereupon  declined. 

But  the  convention  had  now  heard  excuses  enough,  and  unani- 
mously elected  Mr.  Williams  President  of  the  Association. 

On  motion  of  N.  Leach,  of  Chenango,  a  committee  consisting  of 
Messrs.  Leach  and  Lewis  was  appointed  by  the  chair,  to  conduct 
President  Williams  to  the  chair. 

They  performed  their  duty,  and  Mr,  Williams  took  his  seat.  In 
so  doing,  the  new  President  returned  his  thanks  for  the  honor  con- 
ferred upon  him.  Tlie  proceeding  was  entirely  unexpected  by  him ; 
still  he  should  discharge  the  duties  resting  upon  him  with  impar- 


61 

tiality.     He  asked  for  himself  tlie  co-operation  of  all  the  members 
of  the  Association. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Finance  was  called  for,  but  the 
Committee  were  not  ready  to  report.        , 

DISCUSSIONS. 

The  first  question  for  discussion  was  called  for,  and  the  discussion 
opened  by  Mr.  E.  B.  Storms,  of  Montgomery. 

Question:  Ought  farmers  to  be  taxed  on  the  manufacture  of 
cheese ;  and  should  not  measures  be  taken  to  have  the  internal  rev- 
enue laws  or  the  Commissioner's  decision  in  this  regard  clianged  ? 
Milk  differs  from  other  raw  materials,  since  it  is  of  such  a  perishable 
nature  that  it  cannot  be  disposed  of  in  the  ordinary  way  like  other 
products. 

EEMARKS  BY   MR.    STORMS. 

A  cheese  is  in  its  prime  at  from  one  to  four  months  old ;  accord- 
ing to  the  state  of  the  weather ;  after  that  time  it  begins  to  deterio- 
rate, and  soon  becomes  too  rank  for  the  popular  taste.  Whether  a 
reduced  temperature  and  an  air-tight  composition  or  varnish  would 
maintain  the  flavor  intact  for  a  greater  length  of  time,  remains  to  be 
determined  by  experiment.  We  are  consequently  compelled  to  sell 
or  submit  to  inevitable  loss  by  holding  on. 

Let  us  figure  a  little.  I  suppose  the  average  number  of  acres  in 
dairy  farms  is  about  125,  and  these  should  carry,  one  year  with  an- 
other, 25  cows,  a  span  of  horses,  and  other  necessary  stock.  From 
these  cows  there  should  be  made  11,500  pounds  of  cheese,  and  butter 
sufficient  for  the  family,  if  made  at  a  factory.  At  15  cents  per 
pound,  this  amounts  to  $1,725.  Add  $100  for  sale  of  pork,  and  we 
have  $1,825  as  receipts.  For  expense  account,  we  have  interest  on 
land  at  $80  per  acre,  and  $2,000  in  stock  and  machinery — $840  ; 
a  man  at  $30  per  month,  eight  months  ;  a  woman  at  $12  per  month, 
sometimes,  and  an  extra  hand  in  haying  and  harvest,  one  month, 
$62 ;  this  amounts  to  $238,  leaving  $587,  out  of  which  the  farmer 
must  board  his  help,  pay  taxes,  make  repairs,  and  clothe  his  family. 
All  that  remains  after  deducting  a  reasonable  compensation  for  his 
own  and  wife's  labor,  need  not  astonish  anybody.  If,  in  view  of 
these  facts  and  figures,  any  one  supposes  that  dairying  is  so  very 
profitable,  their  faith  must  be  marvelous  indeed. 

I  had  hopes,  when  the  factor}^  system  was  inaugurated,  that  we 
might  in  a  measure  control  the  market,  or  at  least,  by  concentrating 
business  in  fewer  hands,  enable  the  salesmen  to  act  in  concert,  and 
thus  realize  better  prices  for  their  products.  But  I  am  fearful  that 
the  insane  competition  that  is  springing  up  among  dairymen,  will 
defeat  the  object  in  view,  by  multiplying  factories  and  associations 
to  such  an  extent  that  concert  of  action  will  be  an  impossibility. 
Manufacturers  are  in  part,  responsible  for  this  state  of  things  ;  their 
charges  are  generally  too  high,  and  they  do  not  sufficiently  consult 
the  interests  of  patrons.  These  are  dissatisfied,  and  immediately 
another  factory  is  erected,  and  sometimes  three  or  four,  where  there 
should  be  but  one. 


62 

I  understand  that  by  a  decision  of  the  Commissioner  of  Internal 
Revenue,  or  an  act  of  Congress,  the  license  fee  will  not  in  future  be 
assessed  upon  dairymen,  but  as  each  Assistant  Assessor  interprets  the 
law  to  suit  himself,  we  may  as  well  expect  to  pay  it.  As  stated  re- 
cently in  the  Utica  Morning  Herald,  in  Oppenheim  no  fee  is 
assessed  upon  dairymen  who  take  their  milk  to  a  factory,  while  in 
St.  Johnsville,  an  adjoining  town,  the  license  is  required. 

If  Congress  insists  upon  collecting  the  tax,  it  might  be  well  to 
call  its  attention  to  some  of  the  foregoing  facts.  At  least  the  law 
should  be  impartially  executed. 

Mr.  Storms  was  followed  by  William  H.  Comstock,  Esq.,  of  Oneida. 
Mr.  Comstock  took  the  ground  that  cheese-making  could  not  come 
under  the  head  of  manufactures,  and  made  a  motion  that  a  commit- 
tee be  appointed  to  proceed  to  Washington,  for  the  purpose  of  getting 
the  tax  upon  cheese  packages  removed.     The  motion  was  carried. 

By  motion,  the  Chair  was  left  the  appointing  of  the  committee. 

M!r.  Comstock  moved  to  lay  the  question  under  discussion  on  the 
table.  The  motion  was  carried,  and  the  next  question  for  discussion 
was  called  up  and  opened  by  Mr.  Lemuel  N.  Brown,  of  Otsego 
county : 

Is  the  branch  factory  system  practicable?  and  is  its  adoption  to  be 
advised  ? 

MR.   brown's  address, 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : 

I  have  been  called  upon  to  make  a  few  remarks  on  the  cheese  fac- 
tory system.  I  might  with  propriety  claim  to  be  excused,  as  I  have 
retired  from  the  field  as  a  manufacturer.  But  I  shall  ever  be  willing 
to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  a  cause  which  I  have  for  years  labored 
hard  to  promote. 

In  regard  to  the  question  of  branch  cheese  factories,  I  will  state 
that,  for  the  last  four  years,  I  have  been  in  business  which  led  me 
from  one  factory  to  another,  through  the  principal  dairy  region  of 
this  State.  In  taking  this  broad  view  of  the  factory  system,  I  have 
seen  certain  objections,  which,  if  carried  out,  will  soon  cripple  it  in 
its  infancy.  The  first  and  greatest  objection  is  the  expense  and 
trouble  of  carrying  milk  long  distances.  I  therefore  introduced  and 
put  into  practical  operation,  two  years  ago,  and  to  a  greater  extent 
one  year  ago,  the  plan  of  working  the  milk  at  different  points,  and 
drawing  the  cheese  together,  instead  of  drawing  the  milk.  For  this 
purpose  I  erected  cheap  buildings,  some  18x24  feet,  furnishing  them 
with  all  the  apparatus  and  conveniences  of  a  nice  factory,  with  ranges 
to  hold  ten  or  fifteen  cheeses — or  a  load — which  were  boxed  and 
drawn  to  the  dry-house,  I  prepared  the  rennet,  anotta  and  bandages 
at  the  dry-house,  sending  the  required  amount  to  the  branches  when 
the  team  went  alter  the  cheese.  I  have  closely  followed  up  the 
experiment  for  the  last  two  seasons,  and  found  the  plan  to  work 
admirably,  even  beyond  my  expectations.  The  advantages  are 
greater  and  the  objections  less  than  I  expected.  The  first  advantage 
is,  that  it  gets  a  large  amount  of  cheese  together,  by  drawing  the 


63 

milk  but  a  shorb  distance  ;  and  there  is  not  only  a  saving  in  distance, 
but,  as  there  are  but  few  teams  to  deliver  at  one  of  these  branches, 
the  patron  can  drive  up  and  unload  at  almost  any  moment,  thus  sav- 
ing much  time  from  the  disadvantage  of  waiting  his  turn  at  a  large 
factory.  Another  advantage  is,  that  as  the  milk  is  drawn  but  a  short 
distance,  it  is  delivered  earlier  in  the  day,  and  in  better  condition — 
two  considerations  which  will  be  appreciated  by  all  practical  cheese- 
makers.  In  many  instances,  when  milk  comes  in  bad  condition,  had 
it  been  delivered  an  hour  or  an  hour  and  a  half  sooner,  it  would 
have  caused  no  difficulty  in  its  manufacture.  As  it  will  be  admitted 
by  all  that  the  quality  of  the  milk  has  much  to  do  in  determining 
the  character  of  the  cheese,  these  facts  will  argue  a  superior  dairy  in 
favor  of  the  branch  system,  to  say  nothing  of  the  increased  amount 
of  the  product. 

The  third  advantage  is  the  facility  with  which  the  patron  can 
obtain  his  share  of  the  whey,  having  to  draw  it  but  a  short  distance, 
on  his  return  home  from  carrying  his  milk.  In  brief,  the  branch  sys- 
tem secures  to  the  farmer  all  the  advantages  of  a  large  factory  in  his 
own  neighborhood. 

By  giving  the  farmers  these  advantages  and  conveniences,  I  think 
the  permanency  of  the  factory  system  will  be  established ;  but  as  I 
am  led  to  believe  that  the  day  of  drawing  milk  long  distances  is 
nearly  over,  it  is  my  opinion  that,  unless  the  branch  system  be 
adopted,  the  large  factories  will  break  up  into  smaller  ones,  which 
will  fail  to  be  sufficiently  profitable  to  stimulate  individual  enter- 
prise. They  will  then  be  built  by  a  few  farmers,  in  convenient 
localities,  and  managed,  to  save  expense,  much  like  the  old  private 
dairies.  As  they  have  learned  something  from  the  present  factory 
system,  they  will  undoubtedly  make  better  cheese  than  of  old  ;  but 
there  will  be  an  end  to  all  that  progress  in  cheese  manufacture  which 
has,  within  the  last  few  years,  given  American  cheese  the  first  place 
in  the  world's  market.  Indeed,  the  quality  of  American  cheese  will 
be  generally  lowered ;  for,  while  few  excel  or  equal  the  present 
standard,  many  will  fall  below  it,  from  lack  of  that  interest  which  is 
felt  by  the  individual  who  makes  cheese-making  not  only  his  business, 
but  his  study. 

As  to  the  manufacture  of  cheese  in  branch  factories,  they  can  be 
so  placed  as  to  get  the  milk  from  200  to  300  cows  into  a  single  vat, 
which  can  be  worked  by  one  hand,  without  any  additional  help.  I 
hired  a  hand  the  past  season,  who  run  a  branch  with  236  cows,  with- 
out receiving  the  least  assistance  from  any  source. 

As  the  help  has  but  one  vat  to  watch,  the  work  can  always  be  done 
in  season.  Not  so  in  the  large  factory,  with  a  combination  of  vats  ; 
for  in  case  two  or  more  vats  need  dipping  at  the  same  time,  which  is 
often  the  case,  one  of  them  is  obliged  to  wait,  to  its  injury. 

These  considerations  argue  two  points  against  large  factories,  and 
in  favor  of  the  branch  systems  : 

1st.  The  milk  will  be  delivered  at  the  branch  earlier  and  in  better 
condition. 

2d.  The  work  can  always  be  done  at  the  branch  in  the  proper  time. 

One  objection  brought  against  this  system  by  many  is,  that  there 


64 

will  be  as  many  kinds  of  cheese  as  there  are  places  of  manufacture. 
My  experience  does  not  sustain  this  objection.  Distance  has  nothing 
to  do  with  the  result.  If  the  same  rennet  and  anotta  are  used,  and 
the  same  rules  are  observed  in  the  process  of  manufacture,  what  dif- 
ference can  it  make  whether  the  vats  be  two  feet  or  two  miles  apart  ? 
The  conditions  being  the  same,  I  see  no  reason  why  the  result  would 
not  be  the  same.  Facts  and  observation  show  that  it  is.  During  the 
past  season,  I  visited  a  large  number  of  factories,  and  nowhere  did  I 
find  a  more  uniform  lot  of  cheese  than  was  produced  under  the  branch 
system. 

As  regards  the  amount  of  help,  I  think  a  dairy  of  1,000  cows 
could  be  manufactured  nearly  as  cheaply  at  four  branches,  with  250 
cows  each,  as  if  the  milk  were  all  delivered  at  one  place.  I  am  now 
speaking  simply  of  making.  The  additional  expense  and  trouble 
would  be  in  drawing  the  cheese  together.  Still  this  is  less  than  the 
extra  expense  and  trouble  of  drawing  the  milk  long  distances. 
There  is  not  only  more  weight,  but  the  milk  has  to  be  delivered  in 
season,  whatever  may  be  the  weather,  while  the  cheese  can  be  left 
over,  in  case  of  bad  weather  or  hurry. 

When  the  milk  is  all  drawn  to  one  large  establishment,  the  entire 
care  is  commonly  thrown  upon  one  person,  the  rest  feeling  little  or 
no  responsibility,  and  not  working  with  the  interest  required  in  the 
successful  performance  of  such  delicate  business.  But  when  the 
milk  is  worked  by  the  branch  system,  the  care  is  divided,  and  not 
only  a  feeling  of  responsibility,  but  a  spirit  of  rivalry  is  awakened. 
Consequently,  the  labor  is  more  carefully  and  thoroughly  performed. 

Another  objection  raised  against  the  branch  system  is,  that  it  will 
require  all  experienced  hands.  But,  as  the  milk  comes  in  better 
season  and  condition,  and  there  is  only  one  vat  to  watch,  with  the 
rennet  and  anotta  prepared  and  furnished  ready  for  use,  it  will  read- 
ily be  seen  that,  with  frequent  visits  from  the  overseer,  it  will  not 
require  as  much  experience  and  skill  as  it  would  to  manage  a  large 
factory.  I  have  found  no  trouble  with  hands  of  little  experience. 
In  one  case,  I  hired  a  hand  who  was  totally  unacquainted  with 
cheese-making,  and  he  run  a  branch  through  the  season  with  the  best 
of  success.  There  is  an  effort  among  the  hands  to  excel  each  other, 
and  should  any  of  them  have  bad  luck,  as  each  branch  has  its  own 
mark,  the  superintendent  will  readily  detect  it,  when  a  visit  to  the 
branch  will  enable  him  to  soon  put  everything  right. 

Farmers  at  a  distance  would  generally  choose  to  pay  for  drawing 
their  milk,  rather  than  to  draw  it  themselves.  But,  if  a  branch  were 
erected  in  their  neighborhood,  the  general  opinion  is  that  each  would 
rather  draw  his  own  milk  than  to  be  obliged  to  get  it  ready  for  the  milk 
wagon,  at  just  such  a  minute,  every  night  and  morning.  Admitting 
this  to  be  so,  the  branch  system  would  save  to  many  the  sum  paid 
for  drawing  their  milk  to  a  large  factory — it,  on  an  average,  costing 
$2.50  per  cow.  Allowing  it  to  cost  25  cents  per  100  lbs.  more  to 
work  up  milk  under  this  plan,  then,  as  a  cow  will  make  400  lbs., 
which  would  make  the  additional  expense  $1.00  per  cow,  the  saving 
to  the  farmer  would  be  $1.50  on  each  cow — which,  with  other  advan- 
tages mentioned,  would  throw  the  argument  in  favor  of  the  branch 
system. 


65 

In  conclusion,  I  will  say  to  those  who  are  about  to  build,  unless 
you  adopt  the  branch  system,  do  not  build  too  large.  I  have  been 
on  the  road  for  the  last  three  months,  and  have  exchanged  views  on 
this  point  with  a  large  number  of  manufacturers.  It  is  the  prevail- 
ing opinion  that  the  day  of  drawing  milk  long  distances  is  rapidly 
coming  to  a  close.  From  a  mile  and  a  half  to  two  miles  is  as  far  as 
it  will  be  found  feasible  to  draw  it.  This,  as  a  general  thing,  will 
get  together  the  milk  of  from  200  to  300  cows. 

With  these  few  brief  and  hurried  remarks,  I  leave  the  subject  of 
branch  cheese  factories  to  the  consideration  of  the  Convention. 

A  gentleman  from  Herkimer  county  succeeded  Mr.  Brown,  raising 
the  question  whether  the  uniform  make  of  cheese  in  the  branch  fac- 
tories would  be  as  perfect  as  that  in  one  large  factory. 

Mr.  Davis,  of  Herkimer,  asked  what  object  there  could  be  in  draw- 
ing the  cheese  together,  instead  of  drawing  directly  to  market. 

Mr.  Brown  answered,  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  curing  it. 

Mr.  Farrington,  from  Canada,  then  took  the  floor,  saying  that  the 
branch  system  had  been  adopted  by  one  of  the  largest  factories  in 
Canada,  and  it  had  worked  greatly  to  the  advantage  of  the  manufac- 
turer. In  answer  to  the  question  by  Mr.  Davis,  of  drawing  the 
cheese  to  one  place  for  curing,  it  was  said  the  object  was  to  save  the 
expense  of  building  branch  dry-houses.  He  was  ready  to  endorse 
all  Mr.  Brown  had  said.  No  extra  expense  was  attending  the  branch 
system. 

Mr.  Johnson,  of  Oswego,  rose  to  ask  if  it  was  necessary  to  provide 
ice  or  spring  water  at  each  of  these  branches. 

Mr.  Farrington  replied  that  the  branch  system  did  not  supersede 
the  use  of  ice  or  spring  water. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Lewis,  of  Herkimer,  the  question  was  laid  on 
the  table. 

The  next  question  was  then  in  order. 

What  are  the  requisites  of  purity  of  flavor  in  cheese  ;  and  how 
can  it  be  cured? 

Mr.  G.  Williams,  of  Oneida,  President  elect  of  the  Association, 
rose  to  open  the  discussion,  saying  he  was  not  prepared  to  more  than 
introduce  the  question,  having  been  frustrated  in  his  plans  by  the 
report  of  the  Committee  on  Nomination  of  Officers.  Purity  and 
flavor  he  considered  to  be  the  essentials  of  cheese.  He  did  not 
think  the  quality  of  cheese  depended  altogether  upon  the  manufac- 
turer. It  depends  mainly  upon  the  kind  or  quality  of  grass  or 
grain  upon  which  cows  are  supported.  Grass  must  not  only  be  pure, 
but  everything  with  it  must  be  pure.  No  pasture  should  be  used 
which  is  mixed  with  weeds.  Eating  these  impure  articles  of  food 
invariably  produce  impure  milk,  and  no  good  cheese  can  be  made 
from  impure  milk.  Cows  must  be  in  perfect  health.  It  is  the  in- 
terest of  dairymen  to  select  only  such  cows  as  will  produce  pure 
milk,  even  sacrificing  quantity  to  qualit}^  Milk  must  be  kept  where 
nothing  impure  can  influence  it.  Milk  is  a  very  susceptible  article, 
and  readily  partakes  of  the  properties  of  whatever  surrounds  it. 
Onions  in  the  same  room  with  milk  will  communicate  their  pungent 
quality  to  it. 

9 


66 

Mr.  Jolin  R  Chapman,  of  Madison,  followed  Mr,  "Williams. 

MR.    chapman's   address. 

I  have  no  other  object  in  view,  if  permanent  impressions  can  be 
made  by  simple  words,  than  the  very  commendable  one  of  trying  to 
improve  the  quality  and  flavor  of  American  cheese. 

I  am  a  Madison  county  dairyman,  and  made  cheese  last  season 
from  the  milk  of  my  own  cows,  57  in  number,  and  branded  my 
cheese-boxes  "Orchard  Factory,  J.  E.  Chapman,  Oneida  Lake,  N. 
Y."  During  the  season  of  1864  and  1865,  I  sent  my  milk  to  the 
Hart  Factory,  Oneida,  and  during  those  terms  I  acted  as  salesman 
and  clerk  for  that  factory.  For  four  years  previous  to  1864,  I  made 
my  own  cheese  from  some  20  cows,  and  it  varied  in  flavor  very  much, 
because  I  was  continually  making  experiments.  However,  I  always 
had  the  good  luck  to  be  thought  a  first-rate  cheese-maker,  having  had 
the  advantage  of  instruction  from  Frank  Foster,  of  Durharaville,  who 
was  taught  the  art  by  Mr.  Fish,  of  Herkimer  county. 

Now,  gentlemen,  the  first  requisite  for  purity  of  flavor  in  cheese  is, 
pure  sweet  milk  in  the  vat  when  ready  for  the  rennet  to  be  mixed 
with  it.  Now,  this  statement  will  clash  with  the  ideas  of  some  of 
our  leading  cheese  factory  propagators,  for  they  have  preached  that 
first-class  cheese  could  not  be  made  unless  the  milk  had  been  shaken 
up  by  being  conveyed  in  a  milk  wagon  two  or  three  miles  to  a  fac- 
tory. In  addition  to  this,  the  milk  generally  is  exposed  in  the  can 
to  the  rays  of  a  hot  sun  two  hours,  more  or  less,  waiting  for  the  milk 
wagon,  and  its  flavor  cannot  be  much  improved  by  being  put  into 
the  cans  unstrained.  This  process,  they  say,  gives  the  milk  just  suf- 
ficient acid  to  make  it  work  tractable  in  the  vat  and  cure  easily. 

The  second  requisite  is  a  very  careful,  and  I  may  say  a  scientific, 
cutting  and  handling  of  the  curd  from  the  time  it  is  first  cut  until 
the  heat  is  finished.  "  Coarse  Curds  Cheese  "  is  getting  to  be  a  dan- 
gerous compound,  for  the  best  and  most  expert  buyers  will  scarcely 
look  at  it.  More  weight  of  cheese  can  be  made  by  the  Coarse  Curds 
system  than  any  other ;  but,  remember,  it  is  done  at  the  expense  of 
fine  flavor,  by  getting  a  larger  amount  of  water  in  the  cheese.  Nash, 
in  the  "Progressive  Farmer,"  page  143,  quotes  an  analysis  of  four 
kinds  of  cheese  by  Professor  Johnstone,  as  follows: 

In  100  lbs.  No.  1.  No.  2.  No.  8.  No.  4. 

Water, 43.81  85.81  88.58  88.46 

Caseine, 45.04  87.96  25.00  25.87 

Butter, 5.98  21.97  80.11  31.86 

Ash, 5.18  4.25  6.29  8.81 

Now,  the  amount  of  water  in  cheese  will  startle  many  of  my  hear- 
ers, for  nearly  two-fifths  of  the  weight  of  Prof  Johnstone's  cheese  is 
water. 

Let  us  examine  the  analysis  of  milk  given  by  Nash,  page  128 : 
Water,  in  100  lbs..  88.5;  cream,  8;  curd,  4;  sugar,  4;  ash,  5; 
total,  100.0. 

Another  by  Le  Bel  and  Boussingault,  in  "  Kural  Economy,"  page 
383:  Caseine,  in  100  lbs.,  3.6;  fatty  matter,  4.0;  sugar,  5;  water, 
67.4 ;  total,  100.0. 


67 

It  will  be  seen  that  these  two  analyses  correspond  very  closely, 
and  if  we  make  a  cheese  from  milk  of  Boussingault's  analysis,  and 
obtained  nothing  more  in  the  cheese  than  pure  caseine  and  fatty  mat- 
ter, we  should  get  seven  and  one-half  of  cheese  from  100  lbs.  of 
milk ;  and  if  we  could  work  as  close  in  a  vat  as  chemists  can  in  a 
laboratory,  we  should  require  thirteen  and  twenty-six  hundredths  of 
milk  to  make  one  pound  of  cheese.  As  the  result  of  my  experience, 
I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  finest  flavored  cheese,  all 
other  conditions  being  equal,  are  those  which  have  the  smallest 
amount  of  water  in  them.  A  factory  in  my  neighborhood  made 
their  last  dividend  about  Christmas  last.  It  required  seven  and  four- 
fifths  of  pure  milk  for  the  month  of  October  to  make  one  pound  of 
cured  cheese,  and  six  and  three-fifths  to  make  one  pound  of  skimmed 
milk  cheese  in  the  month  of  November.  Now,  if  this  was  really 
done,  the  scientific  conclusion  is,  that  there  must  be  a  very  large 
amount  of  water  in  this  cheese,  and  this  opinion  is  strengthened  by 
the  fact  that  the  above  named  skimmed  milk  cheese  lost  two  pounds 
out  of  60,  in  riding  12  miles  for  delivery  at  Oneida.  Another  con- 
clusion is  inevitable  that  there  was  more  water  in  the  cream  taken 
from  the  November  milk  than  there  was  in  unskimmed  October 
milk,  a  condition  impossible,  for  it  is  very  certain  that  there  could  be 
no  difference  in  the  cheese  producing  powers  of  October  and  Novem- 
ber milk.  It  will  be  seen  that  100  lbs.  of  the  unskimmed  October 
milk  yielded  12.82  lbs.  of  cheese,  and  100  lbs.  of  skimmed  Novem- 
ber milk  15.15  lbs.  of  cheese,  or  more  than  twice  as  much  cheese  as 
as  there  are  cheese  elements  in  Boussingault's  analysis;  in  other 
words,  more  than  one-half  of  this  cheese  was  water.  This  same  fac- 
tory during  the  summer  required  llh  lbs.  of  milk  to  produce  1 
lb.  of  cured  cheese.  Gentlemen,  it  is  well-known  by  the  masters  of 
the  cheese  factories  that  if  they  do  not  make  comparatively  a  large 
quantity  of  cheese  from  a  given  quantity  of  milk,  they  are  in  danger 
of  losing  the  patronage  of  the  milk  men,  and  to  produce  this  appar- 
ent effect  the  weight  of  milk  is  tampered  with  by  some,  and  others 
reconstruct  the  figures  to  make  a  statement  to  tickle  the  feelings  of 
their  customers.  A  very  large  number  of  our  cheese  factories  are 
very  badly  managed  in  the  milk  account  and  dividend  department, 
arising  from  the  want  of  capacity  of  the  committee  men. 

Gentlemen,  I  fearlessly  assert  that  the  quality  of  cheese  has  de- 
teriorated during  last  season  in  New  York  State,  and  this  has  been 
brought  about  by  the  competitive  system  of  cheese  factories.  The 
great  aim  of  factory  managers  seems  to  be  to  crowd  as  much  water 
as  can  be  got  into  a  cheese  by  the  system  of  coarse  curds  and  quick 
application  of  heat,  and  keep  it  there  by  heavy  doses  of  salt.  I  re- 
member seeing  in  the  Country  Oentleman^  some  years  ago,  a  statement 
that  a  celebrated  English  cheese-maker  had  been  induced  to  try  ex- 
periments in  making  cheese,  because  he  had  observed  that  the  amount 
of  cheese  produced  in  their  dairies  was  less  than  chemical  analysis 
showed  the  milk  was  capable  of  yielding.  If,  ere  this,  he  has  not 
succeeded  to  the  full  extent  of  his  wishes,  I  would  advise  him  to 
come  over  to  see  his  "Uncle,''  he  can  learn  more  than  he  ever 
dreampt  of. 


68 

To  repeat,  tlie  finest  flavored  cheese,  all  otlier  conditions  being 
equal,  are  those  wliicli  have  the  smallest  amount  of  water  in  them ; 
and  the  amount  of  water  depends  upon  the  comparative  coarseness  of 
the  curds  and  the  time  consumed  in  heating  up  from  80  to  98  degs., 
and  this  time  in  factories  is  controlled  by  the  condition  of  the  milk 
at  the  moment  the.  rennet  is  stirred  in.  It  is  well-known  that  some 
factories  make  a  great  many  sour  cheese,  and  the  blame  is  put  upon 
the  cheese-maker,  whereas,  in  truth,  the  patrons  let  their  cans  become 
sour  and  the  faucets  foul  from  want  of  care  and  hot  water.  They 
also  send  skimmed  milk,  watered  milk,  and  sometimes  both,  to  the 
factory ;  and  from  my  experience  I  think  I  speak  the  truth  in  assert- 
ing that  one  half  of  the  patrons  in  some  factories  send  milk  which 
has  been  tampered  with  in  some  shape  or  other ;  and  all  this  rascal- 
ity has  a  certain  tendency  to  trouble  the  cheese-maker.  He  soon 
perceives  there  is  too  much  acid  in  the  milk,  and  the  inevitable  con- 
sequence is  that  he  is  compelled  to  drive  heat  up  from  80  to  90 
degs.,  in  some  cases  in  less  time  than  15  minutes,  jerk  the  curd  into 
the  cooler,  and  salt  and  pepper  as  quickly  as  he  can  possibly  do  so, 
and  this  is  the  very  best  he  can  do,  under  the  circumstances  he  is 
placed  in  by  the  groveling  meanness  of  the  patrons,  for  it  is  a  per- 
fect impossibility  for  him  to  make  fine  flavored  cheese  from  tainted, 
coppered  milk.  Now,  at  this  stage  of  cheese-making,  a  private  dairy 
has  a  great  advantage  over  a  factory.  The  acidity  of  the  milk  can 
be  regulated  by  an  admixture  of  sour  whey,  say  from  1  quart  to  from 
100  to  200  of  milk,  according  to  the  condition  of  the  atmosphere ; 
and  by  using  basswood  as  fuel  you  can  take  two  hours  to  raise  the 
heat  from  80  to  90  degs. ;  and  the  more  regularly  you  can  raise  the 
temperature,  take  what  time  you  will,  the  smaller  the  loss  from  in- 
jury to  the  curd  from  violent  agitation,  and  from  high  temperature  of 
the  vat  water.  In  applying  heat  to  curd  in  large  vats,  by  gluts,  as  in 
steam  apparatus,  or  in  a  hurry,  in  any  vat  when  the  milk  is  very  acid, 
the  caloric  reaches  the  curd  at  so  high  a  temperature  as  to  perma- 
nently injure  it,  and  also  necessitates  a  very  violent  agitation  of  the 
curd  to  prevent  it  packing  into  large  masses ;  and  this  violent  agita- 
tion will  certainly  produce  a  ifiilky  whey,  and  consequently  a  loss  of 
curd.  As  soon  as  the  heat  is  brought  up  to  98  degs.  the  fire  is  shut 
off",  and  the  curd,  with  the  exception  of  an  occasional  stir  up,  is 
allowed  to  rest  in  the  whey  until  the  mass  emits  a  peculiar  odor, 
which  notifies  the  cheese-maker  that  the  whey  is  just  commencing 
to  turn  sour,  and  this  period  requires  very  careful  watching,  for  if 
the  curd  remain  in  the  whey  after  it  is  distinctly  sour,  it  will  affect 
the  cheese  by  a  loss  of  weight,  and  in  curing,  works  the  same  as  a 
sour  cheese.  Some  of  our  cheese-makers  take  the  curd  out  of  the 
vat  into  the  cooler  without  reducing  the  temperature  down  to  any 
fixed  standard,  and  the  consequence  is  that  the  curd,  from  an  excess 
of  heat  packs  into  hard  lumps;  they  also  mix  the  salt  with  the  curd 
as  well  as  they  can,  and  depend  upon  the  press  to  drive  the  brine 
into  and  through  masses  of  curd  as  large  as  your  fist.  Now,  gentle- 
men, this  method  of  salting  curd  is  one  of  the  principal  causes  of 
porous  cheese ;  and  an  expert  buyer  can  tell  from  the  appearance  of 
the  surface  of  cheese  after  they  are  placed  upon  the  tables,  foi^  the 


69 

purpose  of  curing,  wlietlier  they  were  properly  salted  or  not.  The 
surfaces  of  such  cheese  show  an  uneven  appearance,  and  when 
you  draw  your  finger  across  them  you  will  have  a  sensation  of 
up  hill  and  down  hill.  Now,  the  true  way  is  to  let  out  the  warm 
water  and  run  cold  water  through  the  vat,  stirring  the  curd  at  the 
same  time,  so  as  to  reduce  the  temperature  of  the  whey  down  to  88 
degs,,  then  remove  it  quickly  into  the  cooler,  stir  it  up  thoroughly 
with  the  hands  for  one  minute,  then  mix  in  the  salt  and  keep  stirring 
a  few  minutes  afterwards.  Let  the  curd  remain  at  rest  for  half  an 
hour,  then  put  it  into  the  hoops  and  press  it  gently  for  two  or  three 
minutes,  then  as  hard  as  you  can,  and  continue  trying  the  screws 
every  five  minutes  for  half  an  hour,  and  you  will  have  a  well  pressed 
cheese,  without  any  honeycomb  on  the  lower  face.  The  strainer 
cloth  in  the  cooler,  the  press  cloths,  the  hoops,  the  followers,  and  the 
press  boards,  require  the  utmost  care  and  attention  in  keeping  them 
sweet  and  clean,  for  if  there  be  any  nasty  smell  induced  by  foetid 
curd  or  sour  whey  or  cream,  the  surface  of  the  cheese,  when  on  the 
curing  table,  will  show  it  by  its  inclination  to  chip  and  crack,  leaving 
a  rough  looking  surface. 

Coarse  curd  cheese  makers  generally  put  three  pounds  of  salt,  and 
some  of  them  ought  to  put  four,  to  the  product  in  curd  of  1,000  of 
milk ;  in  fine  curd,  I  think  two  and  a  half  pounds  is  nearly  right, 
and  quite  enough  at  any  time  of  the  season.  And  here  let  me  say 
that  the  quantity  of  salt  affects  the  flavor  of  cheese,  other  conditions 
being  equal,  so  as  to  make  a  difference  of  one  cent  per  pound  in  the 
estimate  of  skillful  buyers.  Cheese  ought  to  be  turned  every  day 
till  they  are  three  weeks  old ;  after  that,  once  in  two  days,  and  at  that 
age  I  have  found  it  advantageous  to  put  a  scale  board  under  each 
cheese,  as  it  prevents  the  fine  film  of  grease  on  the  face  of  the  cheese 
from  sticking  to  the  table. 

It  may  be  well  to  state  that  the  distinctive  features  of  factory  cheese 
and  dairy  cheese  consist  in  factory  curd  being  allowed  to  remain 
in  the  vat  till  the  whey  turns.  Dairy  curd  is  taken  out  of  the 
whey  as  soon  as  it  will  distinctly  squeak  by  being  pressed  against 
the  front  teeth.  Dairy  cheese  generally  has  a  sharp,  biting  flavor, 
which  suits  the  home  but  not  the  foreign  market;  consequently 
shippers  won't  touch  it.  Factory  cheese,  to  be  fine,  must  be  close, 
soft,  buttery,  and  of  a  peculiar  flavor  which  can  only  be  produced 
by  first-class  cheese-makers,  and  they,  like  angel's  visits,  very  few 
and  far  between.  Some  of  my  hearers  may  imagine  that  the  fore- 
going remarks  are  aimed  against  the  factory  system.  Not  so,  gen- 
tlemen. I  am  opposed  to  factories  being  conducted,  as  too  many 
are,  by  green,  ignorant  cheese-makers,  low,  rascally,  thievish  patrons, 
and  incompetent  committee  men  ;  and  I  know  of  no  better  way  of 
counteracting  these  wrongs  than  a  public  exposition  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  this  Association. 

It  is  time  that  cheese  buyers  began  to  discriminate  and  pay  for 
cheese  its  actual  value,  for  so  long  as  they  continue  to  pay  as  much 
for  very  poor  as  very  choice  cheese,  just  so  long  will  poor  cheese  be 
made.  Cheese  is  treated  by  the  buyers  pretty  mucn  the  same  as 
wool.  Water  and  grease,  in  certain  combinations,  sell  equally  as 
well  as  pure  cheese  or  pure  wool. 


70 

Mr.  Chapman  was  followed  by  Mr.  Farrington,  of  Canada  West, 
who  could  not  exactly  agree  with  the  gentleman  who  had  left  the 
floor.  He  thought  there  was  danger  of  getting  too  much  of  the 
water  out  of  curd.  Where  too  much  water  was  taken  out,  sour 
cheese  are  invariably  the  result.  Private  factories  he  did  not  be- 
lieve to  be  as  good  as  large  factories.  He  had  tried  it,  and  had 
given  it  up  in  disgust.  The  private  system  could  never  be  carried 
out  and  it  never  would  be  tried  generally  again.  Concerning  purity 
in  cheese,  Mr.  Farrington  said,  the  impurity  and  bad  quality  of  cheese 
during  the  past  year  was  owing,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the  wet  season. 
Mr.  F.  discussed  this  part  of  the  question  from  a  scientific  point,  at- 
tributing the  impurity  of  cheese  to  the  surplus  of  ammonia  in  the 
food  of  the  cows.  Upon  this  question  of  soil,  Mr.  Farrington  agreed 
with  those  who  held  that  the  quality  of  cheese  depends  somewhat 
upon  the  soil,  citing  the  fact  that  different  localities  produced  cheese 
of  yery  widely  different  quality. 

Mr.  Hiram  Walker,  of  Oswego,  followed  in  the  discussion,  advo- 
cating the  large  factory  system  in  manufacturing.  He  said  that  pri- 
vate factories  were  conducted  in  part  by  the  women  of  the  dairy- 
man's family,  and  having  other  duties  to  perform,  they  frequently 
neglected  the  making  of  the  cheese,  thus  producing  a  sour  article. 

On  motion,  the  question  was  laid  on  the  table,  and  the  following 
Committee  on  Membership  was  announced  by  the  Chair :  Hiram 
Broat,  Herkimer;  William  Simpson,  Jr.,  Allegany;  T.  W.  Bacon, 
Michigan. 

The  Eeport  of  the  Finance  Committee  was  read  and  adopted. 
The  report  shows  a  balance  on  the  credit  side  of  the  Association's 
account  for  the  year,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  a  large  amount  of 
the  year's  income  was  used  in  paying  a  portion  of  last  year's  bills. 

A  recess  was  now  taken  until  7  P.  M. 

EVENING    SESSION. 

The  Convention  was  called  to  order  at  7  o'clock,  by  President 
Williams. 

After  some  preliminary  matters  of  business,  relating  to  the  collec- 
tion of  entrance  fees  from  those  who  were  not  members,  but  were 
present  to  listen  to  the  address ;  President  Williams  introduced  the 
Speaker  of  the  evening,  X.  A.  Willard,  A.  M.,  of  Herkimer,  whose 
able  address  will  be  found  in  full  in  another  part  of  this  volume. 

VOTE   OF  THANKS  TO   MR.  WILLARD. 

At  Mr.  Willard's  conclusion,  on  motion,  a  vote  of  thanks  was  ten- 
dered to  the  speaker  for  his  able  and  eloquent  address,  and  a  copy 
requested  for  publication  in  the  Annual  Keport  of  the  Society. 

WEEKLY   CIRCULAR. 

Mr.  Comstock,  of  Oneida,  introduced  the  subject  of  a  Weekly  Cir- 
cular, to  be  issued  under  the  auspices  of  the  Association;  to  contain 
statistics  from  every  factory,  respecting  the  amount  of  cheese  being 
made  daily,  the  amount  sold,  and  at  what  price,  quantity  of  cheese 
on  hand,  &c.,  &c. 


71 

He  moved  the  appointment  of  a  committee  of  five,  by  the  Chair, 
to  perfect  a  plan  for  such  a  circular  and  present  it  for  the  considera- 
tion of  the  Convention. 

The  Chair  appointed,  as  such  committee,  Messrs.  Comstock,  of 
Oneida ;  Walker,  of  Oswego ;  Conover,  of  Montgomery ;  Burnham, 
of  Chautauqua ;  Ingraham,  of  Jefferson. 

Adjourned  untiriO  o'clock  A.  M.,  Thursdaj^ 

MORNING   SESSION. 

At  10  A.  M.,  the  Convention  was  called  to  order  by  President 
"Williams. 

DISCUSSION   OF   A  SIDE   QUESTION. 

The  regular  question  for  discussion  before  the  Convention  at  the 
time  of  adjournment  on  Wednesday,  was  laid  upon  the  table,  and 
other  matters  first  given  a  hearing. 

Jacob  Ellison,  of  Herkimer,  presented  a  series  of  questions  for  the 
consideration  of  the  Convention,  and,  on  obtaining  leave,  proceeded 
to  discuss  the  following  topic  : 

Are  there  styles  and  kinds  of  cheese  made  in  England,  which  sell 
for  higher  prices  in  the  English  markets  than  any  American  cheese 
sells  for  in  the  same  market? 

He  began  his  remarks  by  stating  that  the  cheese,  which  in  England 
excelled  all  others  in  price  was  the  Stilton.  So  confident  was  he  of 
the  superiority  of  this  cheese  that  he  designed  making  it  this  year 
in  his  own  dairy.  The  best  of  Cheddar  was  always  better  than  the 
best  American.  Scotch  Cheddar  cheeses  were  good,  but  they  had 
not  that  rich  flavor  which  some  of  the  English  cheeses  had.  This 
proved  that  soil  and  water  had  much  to  do  with  the  quality  of  cheese. 

The  English  cheese  is  of  better  flavor  than  American,  because 
there  is  more  cleanliness  observed  in  all  stages  of  its  manufacture, 
and  because  the  atmosphere  of  Britain  is  so  much  cooler  than  ours. 

Eeferring  to  coarse  curd  cheese  he  declared,  that  so  far  as  his  ob- 
servation extended,  at  home  and  abroad,  he  did  not  consider  their 
quality  as  good  as  finer  curds. 

The  heat  of  last  July  nearly  ruined  the  cheese  made  in  that  month, 
but  he  knew  that  our  cheese  can  be  so  made  that  age  nor  heat,  nor 
an  Atlantic  voyage,  could  injure  them.  He  referred  to  some  factory 
cheese  which  arrived  in  London  while  he  was  there  that  were  in 
superb  condition. 

The  prejudice  of  the  English  against  American  cheese  is  fast  dy- 
ing out,  which  could  not  be  the  case  if  we  were  not  sending  them  a 
good  article. 

He  spoke  pointedly  in  regard  to  the  looseness,  (or  something 
worse,)  with  which  American  cheese  is  weighed  in  London,  and 
stated  that  considerable  losses  occurred  in  lots  shipped  direct  to 
London  by  sundry  factories,  before  the  leakage  was  discovered  and 
stopped. 

In  answer  to  questions,  Mr.  Ellison  stated  that  he  was  unable  to 
state  the  manner  in  which  Stilton  cheese  is  made.  They  weigh  16 
to  18  pounds. 


72 

REGULAR  ORDER  OF  BUSINESS  RESUMED. 

The  regular  order  of  business  prepared  for  the  Convention  was 
here  resumed  by  the  discussion  of  the  following  question : 

How  can  fair  prices  for  dairy  products  be  best  maintained  this 
year  ? 

Mr.  Farrington,  of  C.  W.,  was  the  first  speaker.  He  stated,  in 
brief,  that  by  a  diligent  use  of  the  means  now  in  our  hands — the 
benefits  of  association — of  the  press — the  dissemination  of  statisti- 
cal items — and,  above  all,  by  the  production  of  a  superior  article  of 
cheese — we  may  insure  remunerative  prices. 

As  bearing  upon  this  topic,  Mr.  Comstock,  of  Oneida,  here  intro- 
duced the  report  of  the  Committee  on  a 

A  WEEKLY  CIRCULAR. 

Whereas,  It  is  desirable  for  the  interests  of  dairymen  that  a 
Weekly  Circular  be  issued  for  the  benefit  of  every  cheese-producer, 
containing  a  correct  report  from  every  American  cheese-maker,  ojf 
the  amount  of  cheese  sold,  for  what  market  shipped,  and  the  number 
of  boxes  on  hand,  together  with  the  size  of  cheese  and  prices  ob- 
tained ;  and, 

Whereas,  Such  information  can  be  obtained  only  by  the  co-opera- 
tion of  all  the  cheese-producers  in  sending  their  individual  weekly 
reports  to  a  designated  head  or  circular ;  and. 

Whereas,  The  expense  of  the  Circular,  with  postage,  &c.,  will  be 
several  hundred  dollars ;  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  our  Secretary  communicate  this  plan  to  every 
cheese-producer  as  far  as  practicable,  and  solicit  a  pledge  from  the 
producer  to  pay  $3  each  for  the  expense  of  such  circular ;  that  such 
Weekly  Circular  shall  be  furnished  only  to  the  producers  who  help 
pay  the  expenses,  and  furnish  a  weekly  report  of  their  cheese  product 
to  the  Secretary. 

Resolved,  That  our  Secretary  issue  such  Circular,  provided  he  re- 
ceive sufficient  encouragement  to  warrant  such  publication. 

Discussion  on  this  matter  being  in  order,  Mr.  Weeks,  of  Oneida, 
stated  that  although  warmly  in  favor  of  such  a  project  as  that  re- 
ferred to  in  the  resolutions,  yet  the  committee  had  failed  to  place  the 
enterprise  in  a  shape  in  which  the  objects  desired  could  be  realized. 
At  the  last  annual  meeting,  as  gentlemen  will  remember,  several 
hours  of  valuable  time  were  consumed  in  discussing  the  desirable- 
ness of  establishing  a  weekly  paper  devoted  exclusively  to  the  in- 
terests of  dairymen,  and  gentlemen  vied  with  each  other  in  setting 
forth  the  bright  prospects  of  such  a  periodical,  and  the  ease  with 
which  at  least  3,000  subscribers  could  be  obtained.  And  yet,  after 
putting  the  treasury  to  considerable  expense  in  sending  out  a  pro- 
spectus for  the  paper,  there  was  a  return  of  only  144  names! 
The  same  result  must  follow  this  attempt,  because  it  is  of  precisely 
the  same  nature. 

Gentlemen  might  say  that  one  failure  ought  not  to  discourage, 
but  rather  to  stimulate  to  further  effort.  But  he  felt  that  it  were 
wiser  for  members  of  the  Convention  to  spend  their  time  in  the  dis- 


73 

cussion  of  practical  and  useful  themes  rather  than  fritter  it  away  in 
talking  of  impracticable  and  Utopian  schemes. 

The  expenses  for  printing  and  postage  would  amount  to  a  very- 
large  sum,  while  the  salary  of  the  person  in  whose  charge  it  would 
be  ph\ced  ought  also  to  be  large,  for  the  labor  of  receiving,  assorting, 
classifying  and  preparing  these  Circulars,  before  and  after  printing, 
would  be  very  great. 

For  himself,  as  Secretary,  he  could  only  say  that  the  pressure  of 
other  duties  would  utterly  preclude  all  thoughts  of  his  undertaking 
the  work. 

Mr.  Clark,  of  Lewis,  thought  the  result  desired  could  be  as  readily 
obtained,  and  more  widely  disseminated,  through  the  columns  of  the 
Utica  Herald,  while,  at  the  same  time,  the  expense  to  the  Associa- 
tion would  be  nothing. 

Mr.  Comstock  was  informed  by  Mr.  Willard,  that  all  proper  infor- 
mation furnished  him  by  dairymen,  would  be  printed  in  the  Herald. 
Mr.  C.  believed  dairymen  must  rely  upon  themselves.  They  must 
have  unity  of  action.  They  must  have  something  which  represents 
them.  They  needed  a  Weekly  Circular.  The  expense  of  such  a 
periodical  would  be  less  than  that  supposed  by  the  Treasurer.  Many 
bank  cashiers  of  Utica  predicted  a  break  in  the  cheese  market  on 
account  of  the  large  quantities  held  by  producers. 

Mr.  Chadwick,  of  Canada,  was  in  favor  of  the  resolution.  He  had 
been  highly  gratified  at  the  intelligence  brought  before  this  body. 
He  was  not  a  cheese-manufacturer,  but  had  taken  a  great  degree  of 
interest  in  the  subject.  There  were  many  features  to  be  learned, 
and  these  annual  meetings  brought  them  out.  The  subject  under 
discussion  was  of  great  importance  to  cheese-manufacturers. 

It  was  an  old  adage  that  farmers  are  ever  ready  to  support  every 
institution  and  enterprise,  except  their  own.  There  was  some  truth 
in  it. 

The  information  obtained  by  your  agent  to  England  has  been  of 
immense  benefit  to  the  dairy  interest,  and  the  statistics  contemplated 
in  the  Circulars  would  result  in  great  good.  All  that  was  wanted 
was  to  present  it  in  such  a  way  that  persons  could  subscribe  for  it, 
and  it  would  be  a  success.  The  people  of  Canada  were  only  sepa- 
rated from  you  by  an  imaginary  line,  and  would  go  with  you  in  this 
movement.  They  were  willing  to  reciprocate  and  further  the  cause. 
He  hoped  the  resolutions  would  pass.  Mr.  C.  spoke  at  some  length 
and  was  several  times  applauded. 

Mr.  Clark,  of  Lewis,  thought  that  if  the  statistics  were  published 
in  some  paper,  it  would  be  valuable  to  that  paper.  The  facts  brought 
out  would  be  valuable  to  all.  Men  in  New  York,  in  the  fall,  thought 
the  country  flooded  with  cheese,  but  we  knew  better. 

Mr.  Comstock,  of  Oneida,  said  that  the  matter  of  the  reports  would 
take  two  columns  of  a  paper,  and  that  was  more  than  the  Herald 
could  give  to  it.  He  thought  the  matter  could  be  prepared  for  the 
press  for  $400. 

Mr.  Farrington,  of  Canada,  contended  that  facts  and  information 
should  be  placed  before  the  people.     He  would  be  one  of  a  hundred 
to  be  responsible  for  $400. 
10 


74 

The  matter  of  a  Circular  was  discussed  at  lengtH  by  Mr.  Johnson, 
of  Oswego,  Mr.  Lewis,  of  Herkimer,  and  others. 

Dr.  Wight,  of  Oneida,  offered  an  amendment,  which  was  subse- 
quently modified  and  adopted,  to  the  effect  that  a  committee  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  Chair  to  solicit  subscriptions  for  the  purpose  of  issu- 
ing such  circulars  in  such  a  manner  as  seemed  best  to  the  committee. 

Mr.  Leland,  of  Oneida,  offered  an  amendment  which,  after  discus- 
sion, was  adopted,  by  which  the  word  "  producers,"  in  the  second 
resolution,  was  changed  to  "  persons,"  so  as  to  read  "  shall  be  fur- 
nished only  to  the  persons  who  help  pay,"  &c. 

The  report  of  the  committee,  as  amended,  was  adopted. 

CHEESE  BOXES. 

The  question  in  regard  to  securing  a  better  kind  of  cheese-box 
was  now  taken  up. 

Mr.  Nicholson,  of  Oneida,  said  he  was  a  manufacturer  of  boxes. 
He  had  investigated  the  subject,  and  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
dairymen  are  loosing  money  by  sending  cheese  abroad  in  frail  boxes. 
They  were  not  substantial  enough  to  ship  cheese  to  Europe.  There 
was  a  struggle  between  the  box  manufacturer  and  the  cheese-manu- 
facturer. The  latter  wanted  a  cheap  box,  and  insisted  on  a  good 
box.  The  two  were  rather  opposed  to  each  other.  Good  materials 
were  scarce,  and  it  was  a  question  whether  we  should  not  have  to  re- 
sort to  another  kind  of  box,  on  account  of  this  scarcity  of  material. 
He  asked  why  a  band  is  better  than  a  double  cover  ?  It  was  re- 
plied that  the  band  was  less  expensive. 

Mr.  Farrington,  of  Canada,  said  the  trouble  with  boxes  is  that  the 
heads  were  not  sufficiently  seasoned.  The  heads  shrink  after  being 
put  together,  and  fall  to  pieces.  The  timber  for  hoops  were  too  brit- 
tle. It  was  said  that  lumber  was  becoming  scarce.  If  box  manu- 
facturers would  send  to  Canada  for  lumber,  the}''  could  have  the  fin- 
est in  the  world  and  enough  to  last  half  a  century. 

A  gentleman  of  Cortland,  (name  not  announced,)  said  he  had  been 
in  favor  of  sawed  hoops  for  boxes.  He  was  satisfied  that  a  sawed 
hoop  is  better  than  when  it  is  cut.  Timber  is  not  generally  steamed 
enough,  they  check  and  split.     Sawed  boxes  do  not  split. 

The  question  was  now  laid  on  the  table. 

The  Chair  here  announced  the  Committee  on  Circulars :  W.  H. 
Comstock,  L.  L.  Wight,  and  E.  Lewis,  of  Oneida  ;  and  the  Commit- 
tee on  the  subject  of  the  removal  of  the  tax  on  cheese-producers : 
W.  H.  Comstock,  of  Oneida ;  Colonel  Seth  Miller,  of  Lewis ;  and 
Bradford  Stiles,  of  Madison. 

The  Convention  now  took  a  recess  till  2  o'clock. 

AFTERNOON   SESSION. 

Convention  re-assembled  at  2  P*  M.,  President  Williams  in  the 
chair. 

The  President  urged  upon  gentleman  the  importance  of  renewing 
their  memberships,  in  order  to  furnish  the  means  for  carrying  on  the 
ordinary  operations  of  the  Society. 


75 

DISCUSSIONS  CONTINUED. 

The  following  question  was  taken  up  for  discussion :  "Best  stock 
for  dairy  purposes." 

The  first  speaker  was  S.  S.  Whitman,  of  Little  Falls.     He  said  : 

In  looking  at  this  subject,  two  questions  seem  prominently  pre- 
sented. 

1st.    Can  dairymen  obtain  cows  to  fill  up  their  dairies  from  abroad  ? 

2d.  Is  it  advisable  for  them  to  depend  on  this  foreign  supply,  in- 
stead of  raising  their  own  stock  ? 

Relative  to  the  first  question,  we  must  inquire  whether  the  large 
number  of  cows  that  will  be  required  this  coming  spring,  can  be  ob- 
tained at  prices  that  dairymen  will  venture  to  give.  Can  we  name 
a  single  county  in  the  State  where  good  cows  can  be  bought  to  any 
considerable  extent  at  prices  that  farmers  would  consider  sale?  It 
is  but  a  few  years  since  cows  could  be  bought  in  nearly  all  the  coun- 
ties west  and  north  of  Oneida,  and  in  some  parts  even  of  Oneida. 
Last  spring  a  supply  of  good  cows  could  not  be  obtained  either  in 
this  State,  or  Ohio,  or  Canada,  at  safe  prices,  and  yet  dairymen  were 
paying  from  $70  to  $100  for  cows. 

One  cause  of  this  scarcity  was  the  high  price  of  beef.  This  cause 
has  not  been  removed.  Another  reason  is  that  the  factory  sj^-stem  of 
manufacturing  butter  and  cheese — more  especially  the  latter — has 
enabled  towns  and  neighborhoods  where  cheese  had  never  been 
made  for  market,  and  where  but  small  dairies  had  been  kept,  to 
make  just  as  much  cheese  as  Herkimer  or  Oneida  can  produce,  and 
in  some  locations  get  a  better  price  for  their  products  than  can  gen- 
erally be  obtained  here;  and,  in  fact,  in  locations  like  these  last^the 
factory  system  is  really  most  demanded.  Within  a  short  time, 
cheese  factories  have  sprung  up  throughout  this  State.  The  West 
is  going  into  the  same  system,  and  how  soon  the  great  West  that  lies 
stretching  out  beyond  our  ordinary  West,  where  the  scream  of  the 
panther  and  the  tramp  of  the  bufialo  will  soon  be  drowned  by  the 
whistle  of  the  engine  and  rumble  of  the  railroad  train,  will  adopt  the 
same  system,  we  cannot  exactly  tell,  but  we  may  soon  expect  Brig- 
ham  Young  to  be  sending  for  some  Herkimer  county  dairyman  to 
go  to  Salt  Lake  to  put  up  a  mammoth  factory,  that  will  make  ours 
dwindle  into  mere  huts.  But  coming  nearer  home,  and  a  little  nearer 
my  subject — the  towns  and  neighborhoods  that  have  lately  started 
factories  have  learned  that  it  is  not  worth  while  to  sell  a  good  cow, 
when  her  product  for  a  single  season  will  put  more  money  in  their 
pockets  than  they  could  realize  for  the  sale  of  the  cow.  They  might 
be  induced  to  part  with  an  unruly  cow,  especially  if  she  was  a  real 
kicker,  or  milked  so  hard  that  it  would  make  a  man  shed  tears  to 
think  of  milking  her,  or  she  might  have  some  other  defect — cows  of 
this  kind  may  be  bought.  But  propose  to  buy  the  man's  best  cow 
and  you  will  hear  another  story  ;  that  cow  is  not  exactly  for  sale  ; 
there  will  be  some  excuse.  He  must  consult  his  wife,  or  the  boys, 
or  the  girls,  or  something  of  the  kind. 

I  have,  for  the  past  dozen  years  or  more,  kept  a  yard  where  a  lim- 
ited number  of  cows  could  be  stabled  and  cared  for,  and  the  location 


76 

being  favorable  as  to  water,  &;c.,  a  great  many  cows  have  been  kept 
and  sold,  and  I  have  had  an  opportunity  to  see  the  tricks  of  the 
adept,  and  the  blunders  of  the  raw  hand  at  the  business.  I  do  not 
know  as  it  will  be  interesting  for  me  to  give  a  description  of  either. 
This  is  not  all ;  there  is  a  real  difficulty  in  finding  and  purchasing 
just  the  right  kind  of  cows.  Let  a  man  go  out  in  any  of  the  coun- 
ties of  this  State,  and  undertake  to  buy  cows  that  come  up  to  a  de- 
sirable standard,  say  from  four  to  seven  years  of  age,  with  udder  and 
teats  all  right,  with  marks  indicating  a  good  milker,  with  fair  size 
and  good  nppearance,  and  coming  in  about  the  right  time,  we  will 
say  in  April,  and  he  will  find  it  a  slow  business ;  and,  as  I  indicated 
before,  there  are  but  few  of  these  cows  bought,  but  more  generally 
they  are  culls  or  second-rate  cows  at  best. 

And  there  is  another  trouble  to  encounter.  I  refer  to  the  injury 
the  cows  sustain  by  reason  of  transportation,  and  of  their  uneasi- 
ness on  account  of  being  in  a  strange  herd  and  on  a  strange  farm. 
This  is  so  well  understood  by  dairymen,  that  they  do  not  expect  that 
a  cow  will  come  up  to  her  real  standard  the  first  season  after  purchase. 
The  above  remarks  have  been  made  to  show  that  a  man  will  be 
very  fortunate  if  he  keeps  his  dairy  up  to  a  fair  standard  by  pur- 
chasing his  cows,  saying  nothing  about  the  great  losses  that  many 
dairymen  have  had  by  introducing  into  their  herds  that  disease  that 
has  prevailed  so  extensively  in  some  towns  in  Herkimer,  Oneida  and 
Lewis  counties  particularly — I  mean  abortion. 

And  now  what  is  the  remedy  for  this  uncertainty  ?  For  this  un- 
pleasant and  often  unprofitable  business  of  purchasing  cows? 

All  of  you  will — yes,  and  have  already  anticipated  my  answer,  and 
I  scarcely  need  to  say — raise  your  calves. 

When  I  say  that,  I  have  only  introduced  a  subject  of  great  im- 
portance, I  had  almost  said  the  greatest  importance  to  dairymen,  and 
I'm  only  sorry  that  I  am  not  able  to  present  this  subject  in  a  way 
that  will  make  an  impression  equal  to  its  importance. 

When  I  say  raise  your  own  calves  and  fill  up  the  complement  of 
your  dairy  from  them,  I  do  not  mean  that  you,  in  a  hap-hazard  way, 
raise  anything  that  you  happen  to  have,  and  that  by  chance.  I 
mean  much  more  than  this.  I  mean  nothing  less  than  the  best  you 
can  procure.  I  do  not  claim  that  because  you  lavish  a  large  sum  of 
money  in  purchase  of  stock  you  will  thereby  be  surely  the  gainer, 
but  let  not  a  few  dollars,  or  a  few  hundred,  deter  you  from  obtain- 
ing the  best  results. 

For  the  purpose  of  raising  good  stock,  the  best  breed  and  most 
perfect  animals  of  both  sexes  should  be  employed  in  propagation. 

I  know  of  no  way  that  a  dairy  can  be  so  easily  improved  as  by  ob- 
taining a  bull  of  deserved  reputation  as  of  a  milking  fxmily,  forming 
a  regular  character  or  type  for  a  succession  of  generations,  (if  I  may 
S^  express  myself,)  and  then  raise  your  calves  from  cows  that  have 
proved  your  best  milkers,  or  from  their  progeny,  remembering  that 
ancestral  influence  is  of  practical  importance,  and  the  man  who  ex- 
pects to  improve  his  dairy  must  give  it  proper  attention,  for  the  law 
of  hereditary  transmission  will  show  itself  by  marks  that  cannot  be 
misunderstood.  First,  fix  upon  a  point  you  wish  to  attain,  and  then 
use  the  means  resolutely  and  judiciously  to  reach  it 


77 

In  February,  1859,  this  same  subject  was  before  tlie  Farmers'  Club 
of  Little  Falls,  At  that  time  but  few  calves  were  raised ;  but  some 
dairymen  began  to  see  the  bad  policy  of  depending  on  purchasing 
cows  to  fill  up  their  dairies.  At  that  meeting  Mr.  R  D.  Brown,  of 
Fairfield,  stated  that  out  of  thirty-five  half-blood  Durham  heifers  raised 
by  him,  only  three  had  been  turned  off  as  bad  milkers — all  of  the 
others  proved  to  be  superior  milkers,  and  he  kept  them  till  they  were 
completely  worn  out,  having  turned  off  the  last  the  year  before,  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years,  and  he  thought  she  yielded  500  pounds  of 
cheese,  even  at  that  age.  In  raising  these  calves  he  made  a  selection 
out  of  seventy  cows.  By  attention  to  breeding,  Mr.  Fish,  of  Herki- 
mer county,  has  improved  the  milking  qualities  of  his  cows  so  that 
he  has  succeeded  in  producing  834  pounds  of  cheese  as  an  average 
per  cow. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Club  of  a  more  recent  date,  Harris  Lewis  stated 
that  from  a  superior  cow  in  his  dairy  he  had  scarcely  failed,  out  of 
six  or  eight  of  her  calves  he  had  raised,  of  having  cows  of  like  supe- 
riority. Alonzo  Reed  made  a  similar  statement  relative  to  the  calves 
of  a  choice  cow  of  his  dairy.  I  might  multiply  facts  of  this  kind  if 
it  was  necessary,  but  it  is  not,  for  every  observing  dairyman  present 
has  known  of  cases  of  the  same  kind. 

In  1859,  a  choice  cow  was  estimated  at  $50,  and  according  to  the 
estimate  of  Mr.  Brown,  a  heifer  at  two  years  old  had  cost  $35.  His 
items  were  as  follows :  Calf  at  four  days  old,  $L25  ;  two  months, 
saying  to  the  first  of  June,  $4.50  ;  the  next,  five  months  to  Novem- 
ber 1,  $3.75  ;  to  April  1,  $8,00  ;  the  second  year,  the  first  seven  months, 
$7.00 ;  the  following  five  months,  $11.00 — making  $35  at  the  end  of 
two  years.  I  will  add  that  in  the  next  three  years  she  will  more  than 
pay  the  expense  of  raising,  so  that  the  farmer,  instead  of  paying  $50 
for  a  cow  at  five  years  old,  has  a  cow  already  at  his  stable,  kind  and 
peaceable,  that  has  paid  all  her  expense ;  in  other  words,  has  balanced 
her  account,  and  is  ready  to  go  on  for  the  next  ten  years  at  a  large 
profit  to  her  owner. 

All  dairymen  know  that  a  good  cow  is  much  better  than  a  poor 
one,  but  all  do  not  appreciate  the  difference.  To  illustrate  this  dif- 
ference, I  cannot  do  better  than  to  give  an  extract  from  an  essay  by 
Mr.  Reed,  in  March,  1859.  The  whole  of  it  is  valuable,  as  all  of  his 
essays  were.  He  gives  the  statistics  of  the  yield  and  profit  of  five  of 
the  best  cows  in  his  dairy,  and  also  of  the  live  poorest  in  1857,  These 
were  obtained  by  measuring,  and  recording  the  amount  of  each  cow's 
milk  on  the  first  day  of  each  month,  and  are  approximately  correct : 

Five  best  cows  Cr,  by  average  of  554  gallons  milk 
each,  which  realized  m  butter  and  cheese  llj  cts. 

per  gallon $63  75 

Dr.  to  2^  tons  hay,  at  $8 $20  00 

"     30  weeks  in  pastures,  at  2s 7  50 

"     200  ground  feed  in  spring,  at  12s 3  00 

"     10  per  cent,  interest  on  cost  of  cow,  at  $45 4  50     35  00 

By  balance  in  favor  of  cow $28  76 


78 

Five  poorest  cows  Dr.  to  cost  of  keeping,  as  above,  $85  00 

By  an  average  243  gallons  of  milk  each,  as  above,  at 

11|  cts 27  95 


Balance  against  cow $7  05 

This  is  an  average  amount  realized  per  gallon  for  the  whole  season  ; 
thus  making  a  difference  of  $178.00  for  the  season,  between  the  two 
lots  of  cows.  It  is  needless  to  add  that  these  cows  were  kept  only 
one  season. 

Bach  breed  has  its  advocates.  As  we  do  not  go  beyond  (at  this 
time,)  the  milking  qualities,  the  question  turns  upon  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  the  milk,  including  hardiness  and  ease  of  keeping.  For 
all  these  qualities,  some  of  our  native  cows  (I  use  the  term  by  way  of 
distinction,)  have  proved  the  equals  of  foreign  breeds  of  later  impor- 
tation. Probably  in  the  hands  of  a  judicious  breeder,  much  of  the 
early  importation  from  different  parts  of  Europe,  would  have  proved 
equal,  if  not  superior  to  the  best  late  importations.  But  they  have 
become  so  befuddled  by  all  kinds  of  cross-breeding,  that  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  detect  the  original  type  except  by  superior  milking  qualities  ; 
and  when  we  find  this,  it  should  be  improved  upon  by  the  best 
means  within  our  reach. 

In  1350,  a  French  historian  says  that  at  a  certain  siege  the  besieged 
could  only  receive  their  supply  of  butter  from  Holland,  which  had 
been  famous  for  its  dairy  products  for  500  years.  The  Hollanders, 
in  bringing  their  cows  to  America,  would  undoubtedly  bring  their  best 
stock,  as  it  involved  a  cost  of  several  hundred  dollars,  and  a  voyage, 
at  that  time,  of  some  six  months.  This  stock  of  cows  was  scattered 
along  the  North  Kiver,  and  along  the  Mohawk,  as  far  west  as  Pala- 
tine, and  off  south  in  Schoharie  county,  where,  it  is  said,  that  traces 
of  that  same  Dutch  breed  may  be  found  to  this  day. 

Other  breeds  have  their  superior  qualities,  and  earnest  advocates, 
and  when  the  dairyman  finds  the  desirable  qualities  in  any  of  them, 
let  him  not  fail  to  avail  himself  of  their  advantages. 

I  have  endeavored  to  show  that  it  is  neither  safe  nor  profitable  to  de- 
pend on  purchasing  cows  at  random  for  filling  up  dairies  : — 

That  calves  can  be  raised  with  better  results  as  to  cost  and  quality : — 

That  care  should  be  strictly  observed  in  breeding  for  the  dairy,  in 
the  selection  of  the  bull  as  well  as  the  cow,  so  that  the  good  quali- 
ties of  the  one  may  not  be  counteracted  by  the  bad  ones  of  the  other, 
and  by  this  means  we  may  be  quite  sure  of  superior  milkers  : — 

That  good  cows  are  cheaper  than  poor  ones,  the  best  way  you  can 
fix  it 

This  subject  might  be  extended  to  an  indefinite  length,  for  I  have 
a  multitude  of  facts  to  prove  my  position.  I  hope  my  few  remarks 
will  provoke  discussion  here  and  elsewhere,  till  this  subject  shall  re- 
ceive the  practical  attention  it  so  loudly  demands. 

In  order  to  show  what  has  been  done  the  past  season  with  good 
cows,  well  kept,  regularly  quickly  and  cleanlily  milked,  Mr,  Ellison, 
of  Herkimer,  read  a  statement  respecting  the  dairy  of  Mr.  Nicholas 


'79 

Smith,  of  Fairfield,  Herkimer  county.  New  York.     Said  dairy  con- 
sisted of  twenty  cows,  from  which  were  made  and  sold 

14,018  lbs.  cheesefor $2,449  49 

365        "    butter" 127  75 


2.577  24 

Besides  these  amounts  sold,  there  was  used  in  the  family 

250  lbs  butter, 
182  "  cheese, 
2  quarts  of  milk  daily. 

Here  is  shown  an  average  of  both  butter  and  cheese  per  cow,  of 
740|  lbs.,  and  an  income  per  cow  of  $136.25. 

COMBINING  BUTTER   AND   CHEESE-MAKING. 

The  first  speaker  was  Mr.  Johnson,  of  Oswego.  He  aimed  to  prove 
by  illustration,  that  butter  should  be  manufactured  with  cheese,  at  fac- 
tories. The  Oswego  factories  have  been  complained  of  as  making 
skim  cheese.  There  was  no  ground  for  the  accusation.  Their  fac- 
tories during  the  past  year  had  made  one  pound  of  cheese  from  9.43 
pounds  of  milk.     Had  Oneida  county  factories  done  better  than  that  ? 

Mr.  Clark,  from  Lewis,  said  their  factories  had  made  into  butter  the 
cream  which  rose  upon  their  vats  during  the  night.  He  did  not  think 
the  idea  a  good  one.  It  did  not  have  as  good  flavor  as  butter  made  in 
other  ways.  The  speaker,  at  his  factory,  was  able  to  make  good 
cheese  from  partially  skimmed  milk. 

Mr.  Ellison  did  not  believe  in  skim  cheese.  He  had  seen  that  kind 
in  Liverpool,  and  thought  very  little  of  it.  To  make  cheese  in  this 
manner,  would  be  to  reduce  its  value  in  the  market. 

Mr.  Slaughter,  of  Orange,  gave  his  ideas  on  skim  milk  and  butter. 
Some  four  years  ago,  people  in  his  vicinity  had  tried  the  skim  milk 
plan  with  success.  Between  this  plan  and  others,  he  thought  each 
one  should  intelligently  choose  for  himself. 

Col.  Miller,  of  Lewis,  would  like  to  ask  Mr.  Clark  nhat  his  fac 
tory  sold  at  last  season. 

Mr.  C.  replied  that  they  sold  at  18  cents  during  the  first  part  of 
the  season,  and  16  cents  during  the  latter  part. 

A  gentleman  from  Orange,  said  the  skim  cheese  was  best  for  the 
Southern  market,  where  full  milk  cheese  can  not  compete  with  skim 
cheese. 

Mr.  Comstock,  of  Oneida,  said  it  was  a  misnomer  to  call  the  cheese 
undei*  consideration  skim  cheese. 

Mr.  A.  G.  Bagg,  of  Oneida,  rose  to  protest  against  the  custom  of 
.  extracting  a  particle  of  the  butter  quality  from  milk  before  making 
cheese.  It  was  possible  to  hold  every  particle  of  the  butter  quality 
in  manufacturing.  Those  who  can  not  do  this,  he  would  advise  to 
skim  ;  but  for  the  good  of  the  dairymen,  he  protested  against  the 
skimmin^system.  Cold  water  is  not  good  in  the  manufacturing  of 
cheese.  The  animal  warmth  of  the  milk  must  be  evolved  gradually, 
and  this  could  be  done  by  the  application  of  salt  in  sufficient  quan- 
tity, and  then  gently  but  constantly  stirring  it 


80 

Mr.  Walker,  of  Oswego,  followed,  saying  his  experience  was  that 
great  loss  was  sustained  by  taking  off  any  cream  before  manufactur- 
ing. It  was  his  opinion  that  the  process  of  manufacturing  skim  cheese 
was  damaging  to  the  interests  of  dairymen. 

On  motion  the  question  was  laid  on  the  table. 

TABLE   BUTTER   FROM   WHEY. 

The  question  of  making  butter  from  whey  was  then  taken  up,  and 
the  discussion  opened  by  Mr.  Kiggs,  of  Lewis  county.  Mr.  Riggs  gave 
his  experience  in  making  butter  from  whey,  showing  that  the  latter 
article  can  easily  and  profitably  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  making 
butter.  He  said  the  butter  he  had  made  he  sold  in  New  York  for 
forty  cents  per  pound,  and  it  was  in  as  good  demand  as  butter  made 
from  pure  cream,  Mr.  R  gave  the  following  explanation  of  the 
process. 

After  separating  the  whey  from  the  curd,  place  it  in  a  tin  vat  and 
add  a  liquid  acid.  One  gallon  to  the  whey  of  50  gallons  of  milk,  if 
the  whey  is  sweet,  but  less  quantity  if  changed.  After  this  apply 
heat  until  it  indicates  a  temperature  of  from  200  to  212  degrees  Fah- 
renheit. When  the  cream  rises  and  is  skimmed  off  and  placed  in 
a  cool  place,  let  it  stand  till  the  next  day.  Then  it  is  churned  at 
a  temperature  ranging  from  56  to  68  degrees,  dependmg  on  the 
weather,  and  it  is  worked  over  and  salted  in  the  usual  manner  of  but- 
ter-making. It  will  produce  on  an  average,  one  pound  of  butter  from 
the  whey  of  150  pounds  of  milk.  The  acid  is  made  by  taking  any 
quantity  of  whey  at  boiling  heat,  after  the  cream  is  extracted,  addmg 
1  gallon  of  strictly  sour  whey  to  10  gallons  of  this  boiling  whey,  when 
all  the  casein  remaining  in  the  whey  is  collected  together  in  one  mass, 
and  is  skimmed  off.  After  the  whey  is  let  stand  from  24  to  48  hours 
it  is  ready  for  use  as  acid.  This  process  is  repeated  as  often  as  neces- 
sity requires.  ^  i     ^  •  ■«•  i 

'Several  questions  were  asked  by  members  of  the  Convention,  which 

were  answered  by  Mr.  Riggs. 

Mr.  Killian  Effger,  of  Cortland  county,  took  the  floor,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  explain^that  he  had  a  patent  for  making  butter  from  whey. 
A  circular,  bearing  testimonials  of  the  success  of  Mr.  Egger's  experi- 
ment in  the  business  under  consideration,  was  presented. 

On  motion,  the  Secretary  was  instructed  to  read  the  circular. 

During  the  process  of  reading,  mention  of  a  patent  was  made,  at 
which,  Mr.  Comstock,  of  Oneida,  moved  to  Lay  the  circular  on  the 
table,  as  it  was  not  the  business  of  the  Convention  to  advertise  pat- 
ents. 

The  motion  was  put  and  lost  by  a  decided  vote. 

The  Secretary  then  finished  reading  the  circular,  passing  immedi- 
ately from  the  patent  to  statements  of  great  interest  to  those  contem- 
plating the  making  of  butter  from  whey.  Mr.  Egger  made  $1,600 
worth  of  the  best  of  butter,  in  one  season,  in  a  factory  receiving  the 
milk  of  only  450  cows,  and  that,  too,  under  disadvantageous  circum- 
stances. 


81 

BEST  HOURS  AND  PLAN  FOR  MILKING. 

Discussion  on  this  topic  was  opened  by  Mr.  Hiram  Walker,  of 
Oswego,  who  said  :  It  may  be  considered  a  simple  tiling  to  milk  a 
cow,  which  any  novice  might  do ;  so  it  is  to  plant  and  hoe  a  hill  of 
corn.  I  have  dairied  it,  under  as  humble  circumstances  as  any  one 
present.  In  1830  my  business  called  me  from  home.  I  had  but  one 
farrow  cow,  which  run  in  the  road,  not  having  then  a  rod  of  pasture 
or  meadow  to  keep  her.  My  wife,  who  was  well  skilled  in  New  En- 
gland economy,  made  from  her  what  cheese  we  needed  for  the  year; 
with  the  rudest  kind  of  fixtures,  we  have  made  cheese  every  year 
since,  and  for  the  last  twenty  years  we  have  had  a  good-sized  dairy. 
But  next  to  having  good  cows  and  good  keep,  is  the  import  ince  of 
having  your  milking  well  and  properly  done.  In  the  first  place, 
cows  should  be  put  in  some  secure  place  to  milk,  either  in  the  barn 
or  in  a  shed  expressly  for  that  purpose,  with  a  good  ventilation  for 
warm  weather.  The  practice  of  milking  cows  running  loose  in  the 
yard  is  very  inconvenient,  to  say  the  least  about  it,  especially  when 
the  3'^ards  are  muddy.  It  cannot  at  any  time  be  done  as  clean  lily  as 
when  in  stanchions.  The  projDcr  hours  for  milking  can  not  be  as  uni- 
form in  the  factory  system  as  in  private  dairies.  Those  living  at  the 
extreme  end  of  the  milk  drawer's  route,  must  necessarily  milk  at 
an  earlier  hour  than  those  near  the  factory.  There  should  be  as 
much  uniformity  in  the  hours  of  milking  as  possible ;  dividing  the 
two  points  of  time  between  morning  and  evening,  and  evening  and 
morning,  as  nearly  equal  as  other  farm  labors  will  permit.  I  have 
generally  practiced  milking  from  half-past  five  to  half-past  six  in  the 
morning,  and  from  six  to  seven  in  the  evening,  during  the  summer 
season,  but  as  the  days  shorten,  the  hours  of  milking  must  be  varied. 
Great  pains  should  be  taken  to  clean  the  udder  before  milking,  and 
each  milker  should  milk  the  same  cows  through  the  season,  and  in 
the  same  order.  It  is  important  to  have  cows  treated  kindly,  not 
only  when  milking,  but  at  all  other  times,  if  you  wish  to  get  the  best 
flow  of  milk.  Constant  harsh  treatment  has  a  tendency  to  diminish 
the  flow  of  milk.  Although  brutes,  they  are  quick  to  discern  the 
difference  between  kind  and  harsh  treatment.  I  have  rarely  seen  a 
cow  that  was  made  quiet  by  severe  usage.  I  have  had  one  or  two 
Ayrshire  cows,  that  nothing  but  the  rod  would  subdue.  The  sooner 
such  cows  are  sent  to  the  shambles  the  better.  It  is  too  much  the 
practice,  especially  with  young  milkers,  after  drawing  a  part  of  the 
milk,  to  stop  to  hear  or  tell  a  story  before  finishing.  This  is  a  bad 
habit,  and  should  not  be  tolerated.  To  get  the  best  results,  the  milk 
should  be  as  rapidly  drawn  as  possible,  until  the  udder  is  thoroughly 
clean.  A  gentle  hand  will  always  get  more  milk  than  one  who  is 
always  out  of  sorts,  whom  nothing  pleases.  As  our  happines^^  is  not 
the  r  suit  of  any  one  great  act  in  life's  pathway,  but  of  a  grea-l 
variety  of  small  incidents,  so  our  success  in  the  dairy  business  is 
not  the  result  of  any  great  financial  scheme,  but  of  a  thousand  little 
cares-taking,  which  are  as  necessary  to  our  success  as  the  polish  of 
the  statue  is  to  show  the  skill  of  the  sculptor. 

Mr.  Bonfoy,  of  Herkimer,  said  his  practice  had  been  to  milk  his 
cows  in  rotation,  beginning  and  ending  with  the  same  cow  at  each 
11 


82 

milking.  He  had  noticed  that  cows  are  creatures  of  habit,  and 
when  they  once  get  into  the  habit  of  being  milked  in  regular  order, 
they  object  to  being  ever  milked  out  of  that  order, 

Mr.  Johnson,  of  Herkimer,  and  Mr.  Johnson,  of  Oswego,  corrobo- 
rated the  position  held  by  Mr.  Bonfoy.  The  latter  gentleman,  (Mr. 
Johnson,  of  Oswego,)  adding  that  cows  ought  to  be  treated  gently, 
and  milking  should  be  done  quickly.  He  had  noticed  that  a  cow 
will  give  more  milk  for  a  gentle  milking  maid  than  for  a  crusty  old 
bachelor.  To  this  last  statement  several  gentlemen  said :  "  Hope 
the  ladies  present  will  hear  this." 

The  question  of  whether  dairying  was  not  being  carried  to  too 
great  an  extent  in  this  country,  was  laid  on  the  table. 

GRASSES,  GRAINS,  AND  SOILING. 

Hon.  Harris  Lewis,  of  Herkimer,  opened  the  discussion,  saying 
that  he  thought  it  late  to  enter  upon  the  discussion  of  the  vital  ques- 
tion of  dairymg.     He  then  read  the  following  statement  on 

GRASSES. 

In  answering  the  question  "  Which  are  the  best  grasses  for  dairy 
stock?"  I  need  not  speak  of  the  value  of  the  grass  crop,  dry  and 
green,  in  dollars,  for  that  is  understood  as  well,  perhaps  better  by 
each  one  of  those  present,  than  it  is  by  me.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  a 
large  portion  of  the  human  family  are  dependent  upon  it  for  food 
and  clothing. 

-  A  Southern  writer,  some  18  years  ago,  remarks  that  "the  great 
secret  of  the  astonishing  resources  of  the  frozen  regions  of  the  North 
lies  in  its  grasses,  of  which  clover  is  the  chief."  Since  that  time, 
some  men  South  have  tried  to  believe  that  cotton  is  king,  but  have 
found  out  their  mistake,  for  grass  is  king  and  cannot  be  dethroned. 

Notwithstanding  the  vital  importance  of  this  crop,  it  must  be  ap- 
parent to  all  that  it  does  not  receive  that  care  and  attention  which 
we  bestow  on  other  crops  of  far  less  value.  The  grass  in  too  many 
pastures  and  meadows  grows  by  chance,  and  being  nourished  by 
neglect,  will  disappear,  to  the  great  surprise  of  the  owner.  In  an- 
swer to  the  question  under  consideration,  I  would  seed  land  in  good 
condition,  for  permanent  meadows,  with  the  following  grasses: 

FOR  HAY. 

Ked-top,  Timothy,  June,  or  Blue-grass,  Orchard-grass,  Tall  Fes'- 
cue,  Smooth-stalked  Meadow-grass,  and  Fowl  Meadow-grass. 

FOR  PASTURES. 

Red  and  White  Clover,  Orchard-grass,  Timothy,  Sweet-scented 
Vernal-grass,  Meadow  Foxtail,  June,  or  Blue-grass,  and  Smooth- 
stalked  Meadow-grass. 

FOR    PASTURES  ON  MOIST   LAND. 

June-grass,  Red-top,  Tall  Fescue,  Orchard-grass,  Rough-stalked 
Meadow-grass,  and  Floating  Fescue. 


83 

FOR  PASTURES  AND  MEADOWS    ON  WET  CLAY  SOIL. 

Eed-top,  Couch,  or  Twitch-grass,  Quack,  June-grass,  and  Rougli* 
Btalked  Meadow-grass. 

FOR  SOILING. 

Lucern,  Winter  Rye,  Red  Clover  medium.  Tall  Oat-grass,  and 
Millet. 

FOR  EXHAUSTED  WET  CLAY  SOILS. 

Couch-grass,  and  Quack. 

Couch-grass,  and  Quack,  are  both  propagated  from  the  root,  as 
well  as  the  seeds;  are  both  strong  and  hardy  growers,  making  a 
growth  when  cropped,  of  one  inch  every  24  hours,  under  favorable 
circumstances  ;  will  both  grow  well  on  land  wet  or  dry,  rich  or  poor, 
on  the  steepest  side  hills,  or  on  level  ground. 

These  grasses  will  grow  either  side  up  equally  well,  and  when 
once  fixed  in  the  soil  they  are  like  the  Frenchman's  horse  at  the 
foot  of  a  hill,  there  every  time.  And  with  little  care  you  will  have 
a  good  crop  of  grass  to  the  end  of  time. 

If  any  naked  or  thin  spots  occur  in  fields  stocked  "with  these  two 
grasses,  create  at  once  a  strong  opposition  to  their  growth  by  turn- 
ing  the  sod  upside  down  with  the  plow,  tear  it  into  shreds  with  the 
harrow,  top-dress  with  whatever  the  soil  may  require,  and  my  word 
for  it,  you  will  behold  a  sward,  whole  and  perfect  in  all  its  parts,  and 
a  crop  of  grass,  year  after  year,  that  will  astonish  all  who  look  upon 
it,  and  convince  the  most  skeptical  of  the  truth  of  the  proverb  that 
^^  opposition  is  the  life  of  business,"  and  of  Couch  grass  and  Quack, 
Quack  produces  better  hay  than  timothy  for  cattle. 

Before  I  dismiss  the  subject  of  grass  for  dairy  stock,  allow  me  to 
urge  upon  the  consideration  of  this  Association  the  vital  importance 
of  a  closer  attention  to  the  teachings  of  nature. 

Let  us  carefully  study  the  lessons  she  imparts  and  be  wise. 
When  we  desire  to  stock  a  piece  of  land  to  grass,  let  us  give  it  a 
thorough  preparation  for  the  seed,  and  then  sow  all  the  good  kinds 
we  can  procure,  and  wait  the  result. 

Mother  earth  will  select  from  the  seeds  thus  cast  upon  her  bosom 
the  kinds  she  will  grow,  and  indicate  to  us  iinmiitakabl//,  by  their 
growth  and  vigor,  the  kinds  suited  to  the  soil ;  and  if  some  good 
kinds,  unknown  to  us,  spring  up  and  grow,  let  us  not  attempt  to 
thwart  nature  in  her  effort  to  produce  for  us  a  good  crop  of  grass  by 
rooting  these  strangers  out,  "  but  use  them,  rather"  as  gifts  from  Him 
who  created  them  for  us,  and  designed  them  for  the  various  localities 
where  they  are  found. 

BEST  GRAIN   FOR  DAIRY  STOCK. 

Regarding  wheat  as  out  of  the  ring,  on  account  of  its  cost,  I  be- 
lieve oats  well  ground,  the  best  grain  for  dairy  stock,  all  things  con- 
sidered. 2d— Rye;  3d— Barley  ;  4th— Wheat;  5th— Bran;  6th— 
Buckwheat;  7th — Corn  and  Oil-cake,  equal  to  either. 


m 

If  tlie  condition  of  the  cow  is  wtat  you  desire,  oat-meal  will  keep 
her  in  that  condition,  or  rather  improve  it,  and  at  the  same  time  im- 
prove the  quality  and  largely  increase  the  quantity  of  milk.  If  the 
cow  is  in  low  condition,  and  you  desire  to  improve  the  condition  of 
the  cow  and  the  quality  of  her  milk,  and  at  the  same  time  keep  up 
the  flow  of  milk,  add  to  the  oat-meal  one-third  or  more  of  corn-meal 
or  oil-meal,  rye  or  barley.  The  bran  from  wheat,  called  shipstuflf, 
will,  to  a  limited  degree,  improve  the  condition  of  cows  and  the 
quality  of  milk,  and  increase  its  quantity  to  a  considerable  extent. 

What  is  left  of  buckwheat,  after  taking  out  the  flour,  will 
largely  increase  the  quantity  of  milk,  without  improving  its  qual- 
ity or  the  condition  of  the  cow.  The  foregoing  notions  were  im- 
bibed from  my  experience  in  feeding  grain  to  dairy  stock  for  the 
first  12  years  of  my  dairy  life ;  but  for  the  past  six  years  I  have 
fed  but  little  grain,  have  let  the  grain  "go  to  grass." 

SOILING. 

Not  having  practiced  soiling,  except  to  supply  dairy-stock  with 
sufiicient  food  when  the  pastures  in  summer  or  autumn  have  failed 
to  supply  them,  I  cannot  speak  upon  this  subject  with  that  practical 
knowledge  that  many  others  possess.  But  as  I  am  required  to  open 
the  discussion  upon  this  subject,  I  will  venture  the  opinion  that  soil- 
ing can  now  be  advantageously  adopted  on  all  moderately  level 
farms  in  the  vicinity  of  our  cities  and  villages,  where  manure  can  be 
easily  obtained  ;  and,  upon  farms  where  the  meadows  are  made  self- 
sustaining  by  the  annual  overflow  of  streams. 

Dr.  Wight,  of  Oneida,  said  :  I  have  had  some  experience,  in  part 
soiling,  during  several  years  past,  and  am  satisfied  that  when  the 
soil  is  well  adapted  to  the  system,  as  it  is  on  the  Mohawk  Flats,  it  is 
far  more  profitable  than  the  old  method  of  grazing.  My  practice 
has  been  to  set  apart  about  twenty-five  acres  of  pasture  for  fifty 
cows.  Commencing  about  the  middle  of  May,  I  let  the  cows  to  pas- 
ture a  few  hours  each  day,  still  giving  them  what  early  cut  fine 
hay  they  will  eat,  and  soon  beginning  to  cut  some  rye,  sown  early 
and  thickly  the  previous  autumn  on  rich  soil,  for  this  purpose.  The 
advantage  of  rye  is  that  it  is  fit  for  feeding  earlier  than  other  soiling 
food.  But  I  feed  it  no  longer  than  I  can  get  early  clover,  as  it  is  too 
light  a  crop  to  be  profitable.  Early  clover  is  then  fed  twice  a  day 
as  long  as  it  remains  green  and  succulent.  Next,  late  and  large 
clover,  followed  sometimes  by  oats  sown  thickly  on  rich  soil,  and  cut 
just  before  or  at  the  time  they  begin  to  head.  Oats  are  succeeded 
by  sowed  corn,  which,  having  been  sown  at  different  times,  I  con- 
tinue to  feed  till  frost  comes,  exchanging  awhile  with  the  second 
crop  of  the  small  clover,  which  furnishes  nearly  as  much  feed  as  the 
first  crop. 

I  generally  turn  the  cows  upon  such  aftermath  as  I  do  not  wish 
to  cut  as  a  second  crop  of  hay,  both  for  the  purpose  of  saving  the 
feed  and  to  benefit  the  next  year's  crop  of  hay,  as  a  large  growth  of 
aftermath  left  on  the  ground  injures  the  succeeding  crop  very  much 
on  the  interval  soil.     By  pursuing  this  course  I  find  three  acres  will 


85 

carry  as  many  cows  through  the  year,  as  four  acres  treated  in  the  or- 
dinary way.  The  expense  in  labor  is  considerably  more,  but  that  is 
counterbalanced  by  the  increase  in  manure. 

Cows  fed  thus,  will  at  least  equal,  if  not  surpass  those  kept  in  the 
usual  way,  in  both  quantity  and  quality  of  milk  ;  and  the  dairyman, 
by  adopting  this  method,  finds  his  profits  enhanced  nearly  one-fourth. 

Full  soiling  I  have  never  practiced,  as  I  cannot  overcome  the  prej- 
udice of  feeling  it  to  be  better  for  the  health  and  comfort  of  stock 
to  roam  freely  in  the  open  air  a  considerable  portion  of  the  time. 

Question  laid  upon  the  table. 

Mr.  Ellison,  of  Herkimer,  alluded  to  the  anotta  prepared  by 
Messrs.  Nichols  k  Co.,  England,  as  being  excellent  in  quality, 
though  its  cost  was  large. 

A  gentleman  stated  that  his  experience  and  observation  led  him 
to  believe  that  if  care  was  used  in  selecting  pure  basket  anotta,  and 
cutting  it  with  a  solution  of  potash,  a  coloring  would  be  produced 
not  to  be  excelled. 

Mr.  Shearman,  of  Oneida,  rose  to  make  a  personal  explanation  re- 
specting the  fund  raised  for  the  European  agency,  which  explanation 
Mr.  Ellison,  of  Herkin>er,  declared  to  be  quite  satisfactory  to  him. 

ADJOURNMENT. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Miller,  of  Lewis,  the  Convention  adjourned 
sine  die. 

[The  attendance  upon  these  meetings  was  large — the  capacity  of 
the  Court  Room  being  fully  tested.  Many  ladies  were  present,  and 
delegations  from  both  the  Canadas,  New  England,  Pennsylvania, 
Ohio,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Michigan,  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  and  other 
of  the  Western  States  and  Territories,  composed  a  portion  of  the 
audience.] 


FACTORY  REPORTS  FOR  1866 


rsrE3"v^  •TE^oii.is.- 


ONEIDA    COUNTY. 

Whifeshoro  Factory,  Whiteshoro. — Manufactured  into  cheese,  the 
milk  of  865  cows.  The  amount  of  milk  received,  was  3,083,649 
lbs.  The  cured  cheese  made  therefrom,  311,881  lbs.,  9  88-100  lbs. 
of  milk  making  1  lb.  of  cheese.  Size  of  cheese,  15  inches  by  10 
inches,  and  weight  about  65  lbs.  The  cheese  was  mostly  sold  at 
home  when  ready  for  market.  The  average  price  to  Nov.  1st,  was 
18  7-100  cts.  per  lb.  1\  cts,  was  charged  for  making,  and  all  the 
other  expenses,  including  insurance,  was  78  cts,  per  100  lbs.  Salted 
2  7-10  lbs.  per  1,000  lbs.  milk,  and  a  trifle  higher  in  very  warm 
weather. 

Too  much  salt  makes  a  dry  and  hard  cheese ;  too  little  insures 
bad  flavor  from  decomposition.  Prepare  anotta  in  concentrated 
potash.  Think  too  much  rennet  causes  the  curd  to  work  faster, 
become  harder,  and  makes  the  cheese  more  porous,  and  slightly 
bitter.  Have  tried  sour  whey,  but  think  it  injures  the  flavor  and 
tends  to  sour  the  cheese.  Better  cheese  can  be  made  from  milk 
slightly  acid  than  when  the  curd  sours.  I  prefer  medium  fine  curds, 
as  coarse  curds  will  not  part  with  the  whey  as  readil}-,  and  hence, 
sometimes  sour  on  the  shelves  after  pressing.  If  there  is  danger  of 
the  curd  becoming  sour  in  the  vat,  we  heat  higher  and  work  faster. 
I  prefer  to  have  the  whey  change  slightly,  but  let  the  curd  remain 
perfectly  sweet.  To  avoid  porosity  in  cheese,  cut  the  curd  when 
rather  soft.  Let  the  heat  be  applied  very  gradually  at  all  times; 
let  the  whey  change  slightly  before  dipping  out;  cool  the  curd  a 
little  before  putting  to  press ;  press  20  minutes,  and  then  grind  in  a 
good  curd  mill,  salt,  and  then  press  two  or  three  days.  Then 
let  the  curing-house  be  scrupulously  kept  at  an  equable  temperature, 
'  of  about  70  degrees,  and  the  atmosphere  rather  moist  than  dry.  We 
can  store  about  one-third  of  last  season's  make  at  one  time. 

There  is  a  loss  in  incoi-porating  the  cream  of  the  night's  milk  with 
the  morning's,  but  what  per  cent,  I  cannot  say.  We  weigh  the 
milk  as  it  comes  to  the  factory,  making  no  deduction  on  rainy  days. 

L.  L.  Wight. 


Dorn  Factory,  Ava. — Number  of  cows,  350 ;  average  number,  300. 
Pounds  of  milk  received,  916,803 ;  pounds  of  cheese  sold,  96,716 ; 
founds  of  milk  to  one  pound  of  cheese,  9  75-100 ;  received  for  mak- 
ing cheese,  $1  per  100  lbs  ;  expenses  for  boxes,  bandages,  &c.,  per 
100  lbs,  63cts.     Received  for  cheese  from  13cts.  to  20cts. 

N.  B.  Lawrence,  Manufacturer. 


88 

A.  Blue's  Factory,  North  Gage. — Commenced  maldng  cheese  April 
1st,  and  closed  25th  November;  number  of  cows  140  ;  the  number 
of  pounds  of  milk  received,  566,788  ;  the  number  of  pounds  cheese 
sold,  59,277  ;  average  prices  of  sales  was  17  58-100  dollars  per  hun- 
dred ;  the  number  of  sales,  10  ;  quantity  of  milk  for  one  pound  of 
cheese  is  9  9-16  ;  the  number  of  pounds  of  cheese  per  cow,  423  ;  the 
number  of  cheese  made,  880  ;  average,  67  pounds  each ;  the  price  for 
making,  boxing  and  all  expenses,  two  dollars  per  hundred, 

Archibald  Blue. 


Roberts'  Factory^  Floyd. — Commenced  making  cheese  April  10th ; 
season  ended  Oct.  30th ;  average  number  of  cows  275  ;  number  of 
pounds  of  milk  received,  831,253  ;  pounds  of  green  cheese  made,  87,- 
026  ;  pounds  of  cured  cheese  made,  82,100 ;  size  of  cheese,  18  inches ; 
average  weight  of  cured  cheese,  90  lbs. ;  pounds  of  milk  to  one 
pound  of  cured  cheese,  10  124-1000.  Sales  made  May  2«th,  19^cts. ; 
June  21st,  19icts. ;  June  25th,  20cts.  ;  July  27th,  18cts. ;  September 
18th,  lO^cts.  ;  November  16th,  16^cts.  ;  average  price  per  pound, 
17.41.  Whey  fed  to  hogs  ;  value  of  whey  per  1000  lbs.  milk,  50cts..; 
price  received  for  making,  $1.12|.  Used  O'Neil's  vats.  Cost  of 
boxes,  bandages,  &c.,  per  100  lbs.  cheese,  73cts.      T.  D.  Roberts. 


Ghuclcery  Factory,  Paris. — Number  of  cows,  500  ;  pounds  of  milk 
received,  1,637,651 ;  pounds  cured  cheese  made,  168,561 ;  the  size 
of  cheese,  19  inches;  pounds  of  milk  to  one  pound  of  cured  cheese, 
9.72;  to  what  market  sent.  New  York;  average  price  for  cheese  $17,- 
54  ;  price  received  for  making,  $1.25  per  100 ;  what  heating  appara- 
tus used,  Ealph's ;  amount  of  salt  used,  8  lbs.  to  100  lbs.  curd ; 
average  number  of  cows,  458;  pounds  green  cheese  made,  173,617; 
shrinkage,  about  3  per  cent;  average  weight,  cured,  96  lbs. ;  when 
cheese  sold,  once  in  about  20  days ;  kind  and  quantity  of  fuel,  maple, 
25  cords,  18  inch;  what  use  made  of  whey,  fed  to  hogs;  cost  of  boxes, 
bandage,  &u.,  per  100  lbs.  cheese,  87cts.  Milk  set  from  80  to  84  dc" 
grees.  After  standing  forty  to  sixty  minutes  it  is  cut  both  ways; 
neat  is  then  applied,  and  the  cutting  continued  until  the  curd  re- 
sembles corn  for  size.  Highest  heat  used,  96  to  100  degrees.  Salt 
in  sink  and  put  to  press  at  a  temperature  of  80  degrees;  press  18  to 
20  hours ;  keep  dry  room  from  70  to  75  degrees.      Enos  Potter. 


Weehs^  Factory,  Verona. — Season  opened  April  9th ;  closed  No- 
vember 3d.  Largest  number  of  cows,  620  ;  average  number,  about 
520;  pounds  milk  received,  2,075,327  ;  pounds  green  cheese  made, 
221,371;  pounds  cured  cheese  made,  212,975;  shrinkage,  8,396  lbs. 
or  3  79-100  per  cent ;  pounds  of  milk  for  one  pound  of  green  cheese, 
April,  9  84-100;  May,  9  32-100;  June,  9  49-100;  July,  9  77-100; 
August,  9  28-100;  September,  8  70-100 ;  October,  8  28-100 ;  Novem- 
ber, 7  61-100;  average  of  milk  required  for  one  pound  green  cheese, 
9  37-100  pounds ;  average  of  milk  required  for  one  pound  cured 
cheese,  9  74-100  pounds. 


89 

My  patrons,  for  the  five  years  since  I  began  making  their  cheese, 
have  always  practiced  the  plan  of  selling  cheese  often — believing  it, 
on  the  whole,  more  satisfactory,  when  a  shipment  of  cheese  is  ready 
for  market,  to  accept  a  fair  price  for  it  than  to  hold  for  a  better  one. 

The  result,  though  not  always  successful,  is  yet  so  far  satisfactory 
that  we  shall  be  likely  to  continue  the  same  rale  in  future.  Fifteen 
sales  have  been  made  during  the  season.  The  extreme  prices  being 
20^  and  16.  The  average  has  been  $17  92-100  per  hundred.  The 
cheese  has  all  been  sent  to  New  York,  and,  so  far  as  known,  has  all 
•of  it  eventually  gone  to  England. 

Four  hundred  boxes  were  shipped  to  London  on  our  own  account, 
through  Messrs.  Williams  &  Ellison.  Though  the  expenses  of  such  a 
transaction  seemed  needlessly  large,  we  believe  that  a  price  was  ob- 
tained for  these  400  boxes  better,  by  one  half  a  cent  per  pound,  than 
could  have  been  realized  here.  The  loss  in  weight  on  that  lot  (29,- 
664:  pounds,)  was  335  pounds. 

The  size  of  my  cheese  has  been  16  inches  by  9|,  averaging, 
cured,  77  pounds  ;  though  I  have  made  one  or  two,  almost  daily,  in 
a  14  inch  hoop,  weighing  48  pounds — these  last  have  been  made  in 
order  to  avoid  saving  curd  from  one  day  to  another. 

Cost  of  materials  used,  (including  taxes,  insurance,  subscriptions 
to  European  agency,  and  other  extras,)  78  cts.  per  100  pounds.  Ee- 
ceived  for  making  cheese,  1|  cts.  per  pound. 

Whey  has  been  fed  to  swine,  but  only  in  connection  with  grain. 
I  have  long  been  convinced  that  there  is  some  more  profitable  use  to 
be  made  of  whey  than  to  feed  to  either  pigs  or  cows.  Pressure  of 
other  duties  last  summer,  alone  prevented  my  testing  the  practica- 
bility of  making  good  table  butter  from  the  whey ;  a  subject  to  which 
I  purpose  giving  my  early  attention  during  the  coming  season. 

Of  Factory  Filled  Salt,  2  7-10  lbs.  per  100  lbs.  curd  is  used  in 
summer ;  less  in  spring  and  fall.  If  too  much  salt  is  used,  the  pro- 
duct will  be  dry,  hard,  lifeless ;  if  too  little,  the  cheese  will  be  soft 
and  salvy,  and  oftentimes  will  decay  upon  the  tables.  Carefully 
selected  basket  anotta  is  prepa^^ed  in  a  solution  of  potash.  Eennets 
are  soaked  in  whey,  the  first  which  separates  from  the  curd  being 
used.  I  prefer  whey  to  water  because  there  is  less  liability  to  taint ; 
and  because  the  whey  assists  in  the  coagulation  of  the  milk,  and 
also  hastens  the  cooking  of  the  curd.  Steam  is  used  for  warming 
the  milk.  In  order,  so  far  as  possible,  to  remove  the  animal  heat 
from  the  milk,  the  cold  water  is  allowed  to  pass  around  each  vat 
until  it  is  filled.  Heat  is  then  applied,  and,  at  82  degs.  in  summer, 
and  86  degs,  in  cool  weather,  coloring  and  rennet  are  added.  In 
about  45  minutes  the  vat  is  uncovered,  and,  with  a  13-bladed  knife 
the  curd  is  cut  lengthwise  and  across.  It  is  then  allowed  to  stand 
for  20  minutes,  when  the  knife  is  again  brought  into  requisition,  the 
agitator  being  used  to  raise  the  curd  for  cutting.  This  process  is 
very  slowly  and  carefully  done.  When  the  particles  of  curd  are  of 
the  size  of  chestnuts  the  knife  is  laid  aside  and  used  no  more. 

Heat  is  now  applied  up  to  nearly  90  degs.,  the  curd,  meantime, 
being  very  carefully  kept  in  motion  by  the  use  of  a  simple  rake,  by 
12 


90 

the  aid  of  wliicli  one  person  can  do  better  justice  tlian  two  could  do 
by  the  bands,  and  with  less  waste. 

When  the  curd  no  longer  "  packs  "  it  is  allowed  to  settle,  and  a 
large  part  of  the  whey  is  drawn  off.  The  temperature  is  now  in- 
creased to  98  degs.  On  the  development  of  a  decided  .acid  in  the 
whey,  and  a  slight  change  in  the  curd,  it  is  removed  to  the  sink, 
thoroughly  drained,  cooled,  salted,  and  dipped  into  the  hoop. 

This  process  differs  from  former  methods  practiced  by  me,  in  the 
final  cutting  of  the  curd  hefore  heat  is  applied ;  in  the  greater  coarse- 
ness of  the  curd  ;  in  the  more  careful  handling  of  it ;  in  the  strong 
acidity  required  in  the  whey  before  dipping  out  the  curd,  and  in  the 
lower  temperature  of  the  curd  when  put  to  press. 

In  regard  to  the  necessity  of  the  presence  of  a  decided  acid  in  the 
whey  (and  even  a  slight  touch  of  it  ia  the  curd)  before  removing  the 
curd  to  the  sink,  I  confess  myself  a  firm  believer.  In  my  judgment, 
this  acid  gives  a  firmer  and  less  porous  cheese,  and  a  cheese  which 
sudden  extremes  of  weather,  and  even  very  hot  weather,  can  not 
spoil — can  scarcely  injure — a  cheese  of  better  flavor,  and  one  which 
retains  its  good  qualities  and  grows  better  with  age ;  and  a  cheese 
which  will  bear  exportation,  and  improve  during  the  voyage.  Cheese 
made  by  this  rule  never  will  assume  that  rank,  sharp,  and  putrid 
smell  and  taste,  that  so  invariably  marks  a  cheese  which  in  the  curd 
was  too  slightly  cooked,  after  such  cheese  is  two  months  old  and 
upwards,  if  such  cheese  has  been  made  at  a  period  when  it  must  be 
exposed  to  our  ordinary  summer  heats  in  curing.  The  prime  cause 
pf  the  general  loss  in  flavor  in  cheese  made  prior  to  and  during  the 
excessive  heat  of  last  July,  was  because  cheese-makers  generally 
failed  to  fortify  their  product  against  such  emergencies,  by  permit- 
ting a  proper  degree  of  acid.  Such  was  the  case  with  me,  and 
nothing  has  ever  so  strengthened  my  belief  in  the  necessity  of  this 
course  as  my  experience  and  observation  in  cheese  made  at  the  time 
mentioned.  (Another  cause  for  the  same,  is  found  in  the  fact  that 
in  such  times  of  unusual  heat,  especially  when  so  long  protracted, 
milk  invariably  comes  to  our  factories  in  bad  condition.  It  was 
so  in  July  last,  and  the  wonder  is  that  cheese-makers  are  able  to 
produce,  under  such  circumstances,  a  cheese  that  is  saleable  at  all.) 

I  noticed  then,  as  I  have  many  times  since,  that  cheese-buyers, 
who  are  admitted  to  be  unsurpassed  as  good  judges  of  cheese,  in- 
variably preferred  cheese  showing  the  presence  of  some  acidity  in 
their  making ;  and  those  cheese  which  I  fancied  too  far  gone,  were 
always  considered  by  them  the  best  on  the  tables. 

It  must  be  remembered,  however,  that  it  is  a  nice  point  to  deter- 
mine just  what  degree  of  acidity  it  is  safe  to  permit;  for,  if  allowed 
to  develop  one  step  too  far,  a  sour  cheese  is  inevitable.  I  suppose 
that  it  is  better  to  have  too  little  acid  than  too  much,  although  ship- 
pers are  always  more  afraid  of  a  soft  cheese  than  a  sour  one. 

In  my  own  practice  the  coming  year,  I  shall,  on  the  1st  of  Sep- 
tember, begin  gradually  to  reduce  the  acidity,  and  by  the  15th,  and 
thence  through  the  season,  allow  none  at  all  If  permitted  so  late 
in  the  fall,  the  cold  nights  of  October  and  November  will  cause  the 
surfaces  of  the  cheese  to  crack  and  check  so  badly  as  very  much  to 


91 

injure  their  appearance.  And  in  cheese  wHcli  is  made,  cured,  and 
consumed  in  the  colder  months  of  the  year,  the  acidity  is  not  re- 
quired, for  there  is  no  danger  of  the  flavor  of  the  cheese  being  in- 
jured by  heat,  I  have  never  practiced  using  sour  whey  to  hasten 
the  process  of  perfecting  the  curd. 

For  a  curd  thoroughly  sour  in  the  vat,  the  best  course  to  pursue 
is  to  hasten  the  cooking,  and  take  it  from  the  whey  as  speedily  as 
possible.  We  have  practiced  dashing  the  curd  with  warm  water 
both  in  the  vats  and  in  the  sink,  and  with  very  good  results.  Haste 
in  the  making  of  cheese,  and  exposing  them  to  a  high  heat  to  cure, 
are  both  to  be  avoided. 

We  have  practiced  adding  salt  to  the  night's  milk  on  sultry  eve- 
nings, but  am  not  convinced  that  it  is  an  advantage.  There  is  more 
difficulty  in  determining  the  condition  of  the  milk  in  the  morning, 
than  when  salt  is  not  used. 

Mr.  C.  D.  Shipman  has  made  my  cheese  during  the  past  season. 

G-ARDNER  B.  Weeks,  Proprietor. 


HERKIMER    COUNTY. 

Cedarville  Factory^  Cedarville. — Average  number  of  cows,  about 
575  ;  pounds  of  milk,  2,378,714 ;  number  lbs.  cured  cheese,  233,802  ; 
size  of  cheese,  16  by  9 ;  average  weight  of  cured  cheese,  61  lbs.  ;  num- 
ber lbs.  of  milk  to  lb.  of  cured  cheese,  10.105  ;  cheese  sold  when  fit 
for  market  (except  one  lot  of  1,121,  which  was  held  until  the  8th  of  Oct.) 
at  average  price  of  17.32  ;  cost  of  boxes,  bandage,  &c.,  per  100  lbs., 
68.10  cents ;  charge  for  making,  $1,25  ;  rennets  used  for  1,000  lbs,  of 
cheese,  about  2,  or  443  in  all ;  rennets  soaked  in  soft  water;  most  of 
whey  fed  to  hogs  ;  use  the  best  barrel  salt,  per,  cwt.  2^  lbs.  in  sum- 
mer, 2  1-4  spring  and  fall ;  set  the  milk  at  82  to  85  degrees,  and  heat 
in  scalding  to  100  degrees.  We  use  Ealph's  apparatus  for  heating, 
with  good  success. 

Do  not  seek  to  make  the  curd  very  fine,  nor  do  we  adopt  the  ex- 
treme coarse  curd  system,  believing  a  medium  safer  than  either 
extreme. 

Prefer  a  slight  acid  in  the  whey  before  removing  the  curd. 

Press  20  hours.  Believe  two  daj'-s  pressure  very  desirable  when 
practicable.  C.  W.  &  J.  Smith,  Proprietors. 


First  National  Factory^  Frankfort. — Whole  number  of  cows  the 
present  season,  650 ;  average  number,  550  ;  number  of  lbs.  of  milk 
received,  2,654,913  ;  cured  cheese,  259,064  lbs. ;  average  number  lbs, 
of  milk  per  lb,  of  cured  cheese,  10,248 ;  commenced  making 
cheese  March  26th,  and  ended  November  23d;  received  the  milk 
once  a  day,  and  cream  taken  off  the  night's  milk  from  March  26th,  to 
May  10th,  and  from  October  7th  to  November  23d,  the  same ;  used 
2  1-2  lbs  .of  salt  to  1,000  lbs,  of  milk,  spring  and  fall,  and  3  lbs.  dur- 
ing the  warmer  portion  of  tlie  season ;  there  were  11  sales  of  cheese 
during  the  time,  ranging  in  price  from  19  1-2  to  15  1-2  ;  average 
price  cheese  sold  for  17.02  cts.    F;-ona  March  26th,  to  May  10th,  whil§ 


92 

the  milk  was  received  once  a  day  ;  number  of  lbs.  of  milk  for  a  lb. 
of  cured  cheese,  11.28  lbs. ;  during  September,  9.55  lbs. ;  October 
9.117  lbs. ;  and  November,  8.65  lbs. 

GrAYLORD  CAMPBELL,'  Manufacturer. 


MADISON  COUNTY. 

Lamunion  &  ClarJc's  Factory,  StocTcbridge. — We  have  received  the 
milk  of  400  cows  ;  commenced  making  cheese  April  16th  ;  finished 
making,  Nov.  3d;  number  pounds  of  milk  received,  1,169,254; 
pounds  of  cured  cheese  made,  118,412  ;  average  quantity  of  milk 
per  pound  of  cheese,  9.86  ;  average  price  per  pound,  17  1-2  cts. ; 
weight  of  cheese,  72  lbs. ;  number  cheese  made  1,650.  Sunday  morn- 
ing's milk  not  received  at  Factory. 

Hunt's  Factory,  Huhbardsville. — Number  cows,  600 ;  average  num- 
ber cows,  450 ;  amount  of  cheese  sold,  183,479  lbs. ;  amount  of  milk  re- 
ceived 1,713,498  lbs.  ;  pounds  of  milk  for  1  lb.  cheese,  9  1-3  ;  average 
price  cheese  per  lb.,  17  90-100 ;  price  for  manufacturing  and  furnish- 
ing, 2  3-10 ;  size  of  cheese,  18  inches  ;  average  weight,  71  1-4 ;  whey 
fed  to  hogs  ;  cheese  principally  sold  in  New  York  market,  by  S.  B. 
Potter  &  Co.  and  C.  S.  Brown  &  Co. ;  cheese  sent  forward  nearly 
each  week ;  Heating  apparatus  used,  O.  O'Neil's  ;  we  salt  by  taste ; 
too  much  salt  upon  cheese  makes  it  dry  and  crumbling,  and  pro- 
duces white  scurf  upon  the  surface  ;  for  coloring,  we  use  Jones'  pre- 
pared anotta.  My  method  for  preparing  rennets ; — take  two  4  gallon 
jars ; — with  No.  1  jar,  put  in  2  gallons  brine  of  boiling  water,  when  cold 
put  in  4  rennets,  let  soak  2  or  3  days  before  using,  when  we  have 
whey  commence  with  No.  2  jar  by  filling  with  sweet  whey  from  vat ; 
after  the  curd  is  settled  sufiicient  to  dip  off,  then  remove  the  4  ren- 
nets from  jar  No.  1  into  jar  No.  2,  applying  what  salt  the  whey  will 
dissolve,  then  rub  and  wash  the  rennets  in  jar  No.  2,  and  leave  them 
to  soak  for  one  day,  then  put  new  rennets  in  jar  No.  1,  and  filling 
the  jar  with  liquor  from  jar  No.  2  as  it  is  used  out,  and  renewing  jar 
No.  2  as  used  out,  by  new  whey  and  sweet,  being  careful  to  add 
salt  daily  to  each  jar,  all  that  will  dissolve,  using  from  jar  No.  1,  re- 
plenishing from  jar  No.  2.  Too  much  rennet  makes  a  dry,  hard  cheese. 
My  treatment  of  the  night's  milk ;  let  the  cream  remain  until  the 
morning  milk  is  in,  the  mass  is  then  heated  to  82  or  84  degs.,  then 
with  a  pan  skim  off  the  cream  and  turn  it  through  the  strainer, 
then  apply  the  anotta  and  rennet,  mix  by  stirring,  then  cover  with 
a  cloth  until  it  coagulates  sufficiently  hard  to  break  before  the  finger 
and  not  leave  a  milky  appearance  on  the  finger,  then  apply  the  knife, 
cutting  lengthwise  of  the  vat,  then  wait  for  the  whey  to  appear,  then 
cut  crosswise ;  I  then  wait  for  tlie  curd  to  settle  nearly  out  of  sight 
in  the  whey,  then  raise  the  curd  softly  witli  the  hands,  then  cut  the 
curd  a  little  finer,  apply  the  agitator  carefully,  not  suffering  .the  curd 
to  pack,  waiting  a  few  minutes,  apply  the  heat,  gently,  increasing 
slowly  as  the  curd  hardens  until  the  heat  reaches  100  degs.  If  the 
acid  dcvclopes  itself,  I  commence  running  off  the  whey ;  if  the  acid  is 


93 

very  strong,  would  run  it  down  until  there  was  barely  enougli  to 
cover  the  curd,  and  if  exceedingly  strong,  run  the  whey  all  off,  and 
apply  hot  water  to  finish  the  heat  with.  When  sufficiently  firm, 
draw  off  the  water  and  salt  by  taste,  and  when  cool  put  into  the 
hoop ;  let  it  stand  20  and  30  minutes  fitting  to  press,  then  press  30 
or  50  minutes,  then  bandage  and  turn,  continue  until  we  want  the 
press  next  day.  No  satisfactory  treatment  for  curds  that  are  sour  in 
the  vat ;  do  not  use  sour  whey  on  any  occasion.  Cause  of  porosity  in 
cheese  is  owing  to  a  fermentation  in  the  rennet  and  a  lack  of  salt  in 
warm  weather.  We  can  store  from  one  third  to  one  half  of  the 
cheese  we  make  in  the  season. 

S.  Hunt,  Proprietor. 


Excelsior  Factory^  Brookfield. — This  is  a  new  factory,  built  in  the 
spring  of  1866,  and  this  the  first  season  of  operation. 

Number  of  cows,  300 ;  average,  275  ;  pounds  milk  received,  897,- 
250 ;  pounds  of  green  cheese  made,  101,000 ;  pounds  cured  cheese, 
97,000;  shrinkage,  4 12-100  lbs.  per  hundred  ;  size  of  cheese  16  inch. ; 
average  weight,  72  lbs. ;  9  1-4  lbs.  milk  to  1  lb.  cured  cheese. 
All  our  products  sold  to  the  shipping  trade,  at  an  average  of  17 J 
cts.  per  lb.  The  whey  was  taken  from  the  factory  by  the  patrons. 
We  use  the  O'Neil  vats.  Eeceived  1\  cts.  per  lb.  for  manufacturing. 
Cost  of  boxes,  bandage,  &c.,  per  100  lbs.,  81  cts. ;  use  3  lbs.  salt  per 
1,000  lbs.  of  milk ;  we  salt  a  little  more,  later  in  the  season ;  too 
much  salt  causes  a  hard  cheese  with  imperfect  flavor ;  too  little  salt 
a  softer  cheese  with  too  high  flavor ;  we  prepare  our  own  anotta. 
The  night's  and  morning's  milk  are  mixed  to  make  up ;  add  rennet 
at  a  temperature  of  82  degs. ;  requires  from  30  to  60  minutes  to 
coagulate ;  the  curd  is  broken  carefully  with  the  hand  and  agitator ; 
temperature  in  cooking  carried  up  to  98  or  100 ;  remains  in  the  whey 
until  it  reaches  the  proper  condition  for  the  press,  which  time  will 
vary  from  1  to  3  hours ;  we  want  no  acid  in  the  curd  and  but  a 
slight  development  of  it  in  the  whey.  I  consider  one  cause  of 
porosity  in  cheese  to  be  taking  the  curd  from  the  vat  when  insuffi- 
ciently cooked.  I  can  store  100,000  lbs.  of  cheese  at  one  time. 
With  proper  management  there  is  no  loss  in  mixing  the  cream  of 
the  night's  milk  with  the  morning's  milk.  Do  not  add  salt  at  any 
time  to  the  milk  to  prevent  the  development  of  acid,  but  are  very 
particular  in  thoroughly  cooling  the  night's  milk. 

F.  Blanding,  Proprietor. 


MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 

Empire  Factory^  Florida. — Began  making  cheese,  April  4th,  ended 
November  5th ;  whole  number  of  cows,  260 ;  average  number,  225 
pounds  milk  received,  777,869 :  pounds  cured  cheese  made,  77,784 
pounds  milk  to  one  of  cured  cheese,  10 ;  size  of  cheese,  15  inches 
weight,  61  lbs. ;  average  price  received  per  hundred,  $17.25 ;  re 
ceived  for  making  cheese,  and  furnishing  materials,  2  cts.  per  pound 
use  O'Neil's  vats,  which  give  entire  satisfaction ;  milk  skimmed  in 


94 

the  spring  until  May  25tli,  and  again  in  the  fall  from  October  1st ; 
do  not  think  it  profitable  to  skim  in  the  spring ;  used  of  salt,  from 
2  7-10  to  3  lbs.  per  1,000  lbs.  milk ;  think  less  salt  is  required  in  the 
spring  than  at  any  other  part  of  the  season.  Too  much  salt  makes 
a  dry,  crumbly  cheese,  and  too  little,  a  soft,  salvy  cheese,  which  on 
attaining  age  will  have  a  rank,  putrid  flavor;  use  Jones  &  Co.'s 
prepared  anotta ;  have  used  both  whey  and  water  for  soaking  ren- 
nets ;  believe  that  with  whey,  rennets  are  less  liable  to  taint ;  prefer 
the  presence  of  an  acid  in  the  whey  before  removing  curd.  Porosity 
is  caused,  chiefly,  by  lack  of  acid  in  the  whey,  also  by  tainted  ren- 
net, and  also  by  a  high  temperature  in  the  curing  room. 

A.  Peck. 


Charleston  Four  Corners  Factory. — Whole  number  of  cows,  525 ; 
average  number  of  cows,  500 ;  whole  number  of  pounds  of  milk,  1,- 
726,954  ;  pounds  of  cured  cheese  made,  168,896  ;  size  of  cheese,  15 
and  19  inches  ;  pounds  of  milk  to  one  pound  cured  cheese,  10 ;  to 
what  market  sent,  New  York  ;  average  price  for  cheese,  17  1-4  cts.; 
price  for  making  and  famishing,  2  cts.  ;  heating  apparatus,  0.  O'Neil's 
vats ;  fuel,  14  cords  soft  wood ;  whey  fed  to  hogs  at  factory  ;  amount 
of  salt  2.5  spring  and  fall,  2.7  warm  weather ;  1  prepare  my  anotta  by 
dissolving  in  common  ley  ;  I  soak  the  rennets  in  strong  brine  ;  I  cool 
the  milk  at  night  to  70  degrees,  add  morning  milk  and  raise  tem- 
perature to  82  degs.  ;  add  rennet  to  coagulate  in  30  minutes ;  my 
process  does  not  diifer  materially  from  former  course  ;  I  make  rather 
coarse  curd ;  I  use  saleratus  or  soda  for  sour  curd  in  vats ;  I  use  no  sour 
whey  to  hasten  the  action  of  the  acid ;  I  want  a  slight  acid  in  the 
whey ;  none  in  the  curd  before  dipping  out ;  I  had  no  difficulty  in 
loss  of  flavor  during  the  season ;  I  have  been  troubled  some  with 
porosity  in  cheese,  but  have  no  tested  theory  as  to  cause ;  too  high  a 
temperature  destroys  the  flavor,  too  low  the  same ;  on  sultry 
evenings  I  add  salt  before  the  milk  is  cooled. 

John  W.  Conover,  Manufacturer, 


Smith  Creeh  Factory,  Palatine. — Erected  in  the  winter  of  '65-6.6 ; 
commenced  making  cheese  April  14th,  closed  December  1st ;  whole 
number  of  cows,  675 ;  average  number,  600 ;  whole  number  of  lbs. 
milk  received,  2,213,111,  from  which  was  made  222,390  lbs.  cured 
cheese ;  some  of  cheese  held  until  100  days  old ;  size  of  cheese,  17 
inches  ;  average  weight  when  cured,  78 1  lbs. ;  average  price  per  lb., 
17i  cts. ;  average  number  of  lbs.  of  milk  for  a  lb.  of  cured  cheese, 
9  95-100 ;  skimmed  from  time  of  commencing  until  25th  of  April, 
and  from  October  4th,  until  we  closed  ;  received  for  making,  2  cts. 
per  lb.,  furnishing  everything;  whey  given  to  patrons,  each  patron 
allowed  1  hog  to  5  cows,  or  its  equivalent  in  whey  drawn  from 
factory ;  whole  number  of  hogs,  175 ;  hogs  yarded,  having  free 
access  to  running  water  and  cool  shade ;  fed  1  pint  of  corn  in  the 
kernel  per  head,  daily,  the  entire  season;  hogs  perfectly  healthy, 
losing  hut  one. 


95 

OSWEGO  COUNTY. 

Gilbert^s  Mills  Factory,  Gilbert^ s  Mills. — Commenced  making  clieese 
April  24tli,  and  closed  October  81st;  whole  No.  cows,  430  ;  average 
No.  about  360 ;  pounds  cured  cheese  made,  151,621 ;  pounds  milk  to  1 
lb.  cured  cheese,  9  73-100;  average  price  sold  for,  16  7-10  cts.  per  lb.  ; 
number  of  cheese  made,  1,800 ;  size  of  hoop,  18  inches ;  cost  of 
material  used,  74  cts.  per  100  lbs. ;  number  of  sales,  7  ;  price  of 
making,  1  1-4  cts.  per  lb.  Andrus  Gilbert,  Salesman. 

Ingell  &  Smith's  Factory,  Volney. — Commenced  making  cheese  May 
1st ;  closed  November  1st ;  pounds  of  milk  received,  1,226,939  ; 
pounds  cheese  sold,  126,939;  pounds  of  milk  to  one  of  cured  cheese, 
9  72-100 ;  largest  number  of  cows,  375 ;  average  number  of  cows, 
300 ;  average  of  sales,  16  7-10  cts.  Ingell  &  Smith.  . 


Prattville  Factory,  Mexico. — Number  of  cows,  516;  average  num- 
ber, 425  ;  pounds  milk  received,  1,330,677 ;  pouccds  cured  cheese 
made,  134,181 ;  size  of  cheese,  20  1-2  inches;  average  weight  cured, 
102  lbs. ;  pounds  milk  to  one  pound  cured  cheese,  9  96-100  ;  cheese 
sold  June  30,  September  15,  December  10 ;  average  price  received 
for  cheese,  $14.83  per  hundred ;  cheese  sold  to  go  to  New  York ; 
price  received  for  making,  (and  furnishing  materials,)  1.88  per  100 
lbs.  ;  used  25  cords  hard  wood,  (2  feet  long,)  and  6  cords  soft  wood  ; 
whey  fed  to  hogs ;  use  from  2  to  3  pounds  of  salt  per  100  lbs.  curd ; 
in  spring  and  fall  use  1-2  lb.  less ;  too  much  salt  hardens  the  cheese 
and  kills  the  flavor  ;  prepare  our  anotta  in  a  weak  ley ;  soak  rennets 
in  water ;  too  much  rennet  makes  the  curd  hard  and  husky,  and 
injures  its  flavor ;  set  the  milk  at  80,  and  scald  from  90  to  100  degs. ; 
favor  coarse  curds,  because  the  less  the  curd  is  handled  the  better; 
where  curds  are  sour,  we  scald  lightly,  and  handle  carefully ;  we  use 
sour  whey  in  cold  weather ;  do  not  think  it  essential  that  an  acid  be 
present  in  the  curd  and  whey  before  removing  the  former ;  think  this 
acid  hastens  fermentation  and  injures  the  flavor ;  can  store  3-4  of  our 
season's  make  at  one  time ;  there  need  be  no  loss  of  cream  in  mixing 
night's  and  morning's  milk,  if  proper  care  be  taken. 

Keuben  F.  WeYgint,  Proprietor. 

TrurribulVs  Factory,  Pulaski. — Began  May  1st ;  closed  November 
1st ;  number  of  cows,  270 ;  pounds  milk  received,  653,047 ;  pounds 
cheese  made,  67,406 ;  pounds  milk  to  pound  cured  cheese,  9  62-100 ; 
average  price  obtained  for  cheese,  16  cts. ;  size  of  cheese,  17  inches  ; 
use  Cooper's  vats,  Nos.  10  and  13 ;  having  no  spring  I  am  obliged 
to  pump  water  from  a  well.  H.  I.  Trumbull. 


LEWIS    COUNTY. 

Miller's  Factory,  Constahleville. — Commenced  March  16th,  and 
closed  November  1st;  2,197,255  lbs. milk  received  ;  made  245,711 
lbs.  green  cheese;  sold  of  cured  cheese  229,852,  for  $41,405.02; 
shrinkage  is  15,859  lbs.  or  6  45-100  percent. ;  average  price  at  which 


96 

the  wtole  sold,  is  $18.01 ;  8  93-100  milk  made  1  lb.  green  cheese  ; 
9  55-100  made  1  lb.  cured  cbeese  wben  sold ;  9  51-100  milk  made  1 
lb.  of  cheese  from  1st  of  May  to  1st  November  ;  charge  for  making 
cheese  per  100  lbs.  $1.25 ;  expenses  including  boxes,  bandages, 
anotta,  license,  insurance,  salt,  &c.,  per  100  lbs.,  0.63  ;  in  March,  9  28- 
100  milk  made  1  lb.  green  cheese ;  in  April,  10  08-100  milk  made 
1  lb.  green  cheese ;  in  May,  9  56-100  milk  made  1  lb.  green  cheese  ; 
in  June,  9  10-100  milk  made  1  lb.  green  cheese ;  in  July,  9  20-100 
milk  made  1  lb.  green  cheese ;  in  August,  8  85-100  milk  made  1  lb. 
green  cheese ;  in  September,  8  25-100  milk  made  1  lb.  green  cheese ; 
in  October,  8  07-100  milk  made  1  lb.  green  cheese ;  average  price 
for  feeding  hogs,  $2.59 ;  average  price  of  feed  for  each  hog,  $2.07, 
total,  $4.66.  I  put  in  operation  in  my  factory  last  season,  a  float,  in 
the  milk  vats,  which  was  kept  in  moderate  motion  on  the  surface  of 
the  milk  during  the  night,  serving  entirely  the  double  purpose  of 
cooling  the  milk  and  preventing  any  cream  from  rising  to  the  sur- 
face of  the  milk,  I  consider  this  one  of  the  greatest  inventions  of 
the  age,  in  cheese-making,  as  it  saves  all  manual  labor  in  cooling 
the  milk  in  the  vats,  and  is  a  perfect  preventive  to  any  waste  of 
cream ;  its  operation  is  simple ;  the  water  which  passes  around  the 
vats  to  cool  the  milk  keeps  the  float  in  motion ;  the  float  is  made  of 
pine  or  spruce,  and  somewhat  resembles  a  door  frame  without  the 
panels  ;  the  boards  are  about  1-2  inch  thick,  by  2  1-2  wide,  two 
side,  and  one  middle  piece  lengthways,  and  the  same  across ;  coming 
near  the  sides  of  the  vat,  and  within  a  couple  of  feet  of  the  ends  of 
the  yat ;  when  the  float  is  in  motion,  the  power  used  to  move  the 
float,  is  the  spring  water  turning  a  simple  wheel  of  five  to  six  feet 
diameter,  and  the  connections  with  the  float  are  narrow  strips  of 
light  wood.        •  Seth  Miller. 

Glensdale  Factory^  Glensdale. — Whole  number  of  cows,  700 ;  aver- 
age number,  600;  pounds  of  milk  received,  2,610,807;  pounds 
cured  cheese  made,  273,490 ;  pounds  milk  to  one  of  cured  cheese, 
9  59-100 ;  size  of  cheese,  19  3-8  inches ;  weight,  91  lbs. ;  average 
price  received  for  cheese,  17  10-100  cts. ;  cheese  sent  to  New  York 
City,  and  to  New  Jersey  ;  received  for  making,  per  100  lbs.,  $1.00 ; 
use  2  1-2  lbs.  salt,  spring  and  fall,  and  3  lbs.  in  summer,  per  100 
lbs.  curd ;  prepare  anotta  in  ley ;  prepare  rennet  in  water ;  too  much 
rennet  produces  a  strong,  rank  cheese  ;  prefer  fine  curd,  because  it 
cooks,  and  can  be  salted  more  evenly ;  scald  to  110  degs.,  and  salt 
lightly  in  the  whey ;  desire  the  presence  of  an  acid  in  the  whey  be- 
fore removing  the  curd,  but  do  not  want  the  curd  changed  at  all ; 
believing  this  acid  promotes  and  hastens  curing  ;  porosity  caused  by 
too  little  pressure ;  cheese  should  be  in  press  48  hours ;  can  store 
about  one  third  of  the  make  of  the  entire  season ;  believe  there 
need  be  no  loss  in  mixing  the  night's  and  morning's  milk  together. 

Anson  W.  Johnson. 


Sulphur  Springs  Factory^  Lowvilh. — Whole  number  of  cows,  770  * 
average  number,  750 ;  received  2,108,140  lbs.  milk ;  made  214,282 
lbs.  cured  cheese ;  cheese  pressed  in  20^  inch  hoop,  and  averaged 


97 

wlieii  cured,  106  lbs. ;  used  9  84-100  lbs.  of  milk  for  one  lb.  of  cured 
cheese;  made  3,320  lbs.  butter,  by  skimming  vats  in  the  morning; 
635  lbs.  of  milk  made  1  lb.  of  butter ;  sent  to  New  York  market ; 
average  price  per  100  lbs.  of  cheese,  $15.48 ;  received  1  cent  per  lb. 
for  making ;  used  steam  boiler  for  heating ;  sold  98  cheese  May 
30th,  for  17|  cts. ;  June  19th,  sold  271  cheese  for  18  cts. ;  December 
14th,  sold  in  New  York,  1,627  cheese  for  16|  cts. ;  the  remainder  of 
the  2,011  lbs.  made,  were  sold  to  patrons  for  their  own  use ;  used 
hemlock  mostly,  for  fuel,  and  about  25  cords ;  cost  of  boxes,  band- 
age, &c.,  per  100  lbs.  cheese,  51  cts.  ;  use  27  lbs.  of  salt  for  every 
10,000  lbs.  of  milk,  and  increase  with  the  comparative  richness  of 
the  milk,  as  the  season  advances.  We  prepare  our  own  anotta,  by 
disolving  it  in  Ic}^;  we  soak  our  rennets  in  water;  in  my  judgment, 
double  the  amount  of  rennet  tends  to  give  a  strong  flavor  to  cheese ; 
we  set  our  milk  at  84  degs.  and  when  the  curd  is  so  that  it  will  not 
stick  to  the  finger,  we  cut  the  curd  lengthwise  of  the  vat ;  after  it  has 
settled  so  that  about  half  of  the  surface  curd  is  under  whey,  we  cut 
the  other  way,  let  it  stand  awhile,  and  then  finish  cutting  what  is 
called  a  fine  curd ;  apply  heat  slowly  until  the  mass  is  raised  to  a  tem- 
perature of  100  degs.,  more  or  less,  according  to  atmosphere  and  con- 
dition of  curd,  stirring  with  the  hands ;  then  rake  meantime,  and 
continuing  the  stirring  until  the  curd  will  not  "clog;"'  we  never  use 
sour  whey  to  hasten  an  acid ;  do  not  consider  an  acid  necessary, 
though  perhaps  desirable  in  the  colder  part  of  the  season  of  cheese- 
making,  in  order  to  hasten  the  curing ;  we  are  able  to  store  one-half 
of  the  cheese  made  during  a  season  at  one  time ;  we  think  there  is 
no  loss  in  incorporating  the  night's  milk  with  the  morning's ;  on 
sultry  evenings  we  add  salt  to  the  cooled  milk. 

Cyrus  L.  Sheldok 


High  Market  Factory^  High  Market. — First  cheese  made.  May  1st : 
last  cheese  made,  October  31st;  number  lbs.  milk  received,  1,273,- 
346 ;  number  lbs.  cured  cheese,  136,157  ;  number  lbs.  milk  to  make 
1  lb.  cured  cheese,  9  35-100;  average  price  received,  $17,206  per 
hundred;  cost  of  boxes,  bandage,  &c.,  $0.6612  per  hundred;  price 
for  making,  $1.15  per  hundred;  no  record  of  shrinkage. 

C.  A.  "Wider,  Proprietor. 


ST.   LAWRENCE   COUNTY. 

Canton  Faciori/,  Canton. — Began  cheese-making  May  8th,  this  be- 
ing the  first  season.  Whole  number  of  cows,  675  ;  pounds  milk  re- 
ceived, 1,615,126 ;  pounds  cured  cheese,  167,878 ;  size  of  cheese, 
17^  inches,  and  from  8  to  10  inches  high ;  pounds  of  milk  to  lb.  of 
cured  cheese,  9.56 ;  part  of  cheese  sold  went  to  Montreal,  but  the 
greater  part  sent  to  Liverpool ;  we  receive  $1  per  hundred  for  mak- 
ing; whey  fed  by  patrons  at  home;  use  the  Oneida  vat  and  heater: 
average  weight  of  cured  cheese,  83  lbs.  Sold  July  1st,  230  boxes 
at  18  cts. ;  October  10th,  1,356  boxes  at  15J  cts. ;  December  20th,  at 
15  cts. ;  used  about  10  cords  soft  wood ;  cost  of  furnishing  boxes, 
13 


98 

&c.,  65  cts.  per  100  lbs.  of  cured  cheese;  prepare  our  own  anotta 
with  white  ley;  soak  rennets  in  water;  have  been  troubled  with 
sour  milk ;  have  no  satisfactory  treatment ;  never  use  sour  whej ; 
aim  to  have  the  curing  room  of  a  temperature  of  60  degs.  to  65 
degs. ;  our  store-rooms  will  hold  1,500  cheese ;  use  spring  water 
temperature  of  52  degs. ;  also  use  ice.  Smead  &  Olin. 


JEFFERSON   COUNTY. 

Adams  Factory,  Adams. — Average  number  cows,  800 ;  number 
lbs.  cheese  made,  248,876 ;  highest  price  obtained  for  cheese,  19^ 
cts.,  June  20, 1866 ;  least  price  obtained  for  cheese,  15  7-8  cts.,  Decem- 
ber 5,  1866 ;  average  price  obtained  for  cheese,  16  76-100 ;  number 
lbs.  milk  for  1  lb.  cured  cheese,  9  98-100 ;  800  lbs.  butter  made  at 
factory  from  skimming  vats ;  cost  of  manufacturing,  and  all  other 
expenses  inclusive,  2  18-100  cts.  per  lb. 

Ingraham,  Lewis  k  Cooper,  Proprietors. 

A.  W.  Ingraham,  Secretary. 


Bonfoy,  Bettinger  &  Allen's  Factory,  Lorraine. — Number  of  cows, 
530 ;  milk  delivered,  1,762,833  lbs. ;  cured  cheese  made,  181,686 
lbs. ;  one  lb.  of  cured  cheese  from  9  69-100  lbs.  of  milk ;  expense  of 
manufacturing,  $1.12|  cts.  per  hundred ;  expenses,  aside  from  ren- 
nets, (which  were  furnished  by  patrons,)  per  hundred,  55|  cts. ;  gross 
expenses,  $1.68;  average  sales,  (sold  monthly,)  per  hundred  lbs., 
$17  32-100.  Sets  Bonfoy. 

^  »  » 

ERIE  COUNTY. 

Collins  Center  Factory,  Collins  Center. — Commenced  making  cheese 
April  3d ;  number  of  cows,  June  15th,  662  ;  received  milk  once  a 
day,  from  April  3d  to  20th;  twice,  to  September  16th;  once,  to 
November  17th ;  once  in  two  days,  to  November  27th ;  once  in 
three  days,  to  December  3d  ;  whole  amount  of  milk,  2,437,731  lbs. ; 
number  rennets  used,  598  ;  milk  per  rennet,  4,076  lbs.  ;  whole  num- 
ber cheese  made,  2,945  ;  average  weight  when  sold,  83 1  lbs. ;  whole 
number  lbs.  cheese,  cured,  246,739  ;  milk  per  lb.  of  cheese,  9.88 
lbs. ;  salt,  2.7  per  1,000  lbs.  of  milk;  color  the  curd  to  cream  color, 
by  adding  anotta  to  milk  at  the  time  of  setting ;  we  use  hot  water 
for  heating,  and  set  at  82  to  86,  according  to  the  weather ;  scald  to 
106,  dip  out  the  curd  to  cool  and  salt ;  press  until  next  morning ; 
we  use  whey  butter  for  greasing,  and  add  palm  oil  to  color  it ;  ave- 
rage age  of  cheese  when  sold,  about  60  days  ;  average  price  received 
for  cheese,  15.86,  per  100  lbs.      E.  R  Harris  &  Co.,  Proprietors. 


First  Collins  Factory. — Average  number  of  cows,  560 ;  pounds  of 
milk  received,  2,042,270 ;  pounds  of  cured  cheese,  216,479  ;  size  of 
cheese,  18  inches ;  average  weight  of  cured  cheese,  72  lbs. ;  sent  to 
western  markets,  76,956  lbs.  ;  sent  to  New  York  markets,  139,528 
lbs. ;  average  price  for  cured  cheese,  $16.52 ;  sold  monthly ;  price 


99 

received  for  making  and  furnisHng  materials,  $1,75 ;  wliey  drawn 
home  by  patrons  ;  heating  apparatus,  Ealph's  vat ;  salt  used  spring 
and  fall,  2  7-10;  salt  during  hot  weather,  3  lbs.  per  hundred;  we 
jDrepare  our  own  anotta,  at  a  cost  of  Ij  ct,  per  hundred ;  soak  the 
rennets  in  water ;  we  consider  it  necessary  that  an  acid  should  be 
present  in  the  whey  before  dipping  out ;  pounds  of  milk  to  lb.  of 
cured  cheese,  9.43.  S.  E.  Jones,  Manufacturer. 


Brant  Center  Factory^  Brant. — This  factory  was  erected  last  spring. 
Began  cheese-making  May  1st,  ended  November  14th ;  average 
number  of  cows,  300 ;  pounds  milk  received,  1,049,686 ;  pounds 
cured  cheese  made,  105,466 ;  average  weight  of  cheese,  70  lbs.  ; 
highest  price  received  for  cheese,  18  1-2  cts. ;  lowest  price  received 
for  cheese,  16  1-2  cts, ;  average  price  received,  16  75-100. 

Thos.  Judson. 


CHAUTAUQUA    COUNTY. 

Canadaway  Factory^  Arhwright. — Commenced  making  cheese.  May 
8th  ;  closed,  October  27th  ;  whole  number  of  cows,  687 ;  average 
number  of  cows,  525  ;  whole  number  of  lbs.  milk  received,  1,800,377 ; 
whole  number  of  lbs.  cured  cheese,  186,608  ;  size  of  cheese,  15  inches 
in  diameter,  9  inches  high ;  weight  of  cheese,  57  lbs.  ;  number  of 
lbs.  milk  to  one  lb,  cheese,  9  65-100 ;  average  price  received  for  cheese, 
15  43-100  cts,  per  lb,  ;  sold  May  cheese  June  30th,  at  19  cts,  per  lb, ; 
sold  June  cheese  July  26th,  at  18  1-2  cts.  per  lb.  ;  sold  the  balance 
of  dairy  Nov.  21st,  at  14  cts.  per  lb.  The  whole  dairy  was  sent  to 
the  New  York  city  market ;  fed  whey  to  hogs  without  any  profit,  on 
account  of  loss  by  disease.  I  made  the  cheese,  furnished  boxes,  salt, 
and  coloring  matter,  boxed  and  weighed  cheese,  made  out  bills  and 
distributed  money  to  patrons  for  2  2-10  cts.  per  pound. 

AsAHEL  BuRNHAM,  Proprietor. 


Sinclearville  Factory,  Sinclearville. — Commenced  making  cheese, 
May  7th  ;  closed,  November  6th  ;  whole  number  of  cows,  1,049  ;  av- 
erage number  of  cows,  727 ;  whole  number  of  lbs.  milk  received, 
2,703,974 ;  whole  number  of  lbs.  cured  cheese  made,  288,060  ;  size  of 
cheese,  15  inches  in  diameter,  8  1-2  inches  high  ;  weight  of  cheese, 
55  lbs. ;  number  of  lbs.  milk  to  one  lb.  cheese,  9  39-100 ;  average 
price  received  for  cheese,  16  67-100  cts.  per  lb.  ;  sold  May  cheese 
June  30th,  for  19  cts.  per  lb.  ;  sold  June  cheese  July  26th,  for  18  1-2 
cts.  per  lb.  ;  sold  July,  August,  and  part  of  September  cheese,  Octo- 
ber 29th,  for  16  cts.  per  lb.  ;  sold  balance  of  dairy  Dec.  16th,  for  16 
cts.  per  lb.  The  whole  dairy  was  sent  to  New  York  city  market. 
Fed  whey  to  hogs  and  cleared  $85  94-100,  which  was  divided  among 
patrons.  I  made  the  cheese,  furnished  boxes,  salt,  and  coloring  mat- 
ter, boxed  and  weighed  cheese,  made  out  bills,  and  distributed  money 
to  patrons,  for  2  3-10  cts.  per  lb. 

AsAHEL  BuKNHAM,  Proprietor, 


100 

COBTLAND    COUNTY. 

Beatiie  Factory^  Truxton. — Commenced  making  cheese,  May  1st, 
and  closed  October  31st ;  wliole  number  of  cows,  468  ;  average  num- 
ber, 434: ;  number  of  lbs.  milk  received,  1,485,567 ;  number  lbs.  of 
cured  cheese  made,  150,720  ;  average  lbs.  of  milk  to  one  lb.  cured 
cheese,  9  85-100 ;  pressed  in  17  inch  hoop,  about  9  1-2  inches  high ; 
average  weight  of  cheese,  83  lbs.  ;  price  received  for  making,  11-4 
cts.  per  lb. 

During  the  season  there  were  six  sales  of  cheese  as  follows  :  First 
sale  to  May  18th,  at  18  cts.  ;  amount  of  milk  required  for  1  lb. 
cheese,  10.22  ;  second  sale  to  June  10th,  at  20  cts.  ;  amount  of  milk 
required  for  1  lb.  cheese,  9.70  ;  average  lbs.  milk  required  for  1  lb. 
cheese  to  June  10th,  9.85  ;  third  sale  to  August  1st,  at  18  cts.  ; 
amount  of  milk  required  for  1  lb.  cheese,  10.48  ;  average  lbs.  milk 
required  for  1  lb.  cheese  to  August  1st,  10.26  ;  fourth  sale  to  Septem- 
tember  4th,  at  17  cts  ;  amount  of  milk  required  for  1  lb.  cheese, 
9.85  ;  average  lbs.  milk  required  for  1  lb.  cheese  to  September  4th, 
10.15  ;  fifth  sale  to  October  1st,  at  16  1-2  cts. ;  amount  of  milk  re- 
quired for  1  lb.  cheese,  9.16  ;  average  lbs.  milk  required  for  1  lb.  cheese 
to  October  1st,  10.00 ;  sixth  sale  to  November  1st,  at  16  3-4  cts. ; 
amount  of  milk  required  for  1  lb.  cheese,  8.88 ;  average  lbs.  milk 
required  for  1  lb.  cheese  to  November  1st,  9.85  ;  the  average  price  of 
sales,  was  $17.59  ;  average  number  lbs.  of  cheese  per  cow,  347  28-100 ; 
average  amount  received  per  cow,  $61.09.  Use  steam  engine  for 
heating;  hemlock  slabs  and  seasoned  hard  wood  for  fuel,  about  half 
and  half,  about  35  cords  in  all.  Mode  of  making  cheese  substan- 
tially as  follows  :  a  small  quantity  of  prepared  anotta  (I  do  not  color 
high,)  is  mixed  with  the  milk,  the  temperature  raised  to  86  degrees, 
and  then  the  rennet  applied ;  when  sufficiently  coagulated  cross-cut 
with  gang  knives  ;  after  the  curd  settles,  apply  the  gang  knife  again, 
and  cut  and  work  the  curd  as  fine  as  wheat  kernels ;  then  heat  to  98 
degrees ;  draw  the  whey  down  to  the  curd,  and  stir  and  agitate  gently 
while  cooking — requires  from  one  to  three  hours  to  cook,  according 
to  the  season  ;  dip  curd  in  sink,  and  salt,  and  immediately  put  in 
press  ;  press  lightly  from  twenty  minutes  to  one  hour,  then  turn  and 
iDandage;  keep  in  press  about  twenty  hours  with  heavy  pressure 
applied,  then  take  out;  oil  on  top  and  put  in  dry  room  ;  turn  and  rub 
dail3%  and  grease  occasionally.  Cost  of  boxes,  bandage,  salt,  rennets, 
&c.,  71  cts.  per  100  lbs.  cheese  ;  use  3  lbs.  salt  to  1,000  lbs.  milk — use 
Onondaga  salt;  sometimes  use  a  little  more  salt  in  extreme  hot 
weather — think  too  much  salt  makes  a  hard,  dry  cheese — too  little,  a 
strong  cheese.  Prepare  my  own  anotta ;  cut  with  ley ;  rennets  soaked 
in  water ;  think  too  much  rennet  makes  a  hard,  brittle,  strong-fla- 
vored cheese.  I  favor  fine  curds,  think  the  cheese  is  more  evenly 
salted,  and  less  liable  to  be  porous  and  strong-flavored ;  I  have  not 
used  sour  whey  much  to  hasten  action  of  acid  wliile  curd  is  forming, 
but  am  so  impressed  with  the  benefits  of  its  use  that  I  mean  to  test  it 
thoroughly  the  coming  season.  I  can  store  from  1-2  to  3-5  of  the 
season's  make  of  cheese  at  one  time ;  on  sultry  evenings  I  put  a  lit- 
tle salt  in  the  milk  while  cooling.  In  my  opinion  the  main  cause  of 
loss  of  flavor  in  cheese  early  in  the  season,  was  owing  to  putresence 


101 

in  the  milk,  for  during  the  extreme  hot  weather  there  was  scarcely  a 
day  but  what  there  was  some  milk  brought  to  the  factory  tainted  to 
a  greater  or  less  degree.  I  have  no  well  tested  theory  regarding  po- 
rosity in  cheese,  but  am  satisfied  that  tainted  milk  is  mainly  instru- 
mental in  causing  porosity  in  cheese. 

If  the  following  is  of  any  use  or  interest,  the  public  are  welcome 
to  the  benefit  of  it :  During  October  and  a  part  of  September 
I  made  about  400  lbs.  of  whey  butter — did  not  have  apparatus 
and  time  to  make  very  careful  experiments,  with  a  view  to  results  of 
mathematical  precision,  but  have  arrived  at  some  conclusions,  rather 
loosely  drawn  it  is  true,  but  yet  in  my  opinion  safe  for  parties  who 
desire  to  make  whey  butter,  to  base  calculations  upon :  First,  quan- 
tity— I  put  the  amount  to  be  made  per  cow  during  the  season,  at 
nine  pounds.  Second,  quality — good  as  good  State  butter,  but  more 
perishable ;  requires  marketing  soon  after  it  is  made.  None  but  ex- 
perts can  tell  a  good  article  of  whey  butter  from  good  butter  made 
from  cream  raised  from  milk,  and  even  experts  cannot  detect  it  un- 
less well  acquainted  with  it.  Of  the  eight  tubs  made,  all  except  the 
first,  sold  at  the  highest  market  price  on  the  day  of  sale,  and  sold  as 
follows  :  1  tub  at  30  cts.  ;  2  tubs  at  35  cts. ;  2  tubs  at  40  cts. ;  2  tubs 
at  38  cts. ;  1  tub  at  35  cts.  ;  average  price  36  41-100.  My  mode  of 
procedure  in  making  this  butter  was  as  follows :  AVhen  I  drew  the 
whey  from  the  curd  I  run  it  into  spare  cheese  vats,  and  immediately  let 
a  stream  of  cold  water  under  and  around  it,  (same  as  is  used  in  making 
cheese  when  we  cool  the  milk,)  this  stream  of  cold  water  is  kept  under 
the  vat  all  the  time  the  cream  is  rising.  At  the  expiration  of  from  20 
to  22  hours,  the  vat  is  skimmed  and  the  cream  immediately  goes  to 
the  churn,  and  is  treated  in  all  respects  the  same  as  cream  raised 
from  milk.  Wm.  .Eeattie. 


CAYUG-A    COUNTY. 

Throopsville  Cheese  Manufacturers  Association^  Auburn.. — Our  fac- 
tory is  located  about  three  miles  north  west  of  Auburn,  on  the  Owas- 
co  Outlet,  in  the  town  of  Throop.  Number  of  pounds  of  milk 
received,  1,379,069 ;  number  of  pounds  of  cured  cheese  made, 
139,455;  which  sold  for  $22,988.26;  average  price  per  100  lbs., 
$16.41 ;  expenses  for  bandage,  rennets,  &c.,  $890.74,  (64  cts.  per  100 
lbs. ;)  cheese  pressed  in  20  inch  hoop  ;  average  weight  about  95  lbs. ; 
which  sold  to  go  to  New  York,  with  exception  of  about  50,000  lbs. 
sold  in  Auburn.     Customers  paid  1^  cents  per  lb.  for  making. 

U.  A.  Weight. 


ALLEGANY  COUNTY. 

Simpson  Factory,  New  Hudson. — Commenced  April  16th,  and 
closed  November  11th, — in  operation  209  days ;  received  1,263,329 
lbs.  of  milk,  from  which  was  made  136,030  lbs.  of  cured  cheese, 
taking  9  29-100  lbs.  of  milk,  for  one  lb.  of  cured  cheese;  made 
eight  sales  averaging  $16.12 1  per  cwt.,  amounting  to  $21,937.88. 
Whole  number  of  cows,  400 ;  average  number  of  cows  for  209  days, 


102 

805 ;  whicli  average  19  82-100  lbs.  of  milk  per  day,  and  produced 

cheese  whicli  sold  for  $71.92-100  per  head  in  209  days;  use  steam 

boiler,  with  connecting  pipes  to  vats ;  size  of  cheese  19 1  inches ;  cost 

of  manufacturing,  including  boxing,  &c.,  two  cents  per  lb. 

Wm.  Simpson,  Jr. 
• « » 

ONONDAGA    COUNTY. 

^'■Cheese  Manufacturing  Association  of  DeWitt,^^  DeWitt. — Whole 
number  of  lbs.  milk  received,  1,042,075  ;  pounds  cured  cheese  made, 
103,453 ;  average  to  one  pound  of  cured  cheese,  10.07.  The  cheese 
were  pressed  in  16  inch  and  19  inch  hoops,  the  small  weighing  from 
60  to  70  lbs.,  and  the  large  from  90  to  105  lbs.  The  small  size  sold 
the  most  readily,  and  commanded  the  best  price,  and  we  intend  to 
use  the  16  inch  hoop  exclusively  the  ensuing  season.  The  cheese 
was  sold  principally  in  Albany  and  Syracuse  for  home  consumption. 
The  prices  ranged  from  16  1-2  cts.  to  18  cts.  during  the  season.  For 
heating  in  spring  and  fall,  we  use  vat  with  furnace  under,  but  when 
more  than  one  vat  is  required,  we  use  the  boiler ;  whey  fed  to 
swine  at  factory,  or  drawn  home  by  patrons.  The  average  of  milk 
required  for  one  pound  of  cheese  was  greater  than  it  should  have 
been  from  the  fact  that  many  small  dairies  made  butter  in  spring  and 
fall,  and  put  milk  in  factory  only  through  the  hot  weather.  The 
cheese  could  have  all  been  sold  for  18  cents,  if  small  hoops  had  been 
used.  Geo.  S.  Loomis,  Pres. 

J.  y.  Miller,  Sec'y. 


BROOME  COUNTY. 


Hawleyton  Factory,  Hawleyton. — ISTumber  of  cows,  200 ;  pounds 
of  cheese  made,  60,000 ;  pounds  of  milk  to  one  pound  cured  cheese, 
9  28-100;  average  sales  of  cheese,  $18.89  per  100  pounds.  We  do 
not  make  cheese  on  the  Sabbath.  Jas.  S.  Hawley. 


PENNSYLVANIA. 


Springville  Factory^  Springville^  Susquehanna  Co. — This  was  the 
first  cheese  factory  erected  in  Northern  Pennsylvania,  built  by  Hon. 
Asa  Packer  in  the  spring  of  1865, — this  being  the  second  season  of 
operations.  Pounds  of  milk  received,  493,461 ;  pounds  of  green 
cheese  made,  58,662  ;  size  of  cheese  20  inches ;  weight  about  75  lbs. ; 
pounds  of  milk  to  one  pound  of  green  cheese,  8.42.  The  cheese 
from  this  factory  has  all  been  sold,  (with  the  exception  of  some 
14,000  lbs.  now  on  hand,)  for  the  Pennsylvania  Coal  Valley  trade,  at 
an  average  of  18  cents  per  lb.  The  price  received  for  making  and 
furnishing,  excepting  boxes,  was  2  cents  per  lb.  We  use  the  O'Neil 
vats,  with  heaters  and  tank  complete. 

Use  made  of  the  whey :  tlie  whey  is  fed  to  hogs  kept  at  the  fac- 
tory, where  we  have  a  good  dry  yard  and  commodious  house  for 
feeding.  The  hogs  are  appraised  by  the  committee  when  put  in  at 
the  factory,  each  patron  receiving  credit  for  the  number  of  lbs.  fur- 
nished at  the  appraised  value.     If  not  a  sufficient  number  are  far- 


103 

nislied  by  the  patrons  to  consume  all  tlie  wliey,  the  committee  make 
up  the  deficiency  by  purchase.  In  the  fall,  the  pork  is  sold,  when 
each  patron  receives  his  capital  furnished,  and  also  his  proportion  of 
the  profits,  pro  rata  to  the  lbs.  of  milk  he  has  delivered  to  the  factory. 
Our  experience  shows  that  hogs  will,  in  five  months,  gain  in  weight 
50  per  cent,  and  the  value  of  whey  this  season  is  75  cents  per  1,000 
lbs.  milk.  We  use  3  lbs.  salt  per  1,000  lbs.  milk,  increasing  the 
quantity  in  the  fall  as  the  product  of  cheese  increases.  Too  much 
salt  injures  both  texture  and  flavor,  as  also  does  too  little  salt,  but 
the  character  is  not  the  same  in  both  cases.  We  prepare  our  own 
anotta. 

Treatment  of  milk  and  curd :  the  morning's  milk  being  mixed 
with  the  night's,  the  temperature  is  raised  to  82  degrees,  when  the 
rennet  is  applied.  Coagulation  occupies  80  to  45  minutes.  The 
curd  is  then  cut  with  a  14  bladed  knife  lengthwise  and  crosswise ;. 
allowed  to  stand  15  to  20  minutes,  when  it  is  gently  rolled  by  pass- 
ing the  hands  through  it.  It  is  again  allowed  to  rest  15  minutes, 
when  the  same  process  is  repeated,  and  the  temperature  raised  to  88 
or  90  degrees.  The  agitator  is  now  used,  and  the  heat  raised  to  98 
or  100.  The  curd  now  remains  in  the  whey  until  sufficiently  ma- 
tured, the  time  varying  from  1  to  3  hours.  We  prefer  to  get  a 
mature  curd  without  the  presence  of  acid.  We  now  draw  down 
the  whey  and  drain, — cool  and  salt  the  curd  in  the  vat ;  with  scoops 
it  is  passed  into  the  hoops  and  goes  to  the  press ;  press  about  24 
hours.  If  the  curd  is  not  sufficiently  matured  before  the  whey  is 
drawn  off,  think  the  cheese  will  be  soft  and  porous.  We  commenced 
operations  May  7th,  and  closed  Oct.  81st.  No  milk  received  at  the 
factory  Saturday  night  or  Sunday  morning.  Sunday  night's  being 
received,  and  made  up  in  Monday's  cheese. 

Wm.  Blanding,  Manufacturer. 


Bridgewater  Factory,  Susquehanna  Co. — Number  of  cows,  200 ; 
number  of  pounds  cured  cheese  made,  62,000 ;  number  of  pounds 
milk  to  one  lb.  cured  cheese,  9  06-100 ;  average  price — about  17  1-2 
cents ;  size  of  cheese  16  inches  by  9  ;  weight  70  lbs.  Management 
of  curd,  whey,  &c.,  same  as  in  Springvillc  Factory. 

Wm.  B  landing. 


Spring  Hill  Factory,  Bradford  Co. — Average  number  of  cows, 
148;  made  cheese  145  days;  pounds  of  milk  received,  420,705; 
pounds  of  green  cheese  made,  46,982  ;  pounds  of  cured  cheese  made, 
44,016 ;  pounds  of  milk  for  one  lb.  green  cheese,  8  95-100 ;  pounds 
of  milk  for  one  lb.  cured  cheese,  9  55-100  ;  cheese  sold  at  prices 
ranging  from  16  1-2  to  20  cts. ;  average  17  61-100. 

Levi  Wells,  Proprietor. 

VERMONT. 
Valley  Factory,  Ilineshurgh. — Whole   number   cows   about  500 ; 
average  number  cows  not  known,  as  this  is  our  first  year,  and  small 
dairies  were  continually  coming  in.     Commenced  making  cheese 


104 

June  4tli;  closed  Sept.  29t1i;  wliole  number  lbs.  milk  received, 
1,259,043 ;  number  lbs.  cured  clieese,  128,196 ;  number  of  lbs.  milk 
to  lb.  cured  cheese  in  June,  10.11-100;  July,  10.26-100;  August, 
9.81-100;  September,  9;  for  the  season,  9.82-100;  number  cheese 
made,  2,057  ;  average  weight  of  cheese,  62  lbs. ;  average  price  on 
the  ranges,  $16.60  per  hundred  lbs. ;  shrinkage  at  30  days  old  per 
hundred  lbs.,  3.67;  at  60  days  old,  4-37;  cost  of  boxes,  boxing, 
marking,  &c.,  per  hundred  lbs.,  0.375  ;  number  rennets  used,  417  ; 
size  of  cheese  16  by  9  inches ;  use  Ralph's  vat ;  set  at  84  to  86  degs. ; 
time  required  to  coagulate  sufficient  to  commence  working,  from  60 
to  65  minutes ;  go  through  and  break  by  hand,  and  as  soon  as  the 
curd  settles,  raise  the  heat  to  about  94 ;  draw  off  part  of  whey  and 
raise  heat  to  97  to  100 ;  let  stand  in  vat  till  acid  is  perceptible  in 
the  whey;  salt  in  sink  at  rate  2.7  lbs.  per  1,000  lbs.  milk;  press 
lightly  at  first ;  turn  and  bandage  in  from  1  to  11-2  hours ;  press 
22  hours.  Price  received  for  making,  salt,  bandage,  rennet,  anolta, 
$1.50  per  hundred  lbs. ;  adopted  "  coarse  curd"  process :  length  of 
time  required  in  cooking,  from  1  1-2  to  6  hours,  according  to  condi- 
tion of  whey.  C.  G.  Peck,  Sec'y. 

*m» 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

[The  annexed  report  is  taken  from  the  Boston  Cultivator.'] 

The  third  annual  meeting  of  the  Massachusetts  Cheese  Manufac- 
turers' Association,  was  held  at  the  Town  Hall,  in  "West  Brookfield, 
on  Thursday  week,  Capt.  Hollis  Tidd,  President,  in  the  Chair.  Re- 
newal of  annual  memberships  was  the  first  business  in  order.  T.  P. 
Root,  of  Barre,  moved,  while  pending,  that  the  Constitution  be  so 
altered  that  $1  shall  make  a  life,  instead  of  an  annual  member,  and 
it  was  so  voted.  The  Treasurer  reported  $32  in  the  treasury,  after 
having  paid  all  current  expenses. 

Officers  elected  for  the  current  year,  were,  for  President,  Hollis 
Tidd ;  Yice-Presidents,  D.  S.  Ellis,  Warren,  and  J.  F.  Davis,  Barre  ; 
Secretary,  IST.  S.  Hubbard,  Brimfield ;  Treasurer,  B.  F.  Hamilton, 
New  Braintree.  The  Executive  Committee  is  constituted  of  the 
foregoing  list  of  officers. 

The  next  business  was  the  hearing  of  the  reports  of  the  various 
cheese  factories  represented  in  the  association,  a  synopsis  of  which  is 
given,  as  follows : — 

Barre  Central — Capital  invested,  $7,800.  Began  making  cheese, 
April  30,  and  ended,  Nov.  3  ;  whole  amount  of  milk  in  lbs.,  1,531,- 
219 ;  lbs.  of  milk  to  one  lb.  of  cured  cheese,  9.77,  a  little  more  than 
9  3-4  ;  cheese  was  kept  on  an  average  about  35  days  before  market- 
ing ;  help,  2  men  and  1  woman,  at  a  cost,  including  board,  of  $992.23  ; 
cost  of  making,  $1.94  per  100  lbs. ;  amount  of  cured  cheese,  156,711 
lbs. ;  net  return  to  farmers  or  milk  furnishers,  $15.91  per  100  lbs.  of 
cheese ;  average  number  of  cows,  462 ;  lbs.  of  cheese  per  cow,  335. 


Barre  /SbwfA.— Capital,  $5,053  ;  began  making  April  24,  and  ended 
November  8  ;  amount  of  milk,  707,297  lbs.  ;  pounds  of  milk  to  1 
lb.  of  cheese,  10.46,  or  nearly  10  1-2  ;  cheese  kept  before  sending  to 


105 

market  on  an  average,  about  55  days ;  size,  853  weighed  from  70  to 
80  lbs.  apiece,  and  726  from  18  to  22  lbs. ;  help,  1  man  and  1  woman, 
at  a  cost,  including  board,  of  $575.93  ;  cost  of  making  per  100  lbs. 
$1.93 ;  amount  of  cured  cheese,  67,570  lbs. ;  average  number  of  cows, 
175  ;  pounds  of  cheese  per  cow,  406 ;  average  market  price,  $19.85 
per  100  ;  net  return  to  farmers,  $16.92  per  100. 


Hardwich  Center.- — Capital  $1,213  ;  began  making  April  2,  and 
ended  November  21;  amount  of  milk,  2,049,600  lbs.;  pounds  of 
milk  for  1  lb.  of  cheese,  9.54,  or  a  little  over  9  1-2  ;  cheese  kept  be- 
fore marketing  from  22  to  30  days,  or  an  average  of  26  days  ;  help, 
2  men  and  1  woman,  costing,  with  board,  $1,566.35  ;  cost  of  making 
per  100,  $2.35 ;  cured  cheese,  215,832  ll3s.  ;  net  return  to  farmers, 
$15.55. 


Hardwich  South. — Capital  $4,500;  began  making  May  10,  and 
ended  Oct.  15 ;  amount  of  milk  722,526  lbs. ;  pounds  of  milk  to  a  lb, 
of  cheese,  10.3,  a  little  over  10  1-4 ;  cheese  kept  before  marketing, 
from  3  to  6  weeks ;  help,  1  man  and  1  woman,  costing  $511.56 ; 
amount  of  cured  cheese,  70,963  lbs.  ;  net  return  to  farmers  $15.60 
per  100. 

Petersham  Factory. — Capital,  $3,000  ;  began  making  May  14  and 
ended  Oct.  14  ;  amount  of  milk,  819,714  lbs.  ;  pounds  of  milk  to  a 
lb.  of  cheese,  9.4,  nearly  9  1-2  ;  cheese  kept  before  marketing,  from  1 
month  to  6  months,  (a  large  amount  still  remaining  unsold) ;  help,  1 
man  and  2  women,  costing  $535  ;  cost  of  making  per  100,  $1.66  ; 
amount  of  cured  cheese,  87,138  lbs.  ;  net  return  to  farmers,  $16.50 
per  100. 

New  Braintree  Factory. — Capital,  $8,000 ;  began  making  April 
16,  and  ended  Nov.  18;  amount  of  milk,  1,714,172  lbs. ;  pounds  of 
milk  to  a  lb.  of  cheese,  9.84,  over  9  3-4 ;  cheese  kept  before  market- 
ing, about  40  days  ;  av.  wt,  40  lbs.  apiece ;  help,  2  men  and  2  women, 
at  a  cost,  with  board,  of  $1,311.68;  cost  of  making  per  100  lbs., 
$2.78 ;  amount  of  cured  cheese,  174,203  ;  net  return  to  farmers, 
$17.02 ;  average  number  of  cows,  400 ;  pounds  of  cheese  per 
cow,  435  1-2. 

Process  of  manufacturing,  as  stated  by  Mr.  Green,  was  as  follows  . 
Heat  the  milk  before  putting  in  the  rennet  to  84  degrees ;  then  let  it 
stand  from  1  to  1  1-2  hour  before  crossing  ;  cross  and  let  it  stand  15 
or  20  minutes,  then  break  up  the  curd  carefully  with  the  hands  and 
heat  from  90  to  98  degrees,  and  cover  up  warm  and  let  it  stand  until 
cooked  ;  then  dip  out  into  a  sink  and  let  it  drain  dry  and  salt  at  the 
rate  of  2  7-16  lbs.  per  1,000  lbs.  of  milk,  then  press  24  hours. 


Worcester   Co.  Factory^  Warren. — Capital,  $4,600;   began  making 
April  2,  and  ended  Oct.  31 ;  pounds  of  milk  for  a  lb.  of  cheese, 
14 


106 

10.17,  or  10  1-6  ;  cheese  kept  before  sending  to  market  from  80  to  60 
days,  or  an  average  of  45  days ;  help,  2  men  and  2  women,  costing 
with  board,  $1,249.23 ;  cost  of  making  per  100,  $2.36 ;  amount  of 
cured  cheese,  142,767  lbs. ;  net  return  to  farmers,  $16.59  per  100 ; 
average  number  of  cows  475 ;  pounds  of  cheese  per  cow,  300. 


South  Adams  Factory. — Capital,  $3,000;  began  making  April  9, 
and  ended  Nov.  30 ;  amount  of  milk,  1,194,708  lbs ;  cheese  kept  be- 
fore marketing,  on  an  average,  60  days ;  help,  1  man  and  2  women, 
at  a  cost,  including  board,  of  $826;  cost  of  making,  $1.20  per  100; 
amount  of  cured  cheese,  119,805  lbs. ;  net  return  to  farmers  of  $15 
per  100  lbs. ;  pounds  of  cheese  per  cow,  399. 


Blanford,  Wesiborough. — "West  Brookfield  and  Wilbraham  factor- 
ies made  no  formal  returns. 

After  the  reports  were  in,  Dwight  Ellis  offered  a  resolution,  that  it 
is  unprofitable  for  factories  to  make  cheese  weighing  less  than  75 
lbs.  apiece.  S.  L.  Lincoln,  while  the  resolution  was  under  discussion, 
called  on  Leander  "Wetherell  of  Boston  to  state  what  he  knew  of  the 
market  size  of  cheese  in  that  city;  he  responded  by  saying,  that 
small  cheeses,  if  of  equal  quality,  are  more  desirable  for  the  retail 
trade,  as  less  surface  in  cutting  is  exposed  to  the  air.  In  this  con- 
nection, he  invited  attention  to  the  fact,  that  the  report  just  made 
showed  that  the  two  factories  that  made  the  smallest  cheese  had 
returned  the  largest  amount  per  100  lbs.  to  the  farmers  of  any  on 
the  list,  and  these  are  Barre  South  and  New  Braintree,  the 
latter  $17.02  and  the  former  $16.92  per  100  lbs.,  while  South  Adams, 
that  had  made  the  largest  cheese,  as  stated  by  Mr.  Lincoln,  had 
made  the  lowest  return  of  any  factory  reported,  or  $15  per  100  lbs. 
Why  this  is  so  the  speaker  did  not  know,  but  desired  to  invite  atten- 
tion to  the  facts  as  reported.  The  resolution  was  further  discussed 
by  Messrs.  Hamilton,  Eoot,  Hubbard,  Ellsworth,  Powers,  Eobinson, 
Ellis,  Greene,  and  others,  and  was  adopted,  few  voting  for,  and  none 
against  it. 

It  was  voted  to  hold  a  semi-annual  meeting  in  August,  to  be 
called  by  the  Executive  Committee  ;  and  it  was  also  voted,  that  said 
committee  visit  the  different  factories  during  the  season  to  learn  how 
things  are  done,  and  report  thereon  to  the  next  annual  meeting. 

Facts  or  statements  came  out  in  the  discussion,  incidentally,  of 
great  interest,  such  as  this  :  a  man  who  kept  3  cows,  sent  his  milk 
to  the  factory,  who  got  but  $20  return  from  them  before,  per  annum, 
got  $40  return  per  cow  after  sending  his  milk  to  the  factory,  Mr. 
Greene,  of  New  Braintree,  made  some  interesting  statements  on  this 
point,  such  as  it  took  a  lb.  less  milk  at  the  factory  than  in  the  house 
dairy  to  make  a  lb.  of  cheese,  ascertaining,  meanwhile,  that  it  cost  2c. 
a  lb.  less  to  make  cheese  at  the  factory  than  at  home.  His  state- 
ments were  founded  on  actual  experiment,  and  arc  therefore  worthy 
of  consideration  by  farmers.  One  gentleman  stated,  that  the  net  re- 
turn to  the  farmer  from  the  milk  sent  to  the  factory  would  exceed 
what  he  could  get  from  the  cheese  made  at  home,  thus  showing  the 


107 

labor  of  home-making,  witli  rennet,  fuel,  marketings  &c.,  may  be  re- 
duced to  that  of  carrying  the  milk  to  the  factory,  and  he  be  the 
gainer. 

The  question  of  heating  in  the  cheese-factorj^,  whether  with  steam 
or  by  the  old  way,  was  raised  for  future  consideration,  and  to  be  re- 
ported on  at  the  next  annual  meeting.  Not  a  factory  reported  the 
fuel  expense  as  a  separate  item,  which  should  be  done  by  all,  where 
wood  is  so  costly  an  item  as  in  the  neighborhood  of  most  of  the  fac- 
tories. The  reports,  though  still  susceptible  of  much  simplification 
and  greater  accuracy,  are  a  very  great  improvement  over  those  of 
last  year,  whose  defects  were  then  pointed  out  in  the  Cultivator.  We 
are  glad  to  note  this  improvement. 

The  whey  and  hog  account  was  not  a  matter  of  boasting  at  this 
meeting,  as  was  the  case  one  year  ago :  judging  from  the  reports,  it 
would  seem  to  have  left  money  in  the  pockets  of  the  directors,  had 
the  whey  been  suffered  to  run  off  with  the  waste  water,  instead  of 
their  having  bought  hogs  to  drink  it. 

Our  readers  interested  in  dairy-husbandry  will  be  likely  to  scan 
with  care  and  compare  the  statements  of  one  factory_^with  another,  to 
see  which  has  made  the  best  returns  to  its  patrons,  to  ascertain  why 
New  Braintree  should  return  $17.02  per  100  lbs.,  BaiTc  South, 
$16.92,  Barre  Central,  $15.91,  and  Hardwick  Centre,  $15.55— a  dif- 
ference between  N.  B.  factory  and  H.  Centre  of  $1.47  per  100  lbs., 
and  $1.87  between  the  latter  and  B.  South,  and  between  H.  Centre 
and  B.  Central  86c.  in  favor  of  the  latter ;  was  it  cost  of  help,  amount 
of  capital  invested,  or  something  else,  that  occasioned  this  dif- 
ference ? 

The  convention  took  a  recess  at  about  1  P.  M.,  and  adjourned  sine 
die  about  sundown,  after  voting  thanks  to  the  authorities  of  West 
Brookfield  for  the  free  use  of  the  Town  Hall.  The  Convention  was 
well  attended  and  harmonious  in  its  action,  which  taking  it  all  in  all, 
was  by  far  the  most  profitable  meeting  of  the  association  yet  held  ; 
thus  demonstrating  that  the  association  of  those  engaged  in  associ- 
ated labor,  tends  to  promote  progress  and  improvement  by  the  diffu- 
sion of  useful  knowledge. 


MICHIGAN. 

Fairfield  Factory^  Fairfield. — Whole  number  of  cows,  260 ;  ave- 
rage number  of  cows,  230;  pounds  of  milk  received,  970,931; 
pounds  of  cured  cheese  made,  101,835 ;  pounds  of  milk  to  one 
pound  cured  cheese,  9  58-100 ;  average  price  obtained  per  cwt, 
$16.42  ;  average  pounds  per  cow,  440 ;  greatest  average  per  cow, 
from  any  one  dairy,  550  lbs.  cured  cheese.  Season  began  April  23d ; 
closed  Nov.  17th.  Kufus  Baker. 


WISCONSIN. 

Wilder  s  Factory^  Evansville,  Rock  Co. — Commenced  making  cheese 
April  26th,  and  closed  Oct.  15th,  1866.  Average  number  of  cows 
for  the  season,  339  ;  number  of  lbs.  of  milk  received,  995,757 ;  num- 


108 

ber  of  lbs.  of  clieese  made,  103,650 ;  average  number  of  lbs.  of 
cheese  per  cow,  305 ;  number  lbs.  milk  per  lb.  cured  clieese,  9  6-10. 

The  cheese  business  being  entirely  new  to  the  officers,  patrons,  and 
all  connected,  except  the  manufacturer^the  market  unestablished, 
(this  being  the  first  factory  built  in  the  State,  of  which  I  have  any 
knowledge,)  and  this  being  the  first  season,  we  have  not  realized 
as  much  for  the  cheese  as  we  should  have  done  under  other  circum- 
stances. The  cows  were  nearly  all  bought  last  spring,  and  were  gen- 
erally in  poor  condition, — were  selected  by  persons  unaccustomed  to 
judge  of  good  milchers,  consequently  were  far  from  being  as  good 
as  those  generally  kept  by  dairymen ;  but,  considering  all  things, 
we  have  succeeded  beyond  our  expectations. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  some  of  the  patrons,  the  number 
of  cows  kept  by  each,  and  the  amount  realized  in  calves,  butter 
and  cheese : 

Names.  No.  of  Cows.    Amount  Realized.      Average  per  Cow. 

L.  Spencer, 23  $943.07  $41.00 

G.  A.  Dibble, 10  448.92  44.39 

H.  Bigelow, 4  183.23  45.80 

R  Emery, 8  409,95  51.23 

B.  R  Emery, 3  156.63  52.21 

C.  Preston, .10  524.14  52.41 

E.  Blakely, 7  383.59  54.79 

.   a  R  Spencer,,... 10  562.67  56.26 

D.  M.  Eowley, 15  868.03  57.86 

-    H.  Weber, ..4  241.60  60.40 

It  will  readily  be  seen  that  with  the  comparatively  low  price  of 
land,  cows,  hay  and  grain  here  at  the  West,  we  can  successfully 
compete  with  Eastern  cheese  producers,  consequently  we  need  not 
fear  but  that  we  will  have  a  market  for  our  cheese  that  will  pay,  until 
we  have  driven  them  from  the  market,  and  overstocked  it  ourselves ; 
or  until  our  land,  stock,  and  other  productions  rise  comparatively  as 
high.  C.  H.  Wilder. 

Evansville,  Jan.  21,  1867. 

OHIO. 

[Condensed  extracts  from  a  communication  received  from  Joseph 
Pelton,  Lindenville,  Ashtabula  Co.] 

I  had  designed  being  present  at  the  Annual  Meeting,  but  now 
find  myself  unable  to  meet  you.  I  therefore  venture  to  send  to  you 
in  this  form,  my  ideas  on  some  of  the  topics  that  arc  to  be  discussed. 

As  I  understand  it,  the  prime  objects  of  our  Association  are  these : 
The  best  practical  plan  to  realize  the  greatest  profits  from  the  capi- 
tal invested  by  American  dairymen  in  the  business  of  manufacturing 
cheese  and  butter ;  and 

To  produce  a  product  that  will  suit  the  tastes  of  the  largest  num- 
ber of  consumers  at  home  and  abroad.  And  here  I  cannot  but  say, 
that  the  private  circulars  from  our  agent  in  Europe,  X.  A.  Willard, 
A.  M.,  have,  in  my  judgment,  been  of  exceeding  value  to  me. 


109 

An  experience  and  practice  of  over  half  a  century  has  led  me  to 
the  conclusion  that  some  of  the  processes  of  cheese  making,  as  prac- 
tised by  dairymen  generally,  can  be  greatly  improved  upon. 

Briefly,  I  will  endeavor  to  make  clear  my  ideas. 

In  the  first  place,  we  all  agree  that  the  milk  must  be  perfectly 
sweet,  and  free  from  odor,  and  that  the  rennet,  which  ought  never 
to  be  incorporated  with  the  milk,  except  by  a  skilled  hand,  must 
likewise  be  entirely  free  from  taint.  I  differ  but  little  from  the  gen- 
eral custom  of  good  dairymen  in  the  working  and  perfecting  of  the 
curd,  but  when  ready  for  the  press,  my  practice  is  opposed  to  theirs. 
I  require  the  hoop  into  which  the  curd  is  placed  to  be  of  great 
strength,  as  the  pressure  applied  is  at  least  four  times  that  ordinarily 
used.  Ice  must  now  be  placed  about  the  hoop  so  as  to  reduce  the 
temperature  as  near  as  possible  to  the  freezing  point,  and  this  must 
continue  for  three  days,  (the  cheese  being  turned  once  or  twice 
daily,)  and  longer,  if  the  cloth  around  the  cheese  is  damp  or  wet. 

The  cheese  should  now  be  removed  from  the  hoop,  and  placed  in 
a  room  having  a  uniform  temperature  of  80  to  90  degrees.  After 
remaining  here  twenty-four  hours,  it  should  be  placed  for  the  same 
space  of  time  in  a  cold  room,  with  an  atmosphere  near  the  freezing 
point.  This  daily  alternating  from  heat  to  cold,  should  be  continued 
for  fifteen  days,  and  the  cheese  be  then  placed  in  a  curing  room  of 
a  temperature  of  65  degrees. 

I  claim  that  at  the  end  of  30  days,  a  cheese  is  thus  produced, 
which,  for  perfect  solidity,  and  excellence  of  flavor  and  of  texture, 
cannot  be  surpassed. 

I  was  led  into  this  manner  of  pressing  and  curing  cheese  some 
years  ago,  while  making  butter  and  cheese  from  30  cows,  near  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.  My  press  stood  where  it  was  exposed  to  the  cold  of 
the  autumn  and  winter  nights.  Experiment  followed,  and  now  I  am 
fully  convinced  that  my  practice  is  the  best  now  known  to  man. 
Rennet  and  salt,  if  impure,  or  used  to  excess,  injure  the  character 
of  the  cheese, — but,  in  my  view,  a  judicious  use  of  nature's  great 
agents — heat  and  cold,  have  infinitely  larger  influence  upon  the  cheese. 

Regarding  the  kind  of  cheese  preferred  by  most  consumers  here 
in  America,  may  I  add  one  word. 

I  have  had  large  experience  in  cutting  cheese, — and  have  fre- 
quently tried  this  experiment.  I  cut  three  cheese  and  place  them 
side  by  side. 

No.  1,  would  be  a  new  cheese,  of  mild  flavor, — not  more  than  20 
to  30  days  old.  No.  2,  of  medium  age,  and  of  a  more  decided  fla- 
vor. No.  3,  a  cheese  four  to  six  months  old,  with  a  sharp,  high 
flavor, 

I  have  invariably  found  that  I  could  sell  from  4  to  6  lbs.  of  No. 
1,  at  a  price  from  2  to  4  cents  per  pound  higher,  while  I  was  sell- 
ing one  pound  of  the  others. 

In  my  judgment  if  cheese  can  be  made  to  suit  the  tastes  of  our 
people,  the  consumption  of  this  article  can  be  so  immeasurably  in- 
creased as  to  preclude  all  danger  of  too  large  a  production  in 
America.  Jos.  Pelton. 


no 


CANADA    EAST. 

Compto7i  Factory,  Compton. — Began  clieese-making  June  7  ;  closed 
Nov.  7  ;  number  of  cows,  250  ;  about  60,000  pounds  of  cured  clieese 
made ;  size  of  cheese  15  inches ;  pounds  milk  to  a  pound  cured 
cheese,  9^-     Buildings  have  the  capacity  for  the  milk  of  800  cows. 

Smith  &  Cochrane,  Montreal. 


CONDENSED    REPORTS. 

The  following  Table  gives  the  numher  of  coius,  amount  of  cured  cheese, 
average  price,  average  pounds  of  milk  to  one  of  cured  cheese,  and  average 
weight  for  the  several  Factories  from  which  full  Reports  have  been  received. 


Name  of  Factory. 


Whitesboro, 

A,  Blue's, 

Robert's, 

Dorn's, 

Chuckery, 

Weeks', 

Cedarville, 

First  National, 

Lamunion  &  Clark's, 

Hunt's, 

Excelsior, 

Empire, 

Charleston  4  Corners, 

Smith  Creek, 

Gilbert's  Mills, 

Ingell  &  Smith's, . . . 

Prattville, 

Trumbull's, 

Miller's, 

Glensdale, 

Sulphur  Springs,. . . . 

High  Market, 

Canton, 

Adams, 

Bonfoy,  B.  &  A.,... 

Collins  Center, 

First  Collins, 

Brant  Center, 

Canadawa, 

Sinclairville, 

Beattie's, 

Throopsville  C.  M.  A. 

Simpson's, 

De  Witt  C.  M.  A.,.. 

Hawleyton, 

Springville, 

Bridgewater, 

Spring  Hill, 

Valley, 

Fairfield, 

Wilder's, 

ComptOD, 


Location  and  Oountt. 


WhitesborOjOneida  co. 
North  Gage,       " 
Floyd,  " 

Ava,  " 

Paris,  " 

Verona,  " 

Cedarville,  Herk.  co. 
Frankfort,  " 

Stockbridge,  Mad.  co 
Hubbardsville,    " 
Brookfield,         " 
Florida,  Montgom.  co. 
Chariest.  4  Cor.,  " 
Palatine,  " 

Gilbert's  Mills,Osw.  co. 
Volney,  " 

Mexico,  " 

Pulaski,  " 

Constablev'le,  Lew.  co. 
Glensdale,  " 

Lowville,  " 

High  Market,  " 
Canton,  St.  Lawr.  co. 
Adams,  Jefferson  co. 
Lorraine,  *' 

Collins  Center,  Erie  co. 

Brant,  " 

Arkwright,  Chau.  co. 
Sinclairville,  " 
Truxton,  Cortland  co. 
Auburn,  Cayuga  co. 
New  Hudson,  Alle.  co. 
De  Witt,  Onondaga  co. 
Hawleyton,Broome  co. 
Springville,  Pennsylv. 

Bridgewater,       " 

(1  (I 

Hinesburg,  Vermont, 
Fairfield,  Michigan, 
Evansville,  Wisconsin, 
Compton,Canada  East, 


'gp. 


H 


6.45 


865 
140 
275 
350 
590 
620 
575 
650 
400 
600 
300 
260 
525 
675 
430 
375 
516 
270 
650 
700 
770 
450 
675 
800 
530 
662 
625 
300 
687 
1049 
468 
400 
400 
300 
200 


200 

148 

500  41 

260 

339 

250 

18,779|  4.64 


311,881 

59,277 

82,100 

96,716 

168,561 

212,975 

233,802 

259,064 

118,412 

183,479 

97,000 

77,784 

168,896 

222,390 

151,621 

•  126,939 

134,181 

67,406 

229,852 

273,490 

214,282 

136,157 

167,878 

248,376 

181,686 

246,739 

216,479 

105,466 

186,608 

288,060 

150,720 

139,455 

136,030 

103,453 

60,000 

62,000 

44,016 

128,196 

101,335 

103,650 

60,000 

6,356,412 


18.07 
17.58 
17.41 

17.54 
17.92 
17.32 
17.02 
17.50 
17.91 
17.25 
17.25 
17.25 
17.25 
16.70 
16.70 
14.83 
16.00 
18.01 
17.10 
15.48 
17.21 

16.76 
17.32 
15.86 
16.52 
16.75 
15.43 
16.67 
17.59 
16.41 
16.13 

18.89 
18.00 
17.50 
17.61 
16.60 
16.42 


17.02 


^^ 


65 
67 
90 

96 

77 
61 

72 
71 
72 
61 

79 


102 


91 
106 

83 


72 
70 
67 
55 
83 
95 


m 


s|j;< 


09' 


9.88 
9.56 
10.12 
9.75 
9.72 
9.74 
10.10 
10.24 
9.86 
9.33 
9.25 
10.00 
10.00 
9.95 
9.73 
9.72 
9.96 
9.62 
9.51 
9.59 
9.84 
9.35 
9.56 
9.98 
9.69 
9.88 
9.43 

9.65 
9.39 
9.85 

9.29 

10.07 

9.28 

9.06 

9.55 
9.82 
9.58 
9.60 
9.25 

9.68 


THIRD  ANNUAL  MEETING 

OF   THE 

OHIO  DAIRYMEN'S  ASSOCIATION, 

HELD  IN  CLEVELAND, 
Wednesday  and  Thursday,  February  20,  and  21,  1867. 


The  third  annual  meeting  of  this  Association  convened  in  Brain- 
ard's  Hall  on  Wednesday. 

At  11  A.  M.,  H.  N.  Carter,  Esq.,  of  Lake  County,  one  of  the 
Vice  Presidents,  in  the  absence  of  the  President,  took  the  chair  and 
called  the  Association  to  order,  and,  on  motion,  J.  Smith,  Esq.,  of 
Thompson,  0.,  was  appointed  Secretary. 

On  motion  the  following  Committees  were  appointed : 

On  Business — Messrs.  A.  D.  Hall,  Geauga;  A.  C.  Benedict,  Me- 
dina ;  and  M.  Eoach,  Summit. 

On  Membership  and  Finance — Messrs.  A.  Bartlett,  Lake  ;  E, 
Chase,  Geauga ;  and  J.  C.  Horr,  Lorain. 

A  committee  on  the  nomination  of  officers  was  also  appointed. 

Mr.  James  Roach  offered  a  resolution  to  reduce  the  fee  for  mem- 
bership from  $2  to  $1,  which  was  for  the  present  laid  on  the  table, 
and  the  Association  adjourned  to  2  P.  M. 

At  the  hour  designated,  the  Association  again  met,  when  the 
resolution  to  reduce  the  membership  fee  was  considered,  and  its 
adoption  advocated  by  Mr.  A.  Bartlett,  of  Lake. 

Mr.  J.  C.  Horr,  of  Lorain,  suggested  that  action  on  the  resolution 
be  postponed  until  the  reading  of  the  Treasurer's  report,  which 
might  have  an  important  bearing  on  the  question — which  sugges- 
tion, on  the  motion  of  Mr.  A.  C.  Benedict,  of  Medina,  was 
adopted. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  A.  Bartlett,  of  Lake,  such  members  of  the  Press 
as  might  be  present  were  invited  to  sit  upon  the  platform. 

The  Committee  on  Business,  through  its  Chairman,  Mr.  A.  D. 
Hall,  of  Geauga,  reported,  as  a  proper  order  for  the  business  of  the 
Convention,  as  follows  : 

1st.  Reception  of  the  Treasurer's  Report. 

2nd.  Consideration  of  the  Membership  Fee. 

8rd.  Report  of  Committee  on  Nominations. 

4th.  Reports  of  other  Committees,  to  be  followed  by  discussions, 
as  follows : 

5th.  Upon  the  advantage  of  connecting  Butter  with  Cheese  manu- 
facturing. 


112 

6tL  What  are  the  requisites  of  purity  of  flavor  in  Cheese,  and 
how  can  it  be  secured  ? 

7th.  Is  the  Branch  Factory  System  practicable,  and  is  its  adoption 
to  be  advised  ? 

8th.  The  preservation  and  preparation  of  Kennets. 

9th,  Taxing  Cheese  Manufactures. 

10th.  Best  breed  of  Cows  for  the  Dairy. 

11th.  Best  Grasses  for  a  Dairy  Farm. 

12th.  The  election  of  ofiicers  for  the  ensuing  year — to  be  in  order 
on  Thursday,  A.  M. 

The  Treasurer's  Eeport  was  submitted  by  A.  D.  Hall,  Esq.,  of 
Geauga,  showing  the  receipts  to  be  $124.28 ;  expenses  $143.59,  a 
deficit  of  $19.31 :  the  report  was,  on  motion  accepted. 

The  motion  to  reduce  the  fee  for  Membership  was  then  consid- 
ered, and  Mr.  C.  B.  Chamberlane,  of  Summit,  moved,  in  view  of  the 
financial  exhibit  just  made  by  the  Treasurer,  to  lay  the_  motion  for 
reduction  on  the  table  ;  carried. 

The  Committee  on  Nominations  not  being  ready  to  report,  the 
next  subject  in  order,  the  reports  from  Committees  was  called  up. 

Mr.  Bartlett,  Chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee,  first  desired 
some  further  action  from  the  Association,  on  the  question  of  fee  for 
membership. 

Mr.  Horr,  of  Lorain,  preferred  that  the  fee  should  be  small,  but 
thought  the  reduction  proposed  would  not  increase  the  membership 
sufficiently. 

Mr.  Hall,  of  Geauga,  thought  that  factories  would  pay  the  fee 
cheerfully,  but  that  dairymen  who  made  their  own  cheese,  would 
sooner  join  at  $1  than  at  $2. 

A  report  from  the  Finance  Committee,  in  favor  of  fixing  the  fee 
from  the  factory  men  at  $2,  and  for  private  dairymen  at  $1,  and  that 
names  and  funds  be  at  once  handed  in,  was  unanimously  adopted. 

The  Committee  on  Kominations  reported  the  following  list  of 
ofiicers : 

President — J.  C.  Horr,  Lorain. 

Vice  Presidents — J.  F.  Bruce,  Geauga ;  H.  N.  Carter,  Lake ;  J. 
M.  Trew,  Trumbull  ;  John  Snow,  Lorain ;  C.  E.  Chamberlane,  Me- 
dina ;  A.  G.  Bradley,  Portage  ;  Philip  Coe,  Union ;  Caswell  Wright, 
Cuyahoga;  H.  F.  Giddings,  Ashtabula. 

Corresponding  Secretary — A.  Bartlett,  Lake. 

Recording  Secretary  and  Treasurer — A.  D.  Hall,  Geauga. 

The  5th  question,  in  the  order  of  business  as  above,  the  discussion 
of  which  had  been  appointed  to  be  opened  by  Mr.  S.  A.  Andrews, 
of  Summit,  was  postponed  for  the  present  on  account  of  his  absence. 

The  6th  question  was  also  passed  for  the  present,  and  the  7th  was 
taken  up.  After  some  remarks  from  Mr.  Bartlett,  of  Geauga,  it  was 
laid  aside. 

The  8th  question  in  order,  the  preservation  and  preparation  of 
Rennets,  elicited  an  interesting  and  general  discussion  and  statement 
of  experiences,  by  Messrs.  Carter  and  Roc,  of  Lake,  Snow,  Jackson, 
Ilovey  and  Horr,  of  Lorain,  Johnson  and  Burgess,  of  Portage,  Bart- 
lett, of  Geauga,  Welton,  of  Summit,  and  Chamberlane  of  Medina. 


113 

The  6th  question  was  then  taken  up,  and  discussed,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  Mr.  Cox,  who  had  been  appointed  to  open  the  subject,  bv 
Mr.  Horr,  of  Lorain.  The  further  consideration  was  then  postponecl 
until  evening,  and  the  Association  adjourned  until  7  P.  M.,  when 
the  first  thing  in  order  would  be  the  delivery  of  the  annual  address 
by  Anson  Bartlett,  of  Lake  Co. 

At  7  P.  M.,  the  Association  again  convened,  when  Mr.  Anson 
Bartlett,  of  Lake  County,  delivered  the 

ANNUAL    ADDRESS. 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen 

OF  the  Ohio  Dairymen's  Association  : 

It  is  with  a  feeling  of  diffidence,  amounting  almost  to  depression, 
that  I  attempt  to  address  you  +his  evening,  well  knowing  there  are 
those  present,  who,  from  age  and  experience  as  well  as  by  natural  and 
acquired  abilities,  are  much  better  qualified  than  myself  to  impart 
information  and  give  counsel  and  instruction  of  value  to  yourselves 
and  the  business  you  represent.  Knowing  my  own  imperfections,  it 
is  solely  through  the  influence  and  importunity  of  friends  that  I  am 
induced  to  appear  before  you.  I  therefore  solicit  your  kind  indul- 
gence, hoping  that,  although  I  may  not  be  as  instructive  as  it  is  de- 
sired, you  will  recollect  it  is  a  difficult  thing  "  to  get  grapes  from 
thorns,  or  figs  from  thistles." 

I  suppose  Mr.  President,  we  are  here  for  the  purpose  of  seeking 
more  light,  and  I  know  of  no  surer  way  to  obtain  it  than  for  each 
individual  to  contribute  to  the  common  stock  of  information;  that  is 
all  I  propose  to  do,  and  still  I  cannot  escape  the  feeling  that  I  am  in 
a  measure  repeating  a  thrice-told  tale.  In  fact,  I  do  not  expect  to 
be  original.  All  I  can  hope  to  do  will  be  to  present  some  few  facts 
which  may  be  and  doubtless  are  familiar  to  most  of  you,  but  which, 
from  that  very  familiarity,  you  may  never  have  chanced  gravely  to 
consider. 

Milk,  and  its  products  in  some  form  or  other,  as  forming  part  of 
our  daily  food,  has  become  an  imperative  necessity  in  civilized  life  ; 
hence  the  dairy  has  acquired  an  importance  second  to  but  few  of  the 
food  producing  agencies  of  the  land.  True,  it  is  but  few  years  since 
the  economic  value  of  milk  and  its  products  as  food  has  been  under- 
stood, and  even  now  butter  and  cheese  are  considered  as  luxuries  by 
most  American  people,  to  be  used  and  dispensed  with  according  to 
the  ability  of  the  consumer  to  indulge  in  luxurious  living,  and  this 
more  especially  in  regard  to  cheese.  In  England  the  case  is  quite 
difi'erent,  cheese  as  an  article  of  food  there  forms  a  part  of  the  daily 
living  of  almost  every  Englishmen,  and  particularly  with  the  labor- 
ing classes ;  as  one  writer  observes,  "  Bread,  cheese  and  ale  is  the 
English  laborer's  breakfast ;  ale,  bread  and  cheese  his  dinner,  and 
cheese,  ale  and  bread  his  supper." 

English  laborers,  as  is  well  known,  receive  less  money  for  a  day  of 

labor  than  do  laborers  in  this  country,  being  for  the  majority  barely 

sufficient  for  their  subsistence,  consequently  cheap  food  is  sought  by 

them  in  preference  to  dearer  kinds,  and  it  is  found  that  the  same 

15 


114 

money  expended  for  cheese  affords  more  sustenance  to  the  physical 
system,  than  it  would,  if  expended  for  meat,  besides  it  possesses  this 
advantage  over  meat,  it  is  always  ready,  requiring  no  fire  to  cook,  or 
time  to  prepare  it,  and  where  will  you  find  a  more  robust  and  healthy 
people  than  the  laborers  of  Old  England  ?  I  venture  to  assert  that 
if  the  American  people  consumed  less  meat  and  more  cheese,  in  fact 
if  the  amount  of  cheese  produced  was  four-fold  what  it  now  is,  and 
was  all  consumed  in  our  own  country,  instead  of  living  so  much  up- 
on meat,  the  health  of  the  people  would  be  benefited,  and  their  wel- 
fare promoted  by  the  change.  This  subject  is  now  attracting  con- 
siderable attention,  and  the  consumption  of  cheese  is  largely  increas- 
ing. A  great  deal  of  this  inquiry  and  investigation  is  due  to  the  ef- 
forts and  influence  of  Dairymen's  Associations,  and  if  proper  efforts 
are  made  to  keep  alive  this  spirit  of  investigation  and  diffuse  the  in- 
formation obtained,  we  may  confidently  expect  the  increased  con- 
sumption of  cheese  to  keep  full  pace  with  the  increase  of  production 
for  years  to  come,  and  this,  too,  at  remunerative  prices  to  the 
producer. 

Perhaps  I  ought  to  say  a  few  words  here  in  relation  to  the  wants 
of  the  trade.  Interested  parties  have  taught  us  to  believe  that 
cheese  suited  to  the  trade  in  one  place  was  entirely  unsuited  to  the 
wants  of  the  trade  in  another  place.  To  a  limited  extent  this  may 
be  partially  true,  but  the  great  want  of  the  cheese  trade  everywhere 
is,  a  cheese  that  will  please  the  tastes  of  a  great  majority  of  consum- 
ers. And  what  is  that  ?  I  think  I  hear  you  ask.  When  a  person 
proposes  to  use  anything  as  an  article  of  daily  food,  he  invariably 
seeks  that  which  is  pleasing  to  the  palate,  and  which  may  be  par- 
taken of  without  disagreeable  sensations,  or  leaving  an  unpleasant 
taste  in  the  mouth.  Hence  a  cheese  possessing  a  rich,  creamy 
quality,  and  a  sweet,  mild  flavor,  one  which  may  be  eaten  as  you 
would  eat  bread,  is  the  cheese  which  suits  the  majority  of  tastes,  and 
of  course  will  meet  the  requirements  of  the  trade  everywhere.  And 
this  is  the  universal  testimony  of  cheese  consumers.  For  the  New 
York  and  English  trade  we  all  know  this  to  be  the  description  of 
cheese  most  in  demand,  as  well  as  for  our  own  vicinity,  and  the 
West,  and  in  the  South,  I  have  it  from  the  lips  of  Southern  gentle- 
men themselves,  that  the  cheese  which  suits  their  market  best  is  one 
rich,  sweet  and  mild,  and  that  can  be  eaten  like  bread.  In  fact 
there  is  no  place  and  no  people  where  or  of  whom  I  can  learn 
that  a  sharp-flavored,  or  a  bitter  or  strong-flavored  cheese  finds  favor. 
True  it  is  that  a  cheese  of  a  certain  form  and  size  is  preferred,  and  in 
others  a  different  form  and  size  is  the  fiivorite  ;  and  I  look  to  the  ef- 
forts of  this  and  kindred  Associations  for  some  device  for  overcom- 
ing this  difiiculty,  so  as  to  produce  a  cheese  of  uniform  shape  and 
size  that  will  find  favor  in  every  market.  And  here  let  mc  sug- 
gest— cannot  a  cheese  of  a  square  or  oblong  form  be  produced  that 
will  give  better  satisfaction  in  every  market  than  the  present  circu- 
lar form  ?  It  would  certainly  be  more  convenient  for  boxing  and 
transportation,  besides  being  a  better  form  for  cutting. 

There  is  no  branch  of  rural  economy  in  regard  to  which  greater 
improvement  has  been  made  within  the  last  twenty  years,  than  in 


115 

the  management  of  the  dairy  and  the  manufacture  of  butter  and 
cheese ;  while  at  the  same  time  there  is  scarcely  another  to  be  found 
which  has  not  received  more  attention  from  scientific  men,  from  the 
press,  from  Agricultural  Societies,  from  Associations  and  from  Gov- 
ernment, than  this,  and  I  hope  before  I  close  to  show  that  this  in- 
terest deserves  more  notice,  and  is  susceptible  of  still  greater  im- 
provement. 

Many  of  us  recollect  the  time  when  the  cheese  was  made  in  a  tub, 
all  the  heating  for  the  process  being  performed  in  a  kettle  on  the 
stove  or  over  the  fire  in  a  fire-place,  the  press  a  log  hewn  on  its  up- 
per side,  with  posts  in  one  end  and  a  huge  lever  attached  to  them, 
with  a  pile  of  rocks  on  the  other  end  for  giving  the  pressure ;  the 
cheese  were  placed  on  rude  shelves  and  benches  up  chamber,  in  the 
woodshed  or  some  other  out  of  the  way  place,  the  whole  a  spot  to  be 
avoided  by  persons  of  delicate  nerves,  especially  if  possessed  of  a 
keen  appreciation  of  foul,  disgusting  odors.  I  would  like  to  say  all 
this  is  changed ;  some  of  it  is,  and  very  much  for  the  better,  but 
truth  and  candor  compel  me  to  say  that  in  one  very  important  par- 
ticular, American  cheese-makers  are  still  greatly  in  fault,  and  I 
hardly  know  where  a  dairy  room  can  be  found  that  is  not  suscepti- 
ble of  great,  yes,  radical  improvement  in  regard  to  cleanliness  and 
freedom  from  foul  odors.  I  wish  in  this  connection  to  call  your  at- 
tention to  the  composition  of  milk,  in  order  to  illustrate  the  impera- 
tive necessity  of  perfect  and  exact  cleanliness  in  every  department  of 
the  dairy  if  we  expect  to  produce  a  really  fine  article  of  butter  or 
cheese. 

In  1,000  parts  of  milk  are  837  of  water. 

In  1,000  parts  of  milk  are  57  of  butter. 

In  1,000  parts  of  milk  are  46  of  milk  sugar. 

In  1,000  parts  of  milk  are  47  of  casein. 

In  1,000  parts  of  milk  are  7  of  albumen,  and 

In  1,000  parts  of  milk  are  6  of  salt,  mostly  phosphates  and  sul- 
phates. 

Water  is  a  compound  substance,  composed  of  one  atom  of  hy- 
drogen, and  one  of  oxygen,  or  as  some  other  writers  have  it,  H,  2 ;  O, 
2.  Butter  consists  of  several  different  fatty  substances,  the  principal 
of  which  arc  margarin,  68  parts,  and  olein,  30  parts  in  100  ;  the  re- 
mainder butyrin,  caproin,  and  caprylin,  composed  of  butyric,  caproic, 
and  caprylic  acids  united  with  the  common  base,  glycerin.  The 
characteristic  flavor  and  odor  of  butter  are  owing  to  the  presence  of 
these  latter  substances,  the  caproic  and  caprylic  acids,  receiving  their 
name  from  capra,  a  goat;  the  odor  of  these  acids  resembling  the  well 
known  charateristic  odor  of  that  animal.  Margarin  and  olcin  are 
severally  composed  of  margaric  and  oleic  acids,  combined  with  the 
base  glycerin.  The  atomic  constitution  of  margaric  acid  is  C,  34; 
11,  34 ;  b,  4 ;  of  oleic  acid,  C,  36  :  11,  34  ;  O,  4  ;  of  dycerin,  C,  6 ;  H, 
8 ;  O,  6  ;  of  sugar  of  milk,  C,  24  ;  H,  24  ;  O,  24 ;  of  casein,  C,  288  ; 
H,  228 ;  O,  90  ;  N,  36  ;  S,  2  ;  of  albumen,  C,  216  ;  H,  169  ;  0,  68  ;  N, 
36 ;  S,  8  ;  and  the  salts  contained  in  milk  are  composed  of  phos- 
phoric and  sulphuric  acids,  and  chlorine  combined  with  the  bases, 
.lime,   potash   and  soda,    and   of  these  si.N^  only  one,   chlorine,  is 


116 

elementaiy,  all  tlie  rest  being  compound,  and  their  atomic  arrange- 
ment is  as  follows :  Phosplioric  acid,  P  O,  5;  sulphuric  acid,  SOS, 
H  0  ;  lime  Ca  O  ;  potash,  K  0  ;  soda,  Na  O.  Thus  we  see  that  milk 
is  a  very  complex  substance,  and  that  in  many  of  its  constituent 
parts  their  elements  have  very  high  combining  numbers,  and  it  is  a 
well  known  fact  in  chemistry,  that  with  all  substances  whose  ele- 
ments have  high  combining  atomic  numbers,  their  combinations  are 
more  easily  broken  up,  and  new  combinations  formed  than  those 
more  simple  in  their  chemical  composition,  this  explains  why  milk 
is  so  susceptible  to  external  influences  and  conditions  of  change,  it 
being  the  most  complex  organic  substance,  and  as  a  consequence  the 
most  readily  decomposed. 

All  who  have  anything  to  do  with  milk  know  very  well  that  it 
will  change  and  become  spoiled  or  soured  very  much  sooner  if 
placed  in  contact  with  any  substance  already  soured,  than  if  such 
contact  is  avoided,  but  we  are  apt  to  forget  that  actual  visible  con- 
tact is  by  no  means  a  necessary  condition  for  milk  to  become  im- 
pregnated, the  chemical  combinations  being  so  feeble  and  so  easily 
broken  up,  that  milk  may  be  effectually  spoiled  for  a  really  fine 
article  of  either  butter  or  cheese  by  an  exposure  to  a  bad  air,  even  a 
short  length  of  time.  This  subject,  in  my  opinion,  has  hitherto 
been  too  much  neglected,  in  fact  inquiry  and  investigation  are  but 
just  begun  in  this  direction,  and  I  look  to  this  Association  to  pur- 
sue the  investigation. 

Not  only  does  the  atmosphere  surrounding  the  milk  after  it  is 
drawn  from  the  cow,  have  an  influence  upon  it,  but  the  food  and 
drink  of  the  animal,  and  even  the  very  air  she  breathes  during  the 
time  the  milk  is  being  elaborated  and  secreted,  has  its  influence  for 
good  or  ill  on  the  flavor  of  the  milk.  During  the  heated  term  of 
last  summer  I  had  frequent  opportunities  of  noticing  the  effect  pro- 
duced on  milk  by  these  external  influences,  and  the  result  of  my 
observation  is  that  there  is  not  within  my  acquaintance  a  cheese 
factory  or  a  private  dairy  but  that  is  very  defective  in  this  respect. 
I  received  a  letter  last  summer  from  a  dairyman  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  giving  an  account  of  the  tainting  of  the  milk  from  his  entire 
dairy,  by  the  stench  from  the  carcass  of  a  dead  horse,  being  blown 
over  and  among  his  cows  from  an  adjoining  field  throughout  a  hot 
summer  day,  and  I  can  bear  witness  myself  that  the  milk  will  pos- 
sess the  odor  of  a  foul  stable,  imbibed  by  the  animal  in  breathing. 
In  view  of  all  these  facts,  I  beseech  you,  dair3^men  of  Ohio,  to  give 
this  subject  more  attention,  to  resolve  that  you  will  introduce  radical 
changes  in  regard  to  the  condition  of  your  milk  and  cheese-liouses ; 
let  cleanliness,  absolute,  immaculate  cleanliness,  be  your  watchword 
and  rallying  cry,  until  Ohio  butter  and  Ohio  cheese  shall  stand  in 
the  foremost  rank  in  all  the  markets  of  the  world. 

In  this  connection,  I  would  like  to  suggest  an  improvement  in  the 
management  of  cheese  factories ;  and  that  is  to  banish  the  whole 
hoggish  multitude  of  swine  from  the  precincts  of  every  factory,  and 
in  their  stead  to  feed  the  whey  to  calves.  Get  your  patrons  to  save 
and  teach  to  drink,  all  their  best  calves  for  you,  and  the  whey  that 
will  keep  a  full  grown  hog,  will,  with  a  Utile  pasture,  feed  two 


117 

calves.  The  pecuniary  profit  will  be  greater,  and  the  labor,  except 
a  little  time  in  the  spring,  is  no  more ;  and  the  calves  are  clean  and 
tidy,  no  rooting  up  the  ground,  and  making  unfathomable  seas  of 
mud  ;  and  when  you  come  to  contract  the  odor  produced  by  a  yard 
of  filthy  porkers  to  a  lot  of  clean  calves — oh  faugh !  it's  of  no  use  ; 
words  cannot  do  justice  to  the  subject. 

While  on  the  subject  of  improvement,  I  will  speak  of  a  few  items 
of  importance  to  all  dairy  farmers,  and  suggest  some  improvements. 

FIRST — PRODUCTIVENESS   OF   LAND. 

I  believe  that  the  soil  of  nearly  all  Northern  Ohio  contains  all 
the  essential  elements  of  fertility  required  for  the  dairy.  But  when 
we  look  around  we  discover  scores  of  farms  that  will  not  keep 
as  much  stock  as  those  same  farms  would  twenty  years  ago.  This, 
to  my  mind,  shows  that  these  farms  are  becoming  to  some  extent 
exhausted  of  certain  elements  of  fertility,  and  it  is  a  subject  worthy 
the  earnest  inquiry  of  dairy  farmers.  Experiments  should  be  tried, 
and  results  carefully  noted.  Bone  dust,  lime,  plaster  and  salt,  are 
each  and  all  fertilizers  to  some  extent.  Let  experiments  be  tried 
with  each.  Save  and  use  all  the  manure  that  can  be  made,  for  after 
all  is  said  about  other  fertilizers,  barnyard  manure  must  continue  to 
be  the  principal  and  most  reliable  fertilizer — the  sheet  anchor  of 
the  dairy  farmer. 

I  have  it  from  a  very  successful  dairy  farmer,  that  a  top-dressing 
of  common  soil,  or  even  a  clay  subsoil,  is  as  beneficial  on  grass  land 
as  a  dressing  of  barnyard  manure. 

I  know  that  in  many  places  in  Northeastern  Ohio,  there  exists  a 
species  of  blue  clay,  which  being  spread  on  the  surface,  acts  as  a 
powerful  fertilizer  on  some  soils. 

Inquiry  and  investigation  should  be  set  on  foot,  for  there  is  no 
good  reason  why  one  farm  should  keep,  and  keep  well,  a  cow  to 
every  three  acres,  while  another  will  only  keep  a  cow  to  six  acres. 

SECOND — BREEDS   AND   BREEDING  COWS. 

Every  dairyman,  I  presume,  knows  of  some  particular  breed  or 
family  of  cows,  among  which  a  poor  cow  is  an  exception.  In  my 
own  experience,  I  have  been  acquainted  with  two  such  families,  bred 
and  owned  by  my  father  and  myself,  each  oAe  springing  in  the  first 
instance  from  a  single  cow,  and  I  do  not  recollect  a  single  instance 
of  a  cow  from  either  family  that  was  not  more  than  medium  for 
milking  qualities,  and  at  least  four  out  of  ever}^  five  were  first  rate 
cows.  It  may  be  an  improvement  to  mix  with  our  best  native  stock 
a  strain  of  imported  blood  of  choice  milking  stock,  such  as  Ayr- 
shire or  Alderney,  but  I  am  certain  that  with  judicious  breeding 
from  our  native  stock,  an  increase  might  be  made  in  the  amount  of 
milk  produced  of  at  the  least  one-third  from  the  same  number  of 
cows. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  practice  now  so  generally  pursued 
by  the  dairymen,  of  slaughtering  all  their  calves,  and  depending  on 
buying  cows  south  and  west  to  replenish  their  stocks,  is  fast  deterio- 


118 

rating  the  dairy  stock,  besides  it  increases  tlie  risk  of  dairying,  in 
that,  cows  which  are  driven  long  distances,  are  more  liable  to  be  at- 
tacked by  disease ;  especially  garget  and  puerperal  fevers,  and  large 
losses  are  yearly  sustained  by  our  dairymen  from  this  source,  nor  is 
this  all ;  a  cow  in  milk,  in  order  to  her  well  being  and  yielding  a 
profitable  return,  should  be  kept  as  quiet  as  possible,  hence  anything 
that  disturbs  her,  any  extra  irritation,  is  detrimental,  diminishing 
the  flow  of  milk  and  deteriorating  the  quality,  and  these  effects  are 
by  no  means  transient,  not  unfrequently  continuing  through  an  en- 
tire season. 

Dairymen,  I  am  aware,  are  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  cheaper  to  buy 
their  cows  than  to  raise  them;  that  the  time,  trouble  and  feed,  re- 
quired to  raise  a  calf  and  keep  it  until  it  becomes  a  cow,  is  worth 
more  than  the  cost  of  a  cow  already  grown  to  their  hands  ;  although 
this  may  be  true  in  so  far  as  the  cash  value  of  the  feed  consumed  by 
the  growing  animal,  if  it  had  been  given  to  cows  in  milk,  and  thus 
converted  into  cash,  and  that  cash  used  to  buy  an  average  southern 
or  western  cow  is  concerned ;  still,  I  believe,  if  we  examine  the  mat- 
ter closel}',  we  shall  find  that  the  cows  we  purchase,  are,  in  the  end, 
much  dearer  than  those  we  raise. 

I  have  bought  cows  for  our  dairy  quite  extensively,  I  have  also 
raised  quite  a  number  at  one  time  and  another,  and  so  far  as  my  ex- 
perience goes,  I  can  conscientiously  say,  that  two  cows  of  my  own 
raising  are  worth  more ;  that  is,  will  give  more  milk  in  a  given 
length  of  time,  than  three  of  those  purchased  from  the  south  and 
west,  taking  the  average  of  each,  and  I  think  the  experience  of  oth- 
ers generally  coincides  with  mine.  If  this  be  a  true  view  of  the 
matter,  how  can  it  be  cheaper  to  buy  cows  to  replenish  our  stocks 
than  to  raise  them  ?  For  in  the  one  instance  we  have  not  only  to 
pay  for  a  cow  and  a  half,  but  to  feed,  risk  and  pay  taxes  on  the 
same,  as  well  as  to  milk  them,  and  I  had  much  rather  milk  a  pail 
full  of  milk  from  one  cow,  than  to  milk  a  half  a  pail  full  each  from 
two;  in  fact,  I  would  quite  as  soon  milk  a  cow  giving  twelve  quarts 
of  milk,  as  one  giving  only  six  quarts,  Now,  when  we  consider  that 
this  is  not  for  one  season  only,  but  for  the  whole  life  of  the  cow,  I 
certainly  can  see  but  little  room  for  doubt  that  it  is  better  and  cheap- 
er to  raise  cows  to  replenish  a  dairy  stock  than  to  buy  them.  In 
raising  calves  for  cows,  attention  must  be  paid  as  a  matter  of  course 
to  the  milking  qualities. of  the  dam,  but  at  the  same  time  I  regard  it 
as  of  equal  importance  that  the  sire  should  be  from  stock  noted  for 
good  milking  qualities. 

With  dairymen  there  need  be  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  both  sire 
and  dam  from  good  milk  stock,  and  in  that  event  you  need  no  war- 
ranty as  regards  the  milking  qualities  of  the  progeny. 

THIRD — FEEDING   COWS. 

There  is  probably  no  feed  for  cows  in  milk  equal  to  fresh  pasture 
of  white  clover;  but  as  this  is  by  no  means  always  to  be  had,  or 
oven  fresh  pastures  of  any  variety  of  grass,  it  becomes  a  matter  of 
interest  to  dairy  farmers  to  find  a  substitute,  to  be  used  when  pas- 
tures begiu  to  fail,  as  they  generally  do  about  midsummer.     Al- 


119 

thougti  on  acconnt  of  scarcity  and  liigh  price  for  labor,  and  compara- 
tive cheapness  of  land,  tlie  system  of  greensoiling  cattle  may  not  be 
applicable  to  dairy  farming  in  Ohio  at  present,  still  I  am  of  opinion 
that  they  would  do  well  to  study  the  sj^stem  carefully,  and  so  far  as 
may  be  applicable,  adopt  it.  Pastures  in  this  State  usually  afford 
abundance  of  feed  for  farmers'  herds,  during  the  months  of  May, 
June  and  July,  while  throughout  the  remainder  of  the  season,  grass 
is  more  or  less  scant  in  growth,  and  feed  more  or  less  short.  To 
meet  this  deficiency,  and  provide  a  supply  of  green  food  for  the  dairy 
stock,  I  know  of  no  crop  equal  to  Indian  corn,  grown  in  drills.  Sor- 
ghum, I  am  well  aware,  has  its  friends  and  advocates  ;  that  it  is  a 
first  rate  feed  for  cows  in  milk  I  know  from  experience  ;  that  in  some 
of  the  best  dairy  districts  of  the  State  it  is  difficult  to  grow,  I  know 
as  wel].  Other  crops,  such  as  rye,  Hungarian  grass,  clover,  millet, 
oats,  peas,  &c.,  are  highly  spoken  of,  and  might  be  profitably  grown 
for  this  purpose  ;  but  in  Indian  corn  we  have  a  plant  possessing  all 
the  requisite  qualities,  and  when  properly  put  into  the  ground  and 
tended  as  it  should  be,  about  as  certain  to  yield  a  large  crop  as  the 
seasons  are  to  return  in  their  order.  I  am  very  sure  I  have  received 
more  net  profit  from  an  acre  of  drilled  com,  cut  and  fed  green  to 
cows,  than  from  any  other  acre  of  forage  crop  I  ever  grew.  For 
growing  this  crop,  I  would  recommend  to  prepare  the  ground  as  for 

Elanting.  If  green  sward  is  used,  I  would  advise  to  break  early, 
arrow  well  and  cross-plow,  harrow  again,  and  then  with  a  light  plow 
furrow  out  the  ground  about  two  feet  apart ;  then  with  the  hand  scat- 
ter the  seed  along  the  furrow,  and  cover  it  with  the  same  plow  you 
made  the  furrow  with.  When  the  young  plants  are  about  six  inches 
high,  go  through  between  the  rows  with  a  shovel  plow,  and  the  same 
once  more,  when  the  corn  is  from  one  foot  to  fifteen  inches  high ; 
cultivated  in  this  way,  it  leaves  the  ground  as  clean  and  free  from 
weeds  as  any  crop  I  ever  grew,  and  no  matter  whether  the  season 
was  wet  or  dry,  a  heavy  crop  is  almost  certain ;  in  fact  I  have  yet  to 
learn  of  a  single  failure,  and  I  believe  I  can  give  dairy  farmers  no 
better  piece  of  advice  than  this :  let  not  a  single  season  pass  without 
growing  at  least  an  acre  of  drilled  corn  for  every  ten  cows  you  keep, 
and  if  not  needed  for  summer  feeding,  cut  and  cured,  it  makes  the 
best  of  winter  feed  for  milk  cows ;  or  almost  any  other  stock. 

An  objection  is  made  to  feeding  cows  while  at  pasture  with  any 
such  green  crop,  on  account,  as  they  say,  that  having  fed  the  cows, 
they  will  lie  down  and  wait  for  another  feed,  and  will  not  range  the 
pasture  for  what  they  might  get  there ;  that,  consequently,  unless 
you  are  prepared  with  a  sufficient  quantity  to  feed  them  all  that  is 
requisite  for  their  full  keeping,  it  is  better  to  keep  it  from  them  alto- 
gether. I  will  not  stop  to  inquire  whether  this  is  fallacious  reasoning 
or  not,  but  admitting  its  full  force,  the  difficulty  is  very  easily  obvia- 
ted in  this  way :  Give  the  cows  no  f(3ed  in  the  morning  at  all,  but 
turn  them  to  the  pasture  as  usual  after  milking ;  at  some  time  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  day,  cut  and  load  on  a  cart  or  wagon  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  the  green  corn  for  a  good  feed  for  the  cows ;  then  either 
while  the  milking  is  being  done  at  night,  or  after  you  are  through, 
and  before  you  turn  out  your  cows,  haul  your  fodder  into  the  pasture 


120 

and  scatter  it  tlioroiiglily,  and  let  your  cows  go  to  it.  They  will  eat, 
lie  down  and  ruminate  through  the  night,  quiet,  and  peaceable ;  in 
the  morning  they  do  not  expect  any  thing,  and  will  range  the  fields 
and  feed  as  usual  through  the  day. 

ORDER  AND  SYSTEM  IN  MANUFACTURE. 

The  introduction  of  factories  has  done  much  towards  establishing 
order  and  system  in  the  manufacture  of  cheese,  although  much  still 
remains  to  be  accomplished,  and  as  the  present  modes  of  manufac- 
ture as.  pursued  in  factories,  as  well  as  machinery  and  fixtures  used 
in  the  same  were  not  all  perfected  at  one  time,  or  by  one  person,  so 
we  must  not  expect  that  any  one  person  will  be  able  to  bring  for- 
ward and  perfect  all  necessary  improvements  in  the  future  ;  hence 
the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  the  interchange  of  thoughts  and 
opinions.  Here  let  every  one  bring  his  improvements  and  make  his 
suggestions,  let  each  and  every  point  be  thoroughly  and  fairly  can- 
vassed, and  do  not  let  it  stop  here,  but  during  the  season  of  active 
operations  in  the  dairy,  let  visits  from  one  to  another  be  frequent. 
Much,  very  much  may  be  learned  of  each  other  in  this  way  towards 
perfecting  order  and  system  in  manufacture. 

The  manufacture  of  butter  has  not  received  that  attention  in  Ohio 
that  it  has  in  some  parts  of  New  York,  it  having  been  reduced  in 
some  parts  to  an  almost  perfect  system,  and  Orange  county  is  famous 
for  her  fine  butter  all  over  the  land,  while  in  Ohio  guess  work  or 
accident  in  butter  manufacture  is  the  order  of  the  day ;  this  is  all 
wrong :  perfect  order  and  system  are  as  necessary  in  the  manufacture 
of  butter  as  anything  else. 

Two  things  are  essentially  requisite  to  enable  one  to  produce  good 
butter.  First,  good,  pure  milk ;  and  second,  a  good  milk  room,  or 
house.  The  milk  room  should  be  so  constructed  as  to  preserve  a 
low,  even  temperature,  with  just  enough  ventilation  to  secure  a  pure 
atmosphere,  and  if  cold  spring  water  can  be  had  it  adds  greatly  to  the 
value  of  a  milk  house;  for  a  dry  air  is  injurious  to  the  cream, 
forming  a  hard  crust  over  the  top,  which  is  apt  to  make  the  butter 
spotted  and  oily. 

In  some  of  the  best  Orange  county  butter  dairies,  the  milk  is  set  in 
deep  instead  of  shallow  vessels,  and  these  stand  in  cold  spring  water, 
the  water  rising  a  little  higher  around  them  than  the  surface  of  the 
milk  inside.  This  secures  a  low  temperature  and  a  moist  atmosphere. 
The  cream,  when  it  rises,  is  dipped  off  and  churned,  producing  an 
article  of  butter  as  fine  as  can  be  imagined,  and  always  selling  for 
the  highest  price. 

It  is  highly  essential  that  the  cream  should  be  of  the  proper  tem- 
perature when  the  churning  is  performed,  in  order  to  secure  a  fine 
article  of  butter.  This  should  be  from  50  degs.  to  55  degs.  when 
the  churning  is  begun,  rising  to  60  or  65  degs.  during  the  process. 
This  can  be  secured  in  warm  weather  only  by  the  use  of  ice,  and  ice  I 
regard  as  indispensable  in  tlie  management  of  a  butter  dairy  when  a 
truly  fine  article  of  butter  is  sought.  After  the  butter  is  churned, 
take  it  from  the  buttermilk  and  work  in  the  salt,  adding  a  little  more 
salt  than  is  needed.     Set  in  a  cool  place — the  ice-house  in  warm 


121 

weatlier  is  the  best — let  it  be  there  from  twenty -four  to  thirty-six 
hours,  and  then  work  it  over  and  pack,  or  make  into  rolls,  as  the 
market  for  which  it  is  intended  requires. 

In  working  the  butter,  care  should  be  taken  to  work  it  sufficiently 
thorough  to  expel  all  the  buttermilk,  and  at  the  same  time  not  so 
much  as  to  injure  the  grain  and  make  it  oily.  I  have  seen  a  great 
many  rules  for  salting  butter,  but  still  prefer  to  salt  by  the  taste, 
and  at  the  second  working,  if  more  salt  is  required,  it  should  be 
added.  Salting;  at  the  first  workino;  insures  a  more  even  saltinsr,  and 
also  as  the  salt  dissolves  and  forms  a  brine  which  is  brought  out  at 
the  last  working,  it  assists  in  removing  the  buttermilk  more  efiectu- 
ally. 

You  may  consider  these  as  rather  brief  directions  for  butter  ma- 
king, and  perhaps  their  brevity  is  the  best  part  of  them,  but  I  am 
very  confident  that  vastly  more  butter  is  spoiled  when  it  leaves  the 
churn,  than  is  ever  injured  by  overworking,  underworking  and  de- 
fective salting,  all  put  together.  Pure  milk,  cream  formed  in  a  cool, 
moist,  sweet  place,  and  proper  temperature  in  churning,  are  the  great- 
est requisites  for  the  production  of  good  butter.  And  so  it  is  in 
cheese-making ;  pure,  raw  material,  a  proper  temperature,  good  and 
pure  rennet,  salt,  &;c.,  being  absolutely  indispensable  to  secure  satis- 
factory results,  as  J.  C.  Smith,  of  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  once  said  to 
me,  "  Any  fool  can  make  a  good  cheese  of  pure,  sweet  milk,  but  it  is 
a  trick  of  the  trade  to  do  it  with  sour  milk." 

I  have  been  solicited  to  give  a  description  of  my  own  process  of 
cheese-making,  but  having  repeatedly  written  out  full  and  detailed 
statements  of  the  same,  which  have  been  published  and  widely  cir- 
culated, it  seems  to  me  it  would  be  a  work  of  supererogation  to  give 
it  here  at  this  time,  I  therefore  beg  leave  to  refer  to  those  articles, 
and  particularly  to  one  in  the  Ohio  Agricultural  Eeport  for  1865, 
pages  170  to  176,  to  which  I  have  but  few  suggestions  to  add.  I 
would  recommend  the  use  of  whey  for  soaking  rennets  instead  of 
water,  having  found  by  experience  that  rennets  soaked  in  whey  will 
keep  perfectly  sweet  any  length  of  time,  while  it  is  very  difficult  to 
keep  rennet  sweet  and  clear  from  taint  during  the  warm  weather 
when  water  is  used.  Use  salt  the  same  as  if  water  was  used,  and  I 
find  that  the  whey  which  flows  from  the  cheese  while  in  press  to  be 
as  good  as  any  for  this  purpose,  thereby  making  a  saving  of  salt. 
Another  suggestion  I  would  add  is,  that  when  working  milk  in  which 
putrefactive  fermentation  exists,  or  as  some  would  express  it,  when 
the  milk  is  tainted,  or  if  the  milk  is  fresh  from  the  cow,  and  is  per- 
fectly sweet,  to  add  with  the  rennet  from  one  half  gallon  to  a  gallon 
of  very  sour  whey  to  each  one  hundred  gallons  of  milk.  The  whey 
for  this  purpose  should  be  two  weeks  old  at  the  least,  and  possess  a 
clean  vinegar  taste.  I  find  a  very  good  method  is,  to  take  the  requi- 
site quantity  of  the  proposed  rennet,  together  with  the  requisite 
amount  of  coloring  and  mix  all  with  the  sour  whey,  and  then  dilute 
with  an  equal  quantity  of  water  and  stir  all  into  the  milk  together. 
One  other  suggestion  is,  when  your  milk  is  fresh  from  the  cow,  in 
other  words,  when  3'ou  are  making  cheese  twice  each  day,  to  have 
16 


122 

tlie  temperature  o±  the  milk  86  to  88  degs.  when  the  rennet  is  added, 
instead  of  a  lower  temperature. 

It  seems  to  me  that  an  exhibition  of  dairy  products  might  be  made 
a  feature  of  the  meetings  of  this  Association  by  the  members,  incur- 
ring but  a  trifling  addition  to  the  expenses,  and  would  be  a  very  in- 
structive as  well  as  attractive  feature,  and  the  articles  exhibited 
might  be  sold  at  the  close  of  the  meeting,  and  no  doubt  would  bring 
good  prices. 

You  are  all  well  aware,  I  believe,  of  the  facts  in  regard  to  the 
mission  of  Mr.  Willard  to  England,  last  summer,  in  the  interest  of 
the  American  Dairymen's  Association,  but  perhaps  not  as  well  aware 
that  the  information  of  most  importance  to  dairymen  on  this  side  of 
the  Atlantic,  collected  by  Mr.  Willard,  was  embodied  in  ten  letters 
to  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  raise  the  necessary 
funds  to  send  Mr.  Willard  to  Europe,  and  by  him  copy -righted  and 
published  in  circular  form,  and  issued  only  to  subscribers  to  the  fund. 
But,  notwithstanding  the  copyright,  I  can  not  forbear  making  a  few 
extracts. 

Under  date  of  May  11,  Mr.  Willard  says:  The  average  price  paid 
in  New  York  by  exporters  for  cheese,  taking  the  five  years  from 
1857  to  1861  inclusive,  was  9  17-100  cents  per  pound ;  average  price 
received  at  New  York  by  exporters,  during  the  same  five  years,  was 
11  7-100  cents  per  pound;  net  profit  one  cent  and  nine  mills  per 
pound  realized  by  exporters.  Foreign  markets,  when  taken  for  a 
series  of  years  together,  yield  remarkably  steady  prices.  Under  date 
of  June  27,  he  says,  "  There  is  a  great  desire  here  for  obtaining 
American  cheese,  and  parties  are  anxious  for  factories  to  ship  direct 
They  are  willing  to  place  funds  in  New  York,  ordering  their  agent 
to  pay,  on  carefully  selected  grades,  the  highest  prices  that  are  paid 
in  New  York.  Then,  in  addition,  they  are  willing  to  hand  over  all 
surplus  that  will  accrue  from  the  sales  of  cheese  after  paying  freight 
and  commission.  More  attention  must  be  paid  to  the  manufacture  of 
boxes.  Many  are  insufficiently  nailed,  and  with  hoops  too  weak. 
The  boxes  fall  to  pieces,  get  broken,  the  cheese  get  marred  or  in- 
jured, which  knocks  off  a  considerable  per-centage  on  sales.  The 
dealers  here  must  have  an  article  on  which  there  is  no  loss,  and  as 
soon  as  factories  take  it  in  hand  to  have  boxes  made  substantial,  ave- 
rage prices  will  advance  in  consequence." 

June  16,  Mr.  W.  says: — "In  looking  up  brands  of  different  facto- 
ries, I  find  in  a  great  number  of  cases  the  factory  mark  on  the  box 
cut  away,  and  the  name  of  the  New  York  dealer  substituted." 

July  18,  he  says : — "  I  wish  our  factories  could  see  the  importance 
of  sending  only  the  small  cheese  at  this  season  of  the  year.  If  they 
vjill  make  the  large  cheese,  they  ought  not  to  damage  their  reputa- 
tion by  sending  it  forward  in  hot  weather." 

Under  date  of  Sept.  15,  Mr.  Willard  says : — "  I  regret  to  say  tha* 
between  my  first  circular  and  that  of  25th  of  July,  there  are  two  o^ 
my  circulars  evidently  not  received  by  you.  That  of  the  18th  o^ 
July  was  important,  as  I  advised  in  it,  among  other  things,  the 
branding  of  factory  names  on  the  bandage  of  cheese,  in  order  to 
reach  those  dishonest  persons  who  erase  the  names  of  factories  from 


123 

the  boxes.  I  explained  why  it  was  important  that  good  brands 
should  be  known  in  England,  because  a  higher  price  would  result 
from  such  knowledge  to  the  producer.  All  the  cheese  I  have  seen, 
both  in  London  and  Liverpool,  for  the  last  three  weeks,  has  been 
more  or  less  "injured  in  flavor  by  heat.  It  is  my  impression  that  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  cheese  has  been  heated  up  before  leav- 
ing America,  either  in  the  dry  house,  or  on  its  passage  and  stay  in 
New  York." 

I  had  marked  several  other  extracts  which  I  proposed  to  make 
from  these  circulars,  but  time  will  not  allow  their  production  here. 

The  idea  of  establishing  agencies  in  New  York  and  elsewhere  for 
the  sale  of  butter  and  cheese,  has  already  been  brought  out  in  the 
meetings  of  this  Association,  but  as  yet  nothing  has  been  accom- 
plished. Believing  as  I  do  that  were  such  an  agency  established, 
great  benefit  would  accrue  to  the  producer,  I  ventured  to  bring  for^ 
ward  my  views  on  the  subject.  Objections  I  am  aware  exist,  which 
to  many  seem  insuperable.  First,  it  is  objected  that  in  so  great  a 
diversity  of  interests,  a  want  of  confidence  will  be  an  effectual  bar 
to  any  such  arrangement ;  that  owing  to  the  large  amounts  of  prop' 
erty  thus  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  agent,  a  great  opportunity 
for  embezzlement  would  be  given;  that  it  would  be  difficult,  not  to 
say  impossible;  to  find  a  man  to  act  as  agent  who  would  or  could 
give  the  necessary  surety,  or  who  would  act  impartially  in  the  sale  of 
cheese,  as  every  man  would  be  supposed  to  have  his  particular  per' 
eonal  friends  and  favorites,  and  it  would  be  an  easy  matter  to  let  a 
man's  cheese  lie  in  store  a  long  time,  while  others,  no  better  or  not 
as  good,  were  being  sold  on  arrival.  Most  of  these  are  serious  ob^ 
jections,  still  I  believe  not  altogether  insurmountable. 

The  plan  I  would  recommend  is  briefly  this :  Let  all  those  manu- 
facturers who  are  willing  to  enter  such  an  arrangement,  unite  and 
rent  a  building  suitable  to  the  purpose,  select  their  agent,  and  estab- 
lish necessary  rules ;  then,  whenever  a  manufacturer  has  ready  for 
market  say  fifty,  one  hundred,  or  more  boxes,  of  cheese,  or  a  lot  of 
butter,  all  of  same  quality,  let  him  place  in  store  a  certain  limited 
amount  of  the  same  as  a  sample  of  the  lot, — make  it  imperative  that 
the  agent,  on  receipt  of  a  sample,  shall  give  it  display  equal  to  all 
other  samples  in  store,  the  cheese  by  turning  out  of  the  boxes  and 
placing  on  suitable  shelves,  or  ranges,  so  as  to  be  easily  seen  and  ex- 
amined, and  samples  of  butter  to  be  displayed  in  a  suitable  manner, 
with  cards  attached  to  each  sample  lot,  giving  the  amount  to  be  dis- 
posed of  by  that  sample,  and  any  other  items  of  importance  in  the 
Bale.  Immediately  on  making  sale  of  a  lot  by  sample,  notify  the 
proper  person  by  mail  or  telegraph,  as  may  be  agreed,  and  on  its  ar- 
rival at  the  store,  let  the  purchaser  deposit  the  pay  in  some  bank 
previously  agreed  on,  to  the  credit  of  the  owner  or  shipper,  to  be 
drawn  from  thence  only  by  his  check. 

This  plan,  given  here  only  in  outline,  seems  to  me,  when  fully 
elaborated  in  all  the  necessary  details,  would  obviate  or  neutralize 
all  the  objections  heretofore  urged  to  the  establishment  of  an  agency 
for  the  sale  of  dairy  products,  and  would  possess  decided  advantages 
oyer  the  present  mode  of  marketing  batter  ap.d  cheese. 


124 

I  had  prepared,  witli  the  intention  of  presenting  here,  a  large 
amount  of  statistics  of  the  dairy  business  in  this  country,  embracing 
the  whole  period  of  our  history  from  1790  to  the  present  time,  but 
as  statistical  matter  is  always  dry  and  dull,  and  especially  so  in  an 
otherwise  dull  public  address,  I  will  refrain,  giving  only  a  few  facts 
and  items  and  conclusions  drawn  therefrom.  It  appears  the  number 
of  milch  cows  in  the  whole  United  States  from  1790  to  1860,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  population,  has  remained  a  constant  number,  being 
twenty-seven  cows  to  each  one  hundred  inhabitants  ;  and  that  at  each 
successive  decennial  census,  this  proportion  has  not  varied  more 
than  one  cow  to  each  one  hundred  jDcople.  It  further  appears  that 
while  the  proportion  for  the  whole  country  remains  thus  constant, 
the  proportion  in  the  older  States  of  cows  to  population  is  constantly 
decreasing,  while  the  "Western  and  newer  States  alone  keep  up  an 
excess  of  the  proportional  number ;  thus,  Massachusetts  has  only 
twelve  cows  to  each  one  hundred  inhabitants,  while  Oregon  has  one 
hundred  and  one,  or  more  than  one  cow  to  each  person.  In  view  of 
these  facts,  what  becomes  of  the  assertions  of  croakers,  that  the  dairy 
business  is  likely  to  be  overdone  ?  that  the  production  of  butter  and 
cheese  is  bound  to  outrun  the  demand  for  consumption  ?  Why, 
butter  and  cheese  to-day  are  worth  as  much  in  gold  in  New  York 
as  at  any  time  within  the  last  thirty  or  forty  years,  and  with  a  pros- 
pect of  a  still  further  advance. 

Allow  me  to  call  your  attention  to  the  amount  of  capital  invested 
in  the  dairy  interest  of  Ohio.  According  to  census  reports,  there 
were  in  Oliio  in  1859,  696,809  milch  cows,  and  in  1860  the  amount 
of  butter  manufactured  in  the  State,  according  to  Assessor's  returns, 
was  83,078,750  pounds,  and  of  cheese,  20,788,074  pounds,  but  in 
1865  the  number  of  milch  cows  had  fallen  off  to  690,887,  and  of 
butter  products  to  32,554,835  pounds,  and  of  cheese  16,940,213 
pounds. 

Allowing  an  average  of  six  acres  of  land  for  each  cow,  we  have 
4,142,022  acres  devoted  to  keeping  cows.  Calling  each  cow  worth  $50, 
and  each  acre  of  land  $50,  and  supposing  that  for  each  fifteen  cows 
there  must  be  a  team  and  farm  implements,  &c.,  of  the  value  of  five 
hundred  dollars,  we  have — 

For  value  of  cows $  34,516,750 

land 207,101,100 

"     teams,  implements,  &c 23,011,000 

Which  gives  a  total  of  two  hundred  and  sixty-four  millions  six  hun- 
dred and  twenty-eight  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  as  the 
amount  of  capital  invested  in  the  dairy  interest  of  Ohio,  the  interest 
of  which  at  6  per  cent,  is  $1,587,131  per  annum. 

The  value  of  the  butter  made  in  Ohio  in  1865,  at  80  cents  per 
pound,  is  $9,766,450,  and  of  cheese  in  1865,  at  15  cts.  per  pound,  is 
$2,541,047,  and  allowing  one-third  of  the  milk  produced  in  the  State 
to  have  been  consumed  in  its  unmanufactured  state,  we  have  a  total 
value  of  $18,461,245  for  the  dairy  product  of  Ohio  in  1865. 

Of  wheat  there  was  produced  in  Ohio  in  1865,  13,224,097  bushels, 
which,  at  $2  per  bushel,  gives  $26,448,194,  being  not  quite  once  and 
a  half  the  value  of  dairy  products  of  the  State.     Again,  of  wool 


125 

there  was  produced  in  Oliio  in  1865,  23,927,714  pounds,  whicliat  60 
cents  per  pound,  amounted  to  $14,356,628,  being  raucli  less  than  the 
value  of  dairy  products  of  the  State. 

The  total  value  of  all  the  sheep  in  Ohio  in  1865,  was  $20,081,914, 
being  less  than  two-thirds  the  value  of  milch  cows ;  and  the  total  value 
of  horses  in  Ohio  in  1865,  was  $45,608,350,  which  is  not  once  and  a 
half  the  value  of  the  cows. 

Now  take  the  lists  of  premiums  of  our  agricultural  societies,  both 
county  and  state,  and  tell  me  does  the  dairy  there  stand  on  an  equality 
with  wheat,  wool,  sheep,  or  horses  ?  Or  look  through  the  annual 
reports  of  our  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  and  what  do  we  discern  ? 
twenty  pages,  at  the  least,  devoted  either  to  wheat,  wool,  sheep  or 
horses,  where  you  will  find  one  devoted  to  the  daiiy ;  every  means 
used,  every  inducement  held  forth,  line  upon  line,  precept  upon  pre- 
cept, to  improve  the  quality  and  increase  the  production  of  sheep 
and  horses,  wheat  and  wool,  while  the  dairy  interest  is  left  compara- 
tively to  shift  for  itself  Torture  the  foregoing  facts  in  any  shape 
you  please,  this  fact  stands  glaringly  forth,  one  of  the  leading 
agricultural  interests  of  the  State  is  comparatively  neglected.  Is 
this  right?  Is  it  just?  I  fancy  I  hear  an  emphatic  No  !  And  now 
who  are  to  blame  that  these  things  are  so  ?  We  are  all  to  blame, 
for  we  have  heretofore  shut  ourselves  up  in  our  own  conceits,  every 
one  fancying  his  own  process  to  be  the  best  tljere  was  practiced  or 
in  existence  ;  that  his  own  butter  and  cheese  were  only  deserving  a 
first  premium ;  inquiry  has  slumbered,  investigation  has  been  hood- 
winked, each  one  content  to  pursue  his  own  unvarying  tread-mill 
round,  neither  asking,  giving,  or  receiving  assistance,  advice  or 
counsel,  and  only  when  startling  innovation  or  radical  change  is 
brought  to  his  notice,  will  he  arouse  from  his  Eip  Van  Winkle  slum- 
ber, and  shake  off  his  frigid  apathy,  and  begin  to  inquire  if  the 
world  does  really  move,  if  he  indeed  has  rights  that  others  are 
bound  to  respect. 

Dairymen  of  Ohio,  let  us  from  this  moment  resolve  that  this  shall 
all  be  changed ;  that  we  will  diligently  seek  and  bring  out  improve- 
ment ;  that  from  now  and  henceforth  the  progress  of  the  dairy  in 
Ohio  shall  be  onward  toward  perfection.  And  what  instrumentality 
presents  itself  so  well  calculated  to  contribute  to  this  result,  as  this 
and  kindred  associations  ?  I  think  of  none.  Therefore  let  us  all 
place  ourselves  at  the  work,  sustain  our  association,  attend  its  meet- 
ings, relate  our  experience,  give  our  counsel  in  its  proceedings ; 
keeping  alive  a  spirit  of  earnest  inquiry,  and  awaken  careful  inves- 
tigation, noting  facts  and  results,  and  each  one  contribute  his  share 
of  information  for  the  enlightenment  of  the  whole. 

On  motion,  the  thanks  of  the  Association  were  unanimou.sly  ten- 
dered to  Mr.  Bartlett  for  his  address,  and  a  cop}''  requested  for  pub- 
lication in  the  report. 

By  request,  Mr.  Riggs,  of  Lewis  count}-,  N.  Y.,  who  was  present, 
presented  to  the  Association  a  brief  description  of  the  patented  pro- 
cess of  Riggs  &  Markham,  for  manufacturing  butter  from  whey,  also 
exhibiting  a  sample  of  the  butter  so  made,  which  elicited  consider- 
able discussion- 


126 

Mr.  Bartlett,  of  Lake,  thouglit  that  if  butter  could  be  manufac- 
tured from  whey,  as  was  stated  by  Mr.  Eiggs,  it  was  well  worth 
while  for  factories  to  look  into  it.  He,  however,  doubted  the  ability 
of  the  gentleman  to  get  a  paying  quantity  of  butter  from  all  whey ; 
had  himself  made  whey  butter ;  had  made  as  much  as  six  or  ssven 
pounds  from  100  gallons  of  whey,  though  this  is  a  wasteful  process 
of  cheese  manufacture ;  tried  experiments  from  that  time,  not  so 
much  to  see  how  much  butter  might  be  made  from  whey,  as  to  de- 
termine whether  it  could  not  be  kept  in  the  cheese ;  finally  succeeded 
in  obtaining  a  whey,  from  500  gallons  of  which,  a  half  pound  of 
butter  could  not  be  made ;  thought  it  better  to  keep  the  butter  in 
the  cheese  than  to  make  whey  butter;  thought  that  New  York  State 
manufacturers  might  make  more  butter  from  their  whey  than  most 
Ohio  manufacturers,  as  in  New  York  the  rake  and  agitator  were 
largely  used,  and  in  his  opinion,  no  implement  was  suitable  to  man- 
ipulate a  cheese  curd  with,  that  did  not  possess  the  sense  of  feeling, 
and  that,  in  his  opinion,  it  was  owing  to  the  different  methods  of 
handling  the  curd,  that  the  whey  of  New  York  factories,  contained 
so  much  butter. 

Mr.  Riggs  stated  that  the  sample  of  butter  shown,  was  made  from 
whey  of  milk  that  yielded  one  pound  of  cheese,  green  weight,  to 
8  29-100  of  milk,  and  136|  pounds  of  this  whey  yielded  one  pound 
of  butter;  that  the  experiment  was  tried  on  the  12th  of  October 
last,  and  that  he  considered  such  a  yield  of  cheese,  showed  that  it  was 
carefully  worked.  He  was  quite  willing  to  come  to  Ohio  in  the 
spring  and  test  his  process,  and  if  it  was  worth  nothing,  he  would 
ask  nothing  for  it,  and  moreover,  was  quite  willing  to  let  Mr.  Bart- 
lett make  the  whey  for  him. 

Mr.  Bartlett,  of  Geauga,  thought  the  yield  of  cheese  mentioned, 
was  less  than  should  have  been  produced  at  that  season  of  the  year ; 
that  in  his  factory  an  average  yield  for  the  month  of  October,  of 
cured  cheese  was  made,  nearly  equal  to  the  green  weight  of  cheese 
mentioned  by  Mr.  Riggs ;  was  quite  willing,  however,  to  see  the 
experiment  tried. 

The  following  resolution  was  offered  by  J.  C.  Horr,  of  Loraine : 

Resolved,  That  Messrs.  Riggs  &  Markham  be  requested  to  intro- 
duce their  process  of  making  butter  from  whey,  at  the  factories  of 
J.  C.  &  C.  W.  Horr,  of  Loraine  Co. ;  G.  Roach,  of  Summit  Co.,  and 
A.  D.  Hall,  of  Geauga  Co.,  which  was  adopted,  and  Mr.  Riggs  gave 
assurance  that  they  would  do  so  at  the  earliest  practicable  time  the 
coming  spring. 

Quite  an  animated  conversation  here  arose  on  the  merits  of  the 
letters  patent  of  Mr.  Rufus  Scott,  of  Watertown,  N.  Y,  for  the 
turning  cover  and  range,  some  members  evincing  a  determination  to 
litigate  Mr.  Scott's  claim,  while  others  thought  it  would  be  better  to 
buy  the  whole  State  of  Mr.  Scott,  and  make  it  public  property. 

On  motion,  adjournment  to  meet  to-morrow  morning,  at  8  o'clock. 

Thursday,  January  21st,  meeting  called  to  order,  Vice  President 
Carter,  in  the  chair. 

The  adoption  of  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Nominations, 
being  the  first  business  in  order,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Bartlett,  of  Lak^, 
was  postponed  until  11  o'clock,  A.  M. 


127 

The  committee  appointed  to  examine  the  churn  exhibited  by  Mr. 
Hewit,  reported  that  they  had  examined  the  same  and  considered  it 
to  be  a  very  good  churn,  but  wanting  the  cream  to  make  an  actual 
test  of  its  working  qualities,  they  did  not  feel  like  giving  any  de- 
cided recommendation. 

The  question  of  purity  of  flavor  in  cheese,  and  how  to  secure  it, 
was  then  taken  up  and  discussed  at  length, 

Mr.  Chamberlane,  of  Medina  county,  made  a  statement  of  his 
process  of  manufacture.  He  said  pure,  sweet  milk  is  the  first  great 
requisite,  good  rennet  is  essential ;  secures  his  rennets  by  slaughter- 
ing the  calf  at  four  to  six  days  old;  let  him  stand  80  to  40  hours 
after  sucking,  take  out  the  stomach,  tie  up  the  lower  end,  add  to  the 
contents  a  table  spoonful  of  sharp  vinegar,  salt ;  hang  up  by  the 
upper  end  and  dry ;  heat  to  80  degs.  for  setting  the  milk ;  cut  care- 
fully ;  heat  to  90  degs.  for  highest  heat  in  manufacture ;  in  reply  to 
a  question,  said  he  did  not  use  a  thermometer ;  could  always  tell  by 
his  hand  whether  the  temperature  was  right ;  too  high  heat  made 
the  curd  salvy  like  toasted  cheese. 

H.  F  Giddings,  of  Ashtabula  county,  said  he  had  always  used  a 
thermometer  in  cheese -making ;  thought  the  cheese-making  of  those 
who  did  not  use  it  but  little  more  than  a  batch  of  guess-work,  and  a 
good  cheese  as  much  the  result  of  accident  as  anything  else  ;  the 
feeling  of  the  operator's  hand  was  no  guide  to  temperature ;  different 
states  of  temperature  of  the  air  rendering  it  difficult,  if  not  impos- 
sible to  determine  the  degree  of  heat  by  feeling  on  the  skin ;  agreed 
with  the  gentleman  from  Lake,  who  spoke  last  evening,  that  no  im- 
plement for  manipulating  a  curd  was  so  good  as  a  man's  hand, 
except  a  woman's  hand  in  conjunction  therewith  ;  had  heard  a  great 
deal  said  about  the  necessity  of  having  an  acid  action  in  making 
cheese,  but  was  not  a  convert  to  the  doctrine ;  yet  thought  if  a 
purity  of  flavor  was  aimed  at,  no  acid  should  be  present  at  any  time, 
and  curd  put  in  press  sweet  if  possible. 

J.  C.  Horr,  of  Loraine  county,  thought  sweet  milk,  rennet,  &c., 
with  pure  salt,  indispensable  to  purity  of  flavor ;  that  a  proper  de- 
velopment of  the  acid  had  much  to  do  with  it,  and  from  his  own 
experience,  was  confident  the  amount  of  salt  used  had  a  great  influ- 
ence on  preservation  of  good  flavor  in  cheese ;  that  as  a  general 
thing,  our  cheese-makers  used  too  little  salt,  especially  if  it  was 
intended  to  keep  the  cheese  any  length  of  time,  or  ship  to  New 
York  or  England ;  emphatically  condemned  the  use  of  the  rake 
unless  in  the  hands  of  skillfal  cheese-makers,  and  then  would  not 
use  it  until  the  curd  was  partially  consolidated. 

A.  Bartlett,  of  Lake,  gave  a  brief  description  of  the  Cheddar  pro- 
cess of  cheese-making,  as  described  by  Mr.  Willard  in  his  letters 
from  England. 

Mr.  Giddings  thought  Mr,  Bartlett  was  mistaken  in  saying  that  the 
Cheddar  cheese-makers  waited  for  the  development  of  an  acid,  be- 
fore taking  the  whey  from  their  curd. 

Mr.  Bartlett  was  confident  that  their  rule  was  to  have  an  acid  per- 
ceptible in  the  whey  before  drawing  it  off,  at  all  events  it  was  so 


128 

stated  by  Mr.  Willard  in  one  of  his  circulars  from  England  last 
summer."^ 

The  proper  development  of  the  acid  was,  in  his  opinion,  one  great 
point  to  be  attended  to  in  securing  fine  flavor  in  cheese,  in  fact,  he  did 
not  believe  a  really  fine  flavored  cheese  could  be  made  without  the 
acid  reaction  at  some  time  during  the  process ;  rennet  coagulates  the 
casein  of  the  milk,  acids  coagulate  the  albumen,  and  in  his  opinion 
the  loss  of  flavor  in  curing  cheese  was  mainly  owing  to  the  putre- 
faction of  the  albumen  which  was  not  coagulated,  but  held  in  a  state 
of  solution  in  the  cheese  ;  that  coagulated  albumen  was  as  easily 
preserved  as  coagulated  casein. 

Mr,  Bartlett  spoke  at  some  length,  in  answer  to  various  inquiries, 
but  as  the  principal  ideas  advanced  by  him,  are  embodied  in  articles 
from  his  pen,  already  published,  it  is  unnecessary  to  insert  them  here. 

On  motion,  this  subject  was  laid  on  the  table. 

The  hour  of  eleven  o'clock  having  arrived,  the  adoption  of  the 
report  of  the  Committee  on  Nominations  was  called  up  by  the  Chair. 
An  amendment  to  the  report  was  offered  by  J.  C.  Horr,  of  Loraine 
county,  that  the  name  of  S.  A.  Andrews,  'of  Twinsburg,  Summit 
county,  be  substituted  for  that  of  J.  C.  Horr  for  President  of  the 
Association  ;  which  was  adopted,  and  on  motion  of  A.  Bartlett,  the 
report  of  the  committee  as  amended,  was  adopted,  and  the  officers 
therein  named  declared  elected  for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  chair  then  designated  H.  F.  Giddings  and  J.  C.  Horr,  to  con- 
duct the  newly  elected  President  to  the  chair,  who,  upon  being  in- 
troduced to  the  Association  by  H.  IST.  Carter,  Vice-President,  returned 
his  thanks  to  the  Association  for  the  honor  shown  him,  and  took  the 
chair. 

The  subject  of  taxing  cheese  manufacturers  was  stated  by  the 
chair  to  be  the  business  next  in  order,  and  on  motion  of  J.  C.  Horr 
was  laid  on  the  table. 

The  subject  of  best  breeds  of  cows  for  the  dairy,  was  then  stated 
by  the  chair  as  next  in  order,  to  be  opened  by  H.  F.  Giddings,  of 
Ashtabula.  This  subject  elicited  but  little  discussion,  and  on  motion 
of  H.  N.  Carter,  was  laid  on  the  table.  The  subject  of  best  grasses 
for  a  dairy  farm,  was  also  laid  on  the  table,  on  motion  of  J.  C.  Horr. 

Mr.  Chamberlane  offered  the  following : 

Resolved^  That  this  Association  recommend  the  introduction  and 
use  of  tin  pails  for  milking. 

Several  gentlemen  expressed  their  views  and  experience  on  this 
subject,  and  their  united  testimony  w^as  that  wooden  pails  were  unfit 
to  be  used  for  milk,  from  the  tendency  of  the  wood  to  absorb  and 
retain  taint,  thereby  endangering  the  sweetness  and  purity  of  the 
milk,  and  the  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted. 

Mr.  Bartlett  offered  the  following : 

Resolved^  That  tin  is  the  best  material  now  known  for  the  manu- 
facture of  milk  cans. 

Mr.  Horr  thought  galvanized  iron  in  some  respects  superior  to  tin, 
in  that  it  was  not  as  liable  to  get  jammed  in  using  as  tin ;  that  he  had 
had  some  experience  with  galvanized  iron ;   thought  there  would  be 

♦Circular  No.  3,  June  16. 


129 


r.Hn  A  ^   r^^'  '"^  \?'P^^^  r^^;  ^^  galvanized  iron  than  in  tin; 
tfr\f       T^'J'T'^  New  Zealand,  Mdiere  he  had  resided,  it  was 
used  for  water  tanks;  he  had  drank  water  which  had  stood  in  a  S 
vamzed  iron  tank  three  months,  and  found  it  good  "" 

Z  ^^'ll^f;  ^f  ?^^^g^%  .^i^onght  galvanized  iron  not  as  good  as  tin. 
Mr.  Bartlett,  of  Lake,  said  the  resolution  was  not  intended  so  much 
to  condemn  the  use  of  galvanized  iron  for  the  purpose  named  as 
vessels  of  wood ;  as  he  knew  it  to  be  the  practice  in  some  Xces  To 
not  only  use  wooden  milk  pails,  but  to  store  and  keep  milk  in  wood- 
en vessels,  and  even  m  some  instances  send  it  to  the  factory  in  wood 
ihis  he  considered  highly  reprehensible,  and  he  wanted  this  Asso- 
ciation to  put  Its  sea  of  condemnation  on  the  practice  of  usin^ 
wooden  utensils  for  milk  under  any  and  all  circuni^stances.  Wood 
en  churns  were  another  thing.     The  churn  was  not  wanted  to  pre- 

!ivZf  tf  '°''*''l^'  ^T  ^'^^^^•>^-  Chemical  change  was  what  was  de- 
sired there ;  not  such  an  action,  however,  as  would  be  produced  in 
using  metalic  churns,  therefore  considered  wood  the  most  proper  ma- 
terial for  churns,  but  for  milk  pails,  cans,  &c.,  as  well  as  cheese  vats, 
would  reject  wood  altogether,  and  recommend  tin  exclusively. 
foM.'  ^'  -?°f '  °^  ^^^^'  ■^^^  ^^^"^  engaged  many  years  in  the  manu- 

turesinlv  r?  '^"'''  'f  '^^  ^^^'  ^^  ^'^'y  ^*^^^i^^  ^^^  fo<^tory  fix- 
tures, in  which  tm  or  galvanized  iron  are  used;  thought  tin  prefer- 

J.  F.  Bruce  had  been  engaged  in  the  same  business  as  Mr  Eoe  • 

from  hirown^  "^  "P\"T  '^^''•*^"  r-^  ^^  ^'  P^^f^^'^'^d;  could  state 
trom  his  own  personal  observation  that  galvanized  iron  was  not  suit- 

mnin''hi?n  i^  ^TP  T^^'  ^^  ^°'  drinking;  had  tried  to  use  a 
water  frlT''  P'  ^Vl""^  P'^'P^'"'  ^'"^^"  ^^  galvanized  iron :  tried 
n  .  ?  1  T  ''-^  '^'^'""^"^  ^•^^^^'  ''^^^^  '-^^  m^^J  springs,  and  in 
three  hours"''  '"'''*""  ^''^''^^^  ''''^^  *""  ^''''^  after  standfng  two  or 

Resolution  adopted  unanimously. 

H.  F.  Giddings  offered  the  following : 
h.fZuff  ^^""^  '^ ''  the  sense  of  this  Association,  that  the  calf  to 

some  ^0  toU  h  '""ll  '^""'"'V''  V'""''.  ^^^  ^'^^  °^^^'  ^^  remain 
n?l  rfoo  1  Ji  '''V^^*^'  suckmg,  that  the  milk  should  be  nearly 
a  passed  oft  from  the  stomach,  and  in  curing,  the  use  of  so  much 
ItLTi  ^  "-V^  """"I  neutralize  the  active  principle  of  the  rennet, 
Should  be  avoided,  and  rennets  not  used  until  six  months  old. 

This  resolution  called  out  considerable  discussion,  in  which  Mr- 
Giddings  and  Bartlett,  of  Lake;  Coffin,  of  Wisconsin,  and  Chamber- 
iane,  participated  and  was  finally  passed  without  a  dissentin-  voice 

J.  r  Hovey,  of  Loraine,  oftercd  the  following  : 
cioWwu     I  That  the  practice  of  making  cliees?  in  factories  on  the 

mu      '  s^^^^^^  be  avoided  as  far  as  possible. 

The  question  was  quite  freely  discussed  bj  several  members,  and 
the  general  impression  seemed  to  be,  that  the  sin,  or  wrong,  if  any 
existed,  wasm  keeping  cows  for  profit,  thus  necessitating  Sunday 
labor,  and  that  making  the  cheese  in  factories  was  the  quietest,  easi- 
est way  to  dispose  of  Sunday  milk ;  and  the  resolution  was  lost  by  a 
large  majority.  ■^ 

17 


130 

On  motion  of  A.  0.  Chamberlane,  ttie  Association  adjourned  to 
meet  at  the  call  of  the  Executive  Board. 

S.  A.  ANDREWS,  Pres't 
A.  D.  HALL,  Sec'y  and  Treasurer. 


OHIO— FACTORY  REPORTS. 


CHARDON-  FACTORY^— CHARDON,  GEAUGA  CO. 

Worked  the  milk  of  some  775  cows.  Cheese  made  in  9  inch 
hoops,  weighing  from  15  to  18  lbs. ;  10  inch  hoop,  25  lbs. ;  15  inch 
hoop,  thin  Derby,  80  to  35  lbs. ;  15  inch  hoop,  &c.,  high  Cheshire,  60 
lbs. ;  31  inch  hoop,  360  to  380  lbs. ;  cheese  sold  April  for  15  cts.  on 
shelves ;  May  16.67  on  shelves,  the  balance  of  the  season  boxed  and 
delivered  at  station,  from  lb\  to  18  cts,  Eeceived  276,628  gallons 
milk,  which  made  284,000  lbs.  cheese ;  butter  3,857  lbs. ;  will  proba- 
bly have  600  cows  this  season,  and  at  a  branch  factory,  400. 

A.  D.  Hall. 


NEWBURY   FACTORY,    NEWBURY,    GEAUGA   CO. 

Worked  the  milk  of  some  550  cows ;  received  189,052  gallon, 
milk,  making  202,752  lbs.  cheese;  cheese  made  in  11  \  inch  hoops 
and  weighing,  when  made  thin,  48  to  50  lbs.,  and  when  thick,  85  to 
90  lbs. ;  amount  paid  to  patrons  after  deducting  drawing  milk,  com- 
missions, and  stock  used  in  manufacturing,  boxing,  and  freight  to 
depot,  $25,545.59 ;  average  yield  per  100  gallons  107.75  lbs. ;  ave- 
rage price  paid  per  gallon  at  house,  13.50. 

Hall  k  Freeman. 


BARTLETT'S   FACTORY,    CHESTER  CROSS   ROADS,   GEAUGA  CO. 

Number  of  pounds  of  milk  received,  3,887,405 ;  number  of  pounds 
cheese  sold,  396,674;  average  number  of  cows,  1,200;  pounds  milk 
to  make  1  pound  cheese,  9.8  ;  expenses  of  making  100  pounds  cheese, 
75  cts. ;  selling  price  of  cheese  per  pound  on  the  range,  15  7-100  cts. 
The  above  is  very  nearly  accurate,  as  our  cheese  has  been  all  shipped 
off,  and  there  is  to  get  returns  on  only  300  cheese  in  Cincinnati, 
whicli  I  think  must  tend  to  raise  the  price  above  the  estimate,  rather 
than  diminish  it.  Lucius  Bartlett. 


TWINSBURG  C.   M.   ASSOCIATION,   TWINSBURG,   SUMMIT  CO. 

Average  number  of  cows,  1,008;  whole  number  pounds  milk, 
8,109,410;  whole  number  pounds  cured  cheese,  320,171;  pounds  of 
milk  to  one  of  cured  cheese,  9  7-100;  average  price  for  cheese, 
14  9-10  cts.  E.  L.  Parks,  Scc'tj. 


131 

C.    B.    CHAMBERLIN's  dairy,   MEDINA,   MEDINA   CO.,   OHIO. 

Number  of  cows,  64 ;  pounds  cheese  made,-  28,175 ;  average  price 
for  cheese  sold,  15  cents ;  received  for  cheese  sold,  $4:,226.25  ;  butter, 
sold  and  used,  1,000  lbs.,  at  30  cts.,  $300.00 ;  received  for  calves 
raised  on  the  whey,  $450.00;  pork,  sold  and  used,  $200.00;  total, 
$5,176.25.  Cheese  all  sold  to  near  markets.  The  amount  of  rennet 
used  has  been  about  one  to  450  lbs.  cheese ;  milk  heated  to  80  to  85 
degs.  ;  after  cutting,  turn  over  with  a  dipper  and  stir  gently  while 
heating,  until  it  is  heated  to  about  90  degs. ;  the  whey  is  then  partly 
drawn  off,  after  which  the  heat  is  raised  to  about  95  to  98  degs.,  ac- 
cording to  the  weather.  The  heat  is  then  shut  off,  and  it  is  stirred 
for  about  20  minutes.  The  warm  water  is  then  drawn  off,  and  cold 
water  or  ice  water  put  in  its  place  to  cool  the  curd ;  it  is  allowed  to 
cool  down  to  about  70  degs.,  when  the  whey  is  all  drawn  off,  and  the 
curd  carefully  worked  with  the  hands  until  the  whey  is  thoroughly 
out  of  the  curd.  It  is  then  salted  with  about  a  teacup  full  of  salt  to 
18  or  20  lbs.  curd ;  the  curd  is  then  put  in  the  press,  and  pressed 
about  1|  hours,  when  it  is  turned  and  bandaged.  It  should  be  turned 
once  more  at  least  before  taking  out.  It  is  better  to  press  two  days 
if  it  is  convenient  to  do  so.  C.  B.  Chamberlest. 


WARD   C.    WHITES    DAIRY,    PLEASANT    PRAIRIE,    KENOSHA    COUNTY, 

WISCONSIN. 

"Whole  number  of  cows,  75 ;  average  number,  70 ;  commenced 
making  cheese  March  20th,  and  closed  in  December;  total  amount  of 
cheese  sold,  45,768  lbs. ;  cows  fed  with  bran  wet  with  whey,  during 
the  whole  season ;  in  the  fall  green  corn  and  pumpkins  given  them ; 
most  of  the  above  amount  was  sold  for  16  cts.,  without  boxes. 


AN   -ACT 

To  Amend  an  Act  entitled  "  An  Act  to  Peotect  Butter  and 
Cheese  Manufacturers."    Passed  April  10,  1865. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  Neiv  York,  represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows : 

Section  1  Section  one  of  the  act  entitled  "  An  act  to  protect 
butter  and  cheese  manufacturers,"  is  hereby  amended  so  as  to  read 
as  lollows : 

§  1.  Whoever  shall  knowingly  sell,  supply,  or  bring  to  be  man- 
ntactured  to  any  cheese  manufactory  in  this  State,  any  milk  diluted 
with  water  or  m  any  way  adulterated,  or  milk  from  which  any 
cream  has  been  taken,  or  milk  commonly  known  as  skimmed  milk- 
er whoever  shall  keep  back  any  part  of  the  milk  known  as  "strip' 
pmgs;  or  whoever  shall  knowingly  bring  or  supply  milk  to  any 
cheese  manufactory  that  is  tainted  or  partly  sour  from  want  of  pro- 
per  care  m  keepmg  pails,  strainers,  or  any  vessel  in  which  said  milk 
IS  kept,  clean  and  sweet,  after  being  notified  of  such  taint  or  care- 
lessness ;  or  any  cheese  manufacturer  who  shall  knowingly  use,  or 
direct  any  of  his  employees  to  use,  for  his  or  their  individual  benefit 
any  cream  from  the  milk  brought  to  said  cheese  manufacturer, 
without  the  consent  of  all  the  owners  thereof,  shall,  for  each  and 
every  oflense,  forfeit  and  pay  a  sum  not  less  than  twenty-five  dollars 
nor  more  than  one  hundred  dollars,  with  costs  of  suit,  to  be  sued  for' 
m  any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction,  for  the  benefit  of  the  person 
or  persons,  firm  or  association  or  corporation,  or  their  assigns,  upon 
whom  such  fraud  be  committed. 

§  2.     This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

STATE  OF  NEW  YOEK,         ) 
Office  of  the  Secretary  of  State.  ) 

Ih^e  compared  the  preceding  with  the  original  law  on  file  in 
this  office,  and  do  hereby  certify  that  the  same  is  a  correct  trans- 
cript therefrom,  and  of  the  whole  of  said  original  law. 

,       CHAUNCEY  M.  DEPEW,  Secretary  of  State. 


9b^