Morning Oregonian., January 01, 1902, FIRST SECTION, Page 13, Image 13

THE MORNING OBEGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1902".
13
GREAT FUTURE FOR DAIRYING I
No State in the Union So Well Adapted to the Industry as
Is Oregon Abundance of Natural Grasses for Feeding".
THE Idea has been suggested bya
well-known agriculturist that the
dairy Industry Is reaching a critical
stage in Oregon. We have nearly tt not
quite, reached the point where the out
put of butter and cheese is equal to the
demand for home consumption, and not
having an export trade established as
yet, a further Increase In production
will Jesuit In a lowering, of the sale
price. But, says this same Individual, the
depression will be but temporary. The In
habitants of Japan, China, the Philip
pine and Hawaiian Islands are going to
want our butter as soon as they learn
Its qualities, and as soon as it can be
delivered to them in a form to stand
their climatic conditions. Besides, with
our cheaper food stuffs and mild
climate, when we produce in quantities
sufficient to ship carload lots, we can com
pete with Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and
other states of the Middle "West in tho
Eastern markets. So. all things consid
ered, there need be no fears entertained
regarding the future success of the dairy
industry In Oregon.
Topography and climatic conditions nat
urally divide the state into two parts, sep
arated by the Cascade Range of Moun
tains, which are commonly spoken of as
"Eastern Oregon" and "Western Oregon:"
"While the creameries and cheese factories
in "Eastern Oregon" are as yet very few
in number, this section of the state is be
lieved to have great possibilities as a
dairying region, particularly in the north
ern part. Indeed, parties familiar with
dairying in Southern Minnesota aro of tho
opinion that this section of Oregon will
eventually rival equal portions of South
ern Minnesota and Northern Iowa in the
quality and quantity of its dairy produc
tions. At the town of Milton, situated in
the locality under consideration, is located
what is probably the most up-to-aato
creamery in the state. A recognized dairy
authority, after carefully inspecting this
plant, pronounced it the best-equipped
creamery he had ever seen. This estab
lishment Is conducted on the co-operative
plan, this method of operation being de
cided upon after a careful investigation of
creamery methods in the State of Minne
sota by a committee of citizens of Milton
and vicinity
It is not probable that the southeastern
portion of the state will ever become much
of a dairy region, at least, not In tho
immediate future. "With an annual rain
Jail of only 10 to 14 Inches, irrigation must
be resorted to for the successful growing
of crops for feeding dairy cows, and it Is
yet an unsolved problem to what extent
this section of the state can be brought
under Irrigating systems. It is believed
by some of the residents of this region
that large areas can be brought -under the
influence of irrigation by the reservoir
system.
The western portion of the state Is com
monly spoken of as the "Willamette Val
ley." "Southern Oregon," and the "Coast
Regions," the latter being very important
in a consideration of the dairy industry.
"While the whole of "Western Oregon has
a greater ralnfafl and a milder climate
than the eastern portion of the state, tho
topography of the western portion war
rants the divisions Just mentioned. The
Coast Range, running practically parallel
with the Pacific Ocean and tho Cascade
Mountains, makes a rather formidable
barrier between the coast regions and the
"Willamette Valley, which greatly inter
feres with transportation between these
two sections. A transverse range of low
mountains, known as the Calipooias,
makes a rather distinct division between
the Willamette Valley and Southern Or
egon. These two latter named regions,
however, are connected by the Southern
Pacific railroad. A person unfamiliar with
the topography of a mountainous region
would scarcely realize the amount of ter
ritory covered by the foothills of a moun
tain chain like the Coast Range. It is
fcafe to say that a strip of country averag
ing 30 miles in width and extending clear
across the state from north to south Is
occupied by this range of mountains and
its foothills. On the western side of the
Coast Range these hills are usually cov
ered either with a dense growth of tim
ber, generally fir, or with a luxuriant
growth of fern. And It is reported that
where the fern has been killed and culti
vated grasses, such as the clovers, intro
duced, they have made their way clear to
the summits of these hills, and the predic
tion has been made that in the future this
region may be not unlike picturesque and
practical Switzerland from a dairy stand
point. Numerous valleys of greater or
less extent are found among these hills
wherein may be grown the necessary
Winter dairy feed, while the hills win
furnish the Spring, Summer and Fall
pasturage.
Bordering the shores of the Pacific
Ocean is a belt of land with a more or
less broken surface. In places it extends
inland for 20 miles or more in a practical
ly unbroken level stretch, while in other
places the hills extend clear down to the
water's edge. The principal level tracts
arc found in Clatsop, Tillamook and Coos
Counties, while there are smaller tracts
of the same character In all of the coun
ties bordering on the Pacific. All of
these sections are abundantly supplied
with small streams of pure water, and
tha mild, moist climate keeps the grass
green and growing during the entire year.
However, growth is pretty slow during
the Winter season, and the progressive
dairyman provides some Winter feed in
addition to the grass supply. Dairying
is not a new industry in these Coast re
gions, yet there is a large amount of
land in them yet to be cleared of timber
and brush or reclaimed from the en
croachment of the sea water. The matter
of transportation has been a serious han
dicap to the Coast counties, but-happily
the service is rapidly improving. At
present shipments of freight must be
made mainly by ocean steamers, as rall
rpads reach but two points, namely, Ya
quina Bay and the Clatsop plains.
Of almost equal Importance to the Coast
country a,s a dairy region Is the valley
of the Lcwer Columbia. For more than
123 miles the Valley of the Columbia
River on the Oregon side comprises a
strip of level land of varying width, a
portion of which next the river is subject
to annual overflow from the June freshets.
This overflow land is not adapted to gen
eral agriculture, but does furnish most
excellent pasturage after the waters sub
side, while on the adjoining land, which
does not overflow, can be grown all kinds
of farm crops, in great abundance. With
in this territory are found the largest 1
dairy herds In the state, many of them
numbering 100 or more cows. The product
of those herds is largely shipped to Port
land In the form of cream, where it Is
made into Ice cream and butter.
The dairy industry is making rapid
progress In the Willamette Valley, where
it te carried on In much the same man
ner as in the dairy regions of the Middle
West The Willamette Valley Is pre
eminently an agricultural region, and Its
farmers are coming to realize that the
growing of crops suited to the feeding
of cows is essential In the rotations re
quired to keep up the fertility of their
farms.
Many farmers who. 10 years ago, were
buying butter for family use, or quite
as often, doing without, are now milking
Ave to 15 cow6, sending their product to
a near-by creamery and receiving in re
turn a monthly check, which furnishes the
several species It comprises a class of J during the period of growth grain (wheat ! the sales of farm separators within the
means of supplying the table with an
abundance of the necessaries and luxuries
that delight the inner man and provides
as well a little sum to be laid away
against the coming of the' proverbial
"rainy day." The absence of Winter
cold and intense Summer heat makes al
most an ideal dairy climate. Add to this
the comparative absence of files and mos
quitoes, an abundance of pure, cold water
from running streams or shallow wells,
a soil adapted to the growing of all crops
suited to the economical production of
milk, and you have the dairy conditions
of tho "Willamette Valley.
Dairy Stock.
The dairy cows of Oregon are mainly
what la commonly called "scrub stock."
But 'there Is a rapidly increasing number
of dairy men who are making; an effort to
grade up their herds by the use of pure
bred "bulls, some of them also keeping a
few pure-bred cows of recognized dairy
breeds. And there are several breeders
in the state who make & business of rais
ing, for the market, pure-bred dairy ani
mals of both sexes. They spare neither
time nor money in securing the best ani
mals obtainable for renewing their breed
ing herds. Frequent trips are made to
the leading pure-bred dairy herds of the
Eastern and Middle West states, and ani
mals brought back to Oregon which are
the very best than can be secured. The
demand upon these breeders for young
animals is at all times in excess of the
supply, and the prices realized are such
as to seriously tempt the breeders to
sell thler animals off closer than good
Judgment would indicate was best for the
welfare of the breeding herd. Offers of
$250 each for 2-year-old heifers have been
refused by breeders in several Instances
during the past few months.
Gr&sses and Forage Crops.
Grass is the natural food of the dairy
cow, as well as of nearly all other spe
cies of domestic animals. Experiment has
proven that, with an abundance of nu
tritious grass, grain cannot be profitably
fed to dairy cows. Hence the adaptabil
ity of a country to the dairy industry de
pends In a large measure on Its grass pro
duction, both for pasturage and hay. The
wide variation In rainfall, soil, tempera
ture, and elevation found within the state
would naturally Indicate a great variety
of species among the natural or wild
grasses of the state. Eastern Oregon
with Its high elevation, and scanty rain
fall has a widely different natural vege
tation from the more moist and lower
lands of the western parts of the state.
In Eastern Oregon the grasses are prin
cipally of the varieties known as "bunch
grass." They are .noted for their ability
to withstand drouth and the peculiar
quality of curing on the .ground where
they grow, thus furnishing a "Winter feed
without the necessity of cutting and cur
ing. They are highly nutritious, probably
due to their comparatively small water
content. But owing to close pasturing
with both sheep and cattle, these grasses
are each year becoming less abundant,
and it Is a great problem with .this range
country to find 6ome means of restoring
the bunch-grasa, or what is perhaps more
feasible, finding some domesticated grass
that will thrive in its stead. The most
promising variety at the present is the
muchly-advised brome grass- (Bromus
lnermls). Except in the northern part
and in some of the well-watered valleys, It
is not probable that much attention will
be given In Eastern Oregon to the rais
ing of dairy cattle and the production of
milk.
As would naturally be Inferred the coast
regions, with an abundance of moisture,
produce a class of grasses of widely dif
ferent character from the varieties found
In the eastern part of the state. In gen
eral the coast grasses may be said to be
less nutritious but much more luxuriant,
and instead of growing In bunches or tus
socks the tendency is to form an unbrok
en turf. While all domesticated grasses
that thrive In a cool, moist climate may be
successfully grown along the coast, the
excellency of the native grasses have
made it preferable in many portions of
this region, to retain the natural pastures.
The same condition is true to an even
greater extent on the lowlands of the Co
lumbia River, where the annual overflow
would kill out many varieties of cultivated
grasses.
Some "Well-Knoivn Species.
Timothy (Phleum Pratensls) This grass,
which is one of the best known in the
long list of grasses, grows to perfection
In that class of lands known as "beaver
dam." In fact, wherever tho soil is rich
and black, with abundant moisture, timo
thy is a staple grass.
Cheat or chess (Bromus) This grass
furnishes annually a large portion of the
hay of the "Willamette Valley. If cut at
Just the proper season It produces a very
fair quality of hay for horses, but it Is
doabtfiil If It has much value as a food
stuff for dairy cows. It Is sown in much
the same manner and with as much regu
larity In some sections as the wheat crop.
It stands wei weather remarkably well,
hence Its popularity.
Orchard grass (Dactylis Glomerata)
This grass was brought to America from
England at a very early date, and has
found a very congenial home in the soils
of Oregon Samples six and seven feet
long have r.een gathered this Fall on land
that was not considered very good grass
land. It roots deeply, hence withstands
dry weather well. It starts early; In fact,
scarcely stops growing after thq Fall rains
begin, thus furnishing good pasture early
In the Spring and late In the Fall. For
hay It must bo cut early, otherwise it
develops toj much woody fiber. It Is an
excellent grass to sow with clover, as It
matures about the same time. No other
grass will be found of more general adap
tability to the soil and climatic conditions
of Western Oregon, for it thrives upon
the red hill lands and grows abundantly
In the valleys.
Velvet grass, Mesqulte (Holcus Ianatus)
This Is one of the most -widely distrib
uted grasses of the western portion of tho
state. On the xlch lands of the Coast re
gion It Is rigarde-d by many as a weed,
owing to Its rank growth, and the diffi
culty with which It Is eradicated from
places where its growth Is undesirable.
But on sandy soils, such as are found on
the Clatsop plains, Its friends are legion.
Tne stems and leaves are covered with a
fine, velvety grewth, hence the name. It
Is rather disposed to grow in bunches, and
if kept rather closely cropped makes very
fair pasturage When cut and cured It
produces hay of quite inferior qualities.
Rye grass (Lollum) Two rcpresenta- I
tivos of this genus are to be found In
abundance among the grasses of Western
Oregon. The English, nye grass (L. Per
enne) is in the best favor, as it is a
perennial. The Italian rye grass (L. Itali
cum) Is classed as an annual, and if
closr-ly pastured or cut for hay soon re
quires re-i-eidlng. Washington County
farmers an leuu in their praises of rye
grass. Bolh varieties make excellent pas
tures, and if t.ul early produce a very fair
quality of hay. These grasses have
proven very satltfactory for sowing In the
"burns" of newly cleared land.
Blue grasj (Poa) This genus contains
a considerable number of species which
thrive In Oregon. The best known spe
cies Is thi one commonly called Ken
tucky blue grass, which .does very well on
soils rich ii vegetable matter, such as
the beaver flam lands and tho Columbia
River bottoms, but it does not thrive in
the greater portion of the Willamette Val
ley Ar other spiles known as flat
stalked rneaCow grass has proven a valu
able gras for rich, moist land, but ls
practieaily worthless for the dry uplands.
Some of the bunch grasses of. the plains
grasses of universal distribution through
out the state.
The fescue? (Festuca) These are pas
ture rather thar hay grasses, owing- to
their ability to form a good turf, which
is an Important item in a climate like
that of the western part of the state.
Meadow foscue (F. Partensls) Is one of
the largest species, and Is rapidly growing
in favor. It stands dry weather rather
better than the other fescues owing to.
ltB tendency to root deeply. It Is an ex
cellent Winter pasture grass, and will
make a fair yield of very excellent hay.
Owing to Its abundance of seed when al
lowed to ripen. It can be purchased more
cheaply than most valuable grass sfeds.
Shceps fescue (F. Ovlna) comprises sev
eral varieties, which aro widely distrib
uted. The fine short stems make a beauti
ful turf, hence it is one of the most val
uable grasses to use In a mixture for per
manent pasture. Hard fescue (F. Durls
cula) and red fescue (F. Rubra) are other
species well adapted to the forming or
pastures, for they withstand the tramping
of stock better than most cultivated
grasses. The "great bunch grass" (F.
Scabrella), of Eastern Oregon, grows In
or oats) Is sown with It. The hollow state during the year 1001 may very safely
stems or tne grain carry too mucn air i do piacen ai eomeimng over iw amuuu-.-,
Into the silo for the production of en
silage of the highest quality.
The value of the field pea from the dairy
standpoint Is principally for ensilage.
Pea hay Is -not relished by the Oregon
cow, nor does she take very kindly to pea
meal.
Oregon's advantage as a dairy state
rests In no small degree on theablllty to
produce in abundance these leguminous
crops, rich In protein, which element of
animal food Is of prime Importance In
the production of milk.
Corn.
Corn Is generally considered the king
of crops for ensilage purposes. Owing
to Its solid stem, flat leaf, proper moisture
content, and the ease with which It Is
handled. It is particularly adapted for
silo filling. But In the greater portion
of Western Oregon the nights are too
cold for the proper growth of corn. Cer
tain portions of the Columbia River Val
ley and the lower end of the Willamette
Valley, however, produces very excellent
corn for ensilage purposes. A Washlng-
The Introduction of 'the hand separator
has brought about the establishment of
butter factories for the handling of hand
separator cream. Several such factories
have been started within the past few
years. Prior to that the Oregon cream
eries were all conducted on the
milk" plan. The use of the hand separa
tor has developed a cream shipping busi
ness of considerable magnitude. Trans
portation companies on both waterways
and railways make a very liberal rate
elation to manuracture the milk delivered
Into a first-class article of butter and de
liver the same In Portland at a stipu
lated price per pound, usually 314 cents.
Among the proprietary concerns prob
ably the more common method of dealing
with the patrons Is the charging of a
stipulated price for each pound manu
fnottircrt Th! nris ranees from 2 to 4
whole cents for butter, and 1 to 2 cents for
cheese. These prices are tor tne actum
work of manufacturing, and do not In
clude the expense of shipping and celling.
nor the delivery of the milk to tne iac
tory. Other proprietary factories purchase
on rronrr. hlnnont! As n rpsult lftrZe tne DUUer iat in me milK or creuJii. iJ-
quantltlcs of cream are shipped consider- J ing for It "what the market will war
able distances to Portland and other t rant" to use the words of one of thece
DOlnts. At Portland there are located five J owners. However, a more definite unaer-
factorles, which receive this Kinu or cream,
also a considerable amount from rcgu
lar skim stations. Reports from four of
these factories, and a conservative esti
mate of the cream received at the fifth,
show the receipts for the six months end
ing June 20, 1301. to be as follows
standing than this Is usually required.
and many of these factories agree to pay
a price for the butter fat. which will be
2 cents below the highest market quota
tions for creamery butter during the time
the butter fat Is delivered.
The use of the Babcock test for deter-
Pound, of cream received 1.179.26 Jning the .value of mill, : and cream Is
Pounds of butter fat 292.127
Paid to shippers 565,100
universal among the factories of the state.
No other basis of computation was used
Probably not more than two-thirds of I at any of the 71 factories visited by the
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bolong to this genus, so considering the
bunches or tussocks, and Is a very valua
ble grass for horses and cattle.
Red. top (Agrostls) This genus also has
many representatives among tho valuable
pasture grasses of Western Oregon. Com
mon red top (A Vulgaris) forms a thick
sod on tho soft ground along tho banks
of streams. When cut for hay. If well
cured, It Is free from dust and of excellent
quality. Another variety (A. Stolonlfera)
seem3 to be well adapted to "white land,"
on which most grasses do not thrive. It
has a habit of spreading over the ground
with Its stems. This is a most excellent
variety for the formation of permanent
pastures on the prarie lands, which are
cftr of the "white land" character.
.It is not to be supposed that the grasses
already mentioned comprise the entire
ltet adapted to Oregon conditions, but
thoy are those most in favor with stock
men. Other grasses ti.at mignt De men
tioned as possessing considerable 'merit
are several species of wild rye, blue Joint,
blue stem, wild oat grass, tall oat grass,
etc Quite a considerable quantity of hay
Is annually produced by cutting and
curing of wheat and oats for this pur
pose. Oat hay when properly made
makes a very satisfactory hay for dairy
cows.
Ensilnpre and Soiling: Crops.
The legumes: All things considered this
may be regarded as the most valuable
class of plants for the Oregon dairyman.
To It belong the clovers, alfalfa, the vetch,
the peas, and numerous other plants.
Tho plants just mentioned, with perhaps
the exception of the pea, serve a five
fold purpose, viz., pasturage, hay, ensilage
material, an abundant soiling crop, and
the enriching of the soil by the assimila
tion of atmospheric nitrogen.
Red clover Is particularly valuable In a
rotation .system of crops. Years ago It
was a common belief that clover could not
be grown in Oregon, but the results of the
past few years have demonstrated that It
can be successfully grown on nearly all
of the lands west of the Cascade Moun
tains. When "poor white land" can be
made to produce nearly four tons of red
clover hay per acre there can be no ques
tioning tho adaptability of Western Ore
gon to the growing of clover. From a
two-acre field which had received some
barnyard manure, a yield of 13 tons of
hay was soeured from the two crops of
a single season. Just at present there Is
a big profit in growing red clover for Its
seed. Last Spring the seed was selling
at from 12& to 15 cents per pound, and
hard to get at that. A yield of four
bushels of seed per acie has been reported
In several Instances this year, which at
12V4 cents per pound would mean an In
come of 530 per acre. Veteran red clover
growers report never having experienced
a failure when the seed is sown at tne
rate of about eight pounds per acre on
Fall wheat in the month of February.
About the middle of March gypsum (land
plaster) should be applied broadcast at
tho rate of 50 to 75 pounds per acre. The
application of gypsum will nearly double
the crop aa a rule, hence It Is a very
profitable Investment, as It can be secured
for 50 to 60 cents per hundred weight, and
in some cases the crop will be an utter
failure without the gypsum.
The white or Dutch clover is in high
favor among the coast dairymen for per
manent pastures. For this purpose It Is
much better than the red variety, which
is largely grown In the coast regions for
hay. Alslke clover, though not so well
known as the red and white varieties. Is
well adapted to the soil and climate of the
western part of the state. Besides these
domesticated clovers, there are a great
many native varieties. Careful Investi
gation will often show a dozen or more
varieties In a single locality, and It has
been estimated that there are between
23 and SO of these native clovers within
the state.
Alfalfa Is very successfully grown where
there Is a loose, open soil and sufficient
moisture. Its growth Is quite restricted
in the Willamette Valley, but In Southern
Oregon and parts of Eastern Oregon It Is
the most valuable crop that can be grown
for the dairy cow. It Is particularly
adapted to sections where Irrigation is
practiced, a yield of seven tons of hay
per acre having been secured from the
several cuttings of a single season's
growth.
Vetches (or tares) are rapidly growing
in favor. The Winter vetch (vlcla sa--tiva)
Is the variety most cemmonly grown.
For best results It should be sown in the
Fall. It thrives on a rather wider range
of soils than red clover, and often serves
to put some soils In a condition for the
growing of clover. The vetch Is a great
soiling crop. Cows eat It with avidity,
and it produces very heavily, IS to 20 tons
per acre being a not unusual yield. Ow
inc to the abundant growth, considerable
difficulty is experienced in curing IP for
hay. and there is a slight objection to It
as a crop for ensilage. To hold it up
- 'SCAPPOOSE
ton County dairyman reports an aver
age height of stalk of 12 feet for his corn
crop this year. In Southern Oregon corn
Is grown successfully even to the extent of
maturing the ears. Its value as a green
feed to supplant short pastures In the
late Summer Is fully recognized wherever
the crop makes satisfactory growth.
This class of dairy feeds Includes car
rots, sugar beets, mangels, turnips, etc.,
all of which yield abundant crops. Yields
of 20 to SO tons per acre are quite the
common thing. On the sandy soils of the
coast regions these crops may be allowed
to stand in the field until wanted for
Winter feed, when they are hauled In by
the wagon load. But this is hardly prac
ticable on the valley lands, for they be
come too wet In Winter to, permit of driv
ing over. However, the' roots may be
put In most any sort of an old shed, for
there Is practically no danger from Injury
by freezing. Roots, however, are not a
vprv nnnular food stuff. The back-
the above amount of cream is made into
butter. Three of the five factories do a
big business In the sweet-cream and Ice
cream trade, while the other two both
sell considerable quantities of sweet
cream. Those shippers who will use suf
ficient care In the handling of their cream
to Insure It always reaching the factory
In such a condition that it will remain
sweet for considerable time afterward,
can secure a very substantial advance In
I price over that paid for cream which
reaches the factory In a sour condition.
This does not apply to factories where
the cream is practjcaly all made Into but
ter, as is the case at Albany, Salem,
Astoria and other points.
There Is a large amount of this hand
separator cream that does not And Its
way to factories, but is made into butter
on the farms where it Is produced. Such
butter Is commonly, though Improperly,
called creamery butter. Properly speak
ing, creamery butter Is made from milk
average Oregonlan's idea of the eternal
fitness of things.
Dairy Methods.
The principles of feeding and care
of cows for milk .production must be ob
breaking work required In cultivating and or cream produced by several different
harvesting them does not agree wun uw " "" ri:1."""" ...1 .iV - w
ter entered for premiums at the annual
meetings of tho association shall be made
from milk furnished the factory by not
less than 20 patrons. At the Oregon State
Fair the number required Is two or
served In Oregon the same as in any other moro patrons. If the term "separator
Place If the maximum of profit Is to be awry" couia oe usea to aesiEiie iuie
obtained. Not until recent years has this Places where only the mHk produced on
idea apparently been entertained. There the farm is handled, much confusion
Us formerly a great scarcity of fresh would be avoided.
dalrv products In the Winter, with con- Creameries and Cheese Factories.
sequent high prices, and an oversupply Th fact system of making butter
in the Summer time, wtth co"Csp0ndlnsly Jg practicaIly a
butter procurable in the Winter was what development of the past 10 years. To
had been packed during the Summer sea- the best of the writer's knowledge there
son of oversupply. Along the Coast is but one butter factory In tne state
butter was packed In kegs or small bar- now in operation constructed prior to
rels, which were opened by sawing the the year 1892. Very few Oregon cream
barrel Into two equal parts from which erles or cheese factories are organized
the butter could be removed easily and on a co-operative basl3, and even these
put Into "rolls," for the roll or square, few are 'more of the nature of stock
containing two pounds, or as much less companies. In the Tillamook Dairy As
as the greed of the maker and the for- soclatlon, which Is commonly cited as one
barance of the buyer would permit being of the most successful instances of co
sold for two pounds, has long been the operation In creamery work, the creamery
. . m l ikth Vtt.ttA.. It. nlnnfld crtrirlr ft? rTt?Tm? Viv 55 cfia ToVtnT! Ara whll
stanaaru xorm m inv;i um.it. . t.. ..,.. .... .o ,....... j - ..... .....-...-,, -
In the retail market on the Pacific Coast. the milk Is furnished by 45 to 50 patrons.
The coast regions still produce compara- j The Albany Creamery Association is a
tlvely little butter or cheese during the stock company, and a very successful or
Wlnter season, for most of these dairy- ganlzatlpn. An outline of Its method of
man depend on grass alone for their dealing with the patrons Is as follows:
source of food for milk production. In j From the gross receipts for the month
the "Willamette Valley, however. Winter is deducted, first, the general operating
dairying Is gradually coming to the front ; expenses of the creamery; second, 1 cent
and several of the creameries of Washing- for each pound of butter fat delivered to
ton County report a better run during the , be set aside as a sinking fund; third, an
Winter than during the Summer months, amount equal to tho 12th part of the an
t ... mnitor nt linndHriir milk on the nual Interest on the nald-un stock at the
form th Orccon dairyman is quite up rale of S per cent per annum. The I for two years.
with the times. True, a few have been amount remaining after making these de
caught with the "tin-can separator" fake, ductiens, is divided pro rata among the
but most of them know what a good cream patrons, according to the number of
separator is like, as is evidenced by the "pounds of butter fat each has delivered
sales of hand or farm separators of the , In his milk.
leading makes. While, these' hand cream Another plan which is quite popular In
separators have bcn used for more than Washington County l? about as follows:
10 years, it is onl v.ithln the last year ' An organieztion known as the Creamery
or two that they have come into com- t Company owns the manufacturing plant,
mon use. The agent for one of the lead- ' Then there is an organization known as
ing makes of these separators reports the Creamery Asociatlon. composed
the salo of TOO machlnos from January 1 wholly of those who furnish milk to the
to October 1 of the year Just closed. Other creamery. -The Creamery Company enters
agents have sold from 40 to CO each, hence Into a contract with the Creamery A&so-
writer about a year ago. This was a very
pleasing bit of information, Indicating that
Oregon dairymen, both producers and
manufacturers, were thoroughly up to
date In this respect. It is doubtful if any
other state can show such a general use
of the Babcock test. In Iowa, for instance,
the report of the Dairy Commissioner for
the year 1S93 shows that 12 per cent of
the creameries, and 69 per cent of the
cheese factories In that state still pur
chase milk on the old unjust and unfair
basis of so much per hundred weight, re
gardless of quality.
Dairy Statistics.
Owing to the fact that only within the
past year nas the Dairy Commissioner's
office been put In condition to collect re
liable figures relating to the dairy indus
try, there have been widely varying es
timates of the annual output of dairy prod
ucts. For the purpose of securing accu
rate Information regarding the operation
of the creameries and cheese factories of
the state, the writer spent the greater
part of the months of July and August,
1900, among the factories of the western
portion of the state. Owing to the small
number of factories In the eastern part
of the state and their scattered location,
no attempt was made to visit them, al
though reports were secured in some
cases. '
Seventy-one factories In all were visited,
and In addition a considerable number of
private dairies. Seventeen of the 71
factories were established during the
year 1C00, hence a statement of a full
year's business could not be obtained from
them. Of the remainder but two were es
tablished prior to the year 1S92, whicn
year marked the establishment of both
butter and cheese factories in the coast
counties of Tillamook and Coos, as well
as a considerable number In the 111am
ette Valley. Of these early factories,
those in the coast regions have continued
In operation ever since, but most of those
In the Willamette Valley are Idle, and
stand as monuments to the ability of the
creamery shark who flourished about that
time in various parts of the United States.
Some of these early established factories
represent an Investment of 5500") to JUWK),
being equipped for the manufacture or
both butter and cheese. But those being
built during 1900, and s for butter making
only, report the cost at about $2100, with
an equipment sufficient to handle the milk
from SCO to 400 cows.
The cost of establishing a cheese fac
tory alone, as given by P. Mcintosh, of
Tillamook, who owns Ave such factories.
Is placed at about $S0O for the building and
$500 for equipment, making the cost com
plete about SIGOO. There are no abetter
cheese factories In the state than those
owned by Mr. Mcintosh, but while well
built, they are not at all shdwy, Indi
cating that the money has been Judiciously
expended.
The 51 factories from which statements
of a full year's operations were obtained
comprise practically all of the creameries
operating In the western part of the state
during the year 1899. This of course doe3
not Include the private dairies which han
dle only the milk produced on the own
er's farm. The amount of butter and
cheese produced together with other par
ticular; relating to these 51 factories is
set forth in the following table:
Pounds milk received 36,874,423
Pounds butter fat rec. In milk 1,470.527
Pounds butter fat roc. In cream.. 356.030
Pound. butter made 1,631.131
Pounds cheese made 1.115.016
Paid to patrons 5416.905
Av. -per cent fat in milk 3.93
Av. wages butter-makers, per mo... .561 33
Av. wages cheese-makers, per mo 5S 60
Av. wages eklm station operators... 40 00
Av. price per pound for butter fat...22.Sc
From the above figures, and from other
Information the writer Is of the opinion
that the total output of creamery butter
for the whole state, even including that
made on farms from separator cream
(which Is commonly called creamery but
ter), was not far from 2,500,000 pounds for
the year 1899. In California and some other
states careful estimates show that about
one-half of the entire butter product Tor
the year was factory made. If we use
this basis of computation for Oregon, the
entire production of the state for the year
1&S9 would be about 5.OCO.O00 pounds. While
these figures are for the dairy business
they furnish a reliable
basis for making close estimates on the
production for the year Just closed. In
Washington County the creameries report
practically no increase in business for 1501
Justified in placing the production of
creamery butter for 1S01 at an Increase of
40 per cent over that of 1S29, thus making
the amount 3,500.000 pounds. It la douot
ful If there has been, any Increase In the
amount of farm-made buter, hence the to
tal butter yield for the ear just clostd
may be safely placed at 6,0jO,000 pounds.
The cheese factories embraced in .the
above table show a production of 1,115.016
pounds of cheese. The product o tbo
few factories not listed and of individual
makers would doubtless bring the chtese
product of 1S99 up to about 1,500,000 pounds
for the entire state.
It is quite probable that the increase In
cheese production has been about equal to
the increase In butter over the year 1&
Using this bafcis of computation t40 pe
cent), the increase would amount to GOO.lttl
pounds, thus making the total cheese out
put of the state for the year 1901, abot't
2.100,000 pounds. About one-half of the an
tlre cheese product of the btate Is made
by the factories and individual makers of
Tillamook County. This county is easily
the leader In the amount of butter and
cheese produced, the total value of which
will exceed 5125.000 for the past year.
The state dairy law provides that all
persons or companies manufacturing, but
ter or cheese for sale in amounts exceed
ing 25 pounds per week shall report the
same annually, together with other partic
ulars, to the office of the Dairy and Food
Commissioner. The registration of such
establishments for the year 1901 amounts
to a little more than 100 places for the
manufacture of butter, and a little less
than 100 for the manufacture of cheese,
or about 200 of both combined, and Just
about one-half of th's number may proper
ly be termed creameries and cheeae fac
tories, the other half being individual
dairies. Probably the greatest output of
butter from any one factory should be
credited to the Coos Bay Creamery, juith
a make of about 225,00a) pounds besides
some cheese manufactured. The great
est amount of cheese produced, by one or
ganization was made In the factories
owned by P. Mcintosh, of Tillamook, "and
aggregated about 323,000 pounds for the
year 1901.
The retail milk trade In the Ciy of
Portland Is a large source of income lor
the dairymen supplying It, although .. -o
prices charged are ery reasonable. The
price advanced during the latter part of
the year juit passed from 51 50 per month
to 12 00 per month for the delivery of one
quart per day. It has been estimated tha:
the retail milk trade- of Portland amounts
to about 5400.000 for the jear 1901. Out
side of Portland this e!ss of dairying Is
of qu to Inconblderab e p oor.ions. f r the
last Census report sws tlit tti. loii
cow" numbers over 10.0W representatives,
within the state.
As Illustrations of what careful breed
ing and feeding may accomplish in.the
matter of annual returns per cow, tne fol
lowing reports are submitted, one from a
creamery patron, the other from a ship
per of sweet cream:
Mr. C L. Shaw, one of the patrons of
the Albany creamery gives the following
statement of his dairy operations for one
j ear:
Number of cows 14
Pounds of milk per cow ... 7,3tl
Average per cent of fat -. .' -i -3
Value of butter fat per cow ,..5fi6.UJ
The value of hogs and cahes raised on
the sklm milk, added to the amount re
ceived from the creamery makes a total
return from the 14 cows of lo7D 05. After
deducting 5392, which represents the value
of the cow fed, he realized 593i 50 net
profit, an average of 570 0 per cow.
Mr. C. A. Hanley, living 3i miles from
Hillsboro. has made a business of ship
ping sweet cream to Portland for thu
rast 10 years. For- tne year 1900 he fig
ures the profit from his investment at 124
per cent. Mr. Hanley's herd consists of 21
Jerseys and Jersey grades. The total
amount of cream sold Cas 3153 gallons, for
which he received 5191 20. He raised to
hogs which sold for 5617 0, 20 calves valued
at 5350, and the skim milk was alued at
5117 40, making the total receipts 52676 10.
The expense of feeding the cows wa 5t62
for the herd; of feeding the hogs, 5210 40
and for the calves 5203, making a total of
$lo7u 40, thu3 making a net protit of
51600 70.
Mr. Hanley's farm comprises 140 acres
of land under cultivation, and 104 acres
in pasture. The grain produced on the
cultivated land lelded a net return suffi
cient to offset the purchase price of all
the food required for the stockduring the
year. A conservative estimate places the
value of the land at 540 per acre, or 59i60
for the whole area; cows, buildings, horses
and farm Implements, 52000, making a
total valuation of 512,760.
Mnrkct and Prices.
Practically all the butter and cheese
made in Coos County 13 shipped to San
Francisco. A portion of the Tillamook
cheese also goes to the same market. The
rest of the factory butter and cheese not
used to supply local trade is mostly sold
In Portland. Rail shipments of butter go
by express, there being no refrigerated
freight cars used for that purpose. A very
liberal rate is made on butter by the
Wells-Fargo Express Company.
The butter produce of the northeastern
part of the state is mostly sold In the min
ing regions of that portion of the fctatc.
Southern Oregon crearneiies sell a largo
proportion of their product to the towns
along the line of the Southern Pacific rail
road from Roseburg.Or.. to Redding. Cal.
D. Perozzi, of the Ashland creamery,
gives the following table of prices paid
to patrons for buttcr4fat during the past
three years:
Average price paid patrons per pounu
1SS9. 1900. 1901.
cents.- cents, cents.
25 2d
22 25
18 22&
17 20
20 20
22 - 22
22 221"
23 25 "
25
25
xor uuuei lay
Month
January i
February 25
March 22
April 1S
May 17
June 17
July 18
August 20
September 22
October '-?
November 2d
December 25
In response to a request for a memoran
dum of Portland market quotations on
the highest grades of butter for th.e year
1S01, the W. B. Glafke Company submitted
the following:
Jan. 1-Jan. 29 27c per lb.
Jan. .22-March 26 25 c per .bl
March 26-April 9 22c per lb.
April 9-April 23 20 c per 11).
April 23-July 9 l'2C per m.
July 5-Augr.st 13 20 c per lb.
August 13-August 20 .22c per lb.
August 20-Sepiember 3 25 c per lb.
September 3-November 1 ,.27c per Id.
It Is highly probable that the price on
November 1 will continue for the remain
der of the year. The price seldom goes
higher than 27c, owing to the importa
tion of butter from the Middle West
States. The break in prices in the early
Spring as indicated in the table is largely
due to the importation of early grass but
ter from California.
Considerable quantities of butter are
shipped to Alaska, Pugct Sound and to
the Orient, but this trade Is handled by
Jobbers with perhaps one or two excep
tions. An export package and It3 contents
prepared by a Portland firm was awarded
highest honors at the recent Pan-American
Exposition.
The cheese market does not seem to be
susceptible to such extremes of prices as
affect the butter market. While the mar
ket was weil supplied during the past
Summer, the price for the best grades d-d
not fall below lie per pound, P.resent
quotations are 13 cents per pound for
the highest quality or an extreme range
of 2' cents per pound, as against-a range
for the year in butter prices of 10. cents
per pound. The cheese market demands
a rather highly colored cheese ol mild
flavor. The demand for Lraburgcr, brick.
over 1S99. but the cream 'shippers haie Swiss, etc., is very light, hence very few
factories make anything but rull cream
American cheddar cheese. The Young
America size, weighing 6 to S pounds, I
very popular for camper' use, and sells
about 1 cent per pound higher "than the
same quality of "twins'' or "rlat3."
' "" F. L. KENT,
Oregon A'gYfculturarCollese.
Corvallls. '" '
nearly doubted the quantity sent to Port
land. Reports from creameries In the
coast region, the southern part of the
state, and on the Columbia River Indicate
an increase in pioduct of about 28 per cent.
The creameries established during the
past twoVears would perhaps increase the
amocnt of factory-made butter an addi
tional 20 per cent. Hence the writer feels
J