230 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



perhaps clieose, as Avell as condensed milk and cream, in hermetically 

 sealed packages, which afford the best means known of preserving 

 such j)erishable products. It is hoped to obtain information useful to 

 butter exporters in connection with the most important subjects of 

 canning butter and producing butter which has a hard body that will 

 stand up better than even much of the high-grade butter marketed in 

 tliis country. Experiments are now in i)rogress at some of the State 

 stations to determine the causes affecting the body of butter, and the 

 results of these are awaited with interest by all who are engaged in 

 foreign trade. Some countries sending butter in cans to these new 

 markets supplj^ a product with a very high melting point, showing in 

 this, as in other ways, a disposition to adapt their products to the 

 needs of these countries, an example our producers must follow if 

 they are to compete successfully in these markets. The experimental 

 shipments of the dairy division will be directed to showing our pro- 

 ducers what needs to be done. 



It is proposed to ascertain the prospects for trade in dairy products 

 in the South American countries besides those already named. 



Reports from the Paris Exposition show that the products of Ameri- 

 can dairies, creameries, and cheese factories have won a large number 

 of high honors. A detailed report upon the dairy features of the 

 exposition will be made later by the chief of the division. 



The dairj^ division is arranging to make a suitable exhibit at the 

 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. It will be in the nature of an 

 object lesson, illustrating the wonderful development of this branch 

 of agriculture. 



It is considered extremely desirable that the existing system of Gov- 

 ernment inspection and certification of meats and meat products for 

 export be extended, by additional legislation, so as to include butter, 

 cheese, and condensed milk and cream for export from the United 

 States. Reasons for such legislation have been stated in previous 

 reports, and the^^ <ipply now even more forcefully than when first given. 

 Briefly, a few of the arguments for sueh new legislation are as follows: 



Foreign buyers of dairy products have so often been deceived by 

 misleading, and sometimes false statements, claiming that shipments 

 of dairy products are high .g:rade Avlien really they are inferior, or in 

 part inferior, that manj^ of them suspect all products exported from 

 this countrj% and avoid them whenever it is possible to supplj^ their 

 needs elsewhere. In this way we have recently lost a fine market in 

 Great Britain for our cheese. 



The Department has expended much labor and money to establish 

 a reputation abroad for American dairy products, and already the 

 good results accomplished are being counteracted by the shipment of 

 inferior goods, which are claimed to be of high quality. After the 

 buyers on the other side have been defrauded a few times by such 

 shipments, they will be unwilling to deal with us when it can be 

 avoided. 



Other countries have developed large foreign trade in their dairy 

 products, and it is well known that one of the principal reasons for 

 their rapid advance in the largest markets of the world is the fact 

 that their best products are marked with a Government stamp, show- 

 ing conclusively that the article is as represented. 



The proposition to inspect dairy ijroducts for export has been 

 indorsed by nearly all of the large conventions of representative 

 dairymen in this country, and it has the decided approval of com- 



