146 



Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



Cheese. 



Tliis is a product of Victoria that ought to be exported to Africa 

 much more extensively than it is. The attached statistics of imports 

 show that the trade is one of considerable dimensions, but I have not 

 found anything- to indicate that our exporters have made much effort 

 to secure a larger share of it. 



I fear tlie desire and effort to effect big deals in other articles has 

 minimised in their minds the importance of the cheese trade, and yet 

 the opennig undoubtedly exists for substantial increase, which of 

 course is only to be eifected by the agents of the shippers bringing 

 the article directly under the notice of the buyers. For this purpose 

 they require samples of the various makes and qualities, and judging 

 by the readiness shown by those to whom I have spoken to try 

 Victorian cheese, I have no doubt but that any firm in a position to 

 do this trade well, and setting about it energetically, could soon 

 considerably increase their present export. 



You will notice frf>m the accompanying table, that the bulk of the 

 im})ortations are from Holland, which is an easy first, the United 

 Kingdom next, and Victoria, a long way behind, fourth on the list, 

 Canada and New Zealand have both lately been doing more in cheese, 

 and when the statistics for 1902 are available, I expect to see that the 

 imports in this article fi'om both these countries have considerably 

 increased. Of course Dutch cheese always will command a big sale 

 here, but the rapid growth of the population, by people not accustomed 

 to eating a cheese of this description, will mean a much increased, 

 consumption of cheese such as Victoria produces, and it only requires 

 effort in the right direction by those in the trade to secure a faii*^ 

 portion of it. 



The most approved weights are as follows : — 



Loaf size, 10 to 12 lbs. each, packed 4 to 6 in a case. 

 Medium size, about 40 lbs., packed 2 in a case. 

 Lauiie, 60 lbs. each, packed 2 in a case. 



Imports ov Cheese into Cape Colony fok 19o1. 



Where From. 



United Kingdom 



Natal . . 



New South Wales 



New Zealand . . 



Victoria 



Belgium 



France 



Germany 



Holland 



Delagoa Bay 



United States . . 



Italy . . 



Other Countries 



Total 



