433 Journal of Agriculture. [8 July, 1908. 



for the previous season; 983! tons to South Africa, 592 tons to Eastern 

 countries and 2,264 tons to Interstate Ports. 



The following table shows the quantities of export butter produced in. 

 the various districts during 1907-8, and the average points scored : — 



Boxes. Average 



Points. 



Western District Co-operative Factories •■ ■■• 11^,013 ... 95-54 



Western District Private Factories ... ••• 175396 •• 90-63 



North and North-Eastern Co-operative Factories ... 88,484 ... 92.16 



North and North-Eastern Private Factories ... 16,093 ••• 9o-i3 



Gippsland Co-operative Factories ... .■■ 125,282 ... 92.94 



Gippsland Private Factories ... ■•• --- 10,985 .-. 92.37 



City Companies and Firms Manufacturing and 



Exporting Butter ... ... •- -•- 97,898 ... 91,03 



Agents, Buyers and Exporters (not being Manufac- 

 turers) ' ... ... ... ... ... 20,512 ... 92.13 



Average points of all Butters graded for Export 



1907-8 ... ... ... ... ... 483,663 ... 92.91 



The Glenormiston Factory secured the highest average points for the season 



with 97-83 for 10,342 boxes, Terang next with 97.7 points for 758 boxes, and 

 Grasmere third with 97.53 ])oints for 6,255 boxes. 



Quality. — The quality of the butter for the closing season has not been 

 up to the usual standard because of the long spell of very hot weather, 

 whilst the season preceding was remarkable for the favorable weather con- 

 ditions up till about Christmas. It is still a matter for regret that many 

 factories are inefficiently equipped as regards refrigeration. Heat is very 

 fax reaching in its effects on the quality of dairy produce. The cream 

 cannot be delivered in as good condition, and even though sufficient re- 

 fngation may be available in the factory its quality cannot be wholly 

 redeemed. 



Another direction in which hot weather acts deterimentally on the pro- 

 duce is during its transit from the factory to the railway station, much of 

 it in Januarv and P'ebruary last having arrived at the Freezing Works in 

 a heated condition. I regret to have to state that in some instances, e\"en 

 where refrigerating power was abundant, the butter did not reach us in 

 as good condition as it might have done. There are managers who evidently 

 regard their responsibilitv as ended when the butter is delivered in good 

 condition to the carrier at their factory door. They should follow their 

 produce right into the insulated truck at least, and so arrange that it shall 

 npt be too long either on the road or at the railway station awaiting the 

 ice truck. 



It has not been uncommon on opening a truck containing the output 

 from two different factories in one district, both similarly situated as 

 regards distance from the railway .station to find one brand in firm and 

 satisfactory condition and the other almost liquid and running out of the 

 boxes. If each parcel were traced back to the place of manufacture the 

 conditions between here and the local railwav station would be found to be 

 equal, but from that point to the factory the treatment of the respective 

 parcels would be widelv divergent. The one manager would be found to 

 have set his butter well by keeping it in the freezing chamber at least 

 twenty-four hours before despatch, and would on no account have sent 

 out the current day's make to be damaged and would have taken everv care 

 on the road by covering it with wet blankets or otherwise protecting it to 

 secure it against the weather ; and immediatelv on its reaching the station 

 would have it put into the iced car ; or. if the quantitv forwarded did not 

 warrant the Railway Department leaving an iced car at that particular 



