8 July, 1908.] Review of the Dairying Season igoj-8. 437 



account of samples analyzed having been found to contain more than 

 0.5 per cent., was 4^ tons, as compared with 10 tons for the year before, 

 and 28 tons for 1905-6 season. The average boric acid found in all 

 samples analyzed was 0.23 per cent., as compared with 0.252 per cent, 

 for the previous year. 



Western District Co-operative Factories showed an average of 0.26 per cent. 



Western District Private Factories showed an average of 0.23 per cent. 



North and N. E. Co-operative Factories showed an average of 0.25 per cent. 



North and N. E. Private Factories showed an average of 0.25 per cent. 



Gippsland Co-operative Factories showed an average of 0.22 per cent. 



Gippsland Private Factories showed an average of 0.17 per cent. 



City Factories showed an average of 0.14 per cent. 



Doubtless the last-mentioned average is influenced bv the number of 

 samples analyzed which were intended for markets prohibiting the use of 

 boric acid. A serious check was encountered by our export butter on 

 account of the authorities in the Phillipine Islands adopting the same 

 laws as the United States, where the use of boric acid is prohibited. 

 United States does not import butter, and has no export trade of any 

 consequence. Being able to supply its own requirements, it can be under- 

 stood that the use of boric acid is not so es.sential. Our shipments to 

 Manila averaged about 200 tons yearly, and there was every indication 

 of the trade developing. Now, according to exporters' evidence, we are 

 knocked completely out of the market. This is most difficult to undei- 

 stand. I firmly believe that with under 0.05 per cent, boric acid, as 

 permitted in many places, butter from any dairying countrv should reach 

 the consumers in the Phillipine Islands in sounder, more palatable, and 

 in more wholesome condition than without. On the other hand, if there 

 is all round prohibition, then our manufacturers should, and must be able, 

 CO supply their requirements as well as any other dairying country. We 

 should even be better able to do so on account of our nearness. 



Another bombshell was recently cabled from London announcing the 

 likelihood of prohibition there. I have no hesitation in saying that if this 

 were suddenly done our exf)ort trade would leceive a great blow. Our 

 geographical position as regards that the chief market is the reverse ot 

 that of the Phillipines. Dairying countries in the Xorthern Hemisphere 

 would be placed at a great advantage. 



We all know that much can be done under the heading of cleanliness, 

 in the treatment of supplies, pasteurization, the use of pure cultures, and 

 refrigeration ; but any one who has been out in the field will recognise 

 the impossibility of controlling or checkng the action of each and every 

 supplier to the butter factory. In order to manufacture uniform quality, 

 supplies have to be pooled — this is one of the essentials of the modern 

 factorv system. When the product of one or more careless suppliers is 

 mixed with that from those who supply it in good condition, subsequent 

 changes are largely checked by the use of preservatives. I have very 

 little sympathy with the use of preservatives, and none with their 

 indiscriminate application. If harmful, even in the opinion of an 

 infinitesimal minority, their gradual and early extinction is my earnest 

 desire. At the same time" we cannot close our eyes to the plain bald 

 facts relating to the subject. My advice to the powers that be who 

 contemplate this drastic innovation is to conduct experiments and see what 

 the effect of prohibition would mean ; as already stated I feel sure there 

 can only be one result. Every factory manager, at some time or other, 

 has carried out experiments to find out which brand of preservative on the 

 market was the best, and was surprised to learn the extent to which the 

 control sample without any had deteriorated by long keeping. 



