i62 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [lo March, 191:1. 



farmers are not only willing but anxious to share in all the responsibilities. 

 Only one factory, it is believed, has been unsuccessful, and that was due 

 entirely to the want of a sufficient supply of pigs. 



About the beginning of 1903 the Agricultural Department of Ireland 

 sent a representative committee to Denmark to obtain full information 

 with regard to the system adopted by the Danes in the development o>" 

 their bacon industry. The Canadian Government also^ sent a delegation, 

 and later a body of Scotchmen visited Denmark for the same purpose. 



In the case of the first two countries reference elsewhere proves that, 

 by following the Danish methods, great improvement in their trade was 

 effected, and the relative positions of the produce from the.se two countries 

 0:1 the British market show that we should be guided by their experience. 

 Although the United States of America produces and exports the greatest 

 quantity of pig products, it will be seen that the prices obtained for the 

 same are \-ery much below what is received bv the other countries named, 

 and is sufficient proof that we must aim at the quality produced by 

 Denmark and Ireland. 



At a meeting of those interested in the improvement in the condition 

 of trade in pig products in England, as reported in The Grocer of 5th 

 March, 1910, Mr. Hannon, who- was one of the delegates sent to Den- 

 mark, and who has largf experience in the trade in Ireland, said: — 



There was needed (i) a systematized improvement of breeds; (2) assistance in 

 carrying out experiments to guide the farmer in producing pigs for the curers at 

 a minimum cost; (3) demonstrations to see if food production on the farms for 

 pigs could be extended ; and (4) increased facilities for obtaining information on 

 phases of the question. 



Mr. W. H. Butt, President of the Bristol Grocers' Association, contirmed 

 what other speakers, had said about consumers preferring lean bacon, and stated 

 that there had been a considerable imfrovenicni in Irish bacon in the last five 

 years.^ and the breeders there had bred to produce a pig to meet the popular 

 demand. 



That improvement in Irish bacon dates from the time the Commis- 

 sion was sent to Denmark to inquire into the methods of breeding, 

 feeding, &:c., and may be taken as an additional proof of the lines we 

 should follow. 



RoscREA Farmers Co-operative Bacon Factory. 



The first farmers' co-operative bacon factory in the United Kingdom 

 ■was inaugurated at Roscrea, Tipperary. Ireland, in January, 1908, and 

 it was able, under adverse circumstances to show a successful record in 

 its first year. 



The Roscrea factory has a nominal caputal of ^15.000. of which 

 rather less than ^12,000 was subscribed, about ^"7,000 being the outlay 

 for site, buildings, and plant. The initial expenditure left a little over 

 ^4,000 for working capital. Experience showed that this was too little, 

 and that the working capital of such a factory, having a capacity of about 

 750 pigs per week, should be at least ^lo'.ooo. 



At the end of the first year's working, notwithstanding the fact that 

 the capital was limited and that the markets had been unsettled, the 

 balance- sheet showed a gross profit of ;^4,ooo. After paying all ex- 

 penses of working and depreciation there was a credit balance of ^308. 

 The experience of the directors of the factory was unique, as they had 

 ■c. instantly to decline business which they could have secured if ' more 

 capital had been available. For the same reason, it is anticipated that. 



