MARKETING CHEESE AND BUTTER. 223 



uniform value and fixed price, and there will be less 

 " rigging of the market " than at present. 



Previous to 1873, when cheese markets (boards of 

 trade) were established, the cheese were sold at the 

 factory, or on the street of some central town. This 

 " hole and corner " method was very unsatisfactory 

 to salesmen, and it was thought that when cheese 

 boards were established and cheese were sold by 

 auction to the highest bidder, the main difficulty in 

 marketing cheese had been overcome. For various 

 reasons, the cheese latterly have not been sold on the 

 cheese boards, though a few have adhered to the rule. 

 The boards have been used as a " feeler " of the 

 market, and the cheese have been sold afterwards 

 privately. Apparently this is to the advantage of the 

 seller, as buyers pay a higher price than is offered on 

 the markets, but it is really to the advantage of the 

 buyers, who are better posted on the condition of the 

 market. If cheese are sold for the highest price which 

 can be obtained at public auction, and buyers know 

 that they cannot get the cheese except for the highest 

 market price upon the board, the best average prices 

 are likely to be got for the cheese. It is in the interest 

 of the buyer and not of the salesman to do away with 

 the selling of cheese by public auction at convenient 

 centres. Where this is not satisfactory it would 

 probably pay for several factories to co-operate and 

 deal directly with importers of cheese. 



The salesmen should be competent, wide-awake, 

 business men, who are in touch with the markets and 

 convenient to the telegraph or telephone. As this 



