8 GUIDE TO DAIRYING IN SOUTH AFRICA 



of Richmond and Thos. Russell, Esq., of Mooi 

 River, Natal, will long be remembered as pioneers. 

 The former started what was practically the first 

 butter factory in Natal. This was closely followed 

 by other factories in that province, organised by a 

 number of far-seeing farmers who co-operated, and 

 began to study their own and others' interests in 

 the dairy line. Small concerns by degrees were 

 also started in each of the other colonies now com- 

 prising the Union. Besides all this, better class of 

 stock was introduced by leading farmers, while 

 experts were engaged by the Government to in- 

 struct the farmers in modern methods. Unfortu- 

 nately, while they have done excellent work, the 

 benefit derived from their energies has been some- 

 what restricted owing to the fewness of such officers 

 contrasted with the large areas over which they have 

 had to work. 



The various agricultural societies have also to 

 be taken into account, for while the creamery 

 companies have been improving the products of 

 milk, these societies by instituting prizes for dairy 

 cattle at the various shows have been the means of 

 raising the class of dairy stock in the Union 

 through keen competition, which is the life-blood of 

 any industry. 



At the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, the 

 import of Australian butters into South Africa 

 almost ceased because of an Australian law pro- 



