14 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



dorn, as the exports thereto of 308,000 pounds in 1884 would seem to 

 imply. The imports of fresh beef into the United Kingdom from the 

 United States during the year 1875 were only a little greater than those 

 for Australasia in 1884. 



The first imports into the United Kingdom of fresh beef from Eussia 

 are recorded for the year 1883, viz, 2,462,432 pounds. For 1884 the im- 

 ports amounted to 3,351,184 i^ounds. an increase of 889,752 pounds. 

 The initiatory eifort in this case is British British capital and British 

 direction and great hopes are entertained of enlarging the trade. 



It will be noted, in the table showing the imports of fresh beef into the 

 United Kingdom, that the Eussian product is valued at 9.92 cents and 

 the American at 11.80 cents per pound. The superiority of the Ameri- 

 can beef fully warrants this difference in price 5 but it must not be for- 

 gotten that a penny per pound is a matter of considerable moment to 

 the working and trades classes of the United Kingdom, and will go far 

 towards glossing over inferiority in quality. This question of cheapness 

 exerts a controlling influence in every country in Europe, and the country 

 which can supply the cheapest food products can always command 

 ail almost unlimited market therein. Our producers, while maintaining 

 the high quality of their products, must never lose sight of this point. 



Assuming that in the near future our stockmen and slaughterers will 

 have to contend more or less with Australasia, the Argentine Eepublic, 

 Eussia, &c. Canada being already an important competitor for the 

 beef trade of Europe, the question naturally presents itself, how will 

 such competition affect, us? 



With the present magnificent condition of our vast herds ; their supe- 

 rior quality as beef-makers; the intelligence which governs and guides 

 every movement from the plains to the seaboard ; our almost perfect 

 railway system, which insures quick transport ; the nearness of Europe 

 to our shores, and the unlimited steamship conveyance always available, 

 it does not seem possible that any other country can overmatch us in 

 the European markets. The only drawback to our export trade which 

 can arise is the possibility of our home demands increasing faster than 

 our supply, for the home market is the controlling influence. Whatever 

 maybe the results to us and. to the other countries which are preparing 

 to enter into this trade, the result to the United Kingdom must be an 

 abundant and cheap supply of beef, for the surplus beef cattle of the 

 world are ever on the move towards London. 



DAIRY PRODUCTS IN EUROPE. 



Those portions of the consular reports which treat of dairy farming in 

 Europe seem to cover every point wnternplated in the Department cir- 

 cular, and they must prove of great interest and value to our dairy farm- 

 ers. It would be impossible, even were it necessary, to condense their 

 various interesting descriptions of European dairy farming, from the 

 care of the cattle to the manufacture of butter and cheese, and the con- 

 ditions which surround and influence .the industry, from its inception to 

 the disposal of the products. The reports to be fully appreciated in this 

 regard must be read in detail, for the different parts of the subject are 

 dwelt on to minutia, leaving very little for assumptive speculation. 



The only phase of the interest which seems to demand any treatment 

 here is, as in the case of cattle and beef, that which deals with the 

 European butter and cheese markets, our share therein, and how to en- 

 large that share. 



