THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY IN IRELAND. 



237 



his best attention to its improvement, to the care and feeding of his cattle, and 

 to the cleanliness and general management of his dairy." 



There can be no doubt whatever that the way in which business was 

 conducted in the Cork Butter Market under the direction of the committee 

 of merchants, was satisfactory for a long period, and that considerable im- 

 provement was induced in the butter manufacture by the system of inspec- 

 tion, fixing the qualities, and arranging the prices to be paid for the butter 

 of the market each day. But a time came when the exigencies of trade 

 required a re-organisation of the market, and in 1884 an Act of Parliament 

 was obtained which regulates its conduct, and by which many of the rules 

 of the " committee of merchants " are set aside. Before that date butter 

 could only be sold in the market which was subjected to inspection and 

 branding according to quality ; now a portion of the market is set aside for 

 open sale, in which free buying and selling may take place. Formerly a 

 " member " of the Butter Exchange only could buy in the market. He was 

 called the " butter merchant," and from him the " exporter " had to buy his 

 butter for exportation. Now the exporter may purchase in open market. 



The business transacted in the Cork Butter market is of enormous pro- 

 portions. Considering its magnitude, the regularity and freedom from 

 difficulties are matters for congratulation. The following Table, compiled 

 from the Report upon the Cork Industrial Exhibition of 1883, will give an 

 idea of the magnitude of the operations in the Cork Butter Exchange at 

 that date : — 



Cork Market, Season 1883-84. 



The following interesting return, published some time ago, will give an. 



