ON AGRICULTURE TO CANADA 145 



societies under Government supervision. About one-half of them are 

 worked by private persons and half by societies. A few in the north- 

 west have been begun by Government, and have afterwards, as they 

 grew stronger, come to be worked on purely co-operative principles, 

 without any outside help or guidance whatever. A working prin- 

 ciple common to all is that the farmer is charged a fixed sum for the 

 expenses incurred in making each pound of cheese or butter, and 

 with this deduction gets the proceeds of the sales. The profit to 

 the owner, or to the Society, as the case may be, comes from the 

 skill shown in doing all the work for less outlay than has been 

 charged to the farmer. 



In connection with the spread of these factories, it is impossible 

 to praise too highly the work of the Government. It has been most 

 conspicuous in the past in Prince Edward Island, and is best seen 

 to-day in operation in Alberta. Space may be taken to give a con- 

 densed account of what is being done in that province. Forty-three 

 creameries and seven cheese factories are at work, twenty-one of the 

 former being under government supervision. These creameries are 

 set agoing in the following way. When a desire arises among the 

 farmers of a district to have a creamery, those interested approach 

 Mr Marker the Dairy Commissioner for Alberta. He informs them 

 that he can help them if they fulfil the conditions of the " Dairy- 

 man's Act." They must therefore guarantee the milk from at least 

 400 cows : they must consent to be registered — free of expense — 

 as a trading association : they must subscribe funds for the erection 

 of a suitable building, and for other purposes, and their Committee 

 must become responsible for the performance of certain duties, in- 

 cluding the haulage of cream from the farms. The Government 

 on its side is prepared to lend money up to $1500 for equipment, 

 at the low interest of 3 per cent. : to have that equipment bought 

 and erected by a skilled man ; and to appoint a butterman to take 

 charge. When butter is made it is taken to the Government Cold 

 Storage at Calgary and in due time is sold, still by government 

 ofiicials, to supply the needs of Vancouver, the Yukon, or the Orient. 

 The ordinary charge made for the manufacture of butter, whether 

 in government or other creameries, is 4 cents a pound. The use 

 of the Cold Store is granted without charge^ but the material used and 

 the outlay incurred in refrigerating has to be paid for. Thus the 

 Government, at a very small outlay, encourages the development 

 of an industry that is suitable for the country ; it ensures the 

 establishment of creameries on sound and safe business lines ; and 

 it provides for the production of the best butter that the country 

 can make. 



Cheese factories are conducted everywhere on the same principles 

 as creameries. When cheese is made the farmer gets a better price 

 for his milk, but he gets back with him to feed his pigs only whey 

 and not skimmed milk as in the other case. When butter is made 

 the milk is almost always separated at the farm and the cream is 

 called for twice a week. This saves haulage and is the only method 

 possible in districts where the distances are great. The cream is 

 examined and tested for butter-fat when it reaches the creamery 



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