230 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING 



and sealed in cans similar to those exhibited by Mr.Clanchy, which pre- 

 serve the butter fresh and sweet for a long period in any climate, im- 

 mediately on being made at the creameries, nothing, so far as I can see, 

 is to prevent its use in supplying the immense foreign shipping trade 

 of our country. 



Whereas all vessels going from Europe to America take with them a 

 supply for the double voyage, it would be quite practicable, if this enter- 

 prise were introduced in the United States, to secure the entire business 

 for American exporters. In my opinion our countrymen would be able 

 to compete most successfully with European countries for this trade, 

 inasmuch as all dairy products can be raised so much cheaper in the 

 United States than at this side of the Atlantic. 



For the large passenger steamships the finest butter is utilized, and 

 also for export to countries where the consuming population require, 

 and can afford to pay for it, such as India, Japan, China, Australia, the 

 South American countries, and those bordering upon the Mediterra- 

 nean. 



For merchant shipping, and for the lower or poorer classes of the 

 population in the above-named countries, a second and third quality of 

 butter is good enough, and it is for the inferior qualities the United 

 States, it would appear from the published market reports, require a 

 greater outlet than for the products of the best dairies, inasmuch as the 

 American markets are constantly glutted with unsalable surplus stock 

 of lower grade butter, chiefly owing to the inroads which the improved 

 manufacture of butterine has made upon the markets hitherto available 

 for the consumption of cheap genuine butter. Since merchant vessels 

 use chiefly butter of the third quality, it will be seen that a market for 

 large quantities of this class of butter might be found if the canning 

 system were adopted for the supply now furnished for the most part by 

 European exporters. 



Within a few years past two Irish houses have adopted this system 

 of tinning butter, and their efforts have been crowned with great suc- 

 cess, although their combined shipments are so small that it does not 

 contradict my general statement that France, Germany, and Denmark 

 monopolize the trade. The two Irish houses referred to are those of 

 Messrs. Clear and Sons, and Mr. Clanchy, who furnishes the accom- 

 panying interesting report. The latter shipper, at much trouble and 

 expense, gave his fellow- tradesmen in the United States an opportu- 

 nity of inspecting for themselves the way in which the tinned butter 

 trade* in Ireland is worked, by the exhibit at New Orleans already men- 

 tioned. 



In my report on the credit and trade system, I explained the method 

 by which transactions are regulated between the producers and the 

 butter brokers in Cork market. 



It may be worth while to quote that portion of said report ; it is as 

 follows : 



In the beginning of the year the butter brokers of Cork market advance loans to 

 the farmers to the amount of two-thirds of the value of their butter produce for the 

 year, at rates of interest varying from 6 to 10 per cent. With this money the farmer 

 pays his rent, buys stock and seeds ; according as he makes his butter he sends it 

 to the broker to pay off his debt. 



The brokers borrow the money so advanced from local banks, at a lesser rate of in- 

 terest than they charge. When they receive the butter from the farmers they sell it 

 to the exporters for prompt cash, and the exporters ship to English merchants, giv- 

 ing one and two months' credit for the payment. 



The export of butter is a different branch of the trade conducted by 

 a different set of merchants, who, on receiving their orders from their 



