500 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



In support of these views it is stated tuat at tbe exhibition lately 

 held here over dairy products, out of iburteen exhibits seut in from the 

 Uniou Dairies, the position of lirst-class butter was not awarded to 

 them in any single case, and it must Jiot bo supposed that this was 

 due to want of proper management in the dairies, as it is fully .acknowl- 

 edged that these are conducted with a very able staff of managers and 

 assistants, but must rather be attributed to the difBculties which they 

 have to contend with, which the ablest of dairy farmers is unable to 

 overcome entirely. With the Union Dairies it is not simply a question 

 of slight er. ors, but rather an unfavorable character throughout, which 

 in part is displayed in the shape of an unpleasant taste and an unsatis- 

 factory quality, with such peculiar outer appearance that it does not 

 bear the least resemblance to the finest quality of butter from manorial 

 estates. 



This pervading unpleasant taste and peculiar outer character, which 

 are characteristics of the butter from the Union Dairies, leaves no doubt 

 but that the same defects and difBculties are common to all of them. 



For the production of fine butter good and properly treated milk is 

 first of all the main requisite. Whether the milk used in these dairies 

 possesses these requirements it is difficult to say, and perhaps the 

 managers themselves are not certain on that score, as, practically speak- 

 ing, it is received by them without the least control or knowledge of its 

 nature. But if thesp dairies are not supp9rted in this respect by the 

 furnishers in the most conscientious manner, then the discontinuance 

 of their work will undoubtedly only be a question of time. In brisk 

 times of trade, it would appear that difficulty is often found by them in 

 disposiog of their produce as first-class quality, and that the prices ob- 

 taiUed vary between those of first and second class, and that in dull 

 seasons the sales are attended with considerable difficulty ; and as before 

 stated in same degree as these difficulties have been underrated, so 

 have the difficulties attending the home production been overestimated. 



It is maintained that no difficulty need exist for the ])roductiou of fine 

 butter by the small proprietors, as no later than some six or seven years 

 back the produce of these small owners stood at such a high standard 

 that they could display a large exhibition of butter in jars and half fir- 

 kins, to which nearly half of tlie exhibits were awarded prizes. 



Tiie want of Union Dairies was not then felt, and it is doubtful if at 

 that time these small producers would have been satisfied with the 

 prices they now receive for their milk from the union dairies. In those 

 days there existed in all the towns a numerous class of butter-packing 

 dealers, who purchased this jar butter for subsequent sorting and re- 

 packing. With the introduction of the Union Dairies thfese deiUers have 

 all nearly disappeared, for the simple reason that too small a quantity 

 of faultless butter from these small faripers is now brought to hand to 

 admit of any similar repacking with advantageous results. Complaints 

 were frequent, however, on the part of the small producers that when 

 they did sup|ily these dealers with butter in jars of best standard qual- 

 ity, and which was subsequently resold by these dealers at the prices of 

 first-class butter, that they nevertheless had only received at their hands 

 the price of second class ; and that they could not be satisfied that the 

 dealer should thus be reaping an advantage of 2J to 3 cents on every 

 pound of butter, simply because it was delivered in jars. 



The producer should, however, bear in mind that where he disposed of 

 his butter in jars at the price of second class that ho was obtainin"' a 

 net price therefor, whilst tbe dealer who again resold to the trade at 

 first-class prices had to submit to several drawbacks and charges such 



