64 SIBERIA 



for the task of distributing the produce where it 

 would be most appreciated. By this means the 

 Russian producer will learn one of the secrets as to 

 the methods by which such high prices are obtained 

 for Danish butter on the European markets. He 

 will also be able to put his produce before the public 

 quickly and in good condition — a most important con- 

 sideration. It would be advisable, further, to dis- 

 tribute the butter through the agency of an English 

 representative well acquainted with the idiosyncrasies 

 of the English market. 



The impartial reader will perceive that the paternal 

 Russian Government, at whose methods in our in- 

 sular complacency we are so apt to smile, has already 

 effected much for the peasantry, and will effect more. 

 As a mere matter of fact it has done more for 

 Siberia than our own enlightened Government has 

 done for the sister island, with her glorious agri- 

 cultural possibilities. The Irish were first instructed 

 in the art of producing butter of uniform quality 

 on the Danish principle about twelve years ago by 

 Father Black, of Milford in the south of Ireland. 

 Other priests of the Roman Catholic Church have 

 lent their aid towards the creation of a dairy industry, 

 and, during the last three or four years, their efforts 

 have led the Irish farmer to recognise the value of 

 the co-operative system of dairy-farming ; so much 

 so, that several of our extensive English butter 

 merchants have been compelled to sell their Irish 

 creameries at considerable loss to the very farmers 

 who had refused to supply them with milk and had 

 thus prevented their working them at a profit. The 

 priest is doing for Ireland what the British 

 Government should have done long ago in order to 

 prevent the wholesale emigration from the " dis- 

 tressful coimtry." 



The parrot-cry that " Russia is keeping the 



