952 



Agriculture Abroad. 



[Jan., 



The importance of grading dairy produce for sale has for some 

 time been clearly realised in Canada, where a system of grading 

 The Gradin heen carried out under both Federal 



of Dair Produce Provincial authorities, as well as by 

 in Canada ^^^^''^ bodies , both official and unofficial . The 

 object of this grading has in some cases been 

 mainly educational, while in others the aim has been purely 

 commercial, but the system hitherto has been conducted on a 

 voluntary basis and has had no legislative authority behind it. 



During the 1920 session of the Canadian Parliament, a resolu- 

 tion calling upon the Government to establish a grading system 

 was introduced into their House of Commons. The unanimous 

 support of the members was accorded, and the Minister of Agi'i- 

 culture, in accepting the principle of the resolution, said that he 

 would be prepared to carry out a schem_e of grading for dairy 

 produce as soon cs the producers were ready for the introduction 

 of such a system. 



It would appear that the dairy producers must have afforded 

 speedy evidence of their desire for Government action in this 

 matter, for an Act, " to regulate the grading of dairy produce," 

 cited as the Dairy Produce Act, was passed by the Canadian 

 Legislature on 4th June, 1921. The Act empowers the Governor 

 in Council to make regulations for the grading of dairy produce 

 intended for export, the articles enumerated being butter, 

 cheese and other food products manufactured from milk." It 

 also provides for the appointment of official graders, and for the 

 establishment of standards, definitions, grades and grading stores 

 for dairy produce and the imposition of fees for the grading. The 

 graders are to be empowered to issue certificates as to the quality 

 and proper classification of any dairv produce which they have 

 examined for the purpose. Fines of from 50 to 200 dollars, or 

 imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, may be imposed 

 for contraventions of the regulations issued under the Act. 



The value of the Act in promoting the standardisation of 

 Canadian dairy produce intended for export and in discouraging 

 the production of an inferior article can hardly be over-estimated, 

 and it would be well if the importance of this progressive step 

 could be clearly brought home to every British dairy farmer. 



