io34 Notes on Agriculture Abroad. [march, 



this way attention was drawn to the vast possibilities of Russia in 

 this direction, but though dairy farming is prosperous and rapidly 

 growing, it is surpassed by what might be regarded as a minor in- 

 dustry of small importance, viz., by poultry farming. 



During the eleven years from 1899 to 1909 the exports of butter 

 (the produce of Siberia and of northern Russia) increased from 10,200 

 tons, worth ^745,000, to 52,800 tons, valued at ^5,109,000. The 

 active competition of Siberia has not depressed the manufacture of 

 butter in the European parts of Russia, but has rather stimulated it. 

 In most parts dairy farming is increasing in importance, the cultiva- 

 tion of grass for hay is being developed, arable land being more largely 

 used for clover and timothy. The chief progress has been in the thinly 

 populated northern and eastern parts of Russia. 



Poultry farming, on the other hand, has made the greatest progress 

 in the more thickly populated parts, and the export of eggs has in- 

 creased from 1,686 millions, valued at ^3,023,000 in 1899, to 2,845 

 millions, worth ^6,566,000 in 1909. The increase in value is far 

 greater than in quantity, and it is ascribed rather to the improved 

 quality of the produce than to the general rise in food prices, though 

 doubtless the latter is partly responsible. 



Besides eggs there is a considerable export of dead fowls, the value 

 of which rose from ^834,000 to ^1,509,000. In addition, feathers 

 and down of the value of ^190,000 are exported, so that the value of 

 all poultry products amounts to ^8,265,831, as against ^"3,857,008 in 

 the year 1899. In spite of the increasing export and of the rising prices 

 of poultry products, the consumption within the country increases, not 

 only among well-to-do customers, but also among the producing 

 peasant farmers themselves. 



In many places it is thought possible that, as the land is more and 

 more subdivided into small holdings, poultry farming may supersede 

 the cattle industry. 



Information supplementing the above as regards the development of 

 the dairying industry in Siberia is given in U.S. Daily Consular and 

 Trade Reports, December 29th, 19 10. It is stated that the Siberian 

 cattle are of better quality than the average Russian stock, 

 and the pastures are also of a higher quality and more generally 

 watered, so that the butter from that region is in favour in Europe 

 and England, the demand so far being greater than the actual supply. 

 Siberian cheese finds a ready market at home, but the better grades 

 are found throughout Europe. 



The creameries are conducted by organisations known as "artels." 

 If the dairies are situated near the creameries, the milk is purchased 

 from the farmer, but if the farm is at some distance the cream is 

 purchased. Many farmers churn their milk and sell the butter to the 

 creameries, where it is rewashed, tested, graded as to colour and other 

 constituents, grouped, packed, and shipped to the market centres for 

 distribution. According to the latest figures available, there are 1,868 

 butter factories in Siberia, and their reports for 19 10 are stated to show 

 that the average yield is 1 lb. of butter to 20 lb. of milk. Milk costs, 

 wholesale at the creameries, ^d. a gallon. The highest price obtained 

 by the manufacturers for butter was 9^. per lb., and the lowest 8§d. 

 per lb. About 30 per cent, of the butter factories are managed by 



