On the Production of Butter. 



75 



ing, partly for hay in the winter. The cows are to calve by Old 

 Lady-day, and the heifers by the first of -May, or an allowance of 

 55. per week for each beast is to be made by the farmer. The 

 barreners are to be given up by the 23rd of November, and on 

 Old May-day the calves are to be taken by the farmer at a valua- 

 tion, or at the price of a quarter's rent. A dwelling, dairy -house, 

 and suitable premises are included in the rent. Although to this 

 system of letting dairies I am inclined to attribute very much of 

 the excellence of Dorset butter — the manufacturer havins: a direct 

 interest in his commodity, and the strongest of all inducements 

 to make the very best article — yet the practice is opposed to that 

 mutual interest which has often been declared to be the mainstay 

 of agriculture. The interests of the farmer and those of the 

 dairyman are evidently antagonistic. It is the farmer's interest 

 to keep his cattle as cheaply as possible, without regard to the 

 quality or quantity of their produce. On the other hand, it is the 

 dairyman's interest to get all the milk he can from a cow without 

 reference to the cost of production. 



We now come to the Supply of Butter. — The principal supply 

 is from Ireland and from alDroad, and more than half of the 

 foreign consignments is from Holland. 



The following return of foreign imports has been kindlv fur- 

 nished to me by the Board of Trade : — 



" An Account of the Quantities of Butter imported into the United 

 Kingdom in the year 1850 ; distinguishing the countries from 

 which the same were imported. 



Russia .... 

 Sweden and Xorway 

 Denmark 



Prussia .... 

 Hanover .... 

 Oldenburg 

 Hanseatic toun? . 

 Holland .... 

 Belgium .... 

 Channel Islands (foreign produce) 

 France .... 

 Spain .... 

 Turkish dominions 

 British North America . 

 United States of America 



Office of the Inspector- General of Imports and Exports, 

 Custom-house, London, olst Jan., 1851." 



Cwts. 



31 



4,696 

 3 



16.379 

 20 

 51.368 

 226,821 

 18,478 

 158 

 638 

 4 

 1 



5.250 

 7.2S1 



331,135 



A comparison of this return with the " Statement of the quan- 

 tities of the principal articles of foreign and colonial merchandize 

 imported and retained for home consumption in the United King- 



