8 THE DAIEY TRADE OF .SWEDEN AND NORWAY. [June 1896. 



mechanical separator was then in use in 900 dairies, while in 526 

 the cream was separated by the use of ice, on what is known 

 as the Swartz process. Co-operative principles have not- made 

 much progress among Swedish agriculturists, consequently the 

 number of dairies owned by associations of dairy farmers form 

 a comparatively small proportion of the total number of such 

 establishments. Of the 1,500 dairies enumerated in the report 

 referred to above, over 800 were described as estate dairies, while 

 610 were " buying up " dairies or establishments run by 

 individuals or companies purchasing milk from the farmers. 



In the south-west of Sweden, co-operative dairies are said to 

 have been very successful, but it is believed that they are not 

 likely to increase in number or importance in other districts, as 

 they are unable to compete with the estate dairies in respect of 

 good management and excellence of produce. 



The native Swedish cattle are small, but the dairy herds have 

 been largely improved by crossing with English, Scotch, and 

 Dutch breeds, chiefly Ayrshires and East Frisians. During the 

 greater part of the year the animals have to be stall-fed owing 

 to the severity of the climate. The total number of cows in 

 Sweden, according to the latest official estimates, is 1,683,116. 



Although the imports of Norwegian butter into the United 

 Kingdom during the past five years would appear to indicate the 

 possibility of a further extension of this trade, it must not be 

 forgotten that the production of butter in Norway is not yet 

 sufficient to meet the home requirements. It is evident, how- 

 ever, from the decline in the quantities of butter imported into 

 that kingdom and from the increase in the exports, that the 

 Norwegian dairy industry has made great strides in recent years. 

 The imports and exports of butter in the five years 1890-94 

 were as follows : — 



Butter. 



1890. 



1891. 



1892. 



1893. 



1894. 



Imports - 



Exports : 



Norwegian produce 

 Produce of other countries - 



Total exports 



Cwts. 

 48,145 



Cwts. 

 32,056 



Cwts. 

 24,469 



Cwts. 

 16,045 



CwtS* 



18,348 



4,147 

 1,770 



6,851 

 331 



9,588 

 242 



12,830 

 1,297 



15,175 

 198 



5,917 



7,182 



9,830 



14,127 



15,373 



In Norway there are about 350 dairies and cheese factories, 

 exclusive of a number of small dairies in which hand separators 

 are used. Many of the large establishments manufacture butter 

 only, and return the skim milk and butter-milk to the farmers 

 supplying the milk. This system has been found profitable in 

 most districts, as these bye-products are used for feeding swine 

 and calves. In a number of the dairies the cream is separated 

 from the milk by the Swartz process. 



