German Trade in Dairy Produce. 



63 



hand, the number of estate and commercial dairies has 

 remained stationary. 



The quantity of butter produced in the dairies in 1895 was 

 estimated at 54,000,000 lb., as compared with a production 

 of 35,000,000 lb. in 1891. The exports of this ^irticle from 

 Sweden in the former year amounted to 53,000,000 lb., 

 and there was an importation in to the country of 1,400,000 lb. 



German Trade in Dairy Produce. 



The figures of the trade of Germany in butter, cheese, and 

 milk for 1896 and the preceding year are given in the 

 following table : — 





Imports. 



Exports. 



1896. 



1895. 



1896. 



1895. 





Cwts. 



Cwts. 



Cwts. 



Cwts. 



Butter 



150,929 



135,577 



136,646 



130.996 



Cheese 



200,639 



183,961 



36,209 



43,517 



Milk, fresh 



199,779 



315,432 



81,347 



96,931 



, , condensec 



30 



49 



50,389 



55,436 



It thus appears that during 1896 the imports of butter 

 and cheese increased, but there was a large falling-off in milk. 

 The exports of cheese and milk declined, and butter showed 

 a slight increase. 



As regards butter, the imports are, at present, greater in 

 quantity than the exports. It is stated that in 1889 the 

 excess of imports was in round numbers 59,000 cwts. ; in 

 1890, 39,000 cwts. From 1889 to 1895 the imports slowly 

 but steadily declined, the total fall amounting to some 

 .49,000 cwts., and not until 1896 is an increase shown. This 

 increase is attributed partly to receipts from North America, 

 whence Germany derived 17,719 cwts. in 1896, against 7,379 

 in 1895. The imports in 1896 came chiefly from Russia 

 (41,563 cwts.), Austria- Hungary (62,304 cwts.), and Holland 

 20,399 cwts.). Although the exports show a slight increase in 

 1896, they are still below the figures for the years 189 1-4. Of 



