338 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES. 



[Dee. 1895. 



much profit as the large growers ; to create a demand throughout 

 the east of the United States for first class Oregon fruit ; to 

 bring fruit-growers into more direct communication with con- 

 sumers; to keep fruit-growers posted as to prices, cost o£ 

 transportation, market supply and demand ; and to furnish all 

 the information necessary to the producer to enable him to 

 market his fruits successfully. 



The principal ofiice of the union is at Portland. It is the 

 duty of the manager in charge to keep the several district asso- 

 ciations informed by telegraph as to where they can find the best 

 markets for their products ; to furnish them with railway cars 

 on short notice ; to secure for them the best rates, and furnish 

 them with boxes, packing materials, and standard labels* 

 Standard grades for all kinds of fruit are established, and all 

 members of the union are expected to adopt these grades. 



Any fruit-grower may become a member of the union by 

 joining one of the district associations. The expenses of the 

 union are paid by an assessment of 25 cents per annum upon 

 each acre of bearing orchard in the occupation of members and 

 by a per-centage upon the sale of fruit handled. The manage- 

 ment is under the control of a board, consisting of a member 

 representing each district, with one additional member for every 

 250 acres of bearing orchard in each district. The board meets 

 quarterly, and during the time that it is not in session the 

 affairs of the union are under the control of a manager. 



Exports of Australian Dairy Products. 



A report prepared by Mr. Young, the LonGon representative 

 of the Ministry of Agriculture of South Australia, for the infor- 

 mation of farmers in that colony, contains some suggestions as 

 to the handling of produce destined for the British markets 

 which may be of interest to agriculturists in the home country. 



As regards dairy products, it is stated in the report that the 

 recent rapid rise of the Australian export trade in butter has 

 been a source of much anxiety to continental butter makers. 

 In illustration of the increasing influence of the Australian 

 article on the British markets it is mentioned that at the 

 opening of the 1894-95 season, Australian butter was selling at 

 106-11 6s. for finest qualities, and Danish at 120-1 30s., but, 

 owing to the Australian competition, the price for Danish 

 subsequently fell to 100-1 04s., this being exactly equivalent 

 to the quotation for Australian butter at the same period 

 With reference to the growing competition between the con- 

 tinental and Australian factories it is said to be generally thought 

 that the stall-fed cows of the former will not be able in the 

 long run to compete successfully with the grass fed herds of 

 Australia. Australian dairy farmers are accordingly recom- 



