( XXVI ) 
STATISTICS OF DAIRY PEODUCE. 
The following remarks relating to butter and cheese are ex- 
tracted from ' The Grocer ' : — 
Irish Butter. — At scarcely any period of the past year could it 
he said that the demand for Cork butters was really brisk, as their 
hold upon the London market at the best of times has not been 
very great, and with imports of genuine butter and other mys- 
terious compounds pouring in from the Continent without inter- 
mission, in defiance alike of both drought and moisture on the 
different lands, there has been nothing to prevent a marvellous 
cheapness in butter nearly all through the year. The highest 
rates were in January and February last, when, in the absence of 
firsts, seconds realised 118s. to 140s., and thirds 89s. to 100s. ; but 
in March the latter fell to 90s., and fourths could be had at 51s. to 
52s. per cwt. In April the Cork market was closed, and on its 
re-opening for the new season at the beginning of May the quota- 
tions were for firsts, 101s. to 105s. ; seconds, 85s. ; thirds, 67s. ; 
and fourths, 49s. Low as these prices undoubtedly were, those 
early in June were still lower, when firsts were quoted at 90s. ; 
seconds, 72s. to 73s. ; thirds, 65s. to 66s. ; and fourths, 43s. to 44s. 
After that (in July) there was a sharp rebound to 92s., 87s., 79s., 
and 66s. respectively ; and in the months of September and 
October the current terms were 106s. to 107s. for firsts, 87s. to 90s. 
for seconds, 72s. to 80s. for thirds, and 60s. to 65s. for fourths ; but 
since then there has been a fresh decline for the inferior sorts, the 
closing rates for which are 58s. down to 41s., but the finest Corks 
were dearer. 
Cork Butter Market. — For all but the superfine brand (which 
is only affixed to a very fractional part of the annual receipts^ the 
prices paid in Cork ruled lower than those of any other recognised 
butter market in the world. For many periods of the season the 
price of the second brand of Cork butter was ([uoted much lower 
than the prices of good brands of buttcrine, Cork thirds did not 
fetch the price of second-grade butterine, and Cork fourths were 
for a long time quoted at the usual price for grease — say, 3d. or 
4cZ. per lb. 
Foreign Butter. — Prices for all denominations classed under 
this head have also been beaten down considerably during 1885, 
and bear additional testimony to the universal depression that has 
prevailed. The year opened with Normandy butter at 100s. to 
