Cheese Factories in Derbyshire. 
43 
its introduction into this country would be advantageous to the 
interests of dairy-farmers generally. Owing to the long illness 
and the subsequent death of Mr. Frere, the late editor of the 
Society's 'Journal,' the subject remained in abeyance until the 
early part of the year 1869, when the present editor commenced 
the enquiries that led to his Report on the subject, Avhich was 
published 12 months ago in the Society's 'Journal.'* 
On the 15th September, 1869, at the dinner of the Derbyshire 
Agricultural Society, the Chairman — Mr. J. G. Crompton — ex- 
plained the present position and future prospects of the English 
dairy-farmers, and the necessity for prompt and decisive action 
to improve the quality of their produce. On the 20th September, 
at the meeting of the Midland Agricultural Society, at Alfreton, 
Mr. James Nuttall, of Chaddesden, near Derby, a large dairy- 
farmer, advocated establishing the Factory-system in Derby- 
shire. At a general meeting of the Derbyshire Agricultural 
Society, held at Derby, on the 24th December, the following 
Committee was appointed, at Lord Vernon's suggestion, to inves- 
tigate the question: — Mr. J. G. Crompton (Chairman), Hon. E. K. 
VV. Coke, Lieutenant-Colonel Wilmot, Messrs. Murray, Coleman, 
Greatorex, and Sims, to which were added Lord Vernon, the 
Mayor of Derby, Mr. T. W. Evans, Dr. Hitchman, Messrs. Roe, 
Faulkner, Nuttall, Travis, Walker, Smith, and Canner. The 
members of the Society assembled in the Derby Town-hall, 
on the 18th February, to receive the report of the Committee, 
his Grace the Duke of Devonshire occupying the chair, and 
the meeting being numerously attended. The Committee con- 
sidered that there were satisfactory grounds for expecting the 
following advantages, should the system have a fair trial : — 1st. 
Greater uniformity in the quality of cheese. 2nd. Enhancement 
of value in dairies which, from poor plant and the absence of 
good accommodation, are now producing inferior cheese. 3rd. The 
removal of an arduous occupation, frequently deterring men of 
capital, owing to domestic considerations, from entering upon 
farms on which cheesemaking is a prominent feature. 4th. 
Improvement in the value of land, from improvement of the 
value of produce ; and 5th, generally the introduction of uni- 
formity of system, of better plant, skill, and supervision. 
The Committee desired to give the system fair play in the 
coMnty, and, in order to insure contributors of milk from any loss 
that might arise in case of failure, or from the produce being of 
so interior a quality as not to command a price in the market 
equal to that realised by the average Derbyshire cheese, it was 
suggested that the landlords of the county and others interested 
* ' Journal Koyal Agricultural Society,' 2nd Series, vol. vi., p. 173. 
