( XX ) 
In July the scarcity of food for cows caused firmness to be shown 
hy the makers of fine English. In August new English began to 
be quoted ; in fact, very little good old was kept, the scarcity of 
food for cows throughout the summer, and consequently a lessened 
make gave firmness to the makers of best qualities. Country 
buyers were keen competitors with the London dealers ; the heat 
of the weather, at the close of this month, causing it to be safer to 
move American cheese in its packages than English without them, 
assisted sales of the former. In September the makers of English 
cheese, believing last summer's production to have been lessened 
by the scarcity of food, held finest qualtities very firmly, asking 
such prices as left little prospect of profit by the resale of them. 
In October holders of finest qualities were firm, both English and 
American. In November, holders of best English were very firm ; 
the makers of finest qualities showed no disposition to press sales 
at present rates ; supplies of American were rather below the 
average. In December there was scarcely any variation in prices, 
and holders of fine qualities were firm ; at the close of the month 
there was a little more doing in sales of American. 
Cork Butter Market. — The hope is generally entertained at the 
opening of each season that the high range of prices of the preceding 
one was exceptional, and that more moderate figures wUl prevail 
during tLe future ; therefore, chough the market opened in April 
at the extreme price of 150s. for first and second qualities, a rapid 
fall was soon expected, and did take place, for by the end of May 
the prices of firsts, seconds, and thirds stood at 118s., 114s., and 
105s. respectively, which were very nearly the same as those of the 
corresponding date in 1873, However, the continued dry weathei- 
of last summer soon made it evident that lower prices could not 
be expected, and,' as week 'after week passed without a return of 
the rain, which it is generally quite safe to predict in Ireland, iti 
became evident that the make of butter must suffer in quantity ; the 
result was that prices showed a gradual but constant advance since 
June last until the present time, and the season seems likely to 
close with higher rates than have ever yet been known. The total 
receipts of butter to the Cork market, for 1874, amount to 350,000 
firkins, of a value of about 1,600,OOOZ. Compared with 1873 the 
receipts show a falling off of about 12,000 firkins, but the money 
value of 1874 exceeds that for 1873. 12,000 firkins seem a smaller 
deficiency than the great drought of last summer would cause ; but 
it must be remembered that 1873 was itself a year of short pro- 
duction, being 35,000 firkins less than that of 1872. 
An American Cheese Dairy. — " The Old Fairfield Cheese Factory, 
