Dairy-Farming in the Netherlands. 
521 
which we have now the honour to submit for Your Majesty's 
consideration, collected, we believe, with the greatest care and 
impartialitv, presents an exhaustive record of the extent and 
immediate effects of the agricultural depression, of the causes to 
which that depression may be attributed, and of the various 
suggestions submitted to us from opposite points of view for 
ameliorating the condition of the agricultural classes. 
For the valuable information which has been thus collected 
we have to express our acknowledgments to the witnesses who 
have come before us, and also our sense of the aid which has 
been rendered by the reports and evidence of our Assistant 
•Commissioners : 
All which we humbly submit to Your Majesty. 
XXIX. — Dairy-Farming in the Netherlands * By H. M, 
Jenkins, F.G.S., Secretary of the Society, and Editor of the 
' Journal.' 
The kingdom of the Netherlands is essentially a dairy country, 
from north to south and east to west. If the celebrated Dutch 
cows were not extraordinary milkers they would soon be sup- 
planted by other breeds, as they are by no means quick feeders, 
even on the rich pastures of the provinces of North and South 
Holland. 
South Holland is noted for its luscious Delft butter and its 
Oouda Cheese. North Holland is equally proud of the re- 
nowned Edam cheese and the somewhat strong Kampen butter. 
•Friesland also, at one time, was celebrated for its butter, and is 
at the present day making vigorous efforts to re-establish its 
ancient reputation. These several districts are all favoured, 
partly by the endowment of nature, but chiefly by the fostering 
care of man, with magnificent grass-land, which ought to be 
capable of imparting to the milk of cows fed upon it the pro- 
perties which are generally regarded as essential to the produc- 
tion of the finest qualities of butter and cheese. As will be 
seen, however, the processes of butter-making in some districts 
leave a great deal to be desired. 
Delft Butter. — In the Delft district of South Holland we 
find the nearest approach to a rational system, considering the 
primitive nature of the dairy vessels in use. The cows are 
milked morning and evening, and the milk is at once placed in 
* Extracted from the ' Report on the Agriculture of the Netherlands to the 
<Royal Commission on Agriculture.' 
