The Ftthire of Agricultural Competition. 
769 
plies from Denmark, France, and Sweden will grow less. It is 
onlv in organisation that the makers in these countries are 
superior to our own ; and that inequality we can remedy if we 
take the necessarv pains. If farmers in Xew Zealand and Aus- 
tr^ are satisfied with 'l^d. to Sd. a gallon for their milk, and 
I continue to supplv the butter factories at these miserable rates, 
' their increasing export trade may grow to considerable dimen- 
is. Xew Zealand is one of the best countries in the world 
dairvincr; having pasture grass all the year round. But 
lerto'butter has been sent to us from that Colony and Aus- 
. aiia only during the winter season, when it will keep well, and 
when prices are high. Probably it coidd not be sent at a profit 
in the late spring, summer, or early autumn. 
Imports of cheese have varied in quantity considerably during 
last ten vears, but reached the maximum in 189u. Nearly 
. the increase is due to supplies from Canada, which have more 
I than doubled, while imports from the United States are smaller 
' than thev were a few years back. Canadian makers have de- 
served their success by supplying cheese of excellent quality, 
the other hand, the reputation of American cheese has suf- 
r . ed greatly through the extension of the abominable practice 
I of extracting the cream, or part of it, from the milk, and sup- 
• '-ing its place with extraneous fats, making what is styled 
.led cheese." Judging from the average values of imports, 
- price of cheese has fallen since 1874. when it was 6bs. per 
-. The minimum was i'ls. 9d. in 1879; but this caused a 
^•:eat falling-ofl" in imports, and the price rose to b7s. 4(i. La 
irSO. After that year the average fell tUl it was only 44?. -id. 
j in 1885, rising once more to 49*. Id. in 1887, and falling to 
I 46s. in 1890. The averages for British cheese have been higher, 
' no doubt, and the prices are quoted only to show comparative 
'■ values in different years. In hard cheese of the best quality 
British makers are unrivalled, and in the supply of such cheese 
I they have no reason to fear future competition. Moreover, if 
they would take the trouble, they might profitably engage in 
the business of making some of the choice soft cheeses which we 
I now obtain from France. 
I The success of foreign competition in poultry and eggs is 
partly owing to the mistaken contempt of British farmers for a 
small, but desirable, source of profit. The south of Ireland is 
■ particularly well suited to the production of poultry and eggs, 
-. as well as the great numbers of separate holdings, 
.atages which have been sadly neglected. The figures 
given below show the increases of imports for the last two de- 
VOL. n. T. s. — 8 3 F. 
