1 Junx, 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, 427 
“Mo any thoughtfuland unprejudiced mind,” hesays, “thematter thus opened 
up must be perfectly plain, and no one with any claim to common sense will 
attempt to controvert the theory that there are grounds for seriously taking up the 
whole question officially, particularly when it is seen that some of the butter- 
makers are finding themselves compelled to take action so far as it lays within 
their grasp. What more striking illustration of the evil of the system is required 
than the result of the State butter competition decided last week ? No doubt im 
each of the fourteen entries for the prizes, the best cream available was used 
and everything done scientifically with the aid of the most modern appliances 
to produce the best article. Unfortunately, in one sense, these samples had to 
be detained in cold storage for 2 months, to prove their export value, but it was 
fortunate in another way that this condition was enforced. The results of the 
test are, in the main, lamentable. Presuming, for the sake of argument, that 
the butter gaining first honours, with 93 points out of a possible 100, is the 
very best that can be made in the colony, the feature which will strike the 
-areful observer most is that the second-prize article fell short in quality by 
nearly 20 per cent.; or, to bring the matter home more forcefully, for every 
£100 worth of butter sold in England by the first prize-winner only £80 would 
be received for the next best. But the case is even worse, when we recollect 
that butter of such a class is practically unsaleable in the home market, and could 
not thus be made to pay. But what of the balance of the 14 samples! The 
whole difficulty is the outcome of producing inferior cream, and the hand 
separator system is responsible for it. The general cry of the butter-makers 
throughout the colony is that they cannot turn out a first-class article for the 
reason advanced. While the prevailing practice exists, there will be no 
improvement. . 
Mr. MeDouall merely expresses the opinions of scores of other dairymen in. 
‘a large way when he urges that combination in this matter is urgent. 
“ Doubtless,” he urges, “the recent dry seasons, with their attendant short 
supply of milk, have had considerable influence upon this question. Milk has 
heen so short that there has been no difficulty in disposing of the small quantity 
of butter manufactured at a fairly high price. One good season, however, will 
most assuredly alter the position of things, and many who have during the past 
year or two invested their money in a hand separator will regret that they did 
not give that matter a little more thought.” 
Tt will be easily understood from these views that the matter is one of 
moment, for if we cannot place a good article upon the English market the 
business of exporting must practically prove to be a failure. Combination on 
the part of the manufacturers is one remedy, and Government interference 
another. One of two courses will eventually have to be taken if the great 
dairying industry is to be maintained and developed. 
On this subject Mr. John Mahon, Principal of the Queensland Agricultural 
College, whose intimate knowledge of dairying in all its branches gives weight 
to his opinion, says :— 
LT wish to point out that the system (that of hand-separating), if carried 
out to any great xtent, will surely bring about most serious results as regards 
the quality of Qt ensland butter, apart from the enormous unnecessary expen- 
diture for hand-m., ines, which entail a deal of extra labour, as compared with 
the central creamer the. 2m. A cream separator in the hands of individual 
farmers is but one remor. from the old system of each man manufacturing his 
own article. ‘The system is expensive and dangerous to the welfare of the 
industry, and should therefore be discouraged as much as possible. Cream 
separators in the hands of 150 dairymen mean 150 different erades of cream— 
thick cream, thin, sweet, sour, cooled, uncooled, clean, and dirty. These creams 
may be delivered to one or two depdts, where the good and bad are mixed. 
together, resulting in an impossibility for the manufacturer to turn out a good 
article. Then, again, small quantities do not carry so well as large quantities: 
there is also a great deal lost in handling small quantities. 
. 
—————————— 
