BUTTER AND CHEESE TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 272, 10 August 1908, Page 3

BUTTER AND CHEESE TRADE.

The "Journal of tho Board ofvAgriculture" l (British) of June last-.says concerning the May business:— . >

"Cheese experienced a poor demand throughout the month: Continued largo arrives of New Zealand chee so proven ted an expected .advance in prices for Canadian, and in consequence; tho- stocks on hand mostly showed losses, to owners. ■ To forco tho sal« of New Zealand ' cheese, proportionately, lower prices had to be accepted (especially as the quality of some was not altogether satisfactory) and in comparison with May of last year a. reduction of from 6s. to 7s. per cw.t. took place; whilst Canadian averaged about 3s. to ss. .below prices current at same period. .Now season's fodder-made Canadian commenced to arrive in the second week of May, and showed plenty of quality, but: was slow of sale,' as the . prico tnbri' asked was within 2s.'to ss. of finest old makes, the. latter being considerably'better value'at the difference. ; The Canadian season opened about two to three weeks later than usual' on' account of tho cold' backward spring, and in-conscqueilce fodder makes, were much be-low-the average quantity. Canadian adyjc.es report a poor-icondition fi'dft'cattlo'/Vbratigiit ■about by winter, .ahd'-fewer-milk--ing cows oT'feod' having caused a large number to bo slaughtered. Stocks of- last season's English cheese are generally reported to be about tho same' as. last; year, with prices Bs. to'lOs. 'lower for. Cheddar. There was- a"' larger • quantity made, but.the increased' supply'has been consumed. '

; Butter.—-Prices' have ' been' -much above the average for, tho tiriie of year, caused chiefly by the smaller arrivals of Colonial and Siberian, and the. small stocks' in cold stores in England. The cold backward season has seriously, affected the 'April and May. makes of butteri in Ireland, owing to the flow of milk being exceptionally small. Tho demand has been only .moderate for tho entire month, buyers - adopting a hand-to-mouth policy, 'fearing' i slump in prices, which ranged from 7s. to 14s. higher than for the corresponding time; last year. V Canada, whence wo used .to receivc large supplies, finds her homo trade taking. all the butter she has manufactured since the opening of the new season, at prices which put her, out of the English rmarket; and butter shippers report that they do not think they will have much for export again this >year their largely increased ' population in tho Nest taking the supply from' Ontario, and Quebec, which a few years back was exported to England."; . •