DAIRYING SEASON.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 599, 30 August 1909, Page 10

DAIRYING SEASON.

N.Z. LOAM COMPANY'S REVIEW. GOOD, PROSPECTS". "[ A copy of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's annual review of tho Australasian dairying season has been forwarded to us, together with a brief forecast of the future. The report states as follows: — . ' ..•■-.■ Uutter.—ln reviewing the course of the market during tho past season, perhaps tho most noteworthy feature is to be found in the almost continual decline in prices, a state of affairs mainly to be attributed to tho fact that in the faco of increased, supplies an irregular and, at times, abnormally restricted demand prevailed. . So far as Australia is concerned, consequent upon tho unfavourable season experienced in most j parts of the Commonwealth; shipments thonce showed a marked falling off, but, on tlic other hand, from New Zoalnnd, supplies wero upon a considerably augmented scale, while- increased quantities also wero received from Denmark and Siberia. Values for colonial, for tho most part, moved in sympathy with other descriptions. The fluctuations of the market in. cheese _and butter from week to week are shown in a table annexed to the report. ~. •. , • >,;- Cheese.—The movements of the market for tkis article- were in direct opposition to

that for butter, prices almost uninterruptedly advancing, Canadian which opened at 575; to 093. per cwt. touching 70s.'toward the close of the season, while up to 635. per cwt. was realised for New Zealand. Condition and Quality.—Generally speaking, tho quality of Australian butter was not up to tho standard of former years, though many of the noted brands maintained their 'reputations for all-round excellence. In the case of New. Zealand, tho quality in many instances might have been better, the defect' of "fishiness"' being widely nianifost. A feature calling for special comment was tho oxcessivc amount of added moisture present in most of .the butter received (Inving tho season from New Zealand. Tho practico of loading butter with, water cannot too strongly bo deprecated, and the adoption, of a maximum limit of 12 per cent, to 13 per cent, of moisture, , both in Australia and tho Dominion would. ,we feel assured, be in tho best interests of all Concerned. The dry character of Australasian butter in the past has been particularly appreciated' by tho trade, and a lowering. of tho standard in this direction cannot but tend adversely, to aifect prices, and to come extent curtail tho outlets for disposal. ■

In cheese the quality for tho most part pro-ved to bo very pleasing , , until tho Juno arrivals, of which a large proportion came to hand heated and in a< soft condition. Prospects for Next far as we can judge, there seems good reason to anticipate that the new season's butter and cheese will arrive to good markets, in view of the fact that there are no accumulations of old stock on this side, while the quantities arriving, week .by week, from tho various centres "are going into consumption as soon as available.