THE RURAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 582, 5 July 1913, Page 2

THE RURAL WORLD.

BUTTER BLENDING. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S VIEWS. The subject of butter-blending has assumed of late a very great degree of prominence in the trade, 30 much so that the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie has given the matter very careful consideration. New Zealand producers who are affected by this process will read with interest the following interview with the High Commissioner—^

"There can be no doubt," b*> said, "that, properly carried out, the piocea ■ of blending butters is a quite legitimate process, and butter so manipulated must conform to the Government regulations, in so far that it must not contain more than 16 pet cent, of moisture. No doubt the process of blendint? butters has been forced upon the provision dealers, owing to the fact that there is such a quantity of butter coming irregularly" from different parts of the world to the London market.

"To enable t||e provision merchant to supply his customers with a regular article from week to week, and year in and year out, it has been necessary for him to blend certain butters together to enable him to supply a uniform article at a uniform price all the year round, and an article to suit the taste of customers.

"It is claimed that trading conditions in the United Kingdom are such as to make it unreasonable to expect the retail ;r to sell the various colonial and Continental butters under their own names, owing to the great variety which comes to hand from time to time, and the irregularity of the supply. Although looking at it from the colonial producer's point of view, one naturally expects to see bis produce sold for what it is. But it is contended that it is also absolutely necessary to look at this matter from the retailer's point of view. If the dominions beyond the seas and Continental butter-producing countries could supply the provision dealer of the United Kngdom with a uniform quality of butter in uniform quantities all the year round, such as the Danes are able to do, there would be much more likelihood uf the various butterj being sold under the designation of the country of origin. "With reference to milk-blended butter, this produce is not regarded in the sense of' a puts commercial butter, and such butter las to he sold for what it is The regulations allow that such mixtures may contain 2 per cent, of moisture, but this is a diminishing trade." ALLEGED MANIPULATION.

"With regard to the alleged fraudulent manipulation of Australian butters, that is a matter. which Sir George Reid and Sir John. Taverner have in band, and on which I am not in a position to offer an opinion. But Ihave evidence that ceitain New Zealand butters have been retailed by producers as the 'best Dorset ' although I am not prepared to state that this is a general practice. Refer ring again to the blending of butter, toa certain extent tbßt is beneficial to countries Eupplying butter not of quality, as it enables a very large quantity of secondary butter to be sold at reasonable prices after haying been blended with a certain proportion of high-grade buttery Were it not for this blending process producers of secondary butters would have to accept a very much lower price for their produce than they do at the present time. In fact, with the great strides that margarine is making, it is reasonable to suppose that in a measurable space of time it will he almost impossible for grocers to sell butter -of a secondary quality. NEED N FOR HIGH GRADE ARTICLE. / "To put the whole [matter in a nutshell, it is necessary for the producers of colonial butters to strain every nerve tp supply an article of high grade quality. That is, in my opinion,, the best way to combat Continental and margarine competition, and the producers can then rest assured that they will always receive the best market values for their produce. In view of what I have stated, it is essential for our New Zealand producers to aim at supplying only the highest grade butters. They can do it. In the total of their output they are doing it now. If blending continues here, then high grade butters wre used for working off inferior butters and will fetch good prices. More important Btill, our butter will, I think, rise nearer to first place, and it would, in my opinion, rise to first place were it possible for producers eo to organise as to send their supplies more through established channels for a greater part of the year than iB now the case. Candour requires me to say that unfortunately in some districts in New Zealand there is a slackening of attention to details, whicb can and must be rectified." TILLAGE IS MANURE. The old maxim that "tillage is manure" has been shown to be true at Cornell University farm, U.S.A., wfcere experiments were made in that direction. Some plotß of potatoes were cultivated as many as eight times, and in every case the greater number of times the plants were cultivated the larger the yields compared with plots on which fewer cultivations were given. The level culture was better than hilling. Two lots, cultivated eight times, left per fectly level through the season, produced at the rate of 384 bushels and 37 bushels per acre, and three lots, cultivated five times, produced 349 bushels, 325 bushels, and 288 bushels, the last lot being hilled at the final cultivation. The different varieties used showed that the same results could not be expected from air of them, hut sufficient evidence was secured to demonstrate that level culti vation, and keeping the ground loose, | were important matters in growing | potatoes. Some lota that were cultivated only three times showed a large falling off in yield.

GIVE YOUR STOCK A SHOW

it isn't the fault of your stock if they fail to make a profit for you. I They live up to their opportunities. How few men do. If the pig fails to grow it is because you will not let him! If the calf gets potbellied, it is not his fault. If the colt is wild and shy, is it his fault or yours? If the lamb is a scabby, ticky. good-for-nothing specimen, don't blame the lamb. If the chickens mope around with wings trailing, sit in judgment on their keeper. The pig will use every opportunity for growth you offer. See how quickly he finds and uses a hole in the fence so he can get greener pasture. The calf will grow into a prjme baby beef or fine dairy cow if you giv6 it the opportunity. The colt will be fearless and safe if you introduce him sensibly to all sortß of peculiar noises and sights. Give him the opportunity to see the world while yet a young ster. The lamb will be a frisky ball of wool and mutton if you help him get rid of the things that pester him. Give him a fair show. The chicks will grow into morning crows and cackles in a short time if they have a decent place to live in. and are given an oportunity to develop. Create opportunities for the stock that are dependent upon you. Give them a fair show, and they will show you what nature does with an opportunity. —Farm .and Home.