AGRICULTURAL CUPPINGS.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume I, Issue 23, 21 May 1892, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL CUPPINGS.

WINTER AND SPRING-.

In these times of fluctuating 1 values for nearly all kinds of agricultural pro. duce, one commodity during the winter season invariably commands remunerative prices, and is frequently in deficient supply for the wants of local markets: Butter of good quality may be bought during summer for from 6d to 8d per lb, while throughout four to five of the winter and spring months Is to Is 3d per lb is readily obtainable for anything approaching a superior article. The dairy factory and other associations, by their operations during the past summer, greatly lessened the usual over-supplies of dairy produce, but factories and private dairies alike are now vh'tnally closed, because pastures, since late in February, have been innutritious, and there was no green food pruvided for the cows to sustain the flow of milk. Ordinarily dairy farmers regard the period between Ist Septem' and Ist May as the dairying season proper, and make no efforts to prolong ifc. Rarely have farmers' cows time to calve in autumn, and what with scarcity of feed,' and the summer milking herd going dry, four months of a, dead season for dairying follow. While grass is abundant the persons engaged in supplying the towns with milk are in a position to supply many of their customers j with batter as well, and, having an established trade and connection, are enabled to shut out competition from the country districts generally. With the turn of the season the circumstances are altered, th,e town dairymen, or those who supply them with milk, are hard-pressed ,to provide the quantity needed, and extra food for the cows must be purchased at high rates. Thus another source of the fresh butter supplies is cut off at a particular season, and although occasional farmers are to be met with who' systematically order their arrangements fop winter butter-making, ifc is surprising that the business is not more'extensively engaged in,' especially by farmers who have families to provide for.' ' Fresh butter, nestly got up, can be conveyed without injury long distances in the coli season and will keep for a considerable time. An over-abundant supply need not be feared now that " packers " of prime butter for export to the neighbouring colonies are so numerous,'and therefore, practically, it will be 1 found that in futur.e, as in past winters,'a (few,, basketsful of butter will bring as mucfe money as a load of oats. Ifc is' the winter season that places the dead weight on struggling farmers' shoulders. Twenty shillings is worth more to them than thirty shillings summer money. Credits are " long-time " and have to be repaid by the sale in summer to storekeepers and hawkers of butter, cheese, poultry, and eggs, at low prices. Household necessaries, clothing, etc., have to be provided, and therefore the credits referred to, small as they usually are, have been the millstones round farmers' ' necks, whereas, a weekly income from butter would keep, them, especially small farmers,'independent. At present no branch of farming promises better results than winter butter-making, if intelligently undertaken. The local markets in this colony have for years been insufficiently supplied in winter with fresh and slightly salted butter, and the case has been alike in all the important Australian markets, the great majority of consumers having to content themselves with over-salted summer stuff, than which jams, honey, treacle, 1 etc., are infinitely preferable, and find more general acceptance by consumers. Could sapplies of fresh or slightly salted butter be steadily available, the demand for and consumption of the articles would greatly increase during the cold season.