HOW SHALL WE IMPROVE OUR DAIRY PRODUCTS

Otago Witness, Issue 1754, 4 July 1885, Page 6

HOW SHALL WE IMPROVE OUR DAIRY PRODUCTS

TO FIT THEM FOR EXPORTATION?

TO TUB EDITOR. But, — In venturing to offer a few remarks on the important subject of dairy products, I with malice prepense use the interrogative mood to provoke, if possible, a keen and general discussion amongst all those who are interested, and' those who may know experimentally facts and figures which may lead to a solution of the problem. It must be plainly asserted at the outset that all the means hitherto used to stimulate butter and cheese makers to improve their manufactures to that general state of perfection which is requisite have signally failed. Before any improvement can be looked for it is essential that the self-deceit which is so inherent in human nature should be driven from the minds of those who are engaged in the art of manufacturing articles of commerce from milk, and that they be made to know and feel their need of improvement. It is true there are a few really good butter and cheese makers in various localities in the Colony, but it is equally true that the great majority of them are wofully deficient in knowledge and practice. I need not insist upon the vast importance of the dairy industry, and of its immense capabilities for extension and improvement : these are undeniable facts. Neither do I require to prove that there is no other country under the sun so suited from its position, climate, and soils as New Zealand for profitable dairying. Men of practical experience and of travelled observation bear testimony to these eligible features in this country, and in wonder at our obliviousness of its advantages, such men express surprise at the apathy and neglect of our colonists to utilise them more intelligently and extensively. In view of such facts it will be extremely reprehensible if no efforts be made to bring about a general improvement in the manufacture of dairy products, for until this be done more fully* and to a degree suited for the exigencies of an intercolonial and foreign trade, we shall not realise the profitable benefits to the Colony that are inherent in this undeveloped industry. It is not difficult to indicate why dairying should be so imperfect in the Colonies, for most of those now engaged in this work entered upon it without experience or without any preparation, and afterwards have had no opportunities of acquiring correct knowledge or methods in the art. They have simply gone on with rude and imperfect appliances, and the extent of their ability to produce dairy commodities can be estimated by their own limited experience. I think if there is anything more fitted than another for paternal legislation it is a provision for agricultural education and training, and more especially in these Colonies, where land has been given to those who took to farming as novices, and most of whom remain novices all their lives. The sons and daughters of such men should have a chance of improving on their imperfect practice. Denmark and Sweden are now reaping the good results of their dairy schools, established and supported by Government, in having their dairy productions taking the lead in the markets of the world. So celebrated are the pupijs of tho.se dairy schools, that Victoria is at tip moment importing about thirty of these dairymaids for M>nv of the larger dairies in that Colony. It is to be hoped that Mr Macandrew's proposition to have started three agricultural schools in Otago will be given effect to, and that they will, when established, give in an energetic and intelligent manner special attention to the education of the pupils in the theory and practice of dairying. If a certain number of such young people, thoroughly trained, were annually sent out throughout the country, their example would be of great benefit to their neighbours, and after a few years the good effects would be apparent in general excellence. Instead of anything of this radical nature being attempted in the past, or any effort made either by the Government or any other public bodies to educate those engaged in this pursuit, the miserably ineffective method of offering prizes at the annual shows lias been predominant. And what has been the result of this expensive and fruitless system ? The only visible effect has been that the originally good butter and cheese makers have continued good, receiving the annually recurring pay of prize-money, and sucsh/'giory as exists in beating those who are helplessly behind in the race, while the slovenly, untrained, arid ignorailt makers have made no advance. The mere looking outfit Lho results of good workmanship in the dairy sheds at the shows, and that often through a wire netting, with the irritating notice of the official in charge warning the spectators to keep from lasting, has not had, and never can have, any influence in making the momentary observers any better adepts in the work. ; The most of our agricultural associations are steeped with the dull -spirit 'of Conservatism, and will not be turned out of the well-worn ruts of' custom. Hence what 'was perhaps right years ago, but utterly wrong now, is persevered in, 'to 'the discust'of more far-seeing and enterprising men,

It is so with our dairy products, for it maM ' safely be asserted that the hundreds of pounw?) and the innumerable gifts of private prizes for a number of years have been spent in vain, in so far as tending to make the bulk of our butter and cheese fit either for home consumption or' foreign trade. This is a hard saying, but if it can be proved to be unwarranted it would delight me to have the proofs exhibited. But this is not all, for there are associations so,' hardened and blinded by prejudice and conceitthat if imperfection is hinted at by experienced and enthusiastic judges, the managers are at once "up in arms " to denounce the mw or men who would venture to assert anything derogatory to the dairymaids of their districts.' 1 Their gallantry may be admired, but their zeal in the cause of improvement is cool. Exhibitors are thus made to believe in the perfection of their handiwork, and therefore they,continue to inundate the stores with wretched stuff called by courtesy butter and cheese, to the annoyance; and loss of the storekeepers and the discomfort of the consumers ; and when h call is mado for products that will safely stand a voyage to Great Britain, or even to Sydney/ or Adelaide, they cannot be secured in anything like adequate quantities. So much is certain, that our agricultural associations have failed to prodiice any apparent good _ effect bj^lieir persevering efforts in awarding prizes for small plates and crocks of butter anil single cheeses. A gentleman who chivalrously believes in giving' assent to the demand of women for liberty to enter upon spheres of duty hitherto occupied ' by men only, has assured me that he thinks an improvement would be, made in judging such"* exhibits at shows if lady judges were employed instead of, as at present, tho dealers in these products, such as grocers and merchants. He / believes— and I agree with him— that the known successful makers should be more fully qualified than those who buy only to sell, and who cannot possibly, as a rule, have any knowledge or expe- , rienee in the making of dairy products. It would be an anomaly to see the more dealer in sheep, cattle, and horses set to judge tbeso exhibits, while the experienced breeder \J|(R"put aside ; and so from analogy it may be affirmed that the manufacturers of butter and cheese '' whether male or female-— should be preferred to those who to their other multifarious occupations are not likely to have, added the knowledge of an expert in such articles. But with all respect to my friend who has seriously made the suggestion, it does not appear how it will * affect in any way my contention that the prize system hitherto carried out is not the, way to accomplish the solution of the question proposed. It was anticipated with some degree of hopefulness that the establishment' of dairy-factories "* would have had a good effect in developing the dairy industry, and in generally improving the quality of dairy products, but* the expectation has not been realised to any great extent ., Some of the factories * have done fairly well in making farmers in suitable localities devote more of their land to grazing for dairy cows, in m producing cheese of a quality equal to some of the best from private dairies, and, after allowing a remunerative price to the farmer for his milk, in yielding a moderate profit to the share- \ holders. The grand principle of co-operative dairying has, however, neither.been ' adopted so generally as could be desired, nor has it, where adopted, been practically carried out on those lines that are essential to success. I will endea- /• your to indicate the direction^ in which they have failed. From some cause^-whether of indifference or poverty I know not — the farmers have not wholly taken up the shares' of the companies started in their districts, but have weakly allowed themselves to be helped by outside shareholders having no further interest in ■ the concern than an expected dividend on their capital advanced, or, it may be, in many cases from a desire ' to promote what they think a desirable object. Not content, however, with this foreign assistance, they have insisted, from motives of greed or unbelief in the' ultimate profit's, on being paid a higher price per gallon for their milk than was justified^ if any regard was to be given to the interests of the noncontributing shareholders. Generally speaking, the profits have been wholly, absorbed by the farmers in this primary payment, and the outside shareholders naturally get tired with their philanthropic efforts when they see no prospect of receiving any interest on their capital. Their withdrawal from the companies means in many instances the collapse of the factories. I have "* before, through other mediums, expressed my conviction that this false principle of outside financial help was essentially the weak point in the factory system of New Zealand, and a littlo <■ longer observation has confirmed , me in the opinion that unless the farmers can muster courage enough and can raise sufficient capital to establish and conduct factories on purely cooperative principles, this country will wait a long H time before it witnesses those pre-eminently suitable means for the full and successful development of the dairy industry, as is seen in America so universally established. The New Zealand factories have hitherto mostly confined, their operations to cheese-making, and this fact J is also anothe* reason, for the non-sucpess qf the system. The manufacture of cheese can pnly be carried on for a part of the year — at least it is so stated— and consequently the factory is closed, and np milk is received for tbp remainder of the year. The farmers who have niadp , arrangements to keep a certain number of cpws. are forced to utilise their milk in the best way they can during this close period, and this they object to, as in joining the factory they natur rally anticipated to be wholly freed from the^ trouble and anxiety of the work of dairying,^ and yet by the cjosing qf the factory they are compelled to take it up for a portiomytf^he f year. This objectionable feature woulo^Fre? moved if factory management was to include butter-making, to be specially carried qn after the cheese-making time of closing came round. There are abundant proofs that for bp,tb, pro T ducts there are available markets at remunera? tive prices, if so be theso products are of good keeping quality. Moreover, in some localities there are other causes at work producing failure. The Sabbatarian feelings of the directors are militating against the smooth working of factories, inasmuch as the non-reception of the milk on Sundays throws upon farmers the onus of working up twenty-four hours' milk in any way they think proper, and this it must be apparent is singularly inconvenient, and must be unremunerative. I maintain therefore that until factories are prepared to take milk all the year through and every day in the year (Sundays included), they will not^meet with the necessary support of dairy farmers, and so again the -Colony will lose the acknowledged benefits of 'a general 'factory systenV'of o^airynjgBut yet there is another change to m m'Me against the management of dairy factories in New Zealand, and,' although' left to 'the' last, 'it is not the least important. There has ndt bee"n sufficient care exercised in the selection and appointment of the working managers. Many < men' have been placed in positions requiring the \ most intimate knowledge of the chemical constituente of ririlk, ! and the most" experienced "• . •<>< ■' ..-,■'■' . ..,-) .:.. .i •> • t- .•;, .>.

ability in the derails of working it into marketable articles, who have had neither ot such qualifications, but who have 'been allowed to experiment and gain knowledge at the expense of shareholders, and to the serious detriment of the reputation of the factory system. I know what I have written is true of some factories, and it may be assumed is true of factories in other parts where we notice failure and complaints. Tnstead of such a haphazard mode of engaging managers, for an industry new to the country, and on the first success ot which its future general adoption depended, there ought to have been the most intense investigation into the qualifications of the applicants, so that their productions, from the superiority of quality and appearance, would have justified the eulogiums passed on the factory system wherever it has fairly been tried. Then there is more, for even if a few only of fully qualified experts had been introduced from America or elsewhere, they would have been capable of instructing and training a large number of young men and maidens in the art of dairy manufactures. Tliis blot on the system is another reason why failure has distinguished this means of improving the qualities of our dairy products. The most recent and apparently the most rational mode for bi-iuging about the muohneoded improvement in the, practice of butter aud cheese making is one that as yet has not boon tried in this Colony : I refer to the employment of itinerating dairies, fully equipped with all the plant and appliances required in the manufacture of milk into the various commercial forms, and accompanied and managed by experts, who are capable of showing the actual processes of manufacture, and also of imparting by'lectures during these operations the principles upon which they are founded, and explaining the different methods used for the different varieties of products. These itinerating dairies were at first used at some of the shows of the principal associations of Great Britain, and it was found that they created so much interest amongst farmers and others, that their use was gradually extended to travelling tours throughthe dairying districts of the Old Country. From reports in the. Home papers it i(> apparent that this original plan of dairy instruction is of the greatest value, and is also considered one ol' the most economical means for effecting general improvement. The cream separator, either that of De Laval or some other maker, is mostly made use ot, not only as being more convenient, but as being the best means of extracting the greatest percentage of cream from the milk. It has been proved that the practical result of employing a separator is that nearly 15 per cent, more cream is obtained than under .tho old method of setting milk, and the cream being sweet, and untainted from long exposuiv, makes butter of the finest quality. It does not yet appear that any of our fanners are using these separators, but in Victoria and New South Wales they are becoming great favourites. When our smaller settlers are so badly off for proper rooms for the ordinary plan of milksetting, it is strange that this dairy implement should be neglected. There is another way of creating improvement in the dairy industry that had its origin ■ in America, and is now being largely used in Great Britain. The dairy associations have set before them the task of watching over the whole range of things that go to make dairying a remunerative industry; and this means the breeding and feeding of cows, the milking, and • the innumerable operations involved in the - niauufacture of milk to suit various tastes and markets. I have in ,a brief and rough way— but long enough to exhaust the patience of your readers shown that in this Colony we have much to ■ learn before our<dairying will be what it should be— an industry second only to that of woo> growing, and indicated what is being done in other more advanced countries worthy of imitation. In conclusion, let me express a hope that others more particularly and directly interested in the subject, and more experienced and competent in the practical work of dairying, will take up the question with an tamest and persevering desire to solve it satisfactorily, so that our dairy products shall become one of our staple exports. We have need of some industry suited to the country that requires not the enervating help of any paternal Government, but one that can be profitable to all concerned, and verify the saying that hew Zealand is "a land flowing with milk and honey." — I am, &c., J. Chuhcii, Oamaru, June 26,