COUNTRY INDUSTRIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 6

COUNTRY INDUSTRIES.

The agricultural journals in the colonies have for years persistently collated and published all available information connected with the reformed systems of dairy farming prevailing in Europe and America with the view to impress on colonial farmers the importance of the subject, and the necessity that they must adapt their practices to the requirements of the age if they desire to benefit by one of the most profitable branches of the farming industries. Until recently these writings and republications received but little attention — but within the last eight months the fortunes of the numerous shipments of batter and cheese from Australasia to the Home markets have been carefully noted, and with salutary effect. These exportation have afforded convincing proof that the market for best qualities of butter and cheese is practically unlimited, while for inferior products no profitable

outlet can be found. Apart, however, from the results of the shipments referred to, it Is an' indisputable fact that throughout the dull times those farmers Who have placed considerable reliance on their dairy products, and because of specialties in management have established reputations in local markets, have done much better than those who have relied on the ordinary resources of the farmgrain growing and occasional stock rearing. The possibility of developing an immense export trade in butter and cheese is now so well recognised, and the conditions necessary so widely understood, that prejudices have been discarded, and farmers and their families are. now disposed -to accept information if conveyed to them, in a practical form. From some experience of the class we have no hesitation in declaring our absolute want of faith in either the utility of bald lectures on dairy farming without the practical accompaniments, or in pamphlets on the subject. If information is to be disseminated among, and appreciated by, a homely class, it must be practically illustrated, as has been done in the United Kingdom.

The opinion, however, widely prevails that only by the establishment and through the operations of dairy factories can the dairy industries of the colony be developed and established on a sound basis. Now factories have not been invariable successes, and some of the reasons why will be apparent from the following abridged conditions of agreement drafted by the promoters of a factory in England : — It is first pointed oat that to be successful it is indispensable that the feeding and general treatment of the cows should be prescribed. Badly drained and foul pasturage, scanty and -impure water, and the profuse use of roots for feeding purposes were to be prohibited, and it is remarked that the flavour and general good quality of butter and cheese ara materially influenced by the herbage characteristic of different districts, and still more seriously influenced by the presence of noxious weeds or sour grasses. The supplies of milk, cream, or butter — for the company proposed to purchase the latter also — were to be forwarded according to a properly signed agreement embracing the necessary regulations for the proper feeding of the cows, cleanliness of the premises, and proper treatment of the milk, cream, &c. Milk only from healthy cows would be accepted, and must be refrigerated immediately on being drawn from the cows. On ' delivery at the factory a fair sample from each supply would be taken for testing purposes, and its temperature, specific gravity, and contents in milk solids and butter fats duly recorded as a check on imperfeot refrigeration at the farm and any possible cases of adulteration with water or slim milk or both. A very important advantage — the promoters of the company say — gained by frequent and regular testing consists in the furnishing of the requisite data for fixing the money value of the milk received from each respective farm, according to the feeding and quality of the cow» ( and in justice to the producer and purchasers alike. The milk 'would on delivery be weighed, 10}lb being allowed to eacn imperial gallon; and it is affirmed that " weighing is much more convenient, satisfactory, and exact than measuring the milk» inasmuch as the butter or cheese prodnc« being reckoned in pounds, the whole can b» calculated under one denomination in prelf ference to the milk being reckoned* in gallons and its produce in pounds."' The regulations for the receipt at thai factory of cream are that it will be* received from the farmer, twice or' thrice weekly, and it is provided by agree. £ xnent that' .it shall be raised by a preJf scribed system and in properly ventilated! milk rooms devoted exclusively to the one 4*4 * purpose, and from which all sabstanceg^ which may impart foreign fiavonrs are rigor|| ously excluded. On arrival at the factory *j sample is taken of each delivery of creaof for conversion into butter in a test chnrrf specially constructed for the purpose, and by; means of which the butter contents and; money value of the cream from each fartf is determined and paid for accordingly In other instances, where the farms arl situated at a greater distance from' th* factory, and where it is desired tQ retain both skim and butter-milk tat the farm for pig feeding or other purpose^ arrangements are made for the supply q( butter in place of milk and cream, in which' case it is provided that the cream from whiolt such butter is produced shall be raised on' the system previously described, and.thj butter itself churned, washed, salted, and worked by the special method prescribed bjr the factory authorities, and as frequently v necessary under the personal supervision ora the manager or his deputy. The butter" m then sent to the factory in bulk in suitable packages, to be graded and priced according! to its quality in regard to flavour, textnnra colour, &0., and subsequently made up into! shapes and marketed. 4|