FARM AMD STATION. THE DAIRY ISDrSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2471, 24 July 1901, Page 6

FARM AMD STATION. THE DAIRY ISDrSTRY.

The importance of the dairy industry must be our plea for still further dealing with several matters which were brought into prominence during the currency of the Winter show. The main purpose of that show is to bring together for comparison the best products of the colony; and the educational value of such a show as that recently held under the auspices of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society can hardly be estimated. There were several points raised by the Hon Mr Duncan, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, which call for comment. He pointed out that growing wheat at 2s Id to 2s 3d a bushel would not pay, and the farmers would have to devote more attention to butter and cheese. The rapid strides the dairy industry has made of late x®*** makes

the observation of the Minister of Lands all the more cogent, and if the farmers generally paid a little more attention to the production of butter and cheese than to the soil-exhausting processes of grain-growing the colony would undoubtedly continue to maintain its flourishing condition. The enrichment of the soil which nnxst follow as a corollary of the dairy industry is one of the most substantial assets a fanner can secure for himself. A comparatively small area brought into a high state of cultivation as a dairy farm is worth a good deal more to the working farmer than a large area producing less than half its latent capacity. By a proper system of cultivation it is possible to largely increase the dairying areas of the colony, and we underhand, as the result of discussions at the Daily Conference, a j movement is on foot to establish a number of new dairy factories in Canterbury, where dairying has not developed to anything like the same extent as in Otago and Southland. Mr Duncan said he believed that pa=-toral-ists and agriculturists were very largely responsible for keeping the colony in a nourishing state, and there was not an export from New Zealand outside the produce of the land worthy the name. We are pleased to note that the Minister professes the intention of assisting the agricultural and pastoral industries as much as possible. The very fine exhibits of butter and cheese at the Winter show attracted a considerable amount of attention among dairymen and all interested in the industry who visited the show. Both North and South Islands were 1 liberally represented, and the points awarded by the jvidges show how remarkably close the quality was in some cases. When the judges had to discriminate between first and second prize for butter by half a point out of a possible 1 00 the remarkable uniformity of the product becomes apparent. The same thing applies to cheese, for there, was only half a " point between the exhibits that were awarded second and third prizes respectively, although the exhibits came from- different factories. The reports of the judges on butter and cheese are worthy the most careful study by dairymen, for. excellent though the quality of our cheese and butter undoubtedly is, yet every fault must be most carefully guarded I against to ensure that New Zealand produce will successfully compete with the best in the world. The best butter at the show was awarded 93 per« cent, of points, and the best cheese 97 J — a very high standard of excellence indeed; — but before the bulk of the produce of our dairy ' factories can be brought up to that standard much has yet to be accom2}lished. Referring to buttor, and speaking generally, the judges say the quality was not such as should be expected from the factories represented ; but, considering the conditions under which the North Island butter was made, the exhibits were exceptionally good. Tile chief objections were to be found in the flavour, an excess of moisture, and overworking in some cases. Now, these are faults which must be carefully watched ; and where any such deficiency is found it would be well if the butt-ermaker took a "few lessons from the factories scoring the highest places at the show. The first and » second filaces fell to the Invercar-

gill Dairy Supply Company, while the Moa Factory Company in the Taranaki district scored third. The cheese was characterised by the judges as a "' most creditable exhibit foi the colony,"' and it is very gratifying to be toid by experts that, compiling with last year, "there has been a most marked improvement in the manufacture generally."' Last year it was our unpleasant duty to comment adversely upon the general character of the cheese exhibited at the Winter show, so that it is all the more pleasing to be able to speak in a different strain now. While las>t year a number of the exhibits were pronounced to be " weak in boclv, pasty, and a shade open," this year " it would be difficult to find an open, weak, or pasty-bodied cheese among the exhibits."' The judges conclude their report by saying : " While it is only fair that managers should be commended for the improvement made in quality, it must bo remembered that the scoring of the exhibits was not high, and that there is still room for improvement." Indeed, the difference between the scoring of the Waikouaiti Dairy Factory, which was awarded 97. V points for factory-made cheese suitable for export, and the 93-?, points scored by another factory gives paint to the concluding remarks of the judges quoted above. Seme of the factories scored from 10 to 13 points lower than Waikouaiti, which leaves a considerable margin for improvement. Taken altogether, the object lesson afforded by the Winter show should not be without lasting effect upon the future of the dairy industry.