MR. McCALLUM'S REPORT ON DAIRY FACTORIES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8274, 21 September 1888, Page 3

MR. McCALLUM'S REPORT ON DAIRY FACTORIES.

Tub report on dmry fuctorit a in Npw Zealand, by Mr McCullom, " toactlier with other papers on the subject," has been issued. It noDsists, besides other things, cf official correspondence between the Agent-General and the Government concerning the London markets nnd Uip requirements of importers in England. Printed on the cover are the words, "to be obtnined free at any Land Office," and 10,000 copies are ordeted for disvribotion. Tbei preface is written by the Hon. Mr Richardson, and gives pron inence loeom° useful suggestions. (1) The requisite points to be considered, with a view to tho duo development of our dairy industry, are the application of ibe co-operative sy3tem iv all onr factories, so as to insure the whole seapon's milk coming into the factory; (2) butter Hhould be uniform in colour, flavour, and textulo, in packages of 701bs ; (3) from the time of packing to its delivery in tl o London warehouses a temperature of 40 degrees should as nearly an possible bo maintained, any depart aro from this rule entnilinp deterioration in texture ami flavour, nn I consequently in price. Mr MoOallum's contribution to tl.is compilation is a record of his observation!* during his lecnrinz tour, which ate interesting to the localities he notices. The letttrs from the Agent-General onif> down to the dafe of the departure of tho Kuikourn, from En? land, ro that they contuin the latest information on the buKj ct. A Royal Commission has reported on the subject of bniUr and oheese making in England, recomrneurling tho application of tbo " factory s> stem " to tho preparation of those articles for the market as conttadistinguitihed from that of isolated mi ipulntion by individual producers. The commission reco-i nund tho establishment of Agricultural Colle/r p, and they cito tho fact that there are a dozen suth colleges in Germany, four each colleges with affiliated schools in Fiance, and in Belgium one with brunch school?, all supported by tho State. Jn tho seven prairie States of Arceiicn, fivo million cows oro milked twice a ('ay. Io«a produced annnully forty million pounds of butter, Chicago 130 million pounds oC buttir, dnd 50,000 ,000 ib of cheese, but still the supply of butter to tho Amcricuu tnaiket is not sufficient. 1,250,000cwt of clieesi! wnsst'ijl to the. English market 8 fro'ii Canada nnrl Iho ytates lost jcar. Thfi tfpiimony thnughout this book is that New ZriilimH enn produce better cheese and bettfr butter tbon either of these countries if her agricultural population will take the trouble to leara how it can be done, and doit.

I Tho following figures show tbat tbe European market is not adequately supplied. Europe produces 650,000 tons of butter, and consumes 681,000 tons. The United States and Canada produce 400,000 tons, and cousumo 370,000 tons. The only export worth mention comes from Cnnnda. Ah to the butter market in the United Kingdom, tho annual produce is only 90,000 tons, while the annual consumption exoseds 205,000 tons "It is simply a q-ieation," Professor Lou£ further writes to the Agent-General, " oE knowing how to doit, and then the duiry industry will bo a most profitable business in New Z aland." There is here a lettor from Messrs Mills Brothers, the extensive butter factors, of Gracechurch-streot, to the Ajrent General, which refers in exprt6s terms to Auckland. They say :— " We understand that butter is received from Auckland packed in Bpocially prepared cas"B, enamelled inside, which aro costly, and are suppossd to be returned to the colony, I but this is impossible, ag the ensea ure Bold 1 with the butter, and it would be most difficult to collect the peckages when empty. Our broker states that this patent box is of no advantage, as tbe butter comes quite as well in keus, if properly packed. Tho weight should be 60 to 701bi. The kegs should not be filled, hut half an inch left all round between the butter and the key. When fastened a hole should be made and pickle (strong brine) poured in until the keg is full." Several London firms sends letttrs of a similar character. All these documents manifest a great interest in this subject, a circumstance w hich explains the visit of such men ap Mr Meadows to this colony. Mr Meadows himself is a contributor to this pamphlet.