BUTTER AND CHEESE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16725, 28 April 1920, Page 7

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

REDUCED DANISH COMPETITION. Danish competition in the butler and cheese mai'Kots is not hkely to increase, according to Captain Vv. R. Birlts, ot the Now .South Mules Department ot Agriculture. Captain Birks, who was a member of the Australian Expeditionary Eorc-e, has recently, made a tour Of Scandinavia and North America, and he is now passing through New Zealand on his way to Sydney. The Danish production of butter and cheese declined greatly- during the war, said Captain BirKs on Morfday. The high price of fodder and the shortage of manures were factors in bringing about tills result. The Danish farmers developed other branches of production, and they arc not tending now to concentrate again on butter and cheese. They are selling increasing quantities of dried and condensed milk, and They are making important experiments in the development of a great trade in fresh milk. Much land is being devoted to the growing of seeds, and this industry is proving far more profitable than dairying. The delivery of fresh milk in London is a scheme that is being undertaken by Danish farmers. Various processes for keeping the milk sweet during the period required for conveyance from the farms to the London depots have been tested, and much success has attended a process of sterilisation by heat and pressure. The Danes believe that they can put fresh milk into tho British market in large quantities, and get a hotter price than butter or cheese factories would be able to pay-. Tho extension of this scheme will reduce still further Danish competition with New Zealand dairy produce. Captain Birks was impressed hy tho fact _ that the successful intensive farming of Denmark is based on agricultural education. A high standard of knowledge is required of every- person engaged on the land. A farm labourer is not considered to be qualified unless ho has studied at an agricultural school, and tho men employed in tho higher grades of farm work are exports who have kept abreast of practical experiment and scientific research.