BUTTER AND CHEESE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 181, 27 April 1920, Page 7

BUTTER AND CHEESE

REDUCED DANISH COMPETITION

SOME INTERESTING REMARKS

Danish' competition in the butter and cheese markets is not likely to increase, •according to Captain W. R. Birks, of tho New South Wales Department of Agriculture. Captain Birks, who was a member of the Australian Expeditionary Force, has recontly made a tour of Scandinavia and North America, and he is now passing" through New Zealand on his way to Sydney.. ■ Tho Danish: production of butter and cheese declined greatly during tho war, said Captain Birks yesterday, The high price of fodder and the shortage of manures were factors in bringing about this result, The Danish farmeri developed other branches of production, dnd they are 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 fresli milk. Much land ,is being devoted to the growing of | seeds, such as carrot, cabbage, and sugarbeet, and this industry is proving far more profitable than dairying. The delivery of fresh milk in London is a sceino that is being undertaken by Danish farmers. Various processes for keeping tho 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 the British market in large quantities, and get ft better price than butter or cheese factories would be able to pay. The extension of this scheme will reduce still further Danish competition with New Zealand dairy produce. . , Captain Birks was impressed by tho fact that tho successful intensive farming of Denmark is based on agricultural education. A high standard of knowledge is required of every person engaged pn the land. A farm labourer is not considered to be qualified unless he has studied at an agricultural school, and tho men employed in the higher grades of farm work aro experts who hnvo kept I abreast of practical experiment- and scientific research.