THE DAIRY PRODUCE JUDGES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 3 December 1880, Page 2

THE DAIRY PRODUCE JUDGES.

Below we give the letter written by the gentlemen who apted as judges in the dairy produce olass at the late Oamaru show. Jt was addressed to the Secretary of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association, with a request that it should be published, but was not deemed worthy of such distinction by a majority of the Committee of the Association';— "J. Church, Esq., "Secretary North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

. " Dear Sir, —As we had not the pleasure ' of meeting your Directors prior to leaving ' Oamaru, it appears to us that it would only be right to stat§ in writing what we would have desired, to say in reference to the exhibits submitted for our judgment, and, if they approve, to make our remarks known to tlie exhibitors and to others who may intend to become so in future years, as success in the production of butter and cheese and similar manufactures means better prices. The interests of t'ho merchant and shopkeeper utq allied with those of the producers, inasmuch as the former have to find a market for the products of the latter, and unless these are good, the prices cannot be obtained that will pay, hence the necessity for improvement. The supply is increasing faster than the consumption, consequently we have to send the surplus our shores for a market, and unless it is made better than hitherto, it is useless, as we cannot compete on equal terms with the products of other places where more care and skill have been exercised. But we feel assured that it can be done if only our dairymaids can be inspired with the determination to attain perfection. We apprehend that these annual shows are to them really qollegiate examitions where they oome forward to secure prices in the same manner; and if they only look at it in the same light, they will oompete next year with a firm determination not to go back « plucked,' but, if not able to take first honors, at least they will secure second or third, or, way be, honorable mention. W§ are persuaded they can do it, Hverything is in their favor in your district. When we saw your magnificent pasture and the splendid display of stook on your show ground, you can imagine our disappointment when shown the meagre exhibition of dairy produce, and that little far from being as good as it should be. The pasture is there, and the stock is also there, and so are the ' blooming lassies' who can do it, if they will. We wished that we could have seen the dairies from whence the exhibits came. We believe we would in many cases have found the fault there, In every dairy there should be a thermometer, and the temperature should be kept up to the proper standard always. Clear, pure air should also circulate fyeely, this being as necessary in the milk-house as in the rooms of a private house. Nothing should be allowed to remain in the milk-house which gives off any smell or flavor, as milk or cream give off nothing injurious to other articles, but they are themselves | peculiarly sensitive and will take harm from anything surrounding them, and so will butter. One great cause of inferior butter arises from ignorance of this fact; indeed we are pretty sure of it, as one of the plates of fancy butter was surrounded by flowers all giving off scent, and not at all requisite or desirable aa butter flavoring- . In most of the exhibits we detected ; ths swell of cream too much soured previous to. churning. The remarkß apply to •

fresh and powdered butter. Tho salt butter in most cases suffer from tho same cause, but in a far greater degroc, and wo think from bad salt, and insufficient pickle over.it to exclude the air. " With regard to the cheese, tho makers must try, try, and try again, and should not be discouraged because we did not consider it right to give any of tho exhibits a first prize, as we thought if wo had done so they might never try to improve on that exhibited. Our Taieri and Peninsula cheese makers have improved very' much - within the last few years, mainly, we think, because they find they have to compete with the ' Akaroa' makers in this market. Let yours do likewise, and take our award in the spirit it was given. " And now, respecting the bacon and hams, we are sorry for the exhibitors. They could and should have shown us' better; indeed, one of them let us B«e hams and bacon cut that were really worthy of a prize, while those exhibited were not. Certainly, some of the hams and bacon were beautiful to look at, but we have seen wooden hams in our travels. It was not external appearances we were called on to judge only. We cut the best of each exhibit, and the result was not in their favor. They were not cured—disappointing to the judges, and also to tho exhibitors. If in future the exhibitor would carefully know how the pig was fed and is killed in season, he would be better able to cure properly what ho wanted to exhibit; and let him be sure to liavo it done five or six months before tho Show takes place. " In alluding previously to fancy butter, we omitted to mention that we required it to be not only ornamental, but 1 iscful aa butter. If ornament is only required, let it be made of wax, and let the exhibitors know in time—We aro, &c. " The Judges."'