THE BUTTER MARKET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 71, 19 March 1912, Page 4

THE BUTTER MARKET.

The London “Commercial Record,” of February 9th, remarks that many absurd statements had been appearing in the public press with regard to the high prices ruling for butter. The present rates for butter are about 25s per cwt. above last year, and the cause is due solely to the great drought of last year, which prevailed all over Western Europe, and besides destroying the pastures, also seriously restricting the supply of feed. Farmers were thus confronted by a most serious problem, and having much below the normal supply of fodder to last through the winter, did not hesitate to reduce the number of their cows. For months past there has been a steady diminnation in the arrival of butter in London, these reaching serious proportions in December, when the deficiency in imports was over 5000 tons below the previous year. Also the home supply of butter has been much below the normal for many months. Tims the high prices are warranted by prevailing shortage almost everywhere. Of course the sale of margarine has much increased, but the demand for butter has been fairly good considering the high prices. These will probably continue to rule above the normal until April, as the market cannot get any relief until the spring.