The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1884. DAIRY FACTORIES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1264, 13 November 1884, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1884. DAIRY FACTORIES.

The report of Mr u. Bowron, Inspector of Dairy Factories, presented to Parliament is an interesting document. It contains information of all the dairy lactones in New Zealand, and is of a most encouraging character. At Kdendale a James Milne averaged £7 10s per cow of 80 cows, besides rearing calves and supplying the family with mi k, and the cows were not good. Other settlers averaged from £6 10s to £8 per cow. There were 125,408 gallons milk manufactured into cheese, which yielded 129,2251bs of cheese, and 9129 gallons of milk yielded 32031bs of butter. At Weston, near Oatnaru, operations were carried on all the winter. 2752 gallons of milk, delivered at the factory between the 12th of May nnd 14th of June, yielded 821011)3 of cheese, but the percentage of creaii was 10 to 16 degree?. In connection with this we may say that we see no reason why farmers in this district should not try to keep the factory going during the winter months. If it can be done in Oamaru it can be done here, and as grain growing u; not what it used to be farmers might very well consider whether it would not be worth their while to pay more attention to the supply of milk to the dairy factory. They get the top price of New Zealand for their milk in the local factories, and if they attended better to it they would find it profitable. Mr Bowron refers to incidents that might be very well taken notice of. He says "ol all the factories in England connected with dairy produce those which condense milk are the most prosperous," Now, here is a matter upon which the Directors of our dairy factories might very well make inquiries. once knew a private individual who had made a fortune out of condensing mi'k in the Old Country, and there is no reason at all why people should not make it a success heie. The matter is worth inquiring into, an I we hrpe thnt it will be taken up. There were 14 factorifP in N pw Zealand last year, and mere will be 23 factories this ye r After refering to the employment the dairies give, the report goes on to

say : ' " About one thing there can be no two opinions : England is the market for the • largest quantity of New Zealand dairy ; produce. The first point is to ascertain what size and quality will meet the requirements of the British market, then the factories must bend all their energies in that direction. The first is Cheddar, the size from 601 b to 100. b weight. Then 1 the double Gloucester ; this is a thin cheese, 4jf inches thick, 15 inches over. This class of cheese should be made at the beginning of the season ; when about eight weeks' old they could be shipped off. The next is Leicester. I have cards now from three large Leicester cheese factors who would be glad of consignments. One has shown his sincerity and faith in the scheme by sending out six Leicester vats to mould and press the cheese in. These I have sent to Ashbuvton Factory by way of a beginning. The moulds or pressing vats are 6 inches deep and 17 inches over. This cheese will not be more than 4h inches deep when properly pressed, and the weight will be about 361 b. There are ether classes which would sell, but these are the best. We need one factory where prime Stilton would be made, and these would all be sold in the colony." Mr Bowron next points out the absolute necessity of having well trained managers in thepe factories, and suggests that the Government should start a farm for training, which, he says, would pay for itself. Ho then shows by figures that the milk of one , cow will yield more profit, to the farmer than a bullock after rearing him for \fi>nr years ; and also that a gallon of milk produces more than lib of cheese. He quotes several instances, hut the highest yield is that of the I'emuka factory, which produced cheese to I the gallon of milk. As regards the ; prospects ot dairy factories, he says : "In looking at the operations of the last season, and the reports published, a superficial reader would consider that the outlook for the future is not bright. We must not close our eyes to the fact that every human enterprise at the commencement has unforeseen difficulties to contend with and overcome. Nor would it be difficult to show that this was the case with cheese and butter factories in I America and England ; and it is clear that ]sj"ew Zealand factories are not exempt from the common rule—that is, having to pay for your experience. A number of factories have been erected without proper knowledge of what would bo required, and this involves considerable loss, b'irst, the best market, is to be found out j then, manufacture, the quality and mould, and the cheese most adapted to the said market. Many changes will have to be made this year, for London is our principal market, and small lump cheeses, suitable for colonial purposes are not the cheese for London. Cheeses from 70!b to 891 b are most suitable. Buildings erected I without mature consideration and inex- / perienced managers are certain to involve considerable loss." Ho winils \3p his report by referring to (lie advisability of starting butter factories as follows : " Butter factories, where only butter is made, have yet to bo tested ; but three are nearly ready to commence operations, and a fourth is progressing Makiho, nearFeilding : Palmerston North; and Whatawhata, Waikato. For many reasons, butter factories will be found a, great convenience and a benefit in localities where the farm-holdings are small and capital difficult to obtaiu. A small building with a cool cellar is all that

ii 3 required ; the plant and convenient premises may be procured for about £6OO. A factory large enough to take 800 gallons of milk may be erected for considerably less, if horse or water-powpc is substituted in the place of steam. No doubt steam is the best for working the cream-separator. One gnv.t ! vs;,i:;,;,' butter factories have over those for making cheese only, is that the same amount of skill and experience is not required, and that the butter when made is at once ready for market. Another advantage in connection with butter-making is that, both in the colony and abroad, remunerative prices im.y be obtained for the superior qualities which the factories cannot fail to make. Sound, well-made butter, in London, never remains on hand unsold. Good brands are invariably sold to arrive ; and there are, at all times and seasons in the year, thousands of anxious buyers, and never enough to supply the ever-increasing demand. Granted that the present returns for New Zealand butter from London and elsewhere are not nattering, it must be remembered that thousands of firkins were sent away which could not be sold at any price in the colonial markets. Stale, inferior butter, nine months old, was not fit for any market, much less London. Send only sound, newly-made butter, such as the factories will turn out, and good remunerative prices will be returned, and a demand will grow rapidly which New Zealand will not be able to supply. The residents of the upper part of Waitohi might wel) consider whether such a factory as this would suit them, On the whole the report contaius a great deal of information, and is very interesting to those engaged in farming.