DAIRY FARMING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2951, 16 July 1888, Page 2

DAIRY FARMING.

Between thirty and forty farmers assembled at the Temperance Hall on Saturday to meet Mr MeCallumfor tho purpose of discussing matters relating to dairy farming. The Mayor, Mr A. W. Benall, occupied the chair, and in a few brief remarks introduced the lecturer. Mr McCallum, who was well received, said it was not his intention to deliver to them a lecture but proposed instead that the subject should be treated in. a discursive form. The first object to be considered in starting a dairy factory in this or any district was the supply of milk. It would bo necessary to know whether they had sufficient cows to give a 1000 gallons milk supply daily in the height of tho season. If they could not do that ho would advise them not to stark at all as the profits were small in comparison with tho outlay, and it would take as much to work a live or six

hundred gallon supply as a thousand. Ho was only experienced in the working of South Island factories, where tlio farmers would have had a very hard time of it had it not been for tho outlet provided by this means for thoir produce. It was the custom there to pay farmers monthly at Id or ljd per gallon, the balance being paid on receipt of the returns from London. Many factories had been started, and for want of information too costly buildings had been erected. This first and unnecessarily largo outlay had never been got over, and the companies had consequently collapsed. The only thing left then was to go through tho Bankruptcy Court and start afresh. In answer to questions ho said he

would recommend that a factory for the production of both cheese aud butter would be the most profitable. The entire cost would be about £I2OO for working 1000 gallons of milk daily One of the largest and cheapest factories he knew had cost L 1827 including yards and four acres of ground. It was capable of manufacturing 1500 gallons daily, and with an extra vat could work up to 2000. Tho district aroundMasterton contained good grazing land and there was no reason qq that'scorewhy they should not start a factory. Que most important point for consideration in choosing a site was that of drainage. On the site of the factory he had just referred to there were two running streama which has a great advautageincitpryingofftliq objectionable refuse of the factory, He strqngly reoommended choosing high ground, on the hanks of a good running orcokfortho site, It waa of moro importance than anything else in choosing a distriot for tho factor/. The buildings he had referred to were constructed of wood, with sawdust packing between the lining and walls. Three hundred cows in' good grass should give 1,000 gallons of milk. Down South the milk was brought from within tho radius of six, miles, , but the less travelling and knocking < about the milk got the better.- Milk : should be cooled beforehand- Far- '

mere toot thoir milk to the faotoriosr got it separated, and took back the skim, The oreara separators'in use at the factories took out impurities far, more completely thau could be done ) - on the farm in the ordinary way. Fao-j toriea do not buy the cream direct ] from the farmers. In respect to packing butter, he recommended a firkin made with one end larger than the other. Lay a cloth in the bottom, at the small end of the tub, press the butter in firmly.and fill it up to within half an inoh of the top, and fill that up with salt, head up, turn the tub upside down, take out the bottom, and a space will be found between the butter and tub all round,' which fill with salt and then fix in tlio head again, By this means the butter will bo entirely away from contact with tho wood. The tubs could be made in New Zealand. He recommenddd heart of totara to make them with, as being the most impervious to oils, and not liable to affect the butter. A three-quarter-inch thickness would do. The butter was of course salted before packiug in tubs. He Was not in favor of dry-salting butter. He preferred using a brme of.the usual strength and salting in the churn. Fdr winter feed in the South a mixture of turnips and hay was used. It was little liable to tasto the' butter. Ensillage had so far not been tested for dairy stock, Dairy farms were in better condition and less reduced than ordinary farms. Sheep were harder on grass than cattle. The price butter should fetch in .London is ..112s for a first-class article, at tho same ratio cheese would fetohfid. It was better to manufacture both butter and cheese. Two men could work a factory of 1000 gallons daily. A very •goodman could begot mhlßQ.a year, and an assistant for LI a woek and rations. To start a factory on the proportions suggested by.him, the usual method would be to form a limited liability company and issuo 8000 shares at LI each, calling up half the capital. This would be found better than going to the bank for funds, ■ !

After some further questions were answered, the meeting closed; with a vote of thanks to Mr MoOallum.