EDUCATION IN DAIRY PURSUITS

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1942, 16 December 1884, Page 3

EDUCATION IN DAIRY PURSUITS-

{Ota go WiUicss.) It is unnecessary to repeat the arguments so frequently employed to show that the Colony has natural advantages especially favourable to dairy pursuits, but while Jthe fact remains, it is equally certain that so long as the processes of butter and cheescmaking are conducted as thpy have commonly been in the past, the market for these commodities will be restricted to our own requirements and the supply of occasional wants in the h Australian Colonies. It has to bs written of the average of consumers in the Colonies — severely it may be, but not the less truly — that their ideas in negard to butter and cheese are most iinpeifect, and further that indiscriminate appro\ al of the inferior articles, to which only have they been accustomed, perpetuates the evil because it confirms the makers in their practices and prejudices. The customers arc pleased, therefore the dairy farmers argue that their products arc irrepioachable. The disappointing results which have almost invariably followed ttial shipments of butter and cheese to the English markets hare been attributed toiucidents on the voyage — in fact, to anything rather than the true cause — the oiiginal inferiority of the material. It may pleaded that large numbers of our butter and cheese makers acquiied their knowledge and experience in the Home Country, but even so, all that may now be conceded to them — more I particularly the buttcrmakers — is that they can make an article relatively Buperior to the common market supplier. To the reformed practices in Europe and America they are perfectly inclilleient, although they cannot but know that foreign butter has now relegated British made to third rank in the Home mat kets. Our very best colonial dairy farmers are, therefore, in no better position than their British brethren so far as regaids thetechuical knowledge of buttermakmg, and obviously, therefore, require similar instruction to that which is being disseminated throughout the United ling- ► dom through the agency of Agricultural and Dairy Associations, Dairy Schools and Travelling Dairys. It can be truly said of this movement in the Home country to effect a reform of, and impart instruction in, dairy management that the success has been widespread and immediate, partly owing, no doubt, to the fact (patent to fanneis themselves) that their butter had been gradually grading lower and lower in market prices, but still in a great measure because the instructions have been practically illustrated in an interesting •way. The accounts in the Press of the Royals and other agricultural shows held in the United Kingdom during July and August last concur in am* lining that the " dairy tents" attracted larger crowds and more intense interest than any of the other departments of the exhibitions. At the English Royal a lady was engaged to lecture on the vai ions continental methods of butter-makiug, and her expertness in manipulating the butter, accompanied by explanations in homely and simple terms, ■were the theme of general approval. What appeared to be mysterious and intricate was shown to be simple in the extreme, due regard being had to certain preliminary conditions. At the liish Royal, at Kilkenny, again the buttermaking contest attracted the largest share of attention. Heie eighteen Irish country girls engaged in a competition under the gaze of thousands. In a late number of the Witness a detailed account of this trial was civen, and it is unnecessary further to refer to it than to point out the facts that each of these girls had a very accurate idea as to the temperature at which cieam or milk should be churned, that all used the thermometer, that each had her ideas as to the rate of speed in churning, that all washed the butter in the chum when it had attained the size of granules, and finally, that the butter-worker was used by all instead of the hands. These girls had been instructed in the Minister Daily School, and the course adopted by eacli individual competitor from the others varied but slightly. Fioin this trial we may infer that butter-making under the new system is vastly moie simple and less laborious than formerly practiced, and, fe further, that the information can be iinparted in one or two lessons. It is worthy of remark that dairy companies such as exist in the United States, although attempted in the United Kingdom, have not been much pationised by farmers. Had they been they must have largely assisted the educational movement, but in their absence the public competition of experts and the "tiavelling dairies " have been gieat successes The Dairy Association of Gloucestershire, one of the most famous dairying counties in England, have sent out a travelling dairy, and this of itself is a testimony to the necessity for instruction and the attention which this method of conveying it commands. In this colony there have been two ways suggested for attaining the desired end — the laising the standard quality of our butter and cheese. By the establishment of factoiies it is \ery nropeily contended that a high degree of excellence and iinifoim qu.tlit\ of tlic pioducts would be seemed, and with gientei economy than under the individual farm system. This would doubtless be the case in circumscribed difatiicts wheie the cow population — if the term maybe used — is large and the roads good. A good deal has been attempted in this direction al ready, and in the course of time doubtless a number of factories will spring up, but even then these will be beyond the leach of the great majority of settlers, and although the teachings may be felt to Borne extent, the influence will be far from comii'cnsuiote with the desired object. Undei all concoiveablu cm cum. stances it should be an object ot paidmount inipoi tauco that the fameis' wheti and d.iu^'hteis should Ih» adepts . i\ all the duties connected with tho * dairy, and in which they will be engaged more usefully th m in a clothing factoiy. I The gul reared upon a faun who cannot make prime butter or cheese, however attractive otherwise, must lack two essential qualilications of a good housewife, and this admitted, means should | be. adopted to afford them the means of improving their knowledge. Fears may be entertained that the opportunities would not be availed of, but the Home experiences, where prejudices are at least equally intense, testify to the contrary. The MunBter Dairy School has been fully attended from its opening. A class opened at the Irish National Model Farm starred with 20 girl-pupils, and so with similar institutions in England. But admittedly the greatest amount of general good has been effected by the travelling dairies, and the promoters of these have been unable to comply with the numerous applications from localities desirous of having working exhibitions in their midst. In the colony it has been the practice y by the Government to grant bonuses for new industries. The dairy industry would prove one of the most important in New Zealand, and add immeusely to our resources if only stimulated by imparting the necessary information to the farmers. The instructions are, as has ' been shown, simple in the extreme, and may be effectually spread far and wide at an inconsiderable expense. The machinery—a travelling dairy for one or two seasons at farthest in the provincial dis1 tricts at first where dairy farming is most "extensively followed, and subsequently in ; the others. Assuming that two dairies . were equipped, the Government lecturer • should have charge, but as, say, a couple of . experts would be required for each, one of these would require to be qualified to ! explain the principles .and :detail s of the working f , The, f Agricultural societies would flnqfce^jppfcpfy support jfche jnove.hands ..could a^^MilTOW^^. *°. P lace * t0 snfkMWq^mvWf seveffrl digtricts. ,The »*«^pert|^w^idf have to befbtought 'from the Hjmß country, but wajgeß** or "salary p^^.b« mwch ia excise; of ruling

rates in the colony, for, thanks to the educational movement in the United Kingdom, qualified persons are now tolerably numerous. Such is a brief sketch of the means by which one of the first industries in the colony may be developed. Without piactical teaching and information no genei at improvement can be expected in the quality of New Zealand dairy produce, and European markets will continue as they are at present, virtually unapproachable by our dairy farmers.