The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-17
TO EXTEND OUR BUTTER MARKET
Agricultural Department. Trying 10
Mevelop DAIRY Interests.


WASHINGTON, May II, lS97.-The
Agricultural Department is engaged in
some practical experiments with view to
extending our butter market abroad.
The developments of the dairy interest
of the U. S. is one of the favorable
schemes of Secretary Wilson who believes
that the farmers of the country can be
greatly benefited by the sale of the
incident products of the farm. Our
foreign cheese market has declined
steadily for the past twenty years, and in
recent years has suffered immense
damage from the shipment of filled cheese
and other inferior cheese. Twenty years
ago the U. S. shipped to the United
Kingdom about half the cheese imported
by the British Isles. Canada has steadily
displaced our cheese until now we ship
to England less than one-quarter of her
imports. while Canada sends one half.
Inasmuch as England now imports twice
as much cheese as she did in 1876. the loss
of our trade in this one item is enormous.
Now that all our filled cheese must be
branded, we may regain some of this
trade, but at the agricultural department
Major Afford, the chief of the dairy divis-
ion, says 1t will require time and circum-
stances to re-eltablish the reputation of
our cheese and win back the trade we
have lost
In the matter of butter it is thought
that there is much opportunity for push
ing our products at this time. Our ex-
ports of butter have been comparatively
small in the past and the butter shipped
abroad has been almost entirely, until
last year, of inferior quality. This was
due to the fact that the choicest grades
commanded higher price in this country
than could be obtained from them
abroad. But last year there was sur
plus of good butter produced in the
United States The percentage of high
grade creamery buffers produced promises
also to increase annually hereafter
through the extension of the creamery
system. Last year the consumption Of
the choicest grades fell off in the United
States owing probably to the hard times.
The price naturally fell and about 20
100000 pounds were placed within the
reach of the exporters as against $500, 900
this expectation was good butter. Major
Alvord says that we cannot hope to ex-
port good butter when it sells at less
than Is cents in New York. which would
make the price in New York, allowing
for freights and commissions about 20
cents. Denmark. Sweden, France Cam
qua, <AuSlidild anu argentine now supply
the British market which last year
bought about 2S1, 100000 pounds
Al the suggestion of Secretary Wilson
the Agricultural Department has entered
upon series of experiments for the ex-
perimeltal sale in London of our best
butter under its own name. BY direction
of the Secretary, Major Alvord about two
weeks ago purchased and shipped about
1000 pounds of our choicest creamery but
ter. 1t arrived last Thursday at South
ampton. Under arrangements previously
perfected this butter probably already has
found its way to the consumer through
the ordinary channels of. trade but was
shown and sold as United States butter.
This will be followed through the hands
of the jobbers and retailers to the con-
sumer and the judgment of each secured
upon it. Other shipments will be made
from time to time.--