The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-01

considerable space to a treatment OF the sub
jtct CT Our lost trade in butter and cheese"
Between 1873 and 1881 the value of the an
nual exports of this commodity increased
from S11 545 900 to so, 775 900, or practically
double. Since the year last mentioned, the
volume decreased until during the fiscal
year ending June so, 1896, the total value
OF these exports amounted to a sum only
slightly in excess of Sc, 900, 900, which was the
lowest aggregate since 1855. There was a
gain, however in 1897, when the values rose
TO a sum slightly over 50, COG, 900. 1t is in the
cheese trade, however, that the largest
shrinkage apears. In 1881 the value of cheese
exported was approximately SIC, 900, 000 while
in 1897 the aggregate had fallen to 81 636, 000
The criticism is frankly made that the
cause of the shrfnkage in the volume of cheese
exports is due to 'shortsighted. not to say
dishonest methods by many American pro-
ducerS." Great Britain was for many years.
our best customer in the line of both butter
and cheese, and it was through the gradual
abbrevtation OF orders from that source that
the largest shrinkage occurred. There was
imported Into the United Kingdom, in
1897, 800, 900 pounds of butter at a value
of more than $4,000 900. In this enormous
contribution, the United States shared only
TO the limited extent of about 5 per cent
Denmark contributed a little more than 40
per cent 1t is, naturally, nearby source
or supply and its product is proverbially of
good quality. France was second In her
expectations to Great Britain, which amount
ed to ii per cent. Sweden furnished per
cent, and the Netherlands per cent
Commenting upon the insignificant supply
contributed to that market by the United
States, the journal referred to saws:
Improvements made in the modern sys-
TEN or transporting butter under refrigera-
ton would seem to render the near proXim-
ity Of those, countries of less Importance
than formerly, but even the claim of re-
moteness from its market does not excuse
this country for the small proportion Of the
butter trade done with our chief customer
for raw and manufactured products. Vic
toria, in Australia, four weeks distance by
steamer from Liverpool, sends more butter
to the United Kingdom than we do, and
under refrigerator system, has sprung up en-
tirely within the past ten years, while the
import from Canada also show rapid in.
crease" 80 -,
Frank H. Hitchcock, chief of the section
OF foreign markets of the agricultural de-
partment, who is studying the problem Of
how 10 revive this deprecated industry, says
the principal obstacle is the impression pre-
vailing abroad that our butter is of a quail
tries-a result Immediately due to the prac-
tice of our shippers of exporting our lower
grades of butter. Experimental shipments of
our best butter to Great Britain, as has al
ready been noted, are now being made I'M
der the direction of the dairy division of the
agricultural department, and it is hoped that
the care thus applied 10 the work of up
building this export trade will have the
effect of removing the prejudices which have
crept into the minds of the Britishers, justi-
fiably, it is feared, owing to the acts of our
own shippers. 1t is not improbable, Also
that with the efforts being made in behalf
Of the butter trade something may also be
done to put our best grades Of cheese on the
foreign market at the same time. 1t is
regarded as remarkable and certainly not
creditable, that with the excellent grades
of raw material and the splendid appliances
for its manufacture, the American cheese
cannot be made to commend itself and to at
least hold its own in competition with the
foreign product.
Commenting on the butter and cheese stu
alton in America at the present time, To-
ronto (Canada) correspondent of Ho-rd's
Dairyr-ln says:
"Dairymen here are beginning to won 'er
what are the prospects for next season s
cheese trade. At present they are not hr ht
Recently several lots of cheese were sold t
public auction at Liverpool, Eng, at pri es
lower than for many years. Canadian goo 8
from 30s to S6s, marked weight, net C: Sd.
These prices are equal to from 6h to ne
for Canadian, and from &c to TIC Tor United
States cheese. The ruling prices here for
good quality OF last falls make range frcm
7lac to 7slc, and 1t is reported that one o.,
Two factories, which intend to begin ms king
fodder cheese on April l, have been Of lel
&c for the first shipment. At these prices it
is little wonder that dairymen are get ng
anx Gus about the future. The only fright
side to the cheese situation. is the fact tina:
the low price for cheese will induce gr5 alter
consumption, and enable the bulk of the O d
stock to be worked off before the g2cds
are put upon the market. If the fac.or,es W II
agree not to open for operation till at last
May 1 these old stocks may be pretty well
worked of by the time the new grass cheese
is on the market. The butter market cor
tinues brisk and it will pay dairymen much
better to make butter during the cary spring
and lessen the supply of cheese at the COM
mencement of the season. The butter S tua-
ton is very much brighter than thai CT
cheese"
Form, Stock and Home touches, in a
recent article upon the three points, cheese,
fertility and profit, as associated with the
cheese manufacturing industry. follow=:
There are two points about the cheese bust
ness that are worthy of note. Dairying al
ways follows after long series of years Of
grain cropping, which sooner or later impov-
erishes the soil and brings to want the man
who INDUCES in the luxury of riding gang
plow and seeder in the spring and binder at
harvest, and has no time to milk cows. He
then turns to the dairy to recoup his re-
sources. If he takes his milk to the cheese
fac. fay 1t is question whether he will real
lie in dollars and cents much he would
II he took his milk to a creamery. But one
thing is certain, for every ton of cheese he
furnishes the milk for he removes $40 of fer
tility from his soil. If he takes his milk to
creamery he will have the skim-milk to
feed to calves and pigs, and thus remove
only so cents worth of fertility for every ton
of butter. Then when his cheese Is ready
to market. which is in from three to six
weeks, he Is dependent upon some cheese
buyer to relieve him Of the accumulated prod
uct at such prices as the buyer is willing to
pay, for the bulk must go into storage for
ripening and await a favorable market, which
may not materialize, and the buyer must take
into account these emergencies when he
names a price at which he is willing to take
his chances with the tickle cheese market.
If his dairy product is butter the market is
ever ready to take 1t at ruling prices. for Il
goes into consumption at once. 1t will be
well therefore for the Northwestern farmer to
stand by the cooperative creamery, which
has always brought good and quick return
left him Independent Of the buyer, and added
fertility to his soil.
WAR AND PROVISIONS.
When Uncle Sans army invades Cuba
and are Joined by the insurgents the de-
rnand for food products will be greatly in
creased: The insurgent army has barely
been able to exist since the beginning Of
rupted communication between them and tn:
United States will mean an increase of bust
ness from this country until the people can
settle down peacefully In agriculture and be
.elf-supporting. Cuba has been practically
devastated by the Spanish army, and ever
after the Dons are expelled It will take some