Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-04
THE WORLDS GREAT COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS.

Although only one years figures have
been taken in the above table, yet the
distribution of the imports as shown
oy these figures may be taken as fair
~ representative of the general inn
portation. The imports of dairy pro-
ducts into Great Britain. although con-
stantly increasing, have been for sew
eral years very steady in their dis
tribution Germany, however. is con
stantly falling off in her supplies, the
reason being that Germany is needing
her own dairy products To supply her
own constantly increasing urban popu-
latIon.
From the above table for butter i'm
portation into Great Britain ii will be
seen how prenonderating Is the impor-
tation from Denmark, although its ter
ritory Is only one-tenth that of the
state of California. or one-half that of
the state of Maine, Is of all countries
In the world the one in which the dairy
industry is most highly developed, most
generally organized ami most success
fully pursued: ard the one. too. in
which IL has the largest place in the
general Industries of the people. The
development of the Danish dairying in
dustries may be said to have been be-
gun in 1854. when the Royal Agricultu-
raj Society Of Denmark undertook to
provide for young men practical in
struction In the dairy business. From
tHdl time forward the making OF Duttor
became an industry. fer which the
larger and Weather farmers of Den
mark were Worldwide famous. ISut the
present standing Of Denmark rs the
chief buttcrmakipS country OF the
world depends not so much unon the
larger and Weather farmers of the
couptry as upon the small farm RS the
farmers whose farms runs only from
ten or fifteen acres IN 10 fifty or sew
enty-1ve acres each. The average size
of Danish farm. exclusive of forest
or waste land, is only thirty acres. 1t is
by the farmers of these small farms
that the bulk OF the Danish export but
ter is produced. Uniformity of produc-
ton. the quality for which Danish but
ter is most particularly noted. could be
possible in country where farms are
SO small only by cooperation. Co-ope-
ration In dairying was begun In Den
mark only in 1882. Now the method is
general. There arc about 1,50O creamc-
ries. with varying capacities, ranging
from 800 cows each. to ! 500
COWS each. The farmers sup
plying these creameries maintain as n
rule only fifteen or twenty cows each
BY wise system of education and
ractical instruction the Danish butter
makers are thoroughly prepared for
their work, and constant inspection and
the giving of necessary advice gratis
by government experts keep them we'll
UP in their work.
Il Is the English market that the
Danish huternakerS have most in eve
In all their efforts at Improvement and
organization. An expert agent in Lon
dan. whose duty it is to look after the
trade In every possible way and espe-
ciaily to prevent frauds being commit
ted upon ii. is not the least important
factor in their success.
Notwithstanding tsexcellencc Danish
butter does not bring the very highest
price in the London market. Danish
butter goes principally to the great
middle classes, especially to the we'll
to-do artisan class. 1t is perhaps more
largely sold outside OF London than in
London itself &
The butter that brings the very high
est price in London is a fresh unsalted
butter made in northern France and
shipped TO London so speedily that it
is upon the tables of the consumers
within twelve hours from the time 1t
leaves the churn. But for this sort OF
butter at the prices ii brings, there Is
only limited and comparatively small
demand. and when people talk of sup
plying the British market with butter
they always have in view as n stand
ard of excellence the sort of butter
that the Danish buttermaliers produce
for with the exception of the French
(or Norman) butter just mentioned,
Danish butter always tops the market
An idea of the rapidity or the develop
ment OF the Danish butter import trade
into Great Britain can be gathered
from the following figures:
Pounds. Value.
1SS7-Am't imp'ted.. 5i,604. O32 s13,343.470
1S97-Am't imp'ted .1i9, 4S93l2 a3.74o,Sl5
lS9S-Am't imp'ted .164, 0S3.36O 36.799,15
Canada occupies a position with re,
gard to the cheese import trade of
Great Britain somewhat similar to
that occupied by Denmark with respect
to the butter import trade. In 1868
Canada's export to Great Britain was
less than 5000. 600 pounds and was in
value only about 100000 In 1897 It
was nearly 164, 100000 pounds and in
value amounted to Sl4,645,S59 Almost
three fifths of Great Britan's importa-
ton Of cheese comes from Canada.
AS already stated, our own exporta-
ton of dairy products is inconsidera-
hle when compared with our total pro-
duction or our total consumption. Our
expectation of cheese has fallen away
to almost a third of what IL once was
and our expectation of butter Is ONLY
from forty-fifth TO a ffty-ffth OF
our total production OF butter. But
still. as items in our international
trade, our butter and cheese exporta
lions are important, and their distri
button is something about which ey-
cry citizen should know. The follow
ing tables give the aggregate quantities
and values of our dairy exports and
also the respective quantities and
values for the various principal coun-
tries we export to. The figures are for
an average of five years ended 1898: