Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-07-18
the surrea our,oox.

The condition and the trend OF the
summer butter market has come to b.
40 important matter To Maine dairymen
For the larger part Of the milk made In
this state goes into butter. Hence the
condition or the butter trade at the open
ing month Of the summer make 10 OF
much interest and is watched with Wide
concern by those who make the milk.
Just now the farm end Of the business
Throughout New England 10 seriously
meusced BY the parching drought, which
II continued many days longer viii be
certain TO have the effect to greatly re
duce the fiow OF milk. Still, so long as
the drought Is confined to New England
and the great milk producing sections
OF the interior Of the country sre unxf.
fected, the cutting of Of our Eastern
supply will have but slight effect on
the general market.
The cold storage Of June butter now
largely concerns the price Of the product
the year through. To the surprise Of
all the trade the make Of butter At this
opening Of the summer season has fallen
of from what Was confidently looked
for. Two or three years ago the pros
pect WAS for q continued extension OF
the dairy business. But the tide OF
events has checked that extension. Last
year there WAS hardly as much butter
made Ia the coun;ry as the year imme-
distely previous, aud with the result that
the June cold storage price WAS full
cent pound higher than the year be-
fore. At the present time the continued
shortage Of the make Is plainly apparent
and with the result Of June market, or
cold storage market, full cent and q
half higher than year ago.
The New York Produce Review In Its
issue OF a week sgo, gives the following
important review OF the situation ss
seen from that DArket:
"Up 10 the present writing there IL a
shortage In the receipts since May lat At
New York, Boston, Philadelphia and
Chicago Of about $1,000 pkgs. The fig
ures up To SATURDAY., June Sd, show that
New York fell of only l0,3l9 pkgs.,
while Chicago lost 34,3s2 pkgs., more
than half OF which was the shriukxge OF
last week. This seems to bear out the
esriier predictions OF lighter output Of
butter this season than last, taking the
country As q whole. IL looks as II the
make In the states east of the Allegha-
nies will show some increase over last
year, especially 10 sections Of New Eng
isud where the dairy interest has re
ceived new life during the past two or
three wears. In certain localities In the
west the production will be Increased BY
more milch cows, but the best Informs
ion that we can gather from the entire
western dairy belt IL that the make OF
butter will fall somewhat short OF the
igures OF ls9S. Weather conditions
have been exceedingly favorable since
he grass got fairly under way and the
oss,ures are now fresh and bountiful,
bot the reasons which were given some
weeks ago are quite likely TO keep re
,eipts below those Of last year. This
week will probsbly mark the flush OF
he make, but II may not show fully In
he receipts for another week or two.
Practically all thought OF an export
demand for creamery butter this summer
has been abandoned. Prices here are
now fully as high as they are in London.
IL, therefore, becomes question OF
storing the surplus stock At home. Be
tween the local consumptive and out-of-
,own trade an average Of about $1,000
pkgs. = week will be needed; the bal
,nce must 90 10 the freezers for later
markets. Three-fourths OF the stock
hat has thus far gone into store WAS put
AWAY by the owners themselves, not all
,f II from choice, but because the high
cost OF the goods made sale on arrivals
1uite Improbable. Outside speculative
BUYERS have generally held of believing
hat some advantage would accrue 20
hem BY waiting policy, but IL mas
been demonstrated TO their entire satis-
faction that the price OF extra creamery
cannot De broken below lSc. during the
storage season, and they are now ready
to operate freely at that, but without
getting the goods. A few operatives have
Bid up TO Is | &c within day or two
and have obtained upward OF 1000 tubs
Of the finest makes, but there is as yet
sn unwillingness 10 close important deals
AZ that. We are inclined TO think that
they will come 20 IL shortly, as the posi-
ton here and at other points seems to be
somewhat.
Considering industrial Improvement
of the country and the probability OF a
somewhat reduced make OF butter II Is
TO expect better prices than
last year."
The somewhat alarming situation In
New Englsnd promises 10 greatly reduce
the Eastern supply which OF course WIZ
tend 10 crowd home markets 70 stii
higher figures, particularly OUTSIDE OF
the centres Of trade. While, therefore,
the milk flow Is at present being cut
down by the prevailing drought it 10
quite certain that the decrease VIII oe
made up, In part at least, by q eonse-
ousnt increase In the value OF the butter
product.-MaiaS Farmer.