The record-union., 1899-09-13
BUTTER MAKERS ADJOURN.
STATE DAIRY ASSOCIATION
FINISHES IT'S CONFERENCE.
Interesting Letter From Major AL
word and Information by
Professor Pearson.

The attendance at yesterdays ses-
sion of the California Dairy Associa-
tion's convention, was somewhat better
than on Monday.
Under the head of Foreign Markets,
Professor Pearson was called on for
general remarks. and gave a list of
the publications in the form of bulletins
issued by the Agricultural Department,
and suggested that those present might
secure any or all bulletins by making
a request for them.
Professor Pearson expressed his re-
grets that he could not spend months
instead of days in California He said
the dairymen of the United States were
doing much for their own betterment.
In most Eastern State, he said, were
dairy schools which turn out graduates
yearly, into whose hands were turned
over the dairy interests. He called at
tention to the fact that a ton of butter
would take but little from the produc-
tions of the soil, while a. ton of wheat
would take away much.
Professor Pearson quoted facts to
show that the dairying interests were
being expanded all over the New Eng
land States. People in the East and
in the Mississippi Valley, he said
imagined they had an advantage over
other sections owing to their nearness
to markets, but in all the States he
could find none better adapted to the
business than this; both as to natural
facilities and markets, he found none
superior to California.
He spoke of the possibility of glutting
III
the Notwithstanding more of the prod
ucts to the markets than the demand
warranted. Such a possibility would be
eliminated if a proper outlet could be
found. He explained that Great Britain
was the greatest consumer of butter in
| the world, they using about a million
pounds day, the annual product Of
about 5000 COWS, or $40, 600, 900 pounds
every year. The prices of butter in
| London, he said was usually about D
cents more per pound than received in
| this country, while the cost of trans
| portation was about III cents per
pound. 1t was a fact, however, that
| butter made in the United States had
| not brought as good prices in London,
| as Danish or Argentine products. The
| Department of Agriculture had taken
up the matter of shipments, and had
done some good work. 1t was pro-
| posed to have a law enacted provid-
| ing for the placing of the Government
tag on every pound of butter exported
that being the signet that the article
was genuine.
| Professor Pearson explained how the
Japanese had acquired a taste for
American agricultural products-how
| they had been taught to like wheat
-four and how they had learned to
use American cotton goods. The Jap
anese, he said, were acquiring a taste
for American butter, and he looked for
ward to the day when the Japanese
markets would take all the butter pro-
dueed in this State not required for
home consumption.
Professor Pearson read a letter writ
| ten to the convention by the Chief of
the Dairy Bureau Henry E. Alvord
which proved to be of uncommon in
terest The letter follows in full:
MAJOR ALVORDS LETTER.
| Dairy Division, Bureau Of Animal In
dustry, United States Department of
Agriculture.
Washington, D. c., September I'd.
| To the officers and members of the
California Dairy Association: For two
years or more the United States De-
partment of Agriculture has been in
vestigating the subject of foreign mar
kets for American butter. Under the
supervision of it's Dairy Division, the
department has made experimental ex-
/ ports of butter and other dairy pro-
ducts to Great Britain and markets on
| the continent of Europe and from
| California westward to Pacific ports
| Attention has also been given to op-
portunities for increased trade in Mexi-
co, the West Indies and South America.
/ The outlets in the directions last in
dicated seem promising, but this trade
must be carefully cultivated 1t in
wolves special preparation to meet the
conditions of warm climates, whether
in the south or in the Orient. Refrig-
Grated ocean transportation is scarce,
and cold storage in the markets here
referred to cannot be relied upon. Con-
sequently, butter must be exported in
hermetically sealed packages, and pref
erably small ones, containing one or
two pounds, or perhaps only half a
pound. This is to accommodate retail
trade where very little butter is used at
| the best, and where one of our efforts
must be to educate people to use it,
And the question of making the butter
| itself, suited to this peculiar trade, and
sof a quality to compete successfully
with the butter of Denmark, Sweden,
and the north of France, is a matter
which requires further investigation.
| To this subject, the United States De-
partment of Agriculture is giving es-
pecial attention at the present time,
and is expecting material assistance
from the creameries and butter makers
of California.
/ There is reason to believe that by
special methods of feeding milk COWS,
and under conditions which can easily
be attained in California, butter can be
made which has just those character
istics as to body, ffrmness and high
melting point. which make it we'll
adapted to the requirements of mar
kets in warm climates.
| This question, as we'll as the matter
of packages safe and yet economical
and all the peculiarities incidental to
different foreign markets and commu-
nication therewith-are now being
practically studied. The object is to
obtain this useful information so it
may be published for the benefit Of the
dairy interests of the Pacific Coast.
The inquiries also cover similar points
] applicable to cheese and all dairy prod
ucts in forms which can be exported.
! 1t is we'll understood that California
/ is especially interested in the extern
sion of dairy trade on the shores of the
Pacific, north and south. as we'll as in
| - Se~1c II Of {lzo