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 HOME OUTPUT.]

D A I R Y-F ARMING

British markets is shown by the fact that for the five years ended 30th June 1900 the import had grown from 12,949 tons to 37,534 tons per annum, or an increase of 24,585 tons. It is during the mid-winter months that the colonial butter from Australasia arrives on the British markets, while that from Canada begins to arrive in July, and virtually ceases in the following January. The bulk of the Canadian butter reaches British markets during August, September, and October; the bulk of the Australasian in December, January, and February. It appears to be demonstrated by the experience of the last decade of the 19th century that the United Kingdom is quite unable to turn out sufficient dairy produce to supply its own population. In the year ended 30th June 1891 the total import of butter was 102,500 tons, and for the year ended 30th June 1900 it was 170,700 tons, which shows an annual average increase in the decade of 6800 tons. This growth was on the whole very uniform, any disturbance in its regularity being attributable more to the deficient seasons in the colonies and foreign countries than to the bountiful seasons at home. Twice in the decade the import of butter from colonial sources fell off slightly from the previous year, namely, in 1896 and 1898, while only once was there any decrease in the foreign supply, and this occurred in 1900. In 1896 the colonial supply fell off by 5000 tons, principally owing to drought in Australia, but from foreign countries this deficiency was more than made good, as the increased import from these sources exceeded 16,500 tons. In 1900 the position was reversed, for while the foreign import fell away to the extent of over 8000 tons, the supply from the colonies exceeded that of 1899 by 15,000 tons, thus leaving a gain in the quantity of imported butter of nearly 7000 tons on the year. Table XII. shows that over the ten years 1891 to 1900 the import of colonial butter was augmented by 34,600 tons, and that of foreign by 33,600 tons, so that the increased import is fairly divided between colonial and foreign sources. If, however, the last five years of the period be taken, it will be seen that the increases in the arrivals of colonial butter have far exceeded those from foreign countries. Between 1891 and 1900 the Australasian colonies increased their quota by 13,400 tons, and Canada by 11,100 tons. Of foreign countries, Denmark showed the greatest development in the supply of imported butter, which increased in the ten years by 28,678 tons. Next came Russia and Holland, with increases respectively of 7207 tons and 6589 tons. Sweden, which made steady progress from 1891 to 1896, subsequently declined, and in 1900 sent 1400 tons less than in 1891. France and Germany are rapidly falling away, and the latter country will soon cease its supply altogether. Up to 1896 it was 6000 tons annually; by 1900 it had fallen to 1850 tons. France, which in 1892 sent to the United Kingdom 29,000 tons, regularly declined, and in 1900 sent only 16,800. Among the countries sending the smaller quantities, Argentina, Belgium, and Norway are all gradually increasing their supplies; but their totals are comparatively insignificant, as they together contributed in 1900 only 6400 tons out of a total foreign supply of 134,000 tons. The United States was erratic in its supplies during the decade, and up to 1900 had not made butter specially for export to the United Kingdom, as all the other foreign countries had done. Consequently it is only when supplies from elsewhere fail that American butter is sought for by British buyers. The large amount of salt in this butter, although suitable for the American palate, prevents its becoming popular in the United Kingdom. The sources whence the United Kingdom receives butter from abroad are sufficiently indicated in Table XIII.,

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which shows the absolute quantities and the relative proportions sent by the chief contributory countries in each of the four years 1897 to 1900, the order of precedence of the several countries being in accord with the figures for 1900. Denmark, as a result of the efforts made by that little kingdom to supply a sound product of uniform quality, possesses over 40 per cent, of the trade, and in the year 1900 received from the United Kingdom upwards of eight million pounds sterling for butter and over three million pounds sterling for bacon, the raising of pigs for the consumption of separated milk being an important adjunct of the dairying industry in Denmark, where butter factories are extensively maintained on the co-operative principle. It is worthy of note that some at least of the butter received in the United Kingdom from Russia is made in Siberia, whence it is sent at the outset on a long land journey in refrigerated railway cars for shipment at a Baltic port, usually Riga. The countries not specifically enumerated in Table XIII. from which butter is sent to the United Kingdom Table XIII. Annual Imports of Butter into the United Kingdom, 1897 to 1900. From Denmark Australasia France. Holland Russia1 Sweden Canada United States Germany Other countries Total Denmark Australasia France. Holland Russia1 Sweden Canada United States Germany Other countries Total 1

1897.

1898.

1899.

Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. 1,334,726 1,465,030 1,430,052 1,486,342 269,432 228,563 366,944 509,910 448,128 416,821 353,942 322,048 278,631 269,324 284,810 282,805 209,738 299,214 294,962 245,599 196,041 109,402 156,865 250,083 138,313 154,196 66,712 159,137 56,046 51,761 41,231 36,953 36,042 272,312 269,645 262,331 141,231 3,217,802 3,209,153 3,389,851 3,378,516 Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 41-5 45-6 42'2 44-0 8710-8 15-1 13-9 13-0 10-5 9-5 887 8-4 8*4 6-2 99 *2 7-2 5-8 34-9 7-4 4T 42T 4-7 1-6 1-6 1-3 IT IT 8’4 8-4 4-2 7-7 ico-o 100-0 100-0 100-0

Not shown separately in the Trade and Navigation Returns prior to 1900.

are Argentina, Belgium, Norway, and Spain—these are included in “other countries.” In Table XIV., relating to the estimated home production of cheese and the imports of that article, the ten years’ average indicates a home-made supply of 55-3 per cent., imports of colonial cheese 24-2 per cent., and imports of foreign cheese 20"5 per cent. Comparing, however, the first with the last year of the period 1891 to 1900, it appears that in 1891 the proportions were 58-6 per cent, home-made, 17 "2 per cent, colonial, and 24-2 per cent, foreign, whereas in 1900 the percentages were 50"3, 28'9, and 20 "8 respectively. Hence the colonial contribution (chiefly Canadian) has gained ground at the expense both of the home-made and of the foreign. Again, comparing 1891 with 1900, the import of cheese into the United Kingdom increased to the extent of only 24,500 tons, so that it shows no expansion comparable with that of butter, which increased by about 70,000 tons. Simultaneously the estimated home production diminished by 17,000 tons.