the various farmers, in proportion to the amount of milk each has delivered during the period in question.

This is true co-operation, and it is in this practical and simple manner that most of the dairy farms are worked.

There are, however, some factories that are owned by private companies, the shareholders being generally farmers. In this case the milk is bought and paid for at an agreed rate from the neighbouring farmers, and the company takes the risk of manufacture and fluctuation of markets.

There are some districts where the factory system is not adopted. and the farmers make their goods at their own farmhouse and take them to market themselves; but the factory system is most prevalent.

The price of milk in the best districts of North Holland, where the milk is of first quality, has ruled this summer about 44 cents per litre (and lower), equal to 4·04d. per English gallon, and in Friesland the average price for twelve months works out about 3.6 cents per litre, or 3.29d. per English gallon.

The price for the summer months of this year in the western counties of England has been a little over 4.73d. per gallon. But in the winter months the English farmer, who sells his milk in towns, would get a considerably better price than the Dutch farmer, who has to make goods all the year round at home or in factories. It will be seen, therefore, that the English farmer is now getting a better price for his milk than his Dutch neighbours.'

The great bulk of the dairy waste products, such as whey and skim milk, is given to calves and young stock, while many pigs are fatted for pork; but there are practically no bacon factories, as in Denmark and Sweden.

Although in numerous instances-in fact, 57.5 per cent.-the owner of land in Holland cultivates it himself, the balance of some two million acres is let, and let at rents which, considering the low price of produce, appear to be surprisingly good ones.

In the district round Beemster, which comprises some of the

The prices issued by a large condensed milk factory in the West of England in March 1896 for the following twelve months are as follows:

This gives an average for the twelve months of 5·80d. or 5d. per imperial gallon, the six summer months being 4.73d. and the six winter months 6.86d.

These prices are about equal to those given by London milk contractors in the same district for the same period, the distance from London being between ninety and a hundred miles.

richest land in North Holland, there are many farms whose rental runs from 31. to 41. per acre, besides rates amounting to 78. 6d. per acre and more payable by the tenant for drainage, roads, schools, and canals the owner, however, in these cases paying the taxes in connection with the farm and supplying material for repair of house and buildings, &c., the tenant doing the labour. In other districts where land is not so good a rent equal to 27. 10s. or 3l. per. acre is paid.

;

The quality of land in Holland in most districts is no doubt excellent, but there are many dairy districts in England and Ireland where it is naturally no better, and in some instances superior, the rents, however, of which are much lower.

The Beemster Polder has been reclaimed during comparatively modern times, and the dykes which keep it from inundation are some of the finest in Holland.

The expense of its original construction was very large, and a heavy annual rate per acre is required to keep it in repair and pay the expense of the pumping station.

The old method of pumping out the water from these reclaimed and enclosed districts, by means of windmills, is now rapidly giving way to steam power, and it is probable that in a few years' time the old picturesque windmills, which were at one time such a feature in a Dutch landscape, will be no more seen.

There was a spot in the neighbourhood of Zandam where not long ago 400 windmills could be seen at one time, supplying power to oilmills, flourmills, sawmills, &c., besides pumping; this number has decreased by half during the last few years, and probably will get less every year.

Dutch farm houses and buildings are models of excellence and cleanliness; fresh paint, shining glass, and burnished brasswork are conspicuous everywhere.

They are constructed in a sound and economical manner, the farm buildings and house being all under one roof. First comes the house, oftener than not facing the north or east, the advantage of the southern and western aspect being given to the cattle. The dwelling is slightly raised above the level of the ground, so as to give windows and ventilation to the dairy, which is usually underneath it; it is roomy and comfortable, without, however, any great show or display. A narrow passage separates the house from the farm buildings, but is covered at the top by the continuous roof, which extends from the house to the buildings; the farmer can thus go from his own house to see his cattle without exposure to the elements. The buildings consist of cow byres, bull, cow, and calf pens, hay barn, corn and cake lofts, &c. &c.

Although, perhaps, not as picturesque as the straggling farm buildings we see in England, with the house standing by itself in its own -grounds and gardens, it is practically more efficient, and admirably

suited to the size of the farms, which not often exceed 100 English

acres.

The amount of stock kept is largely in excess of even the best dairy districts in our country, forty or fifty milking cows being frequently carried by a hundred-acre farm.

The buildings are kept scrupulously clean; though it can hardly be believed, it is not an uncommon event to see a farmer slip his wooden sabots off before going into his own cow byre, in order that the floor, the bricks of which are polished like a mirror, should not be soiled. This may, perhaps, be considered a hypersensitiveness in favour of cleanliness, but it is typical of the race.

The same excellence of upkeep may be observed in the management of the land; it is kept in the highest possible state of flourishing fertility; the most is made of everything. Compost and manure heaps (pictures of neatness) appear everywhere, supplemented in many cases by the mud dredged out from the dykes and canals, the latter forming a valuable adjunct to the manure derived from the cattle; nothing is wasted.

The passion for cleanliness and good order appears equally among the labouring class. The villages are models, planted with trees and laid out with walks. Down the centre in many of the principal villages runs a light railway, giving access to the adjoining neighbourhoods, towns, and villages. There is usually a hall, or stadhuis, of some sort, an excellent school, and in many instances a kiosk or stand for a band, used on occasions of village holidays and festivities.

On the outskirts of the village, and sometimes inside it, is the butter and cheese factory. Some persons have an idea that these factories in foreign countries are roughly constructed buildings, run up with no regard to permanancy or appearance. Such, however, is not the case in Holland; the factories are usually excellent buildings, and in many cases ornamentally constructed of brick and stone, fitted up with all modern improvements, and lighted by electricity.

The cattle in Holland are almost universally the old black and white Dutch or Friesland breed; they are large and hardy animals, carry a good amount of flesh, and are good milkers. The quality of their milk is of somewhat a low standard, but they yield immense quantities, some cows giving as much as thirty-two litres (seven English gallons) per diem, a result of years of patient breeding for dairy purposes mainly, and unsurpassed, we imagine, by an English breed of cattle.

The farmers are at great pains to keep up the standard of their stock and to improve the breed, keeping careful registers and entering their stock in the national herd books; for this purpose they are helped by the State, the latter keeping stud animals for the use of certain neighbourhoods. In other districts the farmers themselves combine and purchase high-class bulls for the use of certain areas.

The bulls are kept at some central point, and are looked after and fed at the expense of the society they belong to.

This is an admirable plan; it could be wished that English dairy farmers would adopt this system, as it would much help to maintain and improve their stock. Many of the bulls used in the British dairy districts are inferior beasts, often being a calf saved from the herd on the farm, and in-breeding is thus perpetuated, with unsatisfactory results; or else, what is, if anything, worse, 'pedigree bull calves, purchased and descended from herds bred for generations to specially produce beef instead of milk.

The Dutch breed of cattle is much sought after by Americans and South Africans, who buy a great many prize and pedigree beasts. Some farmers especially lay themselves out for breeding high-class cattle, and do a large trade in pedigree beasts.

The marketing of dairy produce is carried on in Holland much the same as it is in England; three profits are taken before the goods reach the consumer.

There is first the cheese and butter factor, who attends the markets and buys direct from the producer; secondly, the provision merchant, who buys in turn from the factor; and thirdly, the retailer, who buys from the provision merchant.

It is an unsatisfactory method, but it seems an inevitable one: the middleman appears to be indispensable, and, whatever prices are, he always takes care to get a profit. In some cases factories sell direct to the provision merchant, and thus escape the factor; but generally the latter individual is called in to assist in the sales, and often a better price is obtained through him than by dealing direct with the merchant in the towns.

In one respect the Dutch marketing arrangements are superior to ours. In most of the large market towns there is an official weighing house. The officials attached to this establishment unload the cheese arriving by rail and boat, and after its sale weigh it and affix the Government stamp certifying the weight; they then again load it, in ship or waggon, to its new destination. All this is done at a trifling cost, and has many advantages, the principal one being that both vendor and purchaser are bound by the Government figures, thus avoiding all disputes as to weight, which so often arise at home, especially with regard to an article like cheese, which loses rapidly if kept for any time and not passed into immediate consumption.

In England it often happens that the factor keeps the cheese he buys for a rising market, and then wants to put the loss of weight on to the farmer from whom it is purchased. This is unfair, as the farmer is supposed to have the weight of the cheese at the time of selling. Many kinds of cheese improve by keeping and become more valuable; the factor gets the advantage of this, but wants the farmer to pay for it and thus derive an extra profit.

Farm labourers in Holland are well paid; in many districts they receive 7 to 9 guilders, or from 128. to 158., per week, besides a meal of bread and milk or coffee in the morning. Although wages are good, the men are well worth the money, and their labour is really cheap. It is no exaggeration to say that they do nearly twice the work of our West-country labourers, though it must be borne in mind that the best of the latter go off into the towns, leaving only the inferior hands.

The cows in Holland are milked at daybreak; it is general in the summer months for the milking to be done at 4 A.M. and 4 P.M., a thing almost unknown in England. The day from sunrise till sunset is devoted to unremitting labour, though it must be admitted that the number of holidays and days devoted to festivities are more numerous than our own.

Dutch labourers are cheerful, honest, and contented, and take an interest in the farm on which they work and in their master's welfare; moreover they have not yet lost the charm of courtesy, which is dying out so rapidly in our own country districts; nine out of ten persons will salute those whom they meet, even if strangers. It is said that one of the kings of France was saluted by a beggar in the street, and returned the salutation; on being remonstrated with by his companions for acknowledging the courtesy of so mean an individual, his Majesty replied that they could hardly desire that the beggar they had passed should be a better gentleman than himself.' The rural Dutchman has taken this principle for his own, and prides himself on acting up to it.

Dutch farmers complain of low prices and of the difficulty of making profits at all commensurate with those received years ago; yet it appears that in the case of rented farms there have been no reductions at all to be compared with those given by English landlords to their tenants, notwithstanding that the rents are undoubtedly higher than those paid in this country and the prices received for produce are lower. We have already quoted the price paid for milk. Dutch cheese has been quoted this summer in the English market at 408. per cwt. for the best Endams and a less price for Goudas, though it is fair to say that, with our usual craze for cheapness, only inferior Dutch cheese is bought by England.

The highest price, however, that has been realised during the past summer at any of the markets for the best cheese made is 26 guilders per cwt., about 448. in English money. The wholesale price of Friesland butter, the greater part of which comes to England, has been this summer 848. per cwt., or 9d. per lb.

The best English cheese, such as Cheshire and Cheddar, has been selling during the summer months at from 508. to 70s., according to quality, while English butter was selling for the summer months at an average of 18. per lb.