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49
WATER IN BUTTER.
The Board of Agriculture Departmental Committee has issued
an interim report, recommending the adoption of a 16 per cent. limit
for water in butter. The Committee states that the weight of the
evidence taken was overwhelmingly in favour of some official regulation
of the amount of water in butter. There were two difficulties to
consider in fixing a limit—the Irish salt firkin butter, which contains
a high percentage of water, necessary, as its makers assert, from the
methods of its manufacture; and "milk-blended butter." Infixing
upon the 16 per cent. limit, the Committee believe that, given time
and training, the makers of Irish salt firkin butter will be able to fall
into line with modern methods of production, and easily conform to
any reasonable limit. In the meantime they will be legally protected
if a sufficient disclosure is made to the purchaser. As to "milkblended
butter," the Committee believes that the seller would be
legally protected provided a sufficient disclosure of its real character
were made to the purchaser at the time of the sale. Were the limit
fixed beyond 16 per cent., the Committee is of opinion that the
reputation of, and the demand for, home-produced in competition
with imported butter must inevitably suffer.
METEOROLOGY IN AND AROUND LONDON
DURING THE YEAR 1901.
January.—The weather in January was cold till the 9th, mild from
the 10th to the 27th, and cold again from the 28th to the 31st,
being generally dull, with very little sunshine. The mean daily
temperature of the air was above its average from the 10th to the
27th, and was below its average on all other days. The fall of
rain was somewhat below its average.
February.—The weather in February was generally cold and dull.
The mean daily temperature of the air was generally below its
average from the 1st to the 21st, and above from the 22nd to the
28th. The fall of rain was below its average.