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-+-- NORTH WALES has this week been favoured with a visit from the British Dairy l armers Association, and among the places visited was Welshpool, where they were accorded a most hearty reception on behalf of the Mayor and Corporation by Captain D. H. MYTTON. It was gratifying to notice among those present at the opening meet- ing of the conference in the Town Hall on Tuesday some of the leading farmers in the locality, but still many of those who were expected to be, and ought to have been present, were conspicuous by their absence, and this is evidence of the luke-warm sup- port those who cry most about the depression in agriculture extend to efforts made for the welfare and future prosperity of the agricultural industry. Experience will teach them that if they are to keep up with the times, and to successfully compete with foreigners who, by their industry and foresight, have snatched the trade from the British farmer, they must be up and doing, educating themselves with what science has to teach them, as well as endeavouring to learn the demands of those whom they naturally expect to be their customers. If they neglect to avail themselves of the opportunities afforded them in the present day they have only themselves to blame when they feel the pinch of the foreign intruder. A two-fold purpose is effected by the visit of a conference like that of the British Dairv Farmers' Association. On the one hand it encourages an influx of dairying experts into the district visited, and thus affords the local farmers an opportunity of comparing notes and exchanging views with men interested in the dairying industry in various parts of the country. On the other hand special facilities of inspection are accorded to the visitors, who are thereby enabled to pick up useful suggestions, and to acquire information, much of which may be susceptible of practical and profitable application. At the conference on Tuesday we heard the old story about the best mode of improving the sale of our dairy produce rendered ever new. In order to find customers for produce made at home, we were again informed that what was required was a regular and uniform supply. This is all very well if farmers will only find the means to the end. But will they ? The best way of attaining this isby putting into practise the valuable advice of the Earl of Powis in his presidential address, when he thoughtfully observed that farmers should combine, and his lords nip was supported in this theory by Mr. W. FORRESTER ADDIE in the course of a most interesting paper upon "The Dairy Farming of Montgomeryshire, with sugges- tions as to its improvement." He finds that the best mode of remedying the evils of low prices and an inferior article is by co-operation in manufacturing and marketing, and that until there is a thorough awakening to the needs of making a better article that the improve- ment which is so desirable to cope with foreign competition and to obtain better prices will not take place. This brought him to the importantquèRtion of uniformity, and his opinion of the best plan of dealing with this is by a modification of the factory system, either by purchasing the milk or by buying the butter unsalted and grading it as is done in Normandy—in blending houses. This expression of opinion was endorsed by such eminent authorities in the farming world as Professor LOXG, Mr THOMAS RIGBY, and Mr WILSON (Llanelly), whilst it has also on previous occasions been advanced in these columns. The suggestion, of course, raises several minor questions, but they were so satisfactorily dealt with in the course of Mr ADDIE'S paper (which we publish in full in another column) that we will not attempt to refer to them here, save that should the farmers in their wisdom ultimately resolve upon adopting the blending.- house system, they cannot do better than adopt the idea thrown out by Mr ADDIE, vf utilising the disused corn mills and other buildings with water power in the county, which, as he truly remarked, might be devoted to such a purpose as he sketched out. It is generally hoped that the resuscitation of the .t-ociet;. will do suinu LLtle towards improving I the agricultural industry in this county, and we would suggest to the executive com- mittee the deMrauility of their taking the initiative in this important matter of dairy- ing, and it they will only make a start and give the small fanners—for it is they who feel the depression the most keenly a lift over the stile as it were, there is no doubt but that much good will result from their efforts. Societies such as this can do a I great deal towards benefitting the particu- lar industry they represent by making the first move, and if some practical result follows any efforts they may make in the direction we have indicated, it will show that they will not have laboured in vain. -+-

NorrES BY THE WAY.

WELSHPOOL.

MONTGOMERYSHIRE YEOMANRY CAVALRY.

CAERSWS. j

------NEWTOWN.

LLANDINAM.

GARTHMYL.

CHURCHSTOKE.