Dec. 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 1035 



Bacteriological Examination. 



These butters were examined bacteriolugically from samples taken on 

 arrival of the butter in Sydney, and again from samples taken after buttf-r 

 had been four weeks in cold store. The bacteriological condition of the three 

 butters might b'^ described as good. There were no moulds, and but very 

 few liquefying colonies present in the gelatine plates made at either examina- 

 tion. The number of lactic acid colonies were, however, considerable, and 

 the number appeared to have been as great at the .second examination almost 

 as at the first. 



Remarks on the apjmrent prevention of decomposition of No. 3 butter by 

 'Lvhat appears to have been a very small percentage of boric acid. When con- 

 sidering this question of the inhibition or ret;irding of bacterial growth by 

 the action of a preservative such as Ijoi-ic acid, the substance that is being 

 preserved must be considered. The addition of considerable quantities of 

 boric acid to ordinary milk does not prevent butyric fermentation therein. 

 But there a substance is being dealt with containing about 87 per cent, of 

 water, whereas with butter the percentage usually averages about 12. It 

 should now be borne in mind that the preservative is in solution in this 

 moisture, and when the percentage of boric acid in the moisture which is 

 contained in this butter (No. 3) is worked out, it comes to '2\b per cent. 

 Herein lies the secret of its great value as a preservative in butter in small 

 quantities, and also in other substances (such as condensed milk), which do 

 not contain large percentages of water. 



Monthly Weather Report, 

 hawkesbury agricultural college, richimond. 



Summary for October, 1908. 



(Points ... 9^ 

 Rainfall... I jj^^gg 



16 



8 



22 27 31 



2 18 



Mean for 16 yeurs, 164 points. 



„,. , N NE E SE S SW W 



Wind 



= 37i points. 



NW 



"79 327 7 



Thunderstorms on 30 th and 31st. 

 Greatest daily range of temperature, 48° on 6th. 

 Days on which temperature rose above 90° ... 



93-8" 92-5° 97*5° 98-4° 



6 7 2i) 30 



Frost on 10th. 

 A dry month, with mean temperature helow the average ; two heat waves pussoil over, tith and 28th. 



\V. MERVYX CARNE, 



Observer, 



