DAIRY AND SEED IMPROV'EMEXT MEETIXCS. 223 



the vacuum system, or vacuum and pressure, and the milk- 

 ers. 



The vacuum and pressure may be produced by several meth- 

 ods. A steam ejector and an air pump make a very satisfac- 

 tory form of power in a practicable dairy as the use of steam is 

 necessary for the washing and proper cleaning of utensils. Es- 

 pecially is this true of the machine milkers. 



The air pump is perfectly efficient for creating vacuum and 

 can be operated by any kind of farm motive power. A three 

 horse Dower electric motor is both convenient and economical. 

 Where electricity is not accessible the gasoline engine is a very 

 satisfactory source of power and could be used for many othc 

 purposes on the farm. 



The vacuum system is made up of gas piping to which is 

 connected a reserve tank, a regulator, vacuum indicators and 

 stanchion cocks. The gas piping runs in front and above the 

 cow stanchions. Between every two cows is placed a stopcock 

 to which the milkers are attached. The reserve tank is placed 

 in the piping system close to the source of power. It increases 

 the vacuum space in such a way as to handle any sudden inrush 

 of air, as at the time of attaching the milker to the cows. etc. 

 The tank itself is merely a fifty-gallon air-tight galvanized-iron 

 water tank, such as is commonly used for heating water in 

 kitchens and bath rooms. In close proximity to this vacuum 

 cham'ber is the vacuum regulator or safety valve. It corre- 

 sponds to the safety valve on the steam boiler and guards against 

 too great a vacuum, which is injurious to the udder and teats 

 of the cow. 



The milker consists of a heavy tin receptacle or pail surmounted 

 by a tightly fitting lid and a pulsator which is attached to the 

 stopcocks on the piping which is over the stanchions, or is on 

 the lid of the pail. The pulsator contains a piston which inter- 

 mittently cuts ofif the vacuum when the milk cocks on the lid lead 

 to the teat cups. Four metal cups having rubber mouth pieces 

 are connected to the ends of these tubes and are attached to 

 the teats of the cow. Half-inch rubber hose five or six feet long 

 connects the milker with the stanchion cocks of the piping sys- 

 tem. 



In operation the pump draws the air out of the piping sys- 

 tem, the stanchion cock is opened, exhausting the air from the 



