REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. igj 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



the laboratories of the Experimental Farms, with the result, as might be expected, of 

 proving them worthless and fraudulent. In most instances there is a direct failure 

 to obtain a larger yield of butter — and in those in which a somewhat greater weight 

 of product results, the increase has been shown to be due to the presence of excess 

 of water or curd, or both, rendtning the article one which the law considers adulterated, 

 further, such so-called butter, even when freshly made, is far inferior to ordinary 

 good butter, and having exceedingly poor keeping qualities, soon becomes altogether 

 unmarketable. 



We know as a scientific fact that the ordinary methods in use in our dairies and 

 creameries, if rightly (^onducud, practically abstract all the butter-fat, and we also 

 know that there are no means for increasing the butter-fat in cream by the addition 

 of foreign materials, by absorption of oxygen, or by conversion of the albuminoids, 

 as claimed by many of those having methods for sale. Any addition to the weight of 

 butter by artificial means must come from the admixture of curd or water, or both^ 

 and such, as we have already stated, do not yield either a legal or marketable butter, 

 but a product which will bring trouble and loss to the maker. 



It is all important to the dairying interests of the Dominion, more especially as 

 we are now building up a large and valuable export trade in butter with Great Bi'itain, 

 that we should have nothing to do with any of the methods here alluded to. 



WATER FROM FARM HOMESTEADS. 



Of the 75 samples of water received during the past year, 41 have been submitted 

 to complete analysis ; their data are recorded in the subjoined table. The remaining 

 samples were not examined either owing to the quantity of water being inadequate, 

 dirty bottles, or old and used corks having been employed. In order to avoid disap- 

 pointment and unnecessary expense, farmers and dairymen wishing to avail them- 

 selves of the privilege extended in this matter, should first write for instructions on 

 the collection and shipment of samples, furnished on application, so that the water 

 when received will be in such a condition that a reliable analysis may be made. 



The analysis of mineral waters and examination of waters for medicinal purposes 

 is not undertaken ; it is only samples from farmers' wells and dairies that can be 

 received, and these must be taken in accordance with the directions already referred 

 to, and the express charges prepaid. 



The waters comprise 21 samples from Ontario (of which 10 were reported 

 polluted, 5 suspicious and probably dangerous, and 6 as free from contamination) ; 

 5 from ^Manitoba ; 4 from the North-west Territories ; ?> from British Columbia ; 3 

 from Quebec ; 3 from New Brunswick ; 1 from Nova Scotia. 



Much has been said in past reports of this Division on the danger to the health 

 of the farmer and his family in using water contaminated by organic filth, and also 

 as to the efFect of such water upon the thriftiness and health of his live stock. We 

 have also pointed out how essential pure water is for creameries and cheese factories, 

 for without it first-class products cannot be obtained. The following paragraphs, taken 

 from a former report of this Division, however, may be worthy of repetition, as showing 

 how well water may become contaminated: — 



' The most common cause of well pollution has been the sinking of the well in the 

 barn-yard or under one of the farm buildings. We object to this practice on principle 

 and hold that only under the most exceptional circumstances can it be followed with 

 impunity. From our experience, it would appear that in the majority of instances 

 it is only a matter of time before such wells act as cess pits. Unless most careful 

 provision is made to prevent the liquid manure from soaking into the ground, it sooner 

 or later, according to the nature of the soil, finds its way into the well. If this be so, 

 it behooves all farmers and dairymen to locate their well at a safe distance from such 

 infecting sources. 



