state Dairy Association. 



271 



THE BABCOCK TEST. 



(By F. L. Austin, Secretary Missouri State Dairy Association.) 



Any farmer can test his own cows with the Babcock test and 

 learn definitely what they are doing-. It is not a difficult operation, 

 but, like all things that are worth while, it requires careful and 

 systematic work. It takes but little time to make the test and 

 a half dozen cows may be tested nearly as quickly as one. 



4-Bottle Babcock Tester. 



The outfit necessary is as follows : For a six to ten cow dairy, 

 one 4-bottle Babcock tester; four milk test bottles; 1 17.6 c. c. 

 pipette; 1 17.5 c. c. acid measure; sulphuric acid and a number of 

 glass jars holding the samples of milk. For a larger dairy than 

 ten cows the machine should be a 12-bottle machine. 



For taking composite samples a "milk-thief," or sampler 

 should be included. This is simply a brass rod about a quarter-inch 

 in diameter by thirty inches long. The sample is taken by insert- 

 ing the rod to the bottom of the bucket and closing the top by 

 placing the thumb or finger over it. A spring balance scale for 

 weighing the milk should accompany the outfit. 



SAMPLING THE MILK. 



First, determine just what cows are going to be tested and 

 make a list of them. Then prepare the jars for the samples by 

 labeling each jar corresponding to the cow for which the sample Is 



