COMPOSITION OF MILK IX CAPE COLONY. 



lOI 



Setting out the results of the 1,007 samples of this table in monthly 

 averages we get the following figures : — 



Table III. — Monthly Averages for 190S. 



The monthly averages, as will be noticed, do not fall below the 

 limits, and the percentage of fat is noticeably above the limits 

 adopted in this laboratory. According to these figures, the 

 proportion of milk solids other than fat, in the milk of the Cape 

 Division does not appear to vary by as much as one part in 400 

 {i.e. less than -25%) between Summer and Winter. The percentage 

 of fat increases in March and remains very nearly constant until 

 it falls again in September. The total solids are also higher during 

 those months than during the remaining months of the year. 

 Generally the average milk appears to be better during the winter 

 months. As already indicated, amongst the milks comprised 

 in the above list are 62 samples reported adulterated ; had these 

 been omitted the figures would obviously have been more favour- 

 able. 



For purposes of comparison monthly percentages for the year 

 1908, made up from 17,433 samples received from the farms 

 supplying milk to the Aylesbury Dairy Company are appended 

 (See Page 102). Mr. H. D. Richmond remarks, with regard to 

 these results that " there is the usual difference between the morn- 

 ing and evening milk of 0*4%, and the lowest fat occurs in June 

 and the highest in the last four months of the year. It is a little 

 unusual that the same average percentage of fat occurred in four 

 successive months as it has generally been found that October 

 and November are the months in which the fat is highest while 

 September and December are not quite so good. As an indication 

 of the influence of the temperature of the air on the quality of the 

 milk, it may be mentioned that October and November were mild, 

 v/hile a cold spell occurred in December : mild weather has a 

 tendency to occasion a flush of milk comparatively poor in fat 

 whilst cold weather acts in a contrary direction. The average 

 percentage of fat (3-75) is the same as that found during 1907 

 and agrees with the average of the last ten years." (H. D. 

 Richmond. "The composition of milk, 1908." Analyst Vol. xxxiv. 

 p. 208). 



