35^ Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [lo May, 1911. 



Keeping Milk Sweet over Sunday. — G.R. states that he objects to ;ill un- 

 necessary Sunday work, such as carting milk to a cheese factory. He asks what 

 would be the best method of keeping milk sweet over Sunday There would be 

 three batchesi — Snuirday evening, Sunday morning and evening? 



Answer. — The best method of keeping milk sweet over Sunday is to exercise 

 scrupulous cleanliness, and to reduce the temperature to below 60 deg. Fahr. The 

 mi.k shou!d be fit for cheese-making on the Monday under favourable conditions. 

 Preservatives of any kind are not recommended. 



Reduced Yield of Milk.— H.S. writes that, although his cows have been 

 milking only three months, they are not yielding nearly as much milk as pre- 

 viously. 



Answer. — Cows require succulent fodder for milk production. When hay 

 is fed, it should be chaffed and soaked with as much water as it will soak up for 

 12 or 24 hours, or they will not be able to keep up the flow of milk. 



Sediment in Milk Pan. — H.S. desires to know the cause of the large amount 

 of sediment which remains at the bottom of the pan when milk is scalded. 



Answer. — When milk is heated in a vessel uireclly over the flame, a portion 

 of the albumen coagulates, and forms a coat on the bottom. To avoid this, the 

 milk should be scalded by standing the vessel containing the milk in a vessel 

 of boiling water until the desired temperature is obtained — 160 to t8o degrees is 

 the most suitable for scalding milk. Any disease germs that might be present 

 would be destroyed at that temperature. The temperature should be ascertained 

 by a thermometer which can be purchased for is. 6d. from any dairy implement 

 agent. 



Care of Dairy Utensils. ^ — H.S. states that, although his milking buckets 

 are kept scrupulously clean, they are going into holes as if they were corroding. 



Answer. — Buckets and other utensils generally used for handling milk are 

 made of iron or steel, and then coated with tin. If anything rough, such as sand 

 soap, ashes, &c., is used when these vessels are being cleaned, the coat of tin is 

 soon worn off, and the iron left bare. This is attacked by the acid in the milk, 

 which soon gives it a honey-combed appearance, and no amount of scouring will 

 get the dirt out of the pits so formed. If the vessels are worth it, they can be 

 re-tinned at a cost of a few shillings, which will make them as good as new. To 

 clean utensils, first rinse ou; the milk with cold or luke-warm water, then scrub 

 well with a stiff brush in boiling water in which a little washing soda has been 

 dissolved. Rinse with boiling water, and leave upside down to drain and dry. 

 Never use a cloth for dairy utensils, as it is almost impossible to keep it clean and 

 sweet. Never use dairy utensils for water, as it causes them to rust where the 

 tin is worn or scratched off. 



Underground Silo. — S.E. asks whether it is advisable to build an under- 

 ground silo. As he has plenty of sand, sandstone, and water he proposes to make 

 it of concrete. 



Answer. — The Department does not recommend the use of an underground 

 silo. Unless it is in a very dry position it is difficult to keep drainage out; also 

 the labour of enipying an unflerground silo is very great, as the silage is heavy to 

 handle. If concrete is to be used, it would cost less and be more satisfactory 

 to have the silo entirely above ground. The dimensions of a 60-ton silo are 

 15 feet in diameter by 20 feet high. It is impossible to say the exact propor- 

 tions for mixing without knowing the material which is to be used, but 5 parts 

 metal and 2 parts sand and i part cement make a good mixture in most cases. 

 If the silo is reinforced with wire it would take about 30 casks of cement to 

 build one of the above dimensions. 



Overground Tank. — E.C.L. desires dimensions of, and materials required 

 for, a 20,000 gallon tank, not to be more than 7 feet high and to open at the top. 



Answer. — An overground tank of 20,000 callon caoacity, 7 feet high, would 

 require to be about 22 feet square. A square tank would take less material than 

 an oblong one, but a circular shape is preferable. Either reinforced brick built 

 in cement and rendered, or reinforced cement concrete would be satisfactory. If 

 good metal and sand be procurable near the site, concrete would be cheaper than 

 brick. The following are the quantities for a brick and a concrete tank re- 

 spectively : — 



Bkick. Concrete. 



Bricks ... ... 9,000 M^-tal . ... 18 cubic yards 



Cement ... ... 12 casks Cement ... ... 21 casks 



f^aiid ... ... 10 cubic yjirds Snnd ... ... 11 cubic yards 



Wire, 8 gaugt- ... 2 cwt. Wire, 4 gauge .. 5 cwt. 



Wiie, 6 gauge ... 2 cwt. 



