6o2 Journal of Agriculture. [lo Oct., 1908. 



be beyond the scope of that body. I therefore propose to submit that 

 the work of organizing be done by the Agricultural Department in conjunc- 

 tion with the boards of directors of the Butter Factories in the various 

 districts. The work should be confined to a limited area for a com- 

 mencement, and for that purpose somei of the more closelv settled 

 districts should be selected. A meeting of the dairymen should be called 

 at the instance of the board of directors, and the officer to whom the work 

 of organising may be entrusted should lav the scheme before them, and 

 at the same time, enrol the names of dairymen who were prepared to 

 submit their herds for testing and undertake to render the assistance neces- 

 sary for the proper carrying out of the work. 



Having had considerable practical experience in the wt-ighing, sampling 

 and testing of milk at various agricultural shows in the State, I am fully 

 convinced that any s\ stem of testing for butter-fat that does not provide 

 for the testing of individual milkings, or if composite samples are re- 

 quired, the taking of a proportionate part of each milking, will not be 

 accurate. The general experience in Victoria has been, owing to the 

 greater length of time elapsing between the night and morning milking 

 that the quantity of milk given in the morning is verv murh greater and 

 the test lower than the night's milk. 



I desire to point out, before proceeding to outline any scheme to get 

 absolutely accurate and reliable results, that a daily weighing and testing 

 of the milk is essential. As the adoption of this method would ap 

 parently involve a great deal of labour and some expense, it is proposed 

 to submit a simpler system sufficiently accurate to enable dairymen to 

 locate the unprofitable cows for rejection from the herd. The weighing 

 of the milk and the mere fact of taking a small quantity for testing is 

 simple in itself, but the difficulty in providing for variation in quantity 

 and quality in the night and morning's milk is one which will have to be 

 overcome. 



In the proposed scheme, the following conditions would haw to be 

 complied with : — 



1. Any person who will agree to keep a lecord of individual cows 



during the whole milking period to the extent of weighing 

 the morning and evening's milk on at least three days every 

 month; and also to take the samples for testing, will be 

 admitted to membership. The number of members may be 

 limited at the discretion of the board of directors. 



2. The milk will have to be preserved, and a composite sample 



sent in once a month for testing as directed. 



3. Members will be expected to provide themselves with scales, 



weighing can, sampler, record chart, and sample bottles for 

 each cow, and a box for holding samples. 



4. Members shall assume the responsibility of delivering the samples 



to the place where sampling is to be done, on such days as 

 may be directed by the [)erson in charge of that work. 



5. The local butter factory will undertake to place testing ap- 



paratus and facilities at tli" disposal of the officer appointed 



by the Department of Agriculture. 

 According to the conditions specified the dairyman is involved in a 

 trifling outlay only ; the work and expense being divided between the 

 butter factories, which supplies power and material for carrying out 

 tests, and the Department of Agriculture, which supplies the organiser 

 and tester. 



