II July, 1910.] Rcviciv of the Dairying Season, igog-io. 451 



success is to be achieved, and lie siiould realize to the full the necessity for 

 taking all parts of the machine to pieces, cleansing and sterilizing it after 

 use and keeping it free from contamination until it may be required again. 

 A ^ high standard of cleanliness must be continuously observed. 



Some time ago the Director of Agriculture requested me to inquire and 

 ascertain what effect the use of the machine had on the quality of the 

 milk. I was able to get monthly tests from a herd for four years prior, 

 and for four years subsequent, to the installation of the machines. I 

 found that the averages were quite as good with the machines as they had 

 l)een before. 



Payment for ^VINTER Milk. 



Dairymen are being constantly taken to task for not producing heavier 

 supplies in the winter time. It is regarded as a reflection on them not 

 to have more milk from their herds during the autumn and winter months. 

 Some enthusiasts go so far as to regard it as possible to produce butter 

 for the London market all the year round. Whilst I do not take such an 

 extreme view, it is certainly advisable that all herds be kept in condition. 

 by growing and conserving fodder, and in a state of profit to supply our 

 export connexions with Africa and the East, as well as local requirements. 



As a commencement, any class of fodder will do so long as it is luscious 

 and nourishing. The particular method must be determined by environ- 

 ment. One has a block suitable for irrigation ; another, in the same dis- 

 trict, is not able to irrigate. Elsewhere, a dairyman may have an 

 abundance of maize coming in immediately the pasture is exhausted ; this 

 he can feed direct to the cows from the paddock, and also have plenty of 

 j^reen oats and hay for the winter. On such a farm, even a silo is hardly 

 necessary, whilst a farm in the same district not so favourably situated 

 would have, no matter how well the plans were made, a gap of three 

 months between the pasture and the earliest green stuft. On such a farm, 

 a silo is indispensable. 



There are, however, two very important determining factors which 

 should receive consideration. One is, that short leases discourage winter 

 dairying ; it is not considered worth while to erect silos or pay much 

 attention to cultivation, and the farm is exploited to the fullest extent from 

 the grazing point of view. This may be a short-sighted policy, still the 

 facts remain that such is the case to a very noticeable extent in dairying 

 districts. The other factor is. that butter factories handle only a frac- 

 tional part of the turnover in the winter time to what is manufactured in 

 the spring months. The dairyman who produces butter to enable markets 

 to be retained for patrons who supply in the spring is penalized for 

 their benefit. His cost of production for every pound of butter is 

 greater than that of the spring producer, and yet he is charged a great deal 

 more for his manufacture. Some system is recommended to butter fac- 

 tories that would enable the cost of manufacture to be averaged the year 

 round, or better still, the debit for manufacturing should be in an inverse 

 ratio to the cost. In paying for spring supplies a sum should be set 

 aside each month to enable the cost of manufacturing debited in the winter 

 time to be reduced. The policy of the butter factories in the past has 

 actually discouraged winter dairying ; yet those connected with the factories 

 blame the dairymen for not going in more for dairying at that time of the 

 year. The small difference in price is certainlv not sufificient to pay those 

 who provide for winter dairying for their greater increased cost of pro- 

 duction. 



