PERCENTAGES OF WATER IN BUTTER. 595 
Is tHe Burrer-TRIER RELIABLE IN GIVING A PRACTICAL 
GuIpE TO THE ExtTEeNT oF MoIstTuRE IN BuTtTer? 
For some’time I have regarded the use of the steel trier 
as unreliable in providing a practical estimation of the 
extent of moisture in butter, and, after comparing its worth 
with accurate analytical tests, my suspicion has been justi- 
fied. In support of my contention we have evidence in the 
results of important tests published in the Australian States, 
in which one finds an instance of excessive moisture being 
confronted with an average percentage of water in a sample 
of butter examined. In such a case as this the trier had 
certainly been deceptive,.as was proved by the analyses. 
Further proof was observed in a report issued by a foreign 
journal, giving the percentages of water in butter from 
different countries, and it remarked that a sample of dry 
consistency proved to contain over 13 per cent. of moisture. 
The same may be said of the Danish butter; and, to show 
conclusively the weakness of the trier, the following table 
of practical tests and analyses of South Australian butter 
is given :— 
No. of Percentage of Indications of Moisture Consistency or 
Sample. Water Found. on Trier. Texture, 
UeSode ar os 9°0 Very dry Greasy, overworked. 
eeaweseecens 12°5 Very moist 
Dranniccisancee 10°9 Very moist 
A isecaasie wes 14°1 Very dry 
Deoeisocpaece 10°1 Moist Greasy, overworked. 
Giveneenesees 11°0 Moist 
Wescinnaa arate Se Dry 
pispouddeeseen 11°5 Very moist 
Se Seneieonased 11°5 Moist 
Nae ctsecmasies 11°4 ; Dry 
US leap eaosepoce eG: Dry Greasy, overworked. 
D2 ecomctlsscecs 10°5 Very moist 
US eomausececee 11°2 Dry 
WAR Sarsecies tei 11°38 Dry 
UB acteeasescas 10°1 Dry Greasy, overworked. 
Gitceseceetee 10°2 Dry Greasy, overworked, 
Wifeswascicces ss 12°2 Very moist 
Lt rodaag caaae 13°2 Dry 
Me banheneoroe 11°4 Very moist 
A) Benen 12°3 Fairly dry 
ll neclacconannd 13°3 . Moist 
Dep seobbo0aRsD 10°4 Dry Greasy, overworked. 
oieaesrenwe 10°0 Moist 
No. 4 shows a high percentage of water, with a very dry 
appearance to the trier; but this was a sample of unsalted 
