249] THE MA -^UFACTURE OF BUTTER 2 $ 



As a practical machine in the dairy industry, it was not 

 until the following year, in 1879, that the separator was 

 made commercially successful. During this year the Wes- 

 ton machine was produced in Denmark, and the De Laval 

 in Sweden. In 1890 important improvements increasing 

 the efficiency were made on the De Laval separator. 



The perfection of the milk separator and its successful 

 introduction is of great importance to the dairy industry. 

 Considerable interest, therefore, attaches to tracing the 

 various steps in its development — especially when it is re- 

 membered that all great inventions are evolved by the ad- 

 dition of ideas usually contributed by a number of indi- 

 viduals. The story of the development of the steam engine 

 is not different fundamentally from the story of the evo- 

 lution of the separator. 



THE BABCOCK TESTER 



The Babcock tester, perfected in 1890, is a simple device 

 by which the percentage of fat in milk can be tested. The 

 great need for such a test had long been felt. Already in 

 the early stages of the factory system, in 1863, the cheese- 

 makers were seeking a fair and accurate method of paying 

 for the milk. 1 Each patron was paid according to quan- 

 tity and not according to quality. It was charged that 

 adulteration and dilution were practiced. 2 In addition, the 

 fact that different cows and herds produce milk varying in 

 richness was also recognized. When the states began to 

 establish the office of " Dairy and Food Commissioner," 



1 Report of the Transactions of the N. Y. State Agricultural Society 

 for 1863, p. 172. 



J The N. Y. State Cheese Manufacturers' Association petitioned the 

 legislature to pass a law prohibiting dilution with water, adulteration 

 in any way, taking of cream, or holding back strippings. In 1864 the 

 legislature passed an act entitled, " To Protect Butter and Cheese 

 Manufacturers ". 



