28 THE BUTTER INDUSTRY IN UNITED STATES [252 



results obtained were not accurate and the experiment was 

 not as easily performed as that of the Babcock test. 



The honor for perfecting the fat test belongs to Dr. S. 

 M. Babcock, an eminent American chemist and investigator 

 of dairy problems. He was formerly associated with the 

 New York Experiment Station at Geneva, but for many 

 years has been connected with the Wisconsin Experiment 

 Station. This invention might have been patented, and 

 would have brought a great fortune to Dr. Babcock, be- 

 cause, next to the separator, it is the most important inven- 

 tion used in the dairy industry. It has a wide sale, and is 

 in general use not only in this country but in Europe. In- 

 stead of securing a patent, however, Dr. Babcock gave this 

 invention to the world as a public benefaction. Dr. Bab- 

 cock is therefore honored not alone for his genius and for 

 the industry which he displays in his investigations, but 

 for his unselfish interest in the dairy industry and in the 

 progress of mankind. 



THE INTRODUCTION OF THE HAND SEPARATOR 



The hand separator was introduced about 1894. Its 

 more rapid introduction dates from 1898. 1 The effect of 

 the general use of the power separator made it necessary 

 to deliver the whole milk at the creamery or at skimming 

 stations where milk is separated and where the farmers 

 get their share of the skim milk to take back to the farm. 

 Frequently, however, this milk is run into a tank and al- 

 lowed to accumulate, the result of which is that the skim 

 milk deteriorates and loses considerable food value. The 

 use of the hand separator enables the fanner to feed his 

 skim milk in its very best condition to hogs or calves. 



When the power separator came into general use it was 

 necessary to establish numerous skimming stations, in 



1 H. E. Van Norman, First Lessons in Dairying, p. 88. 



