312 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



The followino- table shows the results of the tests of nor- 



mal milk, as classified : — 



Below 3 per cent butter fats, . 

 From 3 to 4 per cent butter fats, 

 From 4 to 5 per cent butter fats, 

 From 5 to 6 per cent butter fats, 

 Six per cent and over butter fats. 



.17 per cent of the samples. 

 .25 per cent of the samples. 

 .32 per cent of the samples. 

 .13 per cent of the samples. 

 .12 per cent of the samples. 



Large interests in the State are involved in the production 

 of sale milk, and to these the law requiring 13 per cent of 

 total solids is of interest and importance. As the solids 

 other than fat are comparatively constant in all kinds of 

 milk, and as the only element that changes very much is the 

 fat, the Babcock test has a practical interest in the infor- 

 mation it gives the farmer as to the total quality of his 

 milk. The solids other than fat seldom vary more than 

 three-quarters of one per cent, usually ranging from about 

 8.75 to 9.50„ Usually milk testing from 3.70 to 3.80 per 

 cent of fat is on the line of safety. Of the above samples, 

 33 per cent were below 3.80; GG per cent were 3.80 or 

 above. 



The range of variation in individual animals is much wider 

 than it is in the mixed milk of several animals. Any one 

 producing milk for market will have a more uniform article, 

 and be less liable to furnish milk below the standard, if he 

 mixes the milk of several animals. 



The samples of the mixed milk of herds tested by the 

 officer of the bureau had a range of from 2.30 to 6.10 per 

 cent of butter fats. Avoiding the violent extremes, the 

 range was from 3.30 to 5 per cent. 



Of all these samples of herd milk there were : — 



IVr Cent. 



Below 3.50 per cent, dangerously below the standard, 

 3.50 and 3.60 per cent, possibly below the standard, 



3.70 and 3.80 per cent, on the line, 



Above 3.80 i^er cent, undoubtedly above standard. 



9 

 19 



28 

 17 

 55 



72 



Two samples bought in the open market in a Massachusetts 

 city tested l.GO and 1.70; these were probably watered or 

 skimmed, and are not included in the above. 



