ANNUAL REPORTS. 257 



Pure bred Southdown and Dorset-horn types will be 

 studied together with the following cross-bred types : — 



1. — Southdown ram on grade down ewes. 

 2. — Southdown ram on grade merino ewes. 

 3. — Dorset-horn ram on grade down ewes. 

 4. — Dorset-horn ram on grade merino ewes. 

 5. — Hampshire ram on grade down ewes. 

 6. — Hampshire ram on grade merino ewes. 



A certain number of the ewe lambs will be matured for 

 the purpose of determining the quality of wool, weight of 

 fleece, size and hardiness of the cross-bred types at maturity, 

 and to study the cost of keeping sheep under average New 

 England conditions. 



VI. MiivKiNG Machine:. 



One of the B-L-K milking machines was recently installed 

 in the dairy barn for the purpose of making certain investi- 

 gations into the practicability of machine against hand milk- 

 ing. As soon as the details of operation have been acquired 

 and the cows have become accustomed to the machine a test 

 of its practical working wall be begun and extend over a 

 period of six months or longer. In this test a comparison 

 of hand and machine milking will be made as regards the 

 following points : — - 



1. Cleanliness or sanitary condition of the milk. 



2. Time required for milking. 



3. Amounts of milk given. 



4. Cost of milking. 



Also a study of the machine milker to determine : — 



1. Durability of machine and equipment. 



2. Effect upon the flow of milk from continued use. 



3. Effect upon the temperament and healthfulness of the 

 cows. 



4. What Improvements could be made. 



