AYRSHIRE HERD TESTS. 



117 



twenty-two determinations, running from October 17 to Feb- 

 ruary 21, showed that maxiinum acidity occurred during No- 

 vember, and was practically constant during December, Jan- 

 uary, and February, and lower than in November. 



The actual results obtained during the season are given in 

 the following table, the figures being for acetic acid and aver- 

 aged from the samples obtained from the surface and below 

 the surface. 



AYRSHIRE HERD TESTS. 



FRED W. MORSE. 



Since 1894 the department of chemistry has conducted 

 tests of several herds in the state, for the Ayrshire Breeders' 

 Association. The plan of the tests has changed somewhat 

 from year to year. The tirst test lasted but one day, then, for 

 several years, the time required was two days; from 1898 to 

 1900, seven days were included; and finall}^ in i90i-'o2, the 

 test was made to consist of two days at monthly intervals 

 throughout the year. Until the adoption of the monthly 

 test, all the sampling and weighing was done bv a station 

 representative; but during i90i-'o3, only one month's test 

 was so conducted. The other monthly samples were sent by 

 the owners to the station, accompanied by the weights of 

 milk for the two days. 



In all these samples the fat was determined by the Bab- 

 cock test. The total solids w^ere in most instances, until 



