THE ESTIMATION OF FAT IN MILK AND CREAM. 



It is now the practice in all well-managed creameries to base 

 the price paid for milk on the percentage of fat which it con^ 

 tains. Sometimes cream itself is purchased, and this, too, is 

 valued according to its fat content. On the person, therefore, 

 who is entrusted with the estimation of the percentage of fat, 

 whether in milk or in cream, there rests a heavy responsibility. 

 If he is to do justice to all concerned he cannot too seriously 

 study the instructions herein contained, nor can he bestow too 

 great care on every detail in sampling, testing, and recording. 



THE TESTING ROOM AND ITS EQUIPMENT. 



It is assumed that every creamery is provided with a well 

 lighted room, properly equipped and used solely for testing, 

 in which the following appliances and reagents are conveniently 

 and neatly arranged : 



1. A steam turbine centrifuge for twenty-four bottles, pro- 

 vided with means of heating the test bottles in winter. 



2. An ample supply of test bottles and stands; the former 

 numbered consecutively by means of small brass labels twisted 

 round the neck, and the latter by numbered enamelled strips 

 fixed on the top of the rack between the two rows of test bottles. 

 There should be no duplicate numbers, which are a common 

 cause of confusion and error. 



3. A large copper water-bath for forty-eight test bottles, sup- 

 ported on an iron stand, and heated by means of a steam pipe 

 under the false bottom, or by a No. 4 Primus paraffin lamp. 



4. Pipettes for measuring out 1 c.c., 10 c.c., and 11 c.c. 



6. A 250 c.c. burette for sulphuric acid reading 10 c.c., and 

 a 50 c.c. burette for amyl alcohol reading c.c. 



6. A good sink, with a hot-water supply and a set of jets for 

 rinsing test bottles. 



7. Some No. 8 or No. 10 shot for mixing samples and cleaning 

 out bottles. As this can be used again and again, only a small 

 quantity is necessary. 



8. A supply of washing soda, or some good cleansing powder. 



9. A bottle of strong ammonia, specific gravity *880, provided 

 witn a 2 c.c. pipette and rubber filler. 



10. A small bottle of strong hydrochloric acid. 



11. A hydrometer and trial jar for sulphuric acid. 



12. A hydrometer and trial jar for amyl alcohol. 



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