650 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION M. 
Interest in the flax-fibre industry has entered into a new phase of existence, 
with a brighter horizon. 
Given suitable land, good seed, careful supervision, scientific degumming, and 
improved scutching, there is no reason why farmers should not devote part of 
their land to flax for production of fibre. It should return a better result 
financially and give greater employment than any other crop usually grown. 
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18. 
The following Papers were read :— 
1. Methods of Milk Recording. By ALEXANDER Lauper, D.Sc. 
In this paper a short account was given of the methods of obtaining the milk 
records of dairy cattle as carried out in Scotland and Ireland. In Scotland the 
work has been practically confined to the Ayrshire breed. A scheme has been in 
operation since 1903, but in the earlier years the number of herds under inspection 
was comparatively small. The work is now under the direction of the Scottish 
Milk Records Committee, a representative body in receipt of an annual grant 
from the Development Fund. In 1914 this grant amounted to 2,000/. The 
number of cows under inspection has increased rapidly from year to year, and 
during the present year has reached 25,000. 
The work is carried on through local societies consisting of twelve to twenty- 
four members, so that the work of each society is sufficient to take up the whole 
time of a recorder. The weighing and testing may be done every fourteen, 
twenty-one, or twenty-eight days, according to circumstances, an interval of 
twenty-one days being the most common in Scotland. The recorder arrives at 
the farm in the afternoon, weighs, and determines the percentage of fat in the 
evening milk and the morning milk next day. All the testing and weighing is 
done by the recorder, the farmer being only asked to supply details as to feed- 
ing, times of calving, &c. A copy of the record is left with the farmer, and a 
copy forwarded to the offices of the Central Committee. 
Finance.—The expense of carrying on a local society may be put at about 
80/. per annum. Part of this expenditure is met by a grant from the Central 
Committee, and the remainder is apportioned between the members. In some 
societies the members are charged so much per cow. The cost per cow is from 
1s. 9d. to 1s. 10d. per annum, and each member is charged on a minimum of 
forty cows. 
Results.—The systematic keeping of records of the yield of milk and the per- 
centage of fat has led to the gradual elimination of the less productive cows from 
the herds. In this way the average yield of the herds has been greatly increased, 
and also their value, especially for export purposes. In some herds the average 
annual yield per cow has been increased by 100 to 200 gallons in six to eight 
years. 
‘ The increase in the value, since the beginning of the scheme, of Pedigree 
(Milk Record) Ayrshires for export purposes is estimated at about 50 per cent. 
In this connection the importance of the sire being descended from a dam of 
good milking qualities has been proved by experiment, and cannot be too strongly 
emphasised. 
Classification of Cows.—For purposes of comparison the yield of milk is 
calculated to the equivalent amount containing one per cent. fat. 
In judging cows at cattle shows the more rational method of taking into 
account the milk-yielding capacity of the cow is gradually superseding the 
former method of depending solely on appearance. ‘Three classes are now com- 
monly adopted :—i., For cows giving over 1,200 gallons; ii., for those over 1,000 
gallons; iii., for those over 800 gallons. 
Trish Method.—The milk recording and testing in Ireland are carried out 
under a scheme of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction. 
Under this scheme the cows have first to be inspected and approved. The farmer 
weighs the milk on one definite day per week, and his herd and records are open 
