TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION M. 651 
to inspection at any time without notice. The Department’s inspector checks 
the farmer’s weighings, and takes samples of the milk at intervals for analysis. 
Approved cows, of proved milk-yielding capacity, are then eligible for entry in 
the Department’s herd book. 
A short account was given of Gavin’s statistical inquiry into the accuracy of 
estimating a cow’s milking capability by her first lactation yield [Gavin, ‘ The 
Interpretation of Milk Records’ (Journal Royal Agricultural Society, 1912, 
p. 153); “Studies in Milk Records’ (Journal Agricultural Science, 1913, vol. v., 
parts 3 and 4)]. 
2. Milking Machines in Victoria. By R. T. Arcuer. 
There are about fourteen different makes of milking machine in this State, 
and as far as can be ascertained 2,000 farmers have been supplied with 
machines equal to 6,000 single machines or pulsators. Some of these have been 
put out of use for various reasons considered below. One of the principal advan- 
tages in connection with machine milking is that it makes a farmer practically 
independent of labour, which is a difficult problem in this country. 
When the machines are handled properly by those who take an interest in 
them they give thoroughly satisfactory results; especially is this the case with 
heifers first broken in to the machine. It is found also that the milk keeps satis- 
factorily. That this should be the result with proper handling is proved by 
the experience at the Lady Talbot Institute. On the other hand, it is difficult, 
almost impossible, to persuade the average dairy-farmer to exercise the neces- 
sary care in cleansing the machines, and when this is neglected the quality of 
the product suffers. 
Types of Machines. 
All the machines but one in use in Victoria are worked on the vacuum 
principle, which is produced either by pump or by a steam-ejector. The 
systems in use are the bucket and the conduit or tank. In the conduit system 
the milk is conveyed from the teats through pipes to a tank in any convenient 
place, but the pipes become an additional menace in careless hands. They are 
of brass or gun-metal with polished surface inside. Experiments are being 
made with strong clear glass tubes to replace the metal. If these prove satis- 
factory it will be easy to see if they are clean. In this system various valve 
devices are used to provide automatic release of the milk so that the vacuum 
may be sustained. 
Another type of apparatus used for milking, which on account of its apparent 
cheapness and simplicity is likely to find favour with the uninitiated, consists of 
four ordinary milk-tubes or teat-syphons with rubber tubes attached to convey 
the milk to the buckets. 
Many reliable users of the milking machine claim that with the machines the 
cows never have sore teats, and if used on a cow with sore teats they rapidly 
heal and do not bleed as they do when milked by hand. Some claim that con- 
tagious mammitis is more likely to spread with machines, but this only applies 
to the careless man. 
Cost of Upkeep. 
This varies according to care bestowed, but under proper treatment it may 
be put down at about 1/. per machine per annum. Aluminium is largely used 
now in the teat-cups, and many of these appear to corrode rapidly at the top 
and bottom. Some attribute this to milk, but it is more probably due to the 
soda used in cleansing. It is questionable if aluminium is suitable for this 
purpose. Light gun-metal or brass cups nickel-plated appear to stand better. 
The Sanitary Aspect. 
The greatest problem in connection with the milking machine as it presents 
itself in this country is with regard to sanitation. The difficulty is to impress 
users with the necessity of properly cleansing the machines as soon as possible 
after using. The experience gained through the Lady Talbot Institute goes to 
prove that with proper care milk can be produced giving an exceptionally low 
bacterial count. 
