ll)-2-2.] 



Field Drainage Investigations. 



775 



When cheese-making takes place on farms, the whey, which 

 has a considerable food value, is largely used for pig-feeding, 

 but in the case of depots the amount is too great for it to be used 

 in this manner ; also, owing to its bulk and the cost of transit, 

 it is impracticable to convey it from the depots to the farms 

 for use thereon. Whey is consequently largely wasted all over 

 the country to the extent of millions of gallons annually, and 

 its disposal is, moreover, a source of considerable embarrass- 

 ment to many cheese-making depots at the present time. If 

 turned into sewers it destroys the efficiency of filter-beds ; if 

 allowed to p^ss into streams it causes a state of pollution 

 which gives rise to a nuisance ; and if irrigated on land it is 

 liable to pollute the neighbouring wells and to kill vegetation. 



(2) Whey contains valuable food materials suitable for 

 human consumption, particularly milk sugar (lactose) lactal- 

 bumen, butter fat and mineral salts. Collectively they 

 amount to about 6 J lb. in every 100 lb. of w'hey. 



(3) In this country, while great quantities of lactose are 

 being thrown away in whey, lactose is actually being 

 imported from abroad. 



During the year ended 31st March, 1922, satisfactory pro- 

 gress was made with the extraction of crude lactose from the 

 whey received at the factory, and some 15 tons of this crude 

 material were produced. 



The investigations which have been in progress for some 



years into the methods and costs of field drainage have now 



. reached an advanced stage, and it should 



Field Drainage , i . y . 



_ .. .. ° shortly be possible to compile a preliminary 



Investigations. 1 u V^. • ;i t 



° report upon the results obtained. In the 



course of the investigations, tw^o public demonstrations have 

 been given, one at Aubourn Fen, near Lincoln, in November 

 last year, and one at High Hilden, Tonbridge, in October last. 

 By means of these demonstrations the agricultural public have 

 been made acquainted with the wide range of devices which 

 are available for mole and tile drains, for ditch making and 

 cleaning, and for clearing water-ways. The preliminary report 

 will deal with the mechanical and economic questions involved 

 and will afford guidance as to the best and cheapest methods 

 of performing the various operations. The economic aspect 

 of the question is, however, one that cannot be speedily ex- 

 plored, since the efficiency of a drainage system over a series 

 of years is the final test. An outstanding illustration is fur- 



