506 



Milking Machines. 



[Sept., 



appearance of the crop is in marked contrast with adjoining 

 lots sown by other drills where the straw is finer and weaker, the 

 ears shorter and many tillers only half developed. 



Examination of the root systems of the several lots discloses 

 interesting differences. In the case of wheat sown in the 

 ordinary way there are two tiers of roots on each plant, one well 

 below the surface level, the other near the surface. In the case 

 of the new drill referred to, all the roots are practically at the 

 surface ; they are stronger and longer, the topmost acting as 

 surface anchors after the manner of tree roots. These' 

 differences would seem undoubtedly to bear some relation 

 to standing power. An important factor in crop produc- 

 tion is the power of the straw to stand. If by practicable cultural 

 methods this can be improved, an enhanced yield and a profitable 

 return for liberal manuring would be rendered much more 

 certain. 



Over-thick seeding tends to weaken straw ;" on the other hand 

 a very thin crop is likewise easily knocked down. The limit in 

 the case of drilling seems, in general, to be between lh and 

 B bushels per acre. Where 2 bushels are drilled, possibly 3 

 should be broadcasted, but much depends on soil, climate, 

 variety, and time of sowing. For broadcasting on the Kent 

 system and under rich conditions, 7 pecks are considered enough 

 for October sowing, and 8 to 10 pecks for November or December. 

 Under the poorer and more exposed conditions of the Downs, up 

 to 3J bushels per acre are sown. A useful motto is " Sow earlv 

 and save seed." 



In a report on the use of milking machines, prepared in 1917 



for the Committee on the Production and Distribution of Milk 



and printed in its Final Eeport, one of the 



Jr ,T ng conclusions stated is that " good results 

 Machines. bg expected unless the parts f the 



machine which come in contact with the milk are thoroughly 

 cleansed after each milking." 



Dr. Thomas Orr, Medical Ofiicer of Health for Ealing, in the 

 issue of Public Health for March last, discusses the milking 

 machine both in its general aspects and also from the point of 

 view of clean, that is to say, bacteriologically clean, milk. After 

 sketching the genesis of the milking machine, and paying a 

 tribute to Dr. A. Shiels of Glasgow, whose machine, in 1891, 

 was the first to be provided with the pulsating device to 



