1905.] 



Tests for Farmers' Milk. 



743 



obtained from The Secretary, Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 

 4, Whitehall Place, London, S. IV. 



It is a well-known fact that in the vast majority of cases the 

 milk given by the cows in this country exceeds in butter-fat and 



however, occasionally, that for one reason or another a cow may 

 give milk which does not contain those percentages (3 per cent, 

 of butter-fat and 8*5 per cent, of other milk solids) ; and in such 

 cases the dairyman, when prosecuted, is required to prove that 

 the milk is genuine. In order to avoid the trouble and annoy- 

 ance of a prosecution, farmers, dairymen, and all other cow- 

 keepers are strongly recommended to have samples of the milk 

 of their cows tested from time to time. By this means they 

 will be able to watch the seasonal and other variations in the 

 fat contents of the milk, and by modifications in the feeding, 

 housing, or time of milking of their cows, and, if necessary, 

 by disposing of animals that give milk of low quality, to keep 

 the quality of their milk at a satisfactory level. 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have ascertained 

 that, with the object of assisting farmers in the direction 

 indicated, most of the Agricultural Colleges and Agricultural 

 Departments of the Universities have made arrangements for 

 determining the percentage of butter-fat for a fee of sixpence 

 per sample. A list of these institutions is given below. 



It must, however, be understood that : — 



1. The report sent will only refer to the percentage of butter-fat. 



2. Each report refers only to the sample tested, and implies 

 no guarantee whatever as to the bulk. 



3. Each report is supplied only for the information of the 

 milk producer, and must not be used as evidence in case of any 

 dispute between seller and buyer, or where the quality has been 

 questioned by any public authority. 



The directions issued by the institutions must be carefully 

 observed. They require, as a rule, that : — 



1. The fee of sixpence should be sent with the sample. In 

 the case of Essex, however, the fee charged by the county is 

 one shilling ; while no charge is made by the West of Scotland 



Tests for 

 Farmers' Milk. 



other milk solids the percentage specified in 

 the " Sale of Milk Regulations, 1901," made 

 by the Board of Agriculture. It happens, 



