246 Report of the Animals' Division. [july, 



gas after the final racking has been made. This point should 

 be carefully observed in cases where the cider is filtered, since 

 the liquor as it comes from the filter is perfectly flat, having 

 lost its gas. Unless sufficient fermentation takes place in the 

 store-cask after bunging down, thus re-charging it with gas, there 

 is a strong likelihood of some disorder developing and spoiling it. 



Unfortunately, no particular rules can be given as to the 

 proper time for racking and filtering, since different ciders vary 

 very considerably as to the rate of fermentation, some ferment- 

 ing so rapidly that all the sweetness disappears in a few weeks, 

 while others ferment so slowly that they retain their sweetness 

 for months. Probably the best guide is the clearing of the 

 cider. This should be watched for carefully. When the liquid 

 begins to grow clear naturally it is generally a sign that fer- 

 mentation is coming to an end. Then is the time to rack. To 

 rack before the clearing begins is of comparatively little use, 

 because the cloudiness is due to the yeast plants held in 

 suspension. They are not removed in such cases by racking, 

 and hence fermentation proceeds after racking as vigorously as 

 before. Similarly, if the cider be filtered before active fer- 

 mentation draws to a close, unless such cider is consumed 

 almost immediately, the filtering is largely a waste of labour, 

 for the yeast plants quickly begin to multiply again, set up 

 renewed fermentation, and cause the cider once more to become 

 cloudy. At the same time, filtering is frequently of some service 

 in such cases as a means of temporarily checking fermentation. 



The same principles apply to the question as to the right 

 time for bottling cider. In the case of bottled cider, however, 

 the risks of disorders setting in are not so great as with cider in 

 cask, since air is completely excluded by the cork. 



This volume^ contains a review of the proceedings of the 



Animals' Division of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries 



during the year 1905 in the form of reports 



Report Of the ^y the Chief Veterinary Officer (Mr. 

 Animals' Division. / ^ , ^ , , , ^ • 



Stewart Stockman) and by the Assistant 



Secretary in charge of the Division (Mr. Anstruther). 



* Proceedings under the Diseases of Animals Acts, 1905. (Cd. 2,893, P'^ice is ) 



