1907.] 



Variations in Milk. 



205 



to gather his fruit by mid-July at the latest, unless the variety 

 is a very late one, dig the plants in, and plant a crop of savoys 

 or sow onions. I have been astonished at the magnificent plants 

 some growers turn out in a year ; even experienced cultivators 

 might be deceived into thinking they were at least two years old. 

 While, however, the system is quite practicable in a private 

 garden, a little reflection will show that it is not so suitable for 

 market growers with large cultures, unless (1) their land is of 

 the best, and (2) they can command a special price for a limited 

 quantity of fine fruit. These " biennial " plants do not, 

 except in special cases, yield a great bulk of fruit, but produce 

 a few very large and juicy examples. If the grower cou]d find' 

 a special market for selected fruit at an enhanced price, he might 

 have no cause for complaint, but ordinary rates would not 

 be remunerative. There is, too, the question of the previous 

 and successional crops to consider. The strawberries go on the 

 ground one year, and come off it the next, at a period when only 

 a limited number of vegetable crops are available for clearing off 

 or planting, as the case may be. T do not seek to condemn the 

 " once-fruiting " system. It is interesting, and is conducted 

 by many gardeners in a way that redounds greatly to their 

 credit. But I am not quite sure that it could be carried out with 

 equal success by the rank and file of market growers. Anyway, 

 they will be wise to look at it in all its bearings before they put 

 much money into it. Walter P. Wright. 



VARIATIONS IN THE COMPOSITION OF MILK. 



Alex, Lauder, D.Sc. 



In 1900 a Departmental Committee was appointed by 

 the Board of Agriculture to enquire into the composition 

 of milk, with special reference to the provision of Regulations 

 under Section 4 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1899 ; and, 

 since that time, the subject has attracted increased attention, 

 not only on the part of the chemist, but also on the part of 

 the practical dairy farmer. 



Articles have appeared in this Journal from time to time 

 emphasizing the importance to the dairy farmer of a knowledge 

 of the quantity and quality of the milk produced by his cows, 



