1908.] 



Milk Tests in 1907. 



209 



In view of the established fact that one of the chief 

 sources of the disease is soil contamination, the importance 

 of destroying the carcases of diseased sheep, by cremation if 

 possible, cannot be too strongly emphasized. 



In this connection, attention may be drawn to section 6 of 

 the Dogs Act, 1906, which provides that any person who shall 

 knowingly and without reasonable excuse permit the carcase 

 of any head of cattle (including horses, mules, asses, sheep, 

 goats or swine) belonging to him to remain unburkd in a field 

 or other place to which dogs can gain access shall be liable 

 on conviction under the Summary Jurisdiction Acts to a fine 

 not exceeding 40s. 



An account of the disease known as Quarter 111, Quarter 

 Evil, or Black Leg, which are synonymous terms with " Struck " 

 and Black Quarter, is given in Leaflet No. 102, copies of which 

 may be obtained, post free, from the Offices of the Board. 



The milk-testing scheme of the Board, whereby farmers 

 who wish to ascertain the percentage of butter fat in the milk 



yielded by their cows can send samples 

 Number of Milk Tests to the Agricultural Colleges for analysis at 

 made in 1907. 6d. a sample, has now been in work for 



two complete years, and the results- 

 shown are on the whole satisfactory. The number of samples 

 submitted in some districts has increased, and there is evidence 

 that the advantages afforded by the scheme are becoming 

 appreciated. It must, however, be admitted that the progress 

 is by no means uniform, that very little advantage is taken of 

 the facilities offered in some parts of Great Britain, and that 

 the persons for whom it is intended are not those who make 

 most use of it. 



Out of the 20 samples sent to the Marischal College, Aberdeen, 

 13 came from Ross and 7 from the county of Aberdeen, none 

 of the other counties in the North of Scotland supplying, 

 any samples. Eight of these 20 samples came from the 

 representative of a large and wealthy proprietor, hut 

 the smaller milk producers, who would probably benefit 

 by the system, made very little use of it. Out of the 

 98 samples sent to the Edinburgh and East of Scotland 

 (3599) o 



