and Machinery at Bristol 
151 
the blades are placed the same distance apart. This knife is 
passed through the curd, cutting it into cubes. The temperature 
is then slowly increased and the whey expelled. When in skilful 
hands, these knives are equally applicable to any system or any 
description of vat. The prize of 3/. was awarded to Mr. W. 
Oilman for No. 2040, as being, in the opinion of the Judges, the 
best adapted to general purposes. 
Class VIII. — Cukd-Mills. 
The use of a curd-mill is to reduce the mass of curd into sepa- 
rate particles, which become cooled and aerated during the 
operation. There are three separate principles of arranging 
the working parts. In one, the hopper is fixed to an iron or 
wood stand, and the ground curd is delivered from a spout into 
a receptacle prepared to receive it ; in another, the hopper 
and movable part are attached to a skeleton-frame, called a 
ladder, resting on the top of the tub or vat into which the curd 
falls when ground ; the third is attached to the lip of the tub by 
a clip, and held in its place by set-screws. The mechanical 
arrangement likewise differs considerably. One consists of a 
metallic, galvanised, slotted concave, into which are geared 
either one or two cylinders, on which are fixed rows of hooked 
teeth. These work into the slots of the concave, carrying por- 
tions of the curd with them as they revolve ; the others consist 
either of one or two rollers, the teeth of which are variously 
engaged. The rollers are sometimes made of wood, but more 
commonlv of galvanised iron. They are driven by hand at a 
high speed. No. 2041, exhibited by William Oilman, though very 
roughly constructed, was on correct principles. It consisted of 
two wooden cvlinders, with iron spikes placed in rows. To my 
mind its great merit consisted in the cylinders revolving at dif- 
ferent speeds, thus insuring greater regularity of feed and better 
work. The prize in this class was awarded to Mr. Bamford's mill. 
No. 2380. This was made entirely of galvanised iron. It con- 
sisted of two spiked cvlinders, w orking up to a spiked breast. 
The hopper, when turned back, sets the cylinder free. All the 
working parts admit of being removed with the greatest facility 
and despatch, and can easily be cleaned. It is highly essential 
that all the working parts of a curd-mill which come into direct 
contact with the curd should be cleanl v finished, otherw ise there 
is the danger of the curd being bruised, and a portion of the 
butter separated. The time occupied in grinding 10 lbs. of 
curd of a uniform quality varied from 5 to 40 seconds. 
