280 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 21, 1895. 
Hitherto it has been laid down by authorities that quality 
in milk fluctuates 3 or 4 per cent.; it is also admitted that the 
milk of a “stale” cow is less rich by 5 per cent, than that of 
a “fresh” cow—a “stale” cow meaning one that has been so 
long in milk after calving that there is a falling off in both milk 
yield and richness ; a “ fresh ” cow, one that has recently 
calved. This has formed a basis for analyses made in the 
interest of the consumer. It has been regarded as a safe guide, 
a higher per centage of poverty in quality being invariably 
taken to indicate just so much addedjwater. Having regard to 
the simplicity of milk adulteration, and to the temptation which 
a farmer struggling with adversity has to indulge in it, it is only 
right that some check in the guise of a fair test should be kept 
upon it. It is equally right that the producer should have fair 
play, and therefore it is all important that the scrutiny should 
be just and thorough. 
A case recently tried in the Marylebone Police Court so 
clearly points to the possibility of erroneous analyses, that it 
is worthy of special notice. The report says that two sum¬ 
monses came before the Court, issued at the instance of the 
Hamps*^ead Vestry, against a dairy farmer named Robert G. 
Norman of Hill field Farm Dairy, Bushey, Herts, for sending 
milk to London which on analysis was alleged to have been 
adulterated by the admixture of 6 and 7 per cent, of water 
respectively. The sanitary inspector took samples of the milk 
on its arrival at the Kilburn Railway Station on August 11th 
and 12th. Professor Stokes analysed the samples, and certified 
them to contain 6 and 7 per cent, of added water. The West 
London Dairy Company, to whom the milk was consigned, also 
had it tested by Mr. Lloyd, the analyst who certified it to 
contain as much as 9 per cent, of added water. Both certificates 
were met by Mr. Norman with the plain answer that the milk 
was in the same condition as taken from the cow, and luckily 
for him it was arranged that Mr. Lloyd should see the cows 
milked, and make an analysis of that milk. He saw the 
seventeen cows milked in the middle of a field. All the milk 
was put into a large churn, and he took a sample. The result 
of his analysis showed 8 per cent, of added wa^er. 
Mr. Lloyd said he believed the only explanation to be given 
was the exceptionally hot and dry season this year, and its 
effect upon the cows. The dry season had so affected the food 
as to alter the composition of the milk. The poorness of the 
food would affect the quality of the milk and diminish the 
solids. It was not the dryness of the food eaten that changed 
the quality of the milk, but the nutriment obtained out of it 
by the cow. The quantity of water drank by the cow was not 
important. In dismissing the summonses, Mr. Plowden, the 
magistrate, said the 8ubs‘antial quesMon underlying all such 
summonses was whether or not there had been fraud—that 
must be proved by cogent evidence, for it was a serious matter 
for an honourable and respectable man to be convicted of such 
an offence. Mr. Lloyd’s analysis must be taken as a perfectly 
honest one, and it showed that due allowance had not been made 
for the very hot weather and dry season. 
We have quoted this important case in sufficient detail to 
make it quite clear, because it demanded something more than 
a mere passing notice. We have long held that if some such 
scheme of Government supervision of dairy farms in force in 
Denmark were possible wi'h us, it would be for the mutual 
benefit of producer and consumer. “ Honourable and respect¬ 
able ” men would then not only have the projection of a skilful 
Government inspector, but they would also receive invaluable 
advice and guidance in the provision of food, and the best 
method of using it for the cows. To have a full flow of rich milk 
we must feed aright, under a sound method of food production 
as well as of its use. Had dairy farmers generally such a method 
entering into the economy of farm management, they would 
have come through tbe great drought with comparative ease. 
There would have been little if any shortness of food supply or 
deterioration of milk quality. It may seem hard—almost cruel 
—to say this to men struggling with adversity ; but surely it 
must be granted that he is their true friend who, knowing how 
many of them might do so much better, strives to assist them 
in doing it. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Couch fires are burning everywhere wherever we go; they are a sign 
and token of the doing of much good work, the autumn to get the land 
clean. Twenty-four of them did we see in one field in Yorkshire a few 
evenings ago. The following day we came upon a long line of them 
on a south country farm, and it was delightful to see the men doing 
their utmost to keep the fires going and to set fire to other heaps. If 
ever we are to have clean land it is surely now after six months of 
summer followed by another month of fine weather. Autumn tillage, 
too, is being done far more generally than usual; we were much 
pleased recently to see furnace ash being carted upon a Midland farm^ to 
be ploughed into the heavy land. Such signs of sound energetic action 
make us hopeful for the future of farming. 
The Wheat sowing is in hand, also Rye and Winter Oats. Wheat 
should be sown only on deep sound loam ; it, with the other crops 
mentioned, should be got in now without loss of time. Where new 
layers of mixed seeds or Rye Grass are wanted, it is a good plan to sow 
now soon after the Wheat is in, because a full plant seldom fails from 
an autumn sowing; but sowing with spring corn is always much more 
speculative, as many a farmer has found to his cost this year. Vetches 
should also be sown soon; a second sowing early in October is also 
worth while as a connecting link between the first sowing and spring 
crops. Frosts in Derbyshire dales have touched some vegetation ; they 
are a reminder to push on, using green Maize, holding in hand crops less 
susceptible to frost. Cows will eat Maize after frost has turned the tops 
of the plants brown, but it is not so nutritious then. Mention is made 
of this because we have already seen sheepfolds on roots. The only 
roots that should be in folds yet are early sown White Turnips; all 
other root crops should be held over for winter. Dale farmers have no 
occasion for early folds, plenty of herbage have they on the pastures, 
many of them have mown a fair second crop of grass for hay. 
The Royal Commission on Agriculture. —The second meeting 
of this body took place on Tuesday last at 23, Great George Street, 
Westminster, Mr. Shaw Lefevre, M.P., presiding. The other Commis¬ 
sioners present were Viscount Cobham, Sir Nigel Kingscote, Mr. R. 
Giffen, Mr. Everett, M.P., Captain Owen Thomas, Mr. Lambert, M.P., 
Mr. W. Long, M.P., Mr. J. Gilmour, Mr. C. Whitehead, Mr. C. N. Dalton, 
and W. C. Little, with the Secretary (Mr. H. Lyon), and the Assistant 
Secretaries (Mr. C. Crawford and Mr. F. Freeman Thomas). Five 
Assistant Commissioners were chosen to travel, four of them in England), 
one in Scotland, and gather information for the central body. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Oamden Square. London. 
Lat.51°32'40" N.: Long. 0=^ 8'0" W.: Altitude. Ill feet. 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
In THE Day. 
Rain. 
1893. 
September. 
i Barometer 
at 32°, and 
Sea Level. 
Hygrometer. 
Direc¬ 
tion of 
Wind. 
Temp, 
of soil 
at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Sun. 
On 
Grass. 
luchs. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Inchs. 
Sunday .. 
10 
30-010 
54-9 
49 2 
N.E. 
59-0 
65-8 
45-2 
103-9 
41-2 
— 
Monday .. 
11 
30-226 
59-6 
52-7 
N.E. 
58-1 
68-0 
45-4 
112-1 
39-8 
— 
Tuesday .. 
12 
30-329 
60-2 
52-9 
B. 
57-9 
69-9 
46-8 
119-1 
40-3 
— 
Wednesday 
13 
30-230 
54-2 
49-9 
S.W. 
57-6 
71-0 
42-1 
U8-0 
37-2 
— 
Thursday.. 
14 
30-246 
65-9 
60-9 
N. 
58-2 
77-4 
54-2 
111-9 
49-7 
— 
Friday .. 
15 
30-226 
59-6 
65-0 
S.W. 
58-7 
75-9 
50-2 
112-3 
44-8 
— 
Saturday .. 
16 
29-922 
60-4 
56-3 
N.E. 
69-1 
67-6 
49-2 
84-4 
43-1 
0-164 
30-170 
59-3 
53-8 
58-4 
70-8 
47-6 
107-4 
42-3 
0-164 
REMARKS. 
10th.—Nearly cloudless morning, overcast at times in afternoon, and fine evening. 
11th.— Dull early, and generally overcast till 1.30 P.M.; bright afternoon and evening. 
12th.—Clear and fresh, with warm sunshine. 
13th.—Sunny, but rather hazy. 
14th.—Almost cloudless early and in afternoon, but a good deal of cloud in morning. 
15th.—Warm, with brilliant sunshine almost throughout. 
16th.—Bright early, overcast after 9 A.M.; spots of rain in afternoon; wet evening and 
night. 
A fine week with much sunshine, and rain on only one day. Temperature above tlie 
average.—G. J. Symons. 
