MOORE’S RURAL 1EW-YORKER, 
48 
amirir. 
DETECTING WATERED MILK. 
Dr. W. 1'T.f.ikchman of Lindau, lias been 
making some careful examinations of milk, 
with the view of determining its specific 
gravity, and lie is of the opinion that the 
employment of the hydrometer and eream- 
ometor furnishes a quick, easy and trust¬ 
worthy means of testing any considerable 
adulteration by watering or skimming, or 
both. Where these practices have been car¬ 
ried on only to a very moderate extent, tlac 
instrument, it. is true, will fail to expose 
them ; but so, also remarks Dr. FleISCHMAN, 
will the most elaborate chemical analysis. 
American chouse faetorymen will ho very 
glad to learn that upon the continent of Eu¬ 
rope, ami especially in Switzerland, the tests 
when properly conducted are regarded as 
trustworthy, and so much so that in the 
Swiss law courts all disputed points as to the 
quality of milk arc settled by the evidence 
given by these instruments, and from it there 
is no appeal. The American courts have not 
gone quite so far, but the fact that such is 
the case in Switzerland, gives additional 
strength to the value of these tests as conclu¬ 
sive evidence in cases of water adulteration. 
Dr, Ei.kihckmam inspected, personally, the 
milking at thirteen different cow stables in 
the neighborhood of Liaflau, containing in 
the aggregate, 128 cows, lie noted the spe¬ 
cific gravity of t he milk from each cow sep¬ 
arately, and from each stable of cows in 
bulk. The result of these observations is as 
follows : 
The mean specific gravity of milk from the 
whole 123 cows is 1.081098. The maximum 
specific gravity of milk from any one of the 
123 cows is 1.034300 ; and tho minimum spe¬ 
cific gravity of milk from any one of the 
whole 123 cows is I.0295Q0. The milk of 9 
percent, of tho cows exceed 1.033 in specific 
gravity. The milk of 89 per cent, of the 
cows ranged from 1.033 to 1.030 in specific 
gravity ; and the milk of 2 percent, of tho 
cows was below 1,080 in specific gravity. Tho 
moan specific gravity of the milk from 13 
cow stables ranged between 1.08085 and 
1.03285, or in round numbers, between 1.031 
and 1.033. 
After these experiments, says Dr. FLEISCH- 
man, “ We incur no charge of rashness if we 
assert that uo winter milk (obtained in sheds 
of at least 0 cows each; shows a specific grav¬ 
ity below 1.030 or above 1.033 ; and that, on 
the other hand, any such milk which exceeds 
these limits in either direction, is watered, or 
both watered and skimmed. When suffi¬ 
cient statistics have been collected as to the 
fluctuation in the specific gravity of the milk 
yielded by certain broods of cattle in certain 
districts, the indications of the areometer 
afford very useful and trustworthy basis for 
judging of its quality. All recent observa¬ 
tions tend, in common with our own practi¬ 
cal experiments, to prove that the composi¬ 
tion of milk is mainly dependent on the in¬ 
dividuality of the cows and on the breed to 
Which they belong ; and in a subordinate 
degree only on the quality of the food ; pro¬ 
vided, always, that this be sufficient for the 
animal’s wants. The specific gravity of milk, 
having regard only to healthy beasts kept 
exclusively for milking purposes, is by no 
means so subject to fluctuation as people 
were formerly inclined to believe. Our table 
gives a good example of how little the specific 
gravity of milk is altered by the gradual 
change from stall feeding to pasture feeding, 
and shows also that a decreased amount of 
food, while it may considerably affect the 
yield of milk, has veiy little influence upon 
its specific gravity. 
“ We often hear it asserted that milk which 
is very rich in fat runs the risk of falling 
under the areometric test, because its larger 
proportion of fat lessens its specific gravity. 
This assumption is, generally speaking, a 
fabe one. Our experience has not yet reached 
far enough to enable us positively to deny 
that a cow may Bomewhere be found whose 
milk shall be abnormally rich in butter-fat 
and yet so, relatively speaking, poor in all 
other fixed constituents as to show a mark¬ 
edly low specific gravity. But a case of this 
nort is certainly of tho very greatest rarity, 
if indeed it ever occurs, in a healthy beast,. 
Much rather ia it the rule with us that a milk 
very rich in fat is also rich in all other fixed 
constituents, and so still exhibits a high spe¬ 
cific gravity, Tho cows that figure in the 
above table were, at the time of our obser¬ 
vations, almost all at the most favorable pe¬ 
riod of lactation, and the milk of the breeds 
to which they belong i» admittedly not poor 
but, on the contrary, very rich in fat ; never¬ 
theless, the lowest specific gravity wo found 
was not below 1.0295.” 
The general conclusions of Dr, Fi.kischm an j 
in regard to the specific gravity of milk being 
without much variation wh=re the herds of 
a, neighborhood are taken—the milk of one 
herd compared with another—agree with 
the observations of our most experienced 
factory managers. According to their tes¬ 
timony taken in courts of law, the nianufao 
turers geein to be pretty generally of one 
opinion, that while the milk of single anf 
nials when compared, the one with the other, 
will frequently show considerable difference 
in specific gravity, the milk of one herd com 
pared with I hat of another herd in the same 
neighborhood, will show no material varia¬ 
tion. The question is of considerable im¬ 
portance and interest to faetorymen, and tho 
experiments and views of Dr. t’r.filsciLMAH 
will be regarded as confirming the doctrine 
that the cream gauge and lactometer should 
be admitted as trustworthy evidence in the 
courts, and sufficient to convict in cases of 
watering milk. 
-♦♦♦- 
MANAGE A ENT OF MILK FOR 
TRANSPORT. 
Him von Byiikn of Klostor, Nembsohen, 
in Saxony, lias for a long time supplied milk 
in large quantities for the use of tho Hospital 
at Lcipzlc, His experience, therefore, in 
transporting milk Ov.r long distances, enti¬ 
tles him to speak with some degree of au¬ 
thority in regard to the manner in which 
milk should be handled so that it will lie de¬ 
livered in Bound condition. The milk L cooled 
on a plan similar to that practiced in Amer¬ 
ica ; that is, by allowing cold spring water 
to tlow about thi vessels in which it is placed, 
but with this difference—tho vessels are of 
earthenware, and wc infer are in a shape 
more like our pans than tlm deep, narrow 
(mils used in Orange Co., N. Y. Another 
point of difference in the management of the 
milk is that when it arrives at its destination 
it is immediately boiled. Both skimmed and 
whole milk are supplied, and he says this 
boiling is absolutely necessary in the ease of 
skim milk, but not imperatively so as regards 
whole milk. 
When properly cooled, as above described, 
and then boiled after it arrives at its desti¬ 
nation it keeps quite sweet, even in the hot¬ 
test and most thundery weather. Perhaps 
some of our city milkmen who are in the 
habit of skimming milk freely, and who arc 
troubled more or less on account of its sour¬ 
ing, can get a hint from this plan of boiling. 
Again, Her VON JJskun prefers that the 
carrying cans be made of wood. He says he 
had previously employed the ordinary tin 
cans ; but they were so frequently broken or 
bent out of shape, the padlocks were so 
often lost, so much milk escaped from them 
when once they became at all misshapen, and 
their contents went sour during the transit, 
‘ that they were discarded hi favor of wooden 
tubs, and with the most satisfactory result*. 
Although we cannot agree with Her von 
Byxkn, that wooden vessels are better than 
tin for keeping milk in sound condition, we 
give his views as to the matter and adescrip 
tion of the tub or can used. And we may 
remark, in this connection, that it is quite 
probable the trouble in the tin cans came 
from the defective manner in which they 
were constructed, together with the light tin 
from which they were made ; for if heavy, 
substantial tin cans had been employed, and 
of u pattern that did not allow of milk lodg¬ 
ing in the scams and corners, but all parts so 
formed as to too readily cleaned, we see no 
reason why the milk should not keep sound ] 
during its transit. 
Wood absorbs moisture and tin does not; 
and all things being equal as to shape, the 
tin Is more readily cleaned and kept sweet. 
However, we give a description of the wood¬ 
en can and the method of keeping it sweet, 
as it may he suggestive to some of our milk 
dealers. 
The vessels employed, he says, are made 
of deal, 1 k*' centimetres in thickness. They 
are 00 centimetres in bight, of conical shape, 
and each contains 20 litres. At th* smaller 
end is a large opening 8% centimetres across, 
winch is closed by a strong wooden lid ; on 
this an iron band is riveted, which is fastened 
at one side to the cask by a hinge, and is fur 
nished at the other side with a screw, which 
works in a female screw sunk in the tub, and 
keeps all secure. Tho cost of sueh a vessel is 
about 4s. 6d ($1.20). As yet, he says, they 
have never required any repairs ; m> milt 
has ever been lost, nor has it at any time 
gone sour since those wooden casks were 
used in transport. 
As to their treatment after use, &c., he 
Bays :—“ Directly they are emptied of their 
Contents, tho vessels in which the milk lias 
traveled arc rinsed out with warm water 
and immediately sent back. They lie till 
next morning at the railway station here, 
and do not get a thorough washing until 
mid-day; so that, after having thus remained 
over 2-1 hours in an imperfectly cleaned state, 
they often acquire a strong acid smell. This, 
however, completely disappears when they 
are washed in the following manner ;—First, 
they are well brushed out with warm—not 
boiling--water, and then r'nsod With about 
R, litres of .a solution of soda ; this is poured 
from one cask to another, and the quantity 
mentioned will suffice for 20 vessels. They 
Stand upside down in the open air till the 
following morning, and immediately before 
they are again to be used are well rinsed with 
cold water.” 
Tho milk trade is every year assuming 
larger and larger proportions la this country, 
and in order to meet the demands of con¬ 
sumption, the distance of transport must be 
extended farther and farther. Any sugges¬ 
tions, therefore, as to the successful manage¬ 
ment of milk, so that it reaches the consumer 
in good order, must be opportune and of in¬ 
terest. 
She in? Huiikmlri). 
NEW RACE OF MILKING SHEEP. 
The Secretary of the Central Society of 
Agriculture of France, in a report for the 
years 1370-71, thus refers to a new race of 
mi Iking sheep : Alter so many ameliorations 
realized m England and France in relation to 
tho aptitudes of farm animals, wc might 
think that, there is no morn progress to be 
made in this direction, if new results do not 
manifest themselves from time to time. W c 
owe to our colleague, M. Gayot, the commun¬ 
ication of a recent amelioration of tills kind. 
M. do ltniy, an inhabitant of El-ko-lai, 
Algeria, lias carefully studied and made 
known a precious race of sheep for milking 
purposes, which ia supposed to have origin¬ 
ated in Chili. The owes of this new race, 
which has been cultivated at Malta, furnish a 
veiy abundant and prolonged accretion of 
milk. They furnish, after lambing, as much 
as two litres a day ; while the ewes of Avey- 
rOfl produce on an average only a quarter as 
much, or four to live diaiitres of a buttery 
milk, containing fat bodies with volatile 
acids, to which the best cheeses of Roquefort 
Owe their excellent quality. Wc know that 
ewes’ milk is, of all others, the meat creamy. 
The Maltese ewes can, besides, be submitted 
to fattening, and thus furnish successively 
milk and mutton. M. Gayot endenWirs to 
introduce this new breed into the interior of 
France. 
-+>+- - 
VALUE OF UNWASHED WOOL. 
Since the introduction of wool-washing 
establishments has rendered it possible not 
only to have wool washed, but also to sell 
unwashed wool, and thus avoid the trouble, 
as well as the danger to the health of the an 
imal, of the washing previous to .shearing, it 
has become of importance In fixing the price 
of unwashed wool, to ascertain with exact¬ 
ness the actual loss by tho washing previous 
to the shearing. H. Gokdkck carefully se¬ 
lected average animals from his flock of No- 
gretti and Ramboufilet half blood* crossed, 
and subjected small portions of wool, clipped 
about the middle of April, to the usual pro¬ 
cess for washing sheep, with the following 
results: 
Pure n'tHlriofi 
LOSS by'waHhhia. Wool. 
per cent. 
1. Ewn (Nearelti breed pre 
per cent. 
il'imlndiil). 
....62.3 
37.7 
2. Kwi<. 
....52.9 
•17.1 
3. Yourlirut ram. 
_59.7 
40.3 
4. Yearling ewe. 
_55.:i 
44.7 
5. Kwelumb... 
—01.0 
39.0 
These numbers, he remarks, will undoubt¬ 
edly be affected by breed, fodder, pasturage, 
&o.; but he suggests that tlie publication of 
the results of similar experiments by others, 
accompanied by description of their flocks, 
will in time afford a basis for the estimation 
of their sheep. 
- — 
ANNUAL SHEEEP SHEARING, 
Weight of fleeces shorn the last week in 
xr lwo u.. 1. ii . .1. •? 
<$l^ ‘^critenuw. 
MODERN BARBARISMS. 
In all parts of the United States there aro 
cruel operations for fictitious diseases, and it 
Is extraordinarily strange that men with 
iwiy pretensions to sanity should be led by 
popular error to believe In such absurdities. 
In Kentucky every horse happening to go 
lame or be merely stiff in his fore legs has 
the “sweeny,” and a hole is made in the 
shoulder and a quantity of irritating stuff 
put hi; and when a sore is mode to discharge, 
“ There,” says the wise aero, “ the sweeny 
was very bad.” In New York State 1 have 
seen tho chief farmer of a gentleman on the 
Hudson stuff pepper and salt in the opening 
after altering pigs and use turpentine or 
something as severe on every wound whether 
made accidentally or not. However, though 
it would be easy to add to cases mentioned, 
I will only say that there is ten times tho 
cruelty inflicted by stupid and iguoranb 
countrymen than by till the city brutes who 
only lash their horses with a whip; and if 
Mr.' I he au it would try to enlighten the raisers 
of stock, and have men to watch, not only 
the injury of foolish applications of inflam¬ 
matory articles, but the slow starvation of 
much young stock, he would alleviate much 
more misery on “God’s dumb creatures” 
than by annoying the public so as to cause 
the complaints so often seen in the New York 
papers. 
When I alter an animal, I do it in the 
quickest possible manner, and in no case 
linger about, dividing or dallying to cut “ just 
so.” 1 slash off the part after 'an opening 
lias been made to get at the testicle, and do 
nought more ; and in pigs, little or big, they 
I never do amiss. In lambs, [ draw the glands; 
for it can be done quicker. On no occasion 
j do 1 use any application, and yet there are 
thousands who will persist in punishing un¬ 
necessarily the poor animals in this necessary 
operation by lingering about to leave such 
parts as die away and are of no earthly or 
any other use in tho world. 
1 feel quite certain in my mind that if every 
drug store was smashed up, and none of any 
kind allowed to be used, that the number of 
livcs saved by the absence of means for the 
foolish people to drug and quack would be 
far greater than the few who would be lost 
for tho need of medicine. However, if mis¬ 
sionaries could be sent around to warn men 
who deal death by the stupid use of quack¬ 
eries, and mothers against dosing their young 
with remedies, there would be a thousand 
lives saved where one soul is in foreign parts. 
I have had charge of stock for more than 
forty years, consequently must know some¬ 
thing about it, and would willingly say more; 
but these ignorant men are not confined to 
the illiterate, and many papers are afraid to 
allow correspondents to speak plain lest sub¬ 
scribers should take offense. 
Working Farmer. 
-- 
THE DOINGS OF “OLD CREAMER.” 
The Jefferson Co., N. Y., Journal, June 12, 
publishes the following : — “Old Creamer” 
astonishes even her owner this week. It is 
safe to say that the cow has scarcely an 
equal iu this country or the world. Bhe is 
nearly full-blooded Ayrshire, weighs about 
1,100 pounds, is a handsome animal, and car¬ 
ries a bag that, for size, excels anything we 
have ever seen. Crowds gather from far 
and near to see her, and many of our citizens 
have been present to witness tho impressive 
ceremony of milking and weighing the milk. 
Below w<3 give her wonderful record for the 
past week. Can it bo beaten in the world ? 
1 handed you a statement of the amount of 
milk which tho Ayrshire cow, “Old Cream¬ 
er,” gave me for the week eliding Monday 
evening, June 2d, 1873, which was, upon an 
average, over 81 pounds per day. 1 now de¬ 
sire to hand you another, for the last week 
ending last evening, June Otl), 1873, which is 
an average of over 92,V£ lbs. per day, as fol¬ 
lows : 
ounces; i no., -it urn. n.oz«.; i iiwunuu., 
lbs. I oz.; 7 do., 20 lbs. to 20 lba. 2 ozs. ; lfi do., 
19lbs. to 19 lbs. 4 ozs.; 17 do., 18 lbs., to 18 
lbs. 15 ozs.; 9 do., 17 lbs. I oz. to 17 lbs. 15 
OZS.; 5 do., lfi lbs. 7 ozs. to lfi lbs, 11 ozs.; 4 
do., 15 lbs. to 15 lbs. 3 ozs.; 2 do., 14 lbs. I! 
ozs. to 14 lbs. 12 ozs.; 4 do., 18 lbs. 3 ozs. to 
13 llis. 8 ozs.; 14 do., 18 lbs. to 18 lbs. 12 ozs.; 
18 do., 11 lbs. 11 ozs. to 11 lbs. 15 ozs. The 
entire tinck of 190 slieep of all ages, mostly 
ungrown owes and ewes suckling lambs, av¬ 
eraged 13 lbs. 4 1-9 ozs. 
1873. 
At 5 A.M. 
At 12 M. 
At 7 P. M. 
Total. 
June 
3. 
....37‘nibs. 
31K 
29 lbs. 
87* 
*k 
4. 
31 g 
31X 
91*4 
It 
ft. 
....29 (estim’U) 28^ 
29 
<i. 
... .29 yf 
33 
:ti y t 
93W 
It 
7. 
....31 X 
32 
32fc 
06$ 
II 
8. 
81 
33 
90 
t« 
1). 
32* 
33 
98 
210 
219K 
218 X 
649K 
June 
10th, morning’s milk, 33 tbs. 
I think there is uo one, who has seen the 
cow, that doubts her capacity or disposition 
to yield 1,000 pounds of milk in ten consecu¬ 
tive days in the month of J une. 
I challenge tho world to produce, as to 
quantity and quality of the milk, her equal, 
with the same amount of feed and care 
whieh she has had—the lactometer and scales 
to be the test.—N. JJ. Jlungtrford. 
