The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1901. TESTS AND CULTURE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LII, Issue 2602, 30 August 1901, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1901. TESTS AND CULTURE.

We have before us the August number of the New Zealand " Dairyman." It is a most creditable production doing very great honour to Mr John Sawers, and dairyfarmers would do well to study the valuable information in its columns.

Speaking of the re-ults of the lecent Dairy School at Stratford, the Dairyman says : " The most interesting and newest thing at the Dairy School was the fermentation test shown by Mr Instructor Singleton. A full pint jar of each supplier's milk was taken and this was placed in a bath and kept at a temperature of eighty-live degrees Fall., after ten drops of rennet had been added. When the milk thickened the curd was cut with a navrow-bladed knife and the whey run off. The jar was then returned to the bath and kept there for two hours, with the lid screwed tightly down. On unscrewing tbe lid a strong, offensive smell was noticeable. If the milk was tainted, bad-flavourhd, or gassy, pin-holes were much in evidence. Aa a means of convincing suppliers that their milk is not all that it should be, the test is quite the most useful yet introduced in this colony. It is more : It is the one thing needed."

Practical cheese-makers heie on the Peninsula tell us that they quite agree with the remark that such a test is the one thing needed, and our factories could hardly go wrong in carrying it into practice. It must be a most convincing proof to suppliers that they should take more care of the perfect cleanliness of their milk and thus lead to the attainment of higher results. We, on the Peninsula, isolated as we are, and distant from what may be called the scientific dairying centres, are at a great disadvantage as compared with many other districts, and we think that the very len.st the .Agricultural Department could do would be to allow Mr Singleton, or some equally up-to-date instructor, to pay us a visit once a year and practically demonstrate to our factory managers and the proprietors of private dairies the results of new discoveries and improvements, for there seems to be continual development, and those who do not follow it get behind the times. The success of the Barry's Pay Factory cheese at the Palmerston North Show, which means the Championship of the Noith Island, was due to the fact that that painstaking and intelligent worker, Mr W. K. Henderson, went to the expense of paying a personal visit to the scientific centre and studying the new modes of culture by which, we understand, the very finest (lavour can be assured.

It was the knowledge on this subject gained by Mr Cunningham thatmadehis famous shipment of 300 cases of cheese realise 48s to 49s at Home last season and top the market, beating all prices reached by Australian and Canadian. It was from this same cause, too, that the Le Bon's butter was in such demand and realised such satisfactory rates, so the only conclusion we can come too is, that to get the best prices we must have the latest knowledge. We would, therefore, urge upon the Akaroa County Farmers' Association the necessity of moving in the direction to secure a visit from Mr Singleton during the early spring, &o that Peniu-

sula factories and farmers may have the chance of making the best article from the commencement of the dairying year,

Yet another thing the Association might discuss, is the addition of refrigerators to factories. It is said the Cost is only some £300, and when we think of the advantage gained the expense seems small. With a refrigerator, cheese can be kept in perfect condition and ripening can be arrested so that companies can hold for higher rates if they desire to do so. The thing has been done already at some important factories, and discussion on the subject cannot fail to be profitable whatever the result.