GLEANINGS.

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1913, Page 3

GLEANINGS.

Liberal winter feeding of the dairy cow is undoubtedly of the utmost importance, and it is a deplorable fact that a number of cows in New Zealand die in winter through starvation. It is absolutely essential that the cow should reach her period of lactation in fit condition, and this cannot be accomplished on bare winter pasture alone. Having a large stomach-capa-city, the cow requires a bulky feed.

It is very necessary that the creamcans should be thoroughly cleansed and scalded. Although in the majority of cases the cans are washed at the factory, it is most desirable that they should be cleansed again before being used, and the method advised for the separator applies also in this case. Having finished separating, first wash the various parts of the machine with warm (not hot) water to" which has been added a little washing soda or a reputable cleansing powder. A brush should always be used in preference to a cloth, which rapidly becomes unsanitary. Thoroughly scald with boiling water, and place to air, preferably in the sun hut in a sweet atmosphere, until again required. With this process no drying is necessary. On the care of the separator largely depends the success of home separation. Unless this is kept sweet and clean it is impossible to secure the cream in a sound state. Thorough cleaning after every time of use is imperative—not merely the running tl>rough the machine of some hot water, but the dismantling of the machine and the effective cleansing of all the parts. The idea that it is not neccFsary to wash the machine more than j once a day is entirely wrong, and if I practised will invariably cause rapid deterioration of the cream. If there is one principle more than another which should be emphasised in the successful handling of cream i, is that of cleanliness. With milk and all its products this is the great secret of success, and the farmer separating his own cream should paste this fact in his hat if he would succeed in producing the best article and thereby afford the factory manager a chance to turn out a first-class butter. Let it always be remembered that it is the first-grade article that blings the first-grade price, a fact particularly emphasised this season. Conditions on all oversea markets have enabled buyers to discriminate more strongly than in the past between first and second qualities. It therefore behoves the farmer who is unable to make a daily delivery of his cream to take such care of it that he will be able to land it at the factory in the best order possible under the circumstances.

It is a well-established' fact that the quality of the manufactured article depends principally on the character of the raw product, and this applies with special force to cream separated en the farm and delivered to a distant manufacturing centre, often at infrequent intervals. Further, it has been conclusively proved that good butter can be made from gathered cream, if this has been carefully handled and delivered in a good condition to the factory. Given a daily delivery of well-cared-for cream, it is possible to make just as good butter under home separation as under the whole-milk principle; but as this is not always possible—in fact, the system is generally in operation where transit difficulties make a daily delivery inrracticable —the necessity for care on the part of the farmer in the handling of the cream is seen to be a vital consideration in the success of the undertaking.