IMPROVING QUALITY

Northern Advocate, 18 July 1933, Page 8

IMPROVING QUALITY

SEVERAL USEFUL HINTS. A 1 •*1 ’ ( NORTHERN DAIRY INSTRUCTOR. In the course of his annual report, Mr M. W. Porter farm dairy instructor, says that the season just ended*; has been the best ever experienced . for production in the North. The cream and butter grading at both Whangarei and Maungatapere factories have shown an improvement, i Conditions on the farm generally have been on a par with the previous season. Referring’ to quality, Mr Porter says that there was never . a time when the production of finest butter was so important. New Zealand butter had. to be so(d on a more or' less glutted market, and the premium for superfine cream should be some inducement during the present time of low prices.

One of the greatest faults on many farms was the lack of sufficient. boiling water, many people using a tinful only when at least 20 gallons was required. If sufficient boiling water were used twice daily, a very small amount of caustic -would be required to keep the plant in first-class order.

J Another point on which there was nuieh room for improvement was the keeping of cream after separating. Too many people kept the cream about the shed and although the shed might be a good one, there was generally contamination of some sort. A cream stand should bo erected ■Well v away from every likely contamination and v must be well ventilated, preferably from underneath,' with sufficient outlet at the top to create a good draught which was most essential. The*present time might be inopportune for spending much money on improvements, but many of the most urgent cases could be remedied at very little cost indeed.

The number of visits made by Mr Porter during the year was 1385. His classification was as follows.—•

The new sheds erected, 72 in all mostly complied .with requirements. Of the 4(1 machines installed, 36 had been passed as satisfactory, the remaining ten being incomplete. ;V

Good. Fair. Bad. 'Sheds .... ... (585 573 127 Machines ... 523 303 61 Hand .... ... .196 242 60: