THE ZAALANDIA MILKER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7111, 25 April 1910, Page 9

THE ZAALANDIA MILKER

A. SUCCESeiFTnj DEMONaKfiATION. WHAT A BELVEDERE FARMER THINKS OF IT. On Saturday afternoon a representative party of Wairarapa dairy farmers, not only of the immediate' district but from Featherston and Martinborough, were at the farm of Mr W. Zabell, on tho Belvedere road, Carterton, to see a practical demonstration of th» new milking machine invented by Mr J. Normaa Daynh, a. proaraguva dairyman of tha district who has U»s been a student of maohonical milking. The demonstration fully j*oved that the mnanina was as a&niye in operation as it was low in cast and sima[« in •vaetrmvtioa. Th» knowWg* shewn by rntnvjr of thess prea«ni) of the principle of tho several machines on the

market proves the keen interest being taken in mechanical milking. Every part of tho Zealandia was overhauled, and compared with those of other machines, users of rival mechanical milkers being very critical and closely searched for vulnerable points. The only opinion worth having in regard to" the success or otherwise of a now idea in this connection is that of tho man who has put it to a praotical extended test, working it under j the varying conditions met with in dairy farm practice. It is, therefore, instructive to have the experience of Mr Zabell, who has been using the Zealandia for several weeks past. He had milked by machine for nearly three seasons, but iust before his experience of the Zealandia he had practically decided to give up machine milking. Mr Zabell is a quiet, diffident man, who chooses his words. Hi 3 opinion can be accepted with confidence. . , As far as his experience has gone Mr Zabell says ho is quite satisfied with the efficacy of the Zealandia. the milk is obtained without any undue pressure on the teats, and the teat civns hold on well, an important item at "this time of the season. Jivcrything bas worked very smoothly, and nothing could be simpler or easier to cleanse, a consideration of vital importance. The cost of oil in running two machines for nine days was 4s 2d. The first thing which strikes one on seeing the machine in operation is tlio great simplicity of the principle. The pulsating apparatus is attached to tlio main-shaft at the head of each bail and resembles nothing so much as a small bicycle pump, with two noles on one side, through which the vacuum and air are alternately passed, lno cup is equallv simple. This is a plain metal oyclinder with a small pipe at the side for armlication of tho pulsation movement. The inflation is merely a straight piece of rubber tubing, which can be purchased m three-tee* lengths. This length will give seven inflations at a cost of about -Is 0d an inflation. , ~ „ An important feature of the Zealandia is" that bv the simple turning of a screw the length of pressure on the teats can .be regulated according to the flow. In the height of the summer the pressure may be made brief and the release long, and when the flow is small as the end of the lactation neriod approaches the pressure mav bo* made long and the release brief. Thus the milk flow is encouraged and there is not the liability or the teat cups to fall off as is the case where tho action is the sumo whatever the state of the flow. A point in the Zealandia which will appeal to dairymen who are troubled with contaminated vacuum tanks is that the most complete. facilities are provided for cleansing the tank, and every precaution is taken to prevent its contamination. On tho bottom is a lid nearlv the full size of the circumference" of the vessel. This can be removed by the turning of a thumb screw. Owing to the large opening and the structure of the bottom being concave the tank can be thoroughly cleansed'in a minute or two. Then by reason of the pipes being placed high and an interior partition being provided the tank will bold fifteen gallons of water without any of the water getting back into the pipes or to the vacuum pumn. The lid,' or removable bottom", can be left off between milkings, so that air may circulate throughout the system and keep it sweot. The great, advantage of this vacuum tank is that there is no reasonable possibility, of the tank becoming contaminated. Another safeguard against milk getting into the system and contaminating it is .the provision of a good sized window in tho lid of the can, which enables the operator to see when the can is getting full and when the cow has given all her milk. On tho whole Mr Daysh has succeeded in constructing a. machine which by reason of 'its simplicity, effectiveness and-the ease with which it can be cleansed will appeal to _ the practical <la!ry farmer, while ,its cheapness should have the effect'of encouraging many farmers to adopt mechanical milking.