NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2004, 21 July 1892, Page 24

NOTES AND QUERIES.

M. H. — In order to make good butter, having as an essential preliminary observed absolute cleanliness in the withdrawal of the milk from the cows, if you have not a separator set the milk in a pure and perfectly dry atmosphere and keep the dairy or apartment at an even temperature. If this can be steadily maintained at about bOdeg, shallow pans will throw u\> the cream in about 24 hours. If you adopt the deep-betting system, the new milk should be at a temperature of from 90deg to 95deg when poured into the vessels, and then quickly cooled down to from 40deg to 45deg. It must be observed that in the heat of summer the milk should be poured into the shallow pans also at a temperature of about 95dbg, and rapidly cooled to 45deg, else it is liable to sour prematurely and coagulate before much of the cream has risen. When the cream is skimmed and set apart for ripening, as skimmings are added the whole should be well stirred and incorporated to ensure even ripening. In churning commence slow and only gradually increase the speed, but ceasing when the butter is in granular form, because if you have a suitable churn the butter can be washed quite free from all buttermilk. " The buttermilk contains two constituents which if left in the butter are ultimately certain to destroy its flavour. These are sugar and casein. While the sugar is the primary cause of fermentation and partial decomposition, the casein is responsible for its continuation." The more thoroughly, therefore, the buttermilk is removed, the better the chance of the butter continuing sound and sweet. In salting only the finest and purest salt, ground as fine as possible, should be used. Regarding the quantity of salt, Professor Long cites the particulars of an experiment made by a professional man of eminence in order to test what quantity of salt can be used in the preservation of butter to the best advantage. Five samples of butter, all from one churning, were respectively salted with Joz, Joz, foz, loz, and ljoz of salt per lb. At the end of six months the butters were tested. The best sample was that which had been salted at the rate of Joz to the lb, while the worst sample was that which had been salted at the rate of ioz to the lb, and the worst but one was the sample that had received the largest quantity of salt. Salting of butter demands much upon taste, and if for export, on the ruling taste in the market it is destined for. For example, in many English markets mild-cured butters are preferred, while in other markets, and especially in mining and other industrial districts, strong flavoured and heavily salted butter (up to and over 2Joz of salt to the pound of butter) are preferred by the working classes. G. H. writes :— I should feel obliged if you could give, in Notes and Queries, an account of the process in making fish guano. And the selling price per ton in Britain. An interesting letter on this subject appears elsewhere in this issue. We have submitted your query to the writer who kindly furnishes the following in reply : — Fish Guano. — There are several processes for making this manure. Ammonical salts in Mr Pettitt's case was the primary object — the residdum formed the manure. The fish is chopped up by a machine and mixed with a spray of muriatic acid, and allowed to settle, then passed through a machine similar to a pug mill for working clay, after which it is artificially dried. In cases where the offal of fish is obtainable (this is the most nitrogenous), the process is easier, and when mixed with specially prepared lime, the drying is more rapid, and when used on stiff soils of clay is of further value. By analysis, and measured by the percentage of ammonia and other fertilising agents, the cost was L 4 5s per ton for manufacture, after paying LI per ton freight (by sea) for the offal in casks. The cost here should not exceed 5s per ton for offal, and fish unsuited for the table. Pinus Insignus.— "A Planter" writes .-—Having recently heard it asserted that the cuttings of the Pinus insignus will, if stuck in the ground, grow as readily as the cuttings of the willow or poplar. I should like to know if any of your numerous readers have tried the experiment, and, if so, with what results. Replies on the above subiect will be esteemed a great favour. A.B.C. — Mr Beverly replies to your query : — The pipe will carry about 1J heads of water. With 50ft fall the discharge is T4 cubic feet ; with 60ft fall it is T63 cubic feet. The pressure at the bottom of the gully is 1301b per square inch. A 7in pipe of No. 20 iron would resist this pressure, but No. 18 would be safer for the lower part. The Government have altered the gauge box of late, the mean pressure being reduced from 7in to 6in. Engineers estimate a head at 1 cubic foot per second, or 60 cubic feet per minute J. S. and others write :— A star of great brilliancy, which appears near the horizon a little south of east about 7 in the evening, and passes overhead on its course west, has caused some interest here both on account of its great brightness and a peculiarity it seems to possess of almost disappearing at times. Information as to name and the cause of fluctuation in its light will oblige. Mr Beverly replies : — The star you refer to is the planet Mars, now nearing opposition. Its brightness does not fluctuate, except when light clouds happen to be passing over it. S. C. C. — Received too late for this issue. Shall find a place for it next week. Nero. — You will require to apply to the Minister of Marine, at Wellington. All necessary particulars will be forwarded to you on application. Patrem. — The fact that the agent signed the book is strong evidence against him, but it is not conclusive, and all depends on the balance of testimony. Lease, Dunedin. — We are of opinion that it is good for one year only. J. W. J. — Wo do not know of any way by which you can get the information you refer to, and the ascertaining of the market value of the properties would be a very difficult thing. Certainly the liquidator should periodically furnish -a statement to the shareholders. R. N. — Was returned. You should have received it long ago Wanganui.— Have not been able to make room for it. If you send your address, shall post you a Daily Times containing report. Inquirer. — A mixture of lime, salt, and water is the best preservative for eggs the following being the proportion used :— Six to eight quarts of salt, one bushel of lime, 60gal of water. The stronger the lime water and the more free from sediment the better. Slake the lime with a portion of the water, then add the remainder of the water and the salt ; stir well at intervals, and then let it stand until well settled. Either dipor draw off the clear pickle into the caskor vat in which it is intended to preserve the eggs. Proportionately smaller quantities of the pickle may, of course, be made. M. F. Shepherd.— The best butterine is composed of oleomargarine, real butter, and vegetable oil, and is prepared by the aid of milk. Oleomargarine is obtained by melting the "offal" fat of cattle that are slaughtered for beef, and only the best of this fat is fit for the finest qualities of oleomargarine. The fat is passed through a machine, which reduces it to a pulp ; the pulp is melted, and after being cooled has the sterine extracted by hydraulic pressure, leaving a clear animal oil, which amalgamates readily enough with the other ingredients of which butterine is composed. This oil is churned in milk, whose butter is obtained in the process, and whose flavour, a sine nva non, is communicated to the whole msbs. An amalgam is then made with a due quantity of vegetable oil, probably cottonseed oil, and of butter. Old Settler. — Your article (in type) is unavoidably crushed out. Will appear next week. A pleasing ceremony took place at the house of Mr P. Lemon on the evening of July 10, where a large number of friends gathered together to make him a presentation on the occasion of his resigning his position as choirmaster of St Patrick's Church, South Dunedin. The presentation was made by Mr J. Eager, Mr Lemon (who is well known in musical circles) suitably replied. Our report of [the meeting of the Educational Institute and much other interesting matter is unavoidably crushed out of this issue. *