THE BABCOCK MILK TESTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 7

THE BABCOCK MILK TESTER.

A number of gentlemen interested in dairy pursuits attended on Saturday morning afc the New Zealand Dairy Supply Company's factory in Moray place for the purpose of witnessing the operation t of the above appliance. It has already been described in our report of the meeting of cheese and butter makers held on Wednesday, so that all which now remains to be done is to describe its operation. The machine was manipulated by Mr Sawers, the Government expert, who procured samples of whole milk, of milk which had been subjected to the action of the separator, and of milk to which water had been added. The sulphuric acid was duly added to the milk and thoroughly incorporated with it, the result being a liquid compared By someone present to port wine, and the emission of considerable heat from the chemical operation going on within the bottles. Some warm water was then placed in the vessel below the tins, which were made to revolve merry-go-round fashion with great velocity. After a few minutes' revolution some hot water was added to the contents of the bottles or flasks, and they were once more set rotating. In a few minutes more the cover was finally takeu off,' and the fat which the milk contained was clearly to bo seen in the graduated necks of the bottles. The whole milk showed nearly 3 per cent, of pure butter fat, the watered samples less in proportion, and the separated milk something barely perceptible, a tribute to the completeness of the separation which seemed to please the employes highly. The test was unanimously voted successful, and in view of the tendency now arising to purchase milk by its value in butter fat rather than by its bulk, was of exceptional importance. Ths appliance was invented in 1890 by Dr Baboock, of America, and that gentleman with praiseworthy generosity^ has not patented it. Suoh a one as that exhibited on Saturday might be made by any tinsmith or plumber, and the only difficulty which would arise locally would be to procure the graduated glass flasks. We believe Mr Sawers has one of the machines, and Mr J. R. Scott has some which he is willing to dispose of. Needless to say, either of these gentlemen is only too willing to afford any information about the machine, which, however, in construction, principle, and mode of opera" tion is simplicity itself.