Machine Milking.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume IX, Issue 1199, 26 February 1902, Page 4

Machine Milking.

In view of the di lieultyof soci rin: a supply cf suitable milkers and the ‘ serious results likely to occur to the dairying industry (writes T. K. Dow | in the Sydney Mail) it is surprising ’ that more interest is not taken in ; the milking machine. The numer- | ous farmers who have recently spoke | upon the subject of tho labour difficulty in connection with dairying, have all, with scarcely an exception, said that they would bo compelled to give up dairying and go in for fattening, No one lies said anything about going in for the milking machine. This bears out what 1 have already said about tho tendency of Australian agriculture to revert to the original squatting system. There has been anotbor successful public trial of Ihe new milking machines, and there is no doubt that thero will some day be a rush for those labour saving appliances, hut so far tho preliminary stage has not been passed. The machine which was last week triod at Poowong, in Gippsland, gave entire satisfaction, but although Mr David Mitchell, of Lilydale, has proved that no injury results to tho cows, the local farmers continue to be very cautious. “ I want to see whether tlio cows will milk as long as if milked by hand,” says one, and another statos his intention of waiting to “ geo how tho cows thrive in next sonson after being milked by the machine.” Nearly every new machmo lias boen greeted cautiously on its first introduction. It took our farmers a 1 least ton years to adopt tho system ! of drilling in wheat, which has now I become so popular, and there are many who w II oling to broadcast sowing another ten years. As tli > milking maohino is now practically | successful, a few leading farmers | j will adopt it. and in a few years the 1 • rank and filo will lake it up anil 1 thus solvo tlio labour difficulty in the dairying industry. !