THE VALUE OF SCIENCE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16360, 7 June 1927, Page 4

THE VALUE OF SCIENCE

BENEFITS TO DAIRYING OLD METHODS REPLACED The relation of science to industry, particularly the dairying industry, was dealt with‘by speakers at a conference of dairy factory managers and assistants at Hamilton. Speaking of some of the contributions of science to dairying, Professor W. Riddctt, of the Auckland University College, said that in the present days of standard dairy practices, scientific method had come into such common usage that it was often'unrecognised and its benefits scarcely appreciated. The use of the thermometer in butter-making marked the first step in the application of scientific methods to dairying. That advance bad been made in Denmark lietween 1860 and 1870. The next big step was the introduction of the centrifugal cream separator, which was effected by a German civil engineer in 1877. After its introduction, the separator underwent rapid improvement, and its use spread. In 1890 Do Laval introduced the first model of the now popular hand-driven machine, suitable for farm use. To the genius of Pasteur, the dairy industry was indebted for modern methods of controlling the quality of cream and butter. The commercialisation of the Pasteur system was introduced later In Denmark. A rapid and simple method of estimating the amount of fat in milk was due to Dr. S. M. Babcock, of the Wisconsin University. The acidemeter in common use in factories was another contribution. In addition to tests for acidity, there were other tests introduced which helped to do away with the "rule of thumb method."

At the beginning of the 20tli century. Professor ’ Riddctt continued, science had practically revolutionised the dairying industry, and it had continued to provide increasing assistance. The practice of "ripening" cream had been done away with in New Zealand and several other countries. With the spread of the practice of pasteurisation considerable attention had been devoted to the methods employed. A new method of sterilising milk had recently been introduced, and much was claimed for it. Of recent years a great deal of attention had been paid to the manufacturing and milk-treat-ing problems and much had been dono in that direction. The road to success. concluded the speaker, lay in effecting further improvements which would help the industry. Mr. F. S. Board, managing director of the To Aroha Dairy Co., traced the history of science and its growth during the centuries. Mr. Board considered that every factory should have its laboratory. The New Zealand Government;'had to be commended for the introduction of science in the schools and universities and for the promotion of research in the primary products.