NOTED DAIRYING INVENTOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 80, 2 April 1900, Page 4

NOTED DAIRYING INVENTOR.

A NEW ZEALAND TESTIMONIAL. Of the many inventions, mechanical and chemical, which have marked the 1 rapid advance of dairying during the past few years none have been more valuable or more far reaching in their effects than the Babcock milk test, which enables the butter-fat content of milk to be rapidly and accurately as- . certained. The inventor of the tester is an American agricultural chemist, Dr. Babcock, of the Wisconsin University, who has devoted considerable study to the chemistry of dairying. For a considerable time Dr. Babcock, in common with leading dairying chemists in Europe, experimented with the object of simplifying the then existing methods of testing milk for its butter-fat value. When the great American chemist's method was given to the world it was seen that milk tescing from a butter and cheesemaker's standpoint had been practically perfected, and that a boon—equalling in value the discovery of the cream separator—was to be bestowed on all classes of dairymen throughout the world, from the " farmer to the 'manufacturer, for by its means the farmer is able to ascertain in a simple and cheap manner, the exact commercial value of each cow's milk from a butter and cheese standpoint. When Dr. Babcock brought his method to a perfected state it was naturally concluded by his friends that he would patent the invention and so reward himself for his labours, but to their astonishment he declared that he would rather that his work should go as a gift to those for whom he was engaged to labour. The Babcock tester, in consequence, is within the reach of all, and a beneifit has been bestowed up the dairying industry, the value of which it is difficult to calculate. In order to recognise, in some way, their appreciation of Dr Babcock's great generosity New Zealand dairymen—on the suggestion of Mr J. T. Lang, the Government Dairy Produce Grader at Wellington—have subscribed to a testimonial which they intend to present to this great benefactor of their industry. The testimonial, which through Mr Lang's courtesy, we have had the pleasure of examining, is in the form of a royal-folio album, the cover being a fine specimen of the bookbinder's art, and the four inside boards being magnificently illuminated and illustrated —with several fine watercolour sketches of New Zealand scenery, etc. On the second page a few appropriate lines convey to Dr Babcock an expression of the feelings which prompted dairymen in this colony to make the presentation to him. The whole work, which was carried out by Messrs Wilkie and Company, of Dunedin, is an excellent sample of what can be turned out in the colony, and is a work of art which New Zealand dairymen can be assured will t be appreciated and valued by Dr Babcock.—N.Z. Times.