Farm Practice and Management

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 2, 15 August 1941, Page 143

Farm Practice and Management

Transport of Milk from Shed to Roadside

WITH the change-over on many farms from the supply to butter factories to cheese factories, quite a few problems have confronted many dairy farmers. By no means the least of these is the conveyance of ' the much bulkier milk from the shed to the roadside. Cartage by lorry or horse and cart is quite a major undertaking, even where a good track is provided, but this means of transport becomes quite impossible on heavy, wet land unless heavy expense is entailed, in laying down a permanent, metalled road. Bearing in mind that such a road may become a hindrance instead of an asset when normal butter production is resumed, alternatives to such a course should be sought before one is committed to an outlay of this kind. A transport system which is widely used on the Hauraki Plains because of the very wet winter and spring conditions could well be applied to the solution of this problem in other districts. ■ This consists of building a trolley to run on lines between the shed and the roadside. Apart from the wheels

and axles, the only material needed in its construction is timber and a few nails. . ‘ The line itself may consist of 3in. x 2in. hardwood rails laid on 4in. x 3in. rough-heart rimu sleepers spaced at 4ft. intervals. The rails, which should be. placed on edge to give a 3-inch depth, can be held in position with 6in? nails driven right through into the sleepers. The track for -such a system

must be rough levelled, and trolley stability will be assured if the rails are spaced 3ft. 3in. apart. To ensure long life in the track timbers, it is desirable, but not essential, to treat all lengths with creosote. Trolleys may be constructed in various sizes to meet . individual requirements, but . the-height should be such that' ..it will minimise -. the actual amount of lifting from ..the trolley deck

to the collecting lorry. A milk can. weighing more than 2001 b. when full cannot be played with lightly, and when many have to be handled the work can become very exhausting. For this reason it is important to build' to a height that will as nearly as possible conform to that of the collecting

lorry floor. In general, this will be in the vicinity ,of 3ft. 6in. ' . Four wheelsfitted with flanges,' and of about 15 inches in diameter, and coupled by 2-inch axles —should be used as the foundation of a trolley. Length and width can be varied to suit the individual requirements, but for a load of eight 20-gallon cans a deck -7ft. long by 3ft. 6in. wide will : provide ample space. In laying the tracks some farmers have gone to the expense of using iron rails on hardwood sleepers. Such expense, even in normal . times, is scarcely warranted, and most certainly cannot be justified at present, even if the material were procurable. Others, aiming M reducing costs, employ soft timbers in the track construction. These do not stand up to

constant hard usage, however, and require early replacement. Hardwood runners are certainly the most economical over a period, even if the initial outlay is higher, and the employment of this timber is recommended. Where a trolley line has to be taken across wide, open drains, heavy stringers are needed for support, and in such a position iron rails may be employed advantageously. In conclusion, I would like to acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. E. Challis, Kerepeehi, for supplying much of the information embodied in this article, and also for providing facilities to obtain the accompanying photographs.

WALKER,

Instructor in

Agriculture, Thames.