Trial of a Milking Machine.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 36, 11 August 1894, Page 4

Trial of a Milking Machine.

The Hastings correspondent nf the HB. 'erald supplie 0 the following account ot the triul of a patent milking machine which was tested at the Ends! eigh estate a few do}'s ago : — Mr Withell, tha inventor, and his son were present, to g' ve information as to tho working of the machine, which id so extremely simple that after a very few lessons it can be at- ' tended to hy a hoy or girl. In one comer of the shed "stands the exhaust compartment, the mechanism of which i*s worked either by hind or other motive power. At Endsleigh a water wheel propelled by the flow from an artesian well has been fixed to supply i this. Running down the full leug'h ot the milking shed nn ordirary gns barrel is fixed, haviDg a tap over each stall, to these taps are attached indiarubber tubes which are carried into the air-tierht milk pail, which is also suspended from the pipe hanging by the side ol the cow to be milked. Another tube is fitted witb four milkers, resembling old-fashion-ed extinguishers fitted with an india rubber flange The milkers bein-.' applied to the animals' teats, a small button pu<h on the pail is pressed, and a vacuum being formed in the pail by reason of the air in the pipes being exhausted by the exhaust compartment, the milk is s^en to be freely flowing, the cows the while placidly chewing* the end and apparently thoroughly enjoying themselves. The moment the milk ceases to flow, by an extremely ingenious though simple arrangement a safety valve allows the ai to escape, warning the attendant to bring along* another cow. The ex* aus' compartment can be regulated to any suction power, but a standard of 10 degrees is the usual one adopted, and each pail is also regulated to the same power, so hat damage to the animal by over suction is practically impossible The saving of time and labour is mos important, as it is stated thht by the use <»f the machine a man can milk 30 to 40 cows an hour. Tbe sheds nt are constructed to accom-i-oHate 30 cows, and as in the spring if i« estimated that 150 head will be milked, the usefulness of the machine is thoroughly demonstrated.