The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1914. SYNTHETIC MILK.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 77, 21 March 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1914. SYNTHETIC MILK.

Discussing the latest scientific wonder—artificial milk—as produced in the chemical laboratory, the Auckland "Star" remarks that there is nothing at all incredible about the suggestion; in fact, there seems to be no limit to the possibilities of scientific ingenuity in the production of chemical compounds. The constituents of milk are well known; and there is no reason why the work of combining them should not be undertaken by the J scientist. As one distinguished ex.-! ! perimentev in this field has observed, j the cow is by no means a skilful ' chemist, and the work that she does j could certainly be done better in the; laboratory. Whether the production' of synthetic milk is possible on a commercial scale at a profit is another j matter. It is possible to produce ' a-übber synthetically, out so far arti. I fecial rubber has not made much dif- ; ierenee to the prospects of the vege- j table product. But if the practic.il and financial difficulties could be overcome, there would certainly be a groat future ] before synthetic milk. The soya beau,! from which the casein is prepared, is ; the staple product of Manchuria, and simply unlimited quantities c;\n be I produced in the East if the foreign j demand increases. Altogether, the advent of synthetic milk opens up : wide possibilities; and, the "Star" j concludes, it is conceivable that.' chemical laboratories at Home may:

some day prove a more dangerous ; rival to our butter and cheese makers 1 than we will ever find in Australia i or Siberia or the Argentine. Deal-i ing with the same matter Christchuvcli j "Sun" touches another point when it j tells us that "these scientists and chemist:', continue to make themselves very disagreeable," and continues: "If synthetic milk is to become the vogue, what is to' be done with the sleek-pride of the pastures? The hare prospect, is enough to make the mild "dairymen turn anarchists,, and drive all rosy dairymaids into des-1

pair. When the world has advanced sufficiently to conform to the visions of that brave romancer-scientist.. 11.' G. Wells; when the aecroplane throbs over the land at eventide wit}] the mail, the old familiar features of the countryside will have departed. There will be no music of bells from the meadows, no gusli of warm milk into the gleaming pails, no skewbald calves calling through the dusk to anxious dams. For the sturdy husbandman (if there be any such then) and his family will be eating meat-tabloids seriously, and—the while blessing the Soya beau—drinking deep draughts of tea colored with synthetic milk. The only hope for admirers of the gentle bovine that in every rural household there will be a strange pet—a melancholy cow, which will, ere tins, have quite hopeless eyes because of its milk sterility/' This is a picture sad enough to make Taranaki weep salt tears! a