FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 78, 11 July 1910, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

A NEW MILKIX!- MACIIIXE. MR. €. GAME'S IXVEXTIOXS. Several years ago (lie milking-machine was viewe 1 with dip f •.vor by many dairy farmers. There wa. a reasonable prejudice against it. because milking cows by mathincr didn't seem natural. A striking change has taken place in sncli a short period; for it is very seldom indeed that a farmer is now met with who views the presence of the milkingmachine with anything hut satisfaction. The only point that troubles him now is to find out which machine is the lie<t. He exercises a prudence typical of the farmer in this respect, and his caution is commendable. Each successive dairying season finds new inventions by way I of labor-savers at the farmers' disposal. At the last Palmerston North Winter | (Show the advancement made was very pronounced. Among the exhibits there 'on view was one by a local inventor | (Mr. C. Gane, of Normanbv), which attracted a good deal of attention. This was "Giiiic's Automatic Releaser," and it has proved an invention of groat value to those who now have it installed. About November last .Mr. Gane applied for patents in connection with a newmilking plant. Locally a good deal of interest has been taken in Mr. Gane's inventions, judging by the numerous enquiries as to w'lien the plant would be available. About, the end of the year a complete plant was secured, and this was set up at Mr. James Were's farm, Normanbv road, where a Star reporter saw it at work on Tuesday. A herd of cows numbering 72 was put through at the rate of one a minute, though until some seven weeks ago they had. all been hand-milked. The plant 'is a four-cow one, ami the power is derived from a two-horse Tangye engine. There is the usual vacuum pump. Attached to the pulsator pipe is a patent pneumatic pulsator, which is of very simple design, but very effective in performing its work. Another pronounced improvement is the teat-cup, the rubber part for which is cast with a flange. This will reduce the cost for wear and tear of these parts to a minimum. On the teatcup claw is a further patent, which facilitates the removal of the cups and avoids any milk being, lost when changing to another cow. A further new idea is seen 011 examining the claw nipples, which are so flanged as to prevent the rubbers from falling off. The teat-cups are nickel-pleated. Rubber is dispensed with where this can be done, and is substituted by bronze piping, which can be more easily cleaned* ' The Milfi; is drawn into the automatic ijjel«iser,r andf |r|m there runs 'by a spotting into the Istribbuting tray. It-Alien passes into the cans, and from, leaves the cow it cools from...a temperature of 98 to 74 Fah. TheSrthed is fitted with Gane's patent cowb;Hl,i ;,whteh ;fal na/ffsAn a simpie • thougif- iSatitffnctorjr ''a rrangement. Three hands' nre fully employed with the four single sm of eiip£, eight cows being bailed, and the msthllatfon of double sets would be no advantage. The manner in which the cows hustle to get into the bail suggests that the method of milking is-,-decidedly agreeable to them". With the exception of a few- heifers-the herd is, as contested as if machine milking had been in vogue on the farm for years. , With the Gane installation only a, sma,ll cowshw} is necessary, and a big, saving can,l)g,,gffected in- this respect. Mr. Worapsaid he was confident the machine would give every satisfaction. People had said he would regret the installation of a machine halfway through the season, but lie was quite satisfied with results.' lie did not think there was any decrease in milk on account of the machine. There certainly was for a few days, but the yield was quickly up again. He was getting all that the cows could give, and would not get any better results by hand-milking; lie was quite satisfied 'he would not have better quality results. Not a word of disapproval had been heard about the milk at the factory. The quality of the milk was much better than by hand-milking. Previously each milking occupied from 3>/ 4 to 4 hours, whereas now the morning operations took only iy 2 and the afternoon 11/ il 1 /i hours. Fewer hands were necessary, and he had now no worry in reference to the labor problem. Farmers are invited to secure pamphlets and all information from IT. R. Jenkins, Eltham.—Advt. j