THE JERSEY COW AND THE BUTTER-FAT TEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1918, Page 2

THE JERSEY COW AND THE BUT-TER-FAT TEST.

To the Julitor. Sir, —Your readers are indebted to Mr Wright fur bringing this question prominently before tlie public. Years ago I. brought uy :li.! same question in the Hawcra Star in the interests of cheesemakers as against mere buttermakers, and, in doing so, 1 used these words: "The Jersey is the robber bee 111 tiie cheese-making hive." I still contend that this is so; ' and site is a,so the robber bee in the casein hive, and will play the same role in the (iried milk industry when it arrives, if we still adhere to the mere butter-fat test. Let there be 110 misunderstanding, for I quite adnvt that the Jersey cow is, par excellence, the butter-fat cow. Mr W. J. Freeth contends that she ia not only this, but that she produces other solids in her milk in proportion to the Bimetfat content thereof. If Mr Freeth can prove that statement to be correct, th-:'« he has wen his case, Tilis question is a most important one to every dairyman in New Zealand and the world at large; therefore, there should be 110 "coekerowing" about it, but simply solid facts plainly stated, so that he vno runs can read and understand the true position to take up in this matter. The butter-fat test is the true test in plain butter-makin?. Wc are all agreed about that. Hut what we want to know to a certainty ia this: Is the butter-fat test a true test of the value of a given milk in "cheeWiu.ikmsr, in casein making,- and in (Tried milk-making? I contend, along with Mr Wright, that in these industries the lnitter-fat test is a mere imposition. The very fact that over two and a-hall' pounds of cheese is made to the one pound of butter-fat is proof enough that the butter-fat is not half the solids contained in the milk, and on top of that, the sugar of milk (surely a solid!) goes down the wliey pipe. Our dairy chemists (if we have any) are a slow lot or they would know of some prompt and ready method of getting at the solid contents of any milk—l am, etc., J. 0. TAYLOR. Lepperton, 22nd August, IMSWHY STIR OP THE JIUE? To the Editor. Sir, —Why so much, talk about (Prohibition at a time like present? Surely wc have enough and more serious things to occupy our minds at the present time. While our boys are spilling their blood in rivers, is it fair to stir up strife at home? I should think people would ! be better employed "with the spade and a sack of eeed potatoes, and not be running around and pulling other people to pieces. Wait til! the war is [finished and then start if t'iiey want to- The whole cry is from a taiu set. It seems to be their desire to stop beer and racing- Why not add football, cricket, tennis, golf and hockey? Cut out the pistura shows: walk about with long fuces, a»d let the revenue come from anywhere! fan any of them point out anything that has paid more for the upkeep of the country and patriotic funds tlian the hotels and race meetings? Why fake away the soldiers' little drop of mm? I wish some of them liad been at Gallipoli at the time of the blizzard qnd at the evacuation and see have many of tliem wouldn't have been in line for their rum, and their mates, too, if they had tlie chance. Prohibition may be alright, but my idea ia this in not the right time to stir up the mud.—l am, etc., ■DISGUSTED ANZAC.New Plymouth, 28/S/18.