UP-TO-DATE MILKING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8550, 7 October 1907, Page 5

UP-TO-DATE MILKING.

INSTALLATION OP MACHINES AT MATAHIWI.

There has recently been installed in the milking sheds on Mr H. Holmes' property at Matahiwi, three of the now well-known "L.K.G." milking machines. This is the first shed in the Masterton district in which these machines have been adopted, though dairymen in the Lower Valley have been using them for a considerable time with success. Their introduction into this district has naturally caused a good deal of interest. Several persoiis interested in dairy matters have visited the Matahiwi sheds, and as the result of these visits machines will in every probability be installed in a good many sheds round Masterton. Yesterday afternoon a Wairarapa Age reporter visited Matahiwi at milking time, and was, under the guidance of the manager, Mr S. H. Liddington, able to see the machines in full working order. The principle that they are worked upon is simple. Away from the milking shed is a small three horse-power engine, which drives a vacuum pump. From this pump runs a pipe, which stretches round the milking shed just above the byres. Each machine milks two cows, and is placed between the animals and is, further, connected with the vacuum pipe. From the machine runs two rubber tubes to Ihe cows' teats, which are encircled by small rubber cylinders. One of these tubes is air-tight, and the other carries the milk a way to the can, which is placed under each machine. By means of the vacuum pump all air from the one tube is drawn outwards from the cow, and it is this process that quietly extracts the milk from the cow, and takes it away through the other tube. This suction process performs another duty, in that it keeps the machine fastened securely to the top of the can, and thus prevents any dust or other disagreeable substance from getting into the milk. Mr Liddington was loud in his praise of the machine. He classed it as simple, economical, clean and effective. He informed the reporter that there were three machines in the shed, and these were able to milk over sixty cows in a little over an hour or on the average about fifteen or sixteen cows per hour to each machine. The great feature of the machines, he said, was that they ensured perfect cleanliness as regards the milk. It was not possible for any foreign substance to enter the milk. Before the machines were installed, about September Ist, there were six men employed at milking. Now there were only three, and their duty was simply to attend to the cows and the milking was finished in less than half the time it took previously. There was no undue strain on the cows by this process of milking, and as soon as it was introduced the cows became accustomed to it, and stood even quieter than when being milked under the old style. The machines, he added, did away with all "drudgery," and while they were in use there was no fear of any "child slavery." Mr Liddington is a firm believer in the machines, for he told the reporter that he would not revert to the old system under any circumstances, not even if he was assured of increasing his income by £2O or £3O per annum.