The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-06-14
Ghe farmer.
MIX Setting.

earnest controversy has been going on for
some time among butter-makers as to
whether the most butter can be made by
deep or shallow setting Of the milk. We
have the result Of several experiments,
and some of them SO loosely made as to be
nearly worthless as evidence in favor of
either system. We suppose that all but
ter-makers must be glad to get light on
this question, and we therefore print the
following statement made by Hon. F. d.
Douglass, of Whiting, in recent address
before the Vermont Board Of Agriculture.
From Mr.. ,Douglasss reputation as a but
ter-maker and careful experimenter,
his statement is Of more than ordinary
interest.
He says You will doubtless ask
whether as much butter can be obtained
from deep as from shallow setting? L
answer emphatically-Yes, where the
right temperature is maintained. What
ever doubt may arise in the minds of any
upon this subject, with regard to results
when the weather is cool and most favora.
BILE for the success of shallow setting, there
can be no doubt with regard to this point
for the entire season, and most certainly
not during'warm weather. Ihave expert
mented upon this subject, not so much to
satisfy the public with regard to it as
myself, and consequently some of my
experiments have not been conducted with
that nice accuracy Of detail, and the
results so carefully recorded, as they would
have been had they been designed for the
public eye. will, however, give you the
details Of one Of these experiments which
was the most carefully conduct, that you
may understand upon what grounds base
my conclusions in this matter and If you
discover defects in any of the conditions
upon which this experiment was conducted,
/ trust you will freely point them out.
On the 18th day of June, 1871,
divided the days milk of my entire dairy,
then consisting of twenty-five COWS, into
two equal parts. The amount given by
each COW was weighed and accurately di.
vided by weight Immediately after being
drawn from the COW. 0ne-half was strained
into common pans, which were filled about
two-thirds full, and placed upon shelves in
the milk room. The other half was placed
in pals to the depth of about eleven and
one-half inches These were set in watts of
water in the same room, and the tempera-
ture reduced to 60o, which was the same
as the air in the room at that time. They
were allowed to stand until the milk in
each mad become thoroughly loppered, and
it was evident that no more cream would
rise. The milk in the pans reached that
point and was skinned in forty-eight
hours that in the pals stood twelve hours
longer. The range of the thermometer in
the room was from Coz to 63o, until the
last twelve hours, when it rose TO go.
The thermometer indicated the same range
of temperature in the milk in the pals as
in the air, except that it did not rise so
high by two or three degrees during the
last twelve hours. The rise spoken of
could not have affected the result, as the
pans had already been skinned, and the
cream had doubtless all risen in the pals.
The weight of cream produced from the
pans was 2Si pounds from the pals 33a
pounds. This was all churned June 22,
each at the same temperature, 60o, and in
the same churn. Each was washed in
precisely the same manner, and taken from
the churn into the same butter bowl and
carefully weighed. The scales used were
Howe's platform scales, nearly new and in
good order, but would not indicate diff
ference Of less than one fourth Of pound,
and by them there was no difference indi-
Gated in the weight Of the two patches,
each weighing twelve pounds before the
salt was added. The difference in the
weight of the cream is easily accounted
for, there having been an evaporation from
the pans amounting to FIVE pounds in
weight more than from the pals, caused
by the greater extent Of surface exposed.
II will be seen that this experiment was
conducted under most favorable circum-
stances for the success of the shallow set
ting. The result will be different when
ever the temperature of the room rises
much above or falls below 60o, and is re-
lied on to temper the milk in the pans,
while the milk in the pals is tempered
rightly by artificial means. 1t viii be
readily seen that the amount produced by
the pals will be greater than that from
the pans just in proportion as the degree
Of heat OF cold in the room rises above or
falls below right mean. It is upon this
and other like experiments, with the gen.
eral fact Of the increased production of
my dairy cows since its adoption deep
setting,) that base my conclusions in this
matter
The advocates Of deep setting, 50 far as
we are informed, have never claimed that
more butter could be made from deep set
ting, when both samples Of milk are kept
at the same range Of temperature but the
advocates Of shallow setting claim that
that plan will produce more butter than
the other. This experiment Of Mr.. Doug
lass seems 10 be fairly made, and II, as he
says, his other experiments point in the
same direction, he has good and sufficient
reasons for bis conclusions, since, BY the
deep setting more even temperature is
maintained than in the open air, while the
labor involved is less with the deep than
with the shallow settings