Middletown transcript., 1895-05-11
CHEMICAL Department T.

Sugar Development In Sorghum-Selling
Milk on Test at Creameries- Removing
Worthless Cows From Dairy Herds-Pro-
tecting Farmers Against Charges Made
by City Milk Retailers.
The chemist devotes considerable part
of the first two days in each week to in
struction in the college classroom. By
laboratory work at night he succeeds in
keeping his station duties well in hand.
A considerable amount Of chemical as
sistance is called for In each of the other
departments. This finds credit in the de-
tailed annual report.
His special work this year has been in
sorghum; in composite sampling of milk
in determining the individual value OF
dairy cows; in detecting weak points in
analytical methods in milk determina-
tions.
The sorghum Investigation was under
taken in compliance with direct orders
from tho secretary of agriculture, under
authority granted by the Hatch act. For
six or soven years past the department of
agriculture has had breeding station for
sorghum seed in Kansas. Here seed heads
from individual stalks which indicated a
very high percentage of sugar have FORM
ed the starting points for the following
seasons study. The selection of the best
from the best has proceeded regularly, and
now sorghum as rich as tropical cane and
richer than the average sugar beet can be
grown. The orders from Washington were
to continue the selection in Delaware and
in Maryland.
The agriculturist took charge of the
field culture and the chemist analyzed
more than !, 400 individual canes, fully
occupying thereby the months of Septem-
ber, October and one-half possibly of No
vember. The selected seed heads have
been properly stored.
In selling milk at creameries dairymen
are paid on the butter basis The weigh
ing of the milk and its chemical test rests
in the hands of the purchaser. He analyses
as often as his Judgment dictates and av-
eragos the results for the rest of the month
To this course farmers object 1t is now
customary in few places to overcome
this objection by sampling the milk daily
and collecting the samples for seven DAYS
in ore bottle Antiseptics arc used to keep
it sweet. One analysis of the mixed sam
pies Tor seven days is accepted as close
approximation to the truth, and herdsmen,
by combining, can have their tests made
in confederation of the creamery verdict.
The antiseptics thus far used preserve
the milk from souring, but they can be
made to interfere seriously with the accu-
racy of the butter analysis, giving results
far below the truth. The chemists work
has been to discover an agent which will
preserve the milk and be without influ-
eneo on the determination of butter. 1t
now seems that the result has been reached
A Farmers institute lecturer, Mr. Pow
ell, claimed that in New York state the
average dairy COW yielded annually 1913
pounds only of commercial butter thereby
involving her ownor in loss. for with yields
of butter under ESQ pounds on the average
per COW Per annum profits cannot be found
He urged the necessity of detecting and
removing the Improbable animals and in
dicated details of method for accomplish
ing this A number of farmers have ac-
cepted the idea In executing it they have
availed themselves freely of the resources
of the chemical laboratory.
In purchasing milk in cities retailers
who run a r SIX nt conviction under milk
inspection laws have learned to employ
chemists to sample cans on the railroad
platforms and make the necessary analysis.
Arbitrary and threatening letters are re-
ceiyed in consequence by farmers, who, in