The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-22
A PRACTICAL MILKING MACHINE.
A Swedish Invention, which May
Prove Valuable In Large Diaries.

A Swedish Invention, which May
Prove Valuable In Large Diaries.
From Hoard's Dairyman
The most practical milking machine yet
devised is a Swedish invention called 1.-THE
lactator." Prof F. w. Vol of the Wis
consin experiment station visited a dairy
in Sweden where this machine is used.
1t is a very complicated machine, and
Prof. Vol was told that it comprised
1000 different parts. The milking is done
by two special Organs" or a pair of cyl
indrical rubber rollers. that catch the
teat at the root. thus shutting off the milk
therein. The rollers then move down
wards to the lower part of the teat,
whence the milk is squeezed out by two
plates moving parallel with each other.
The function of the rollers is rendered
possible by a hold above-the so-called
roof that is regularly moved against the
udder, whereby a slight thrust is given
the udder, something like knocks that the
calf gives when sucking, which facilitates
the descending of the milk in the teats
as well as the secretion of the milk In
the vesicles of the udder.
The machine is made of aluminium, and
weighs about 1872 pounds. 1t Is held on
the COW by means of harness or strap
running over her back. The axis, when
turned, works the arms up and down, and
also gives squeeze or pressure when de-
sired. 1t is about like a man milking
with both hands on one teat. With his
left hand, he holds tightly around the
upper part OF the teat while, with his
right hand. he squeezes the milk out.
The machine is worked from shaft that
runs over the heads of the cows connect
H. t..,o ha1t with aaph machine
An engine of two-horse power provides
the force for milking ten cows. The pow
err on this Swedish farm is provided by
electricity.
Prof. VOL says that the "lactator'
brings on the milk at the rate or about
a quart per minute-which is very slow
milking. Ten machines are used for 100
COWS, and two men attend to the milk
ing. AS the milk Is squeezed out II runs
into a small bowl, the bottom of which
is closed by a rubber ball. As the bowl
fills. of course, this ball rises, and the
milk runs into a tube through which 1t
is sucked or pumped through rubber tubes
to cans which hang above and in front
Of the cows.
None Of the machines have been sold
yet. TIL inventor, DeLaval. is still work.
ing to perfect II, and II will not be given
to the trade until II has been fully tested.
IL is evidently, a very complicated ma
chine, yet it's work Is very simple, and
after seeing 1t in operation, Prof. VOL is
hopeful that, with slight notifications and
improvements. the machine viii adapt IT.
self to ordinary farm operations. There Is
nothing about the work Of the machine
that can injure a COW. Machines that
work by wind suction might do so, but
in this operation we have really the same
effect as that produced by hand milking.
In closing his article, Prof. VOL makes
this statement: whether the lactator
! will do what it promises to, and viii prove
the boon to the dairyman that its friends
believe, Il is. of course. yet too early to
say. with all the skepticism which |
could muster during my visit. / could not
discover any vitality important objection
or criticism concerning the machine. SIN
the problem has, seemingly, been solved
before. without the expected results hav-
ing materialized, and 80 II is well to with
hold judgment. as to the lactator. until
It has been tried under the varied condi-
lions Of a number Of dairy farms. Such
trials VIII be made in the near future,
and the outcome Will be watched with
Intense interest by dairymen in an parts
OF the world"