The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-08-12
Hand Separators on the Farm.

A number Of our dairy readers have
asked whether a hand or baby separa-
tor pays on the farm. g. s. Plumb, d.
rector of the Indiana experiment sta
ton, discusses the matter as follows.
1t may assist some of our readers to de-
eide:
During the past few months numer-
Gus communications to this station indi-
cate that Indiana farmers are becoming
much interested in the use of hand sep
arators on the farm, Many wish to
know if it will pay them to buy such a
machine, to replace hand.skimmiug of
milk.
The hand separator consists of a
small metal bowl, which is revolved
with great rapidity by means of cog
wheel connections. Milk turned into
the bowl separates into skim-milk
which accumulates in the outer portion
of the bowl, and cream which gathers
zeal the center. After the separation
in the bowl, the cream and skim-milk
escapes from it through outlets into
separate tubes from which they are con-
Quoted into cans. This action of sepa-
ration is continuous so long as the bowl
is revolving at suitable speed.
Separators are o commonly sold on
the market that do satisfactory work,
practically removing all of the butter
fat from the milk. On the average
farm, probably every 100 pounds of
skinned milk secured by the old
fashioned methods contains from one-
fourth to one-half pound of fat. More
is left in the milk than farmers are
often aware of. The properly run sep
arator removes nearly all, if not all of
this.
The writer believes that every per-
son who keeps five or more cows, with
the object of making as much butter
from them as possible, who makes gilt
edge butter, and who is interested in
progressive dairying, would find in the
hand separator a money-making ma
chine. Other people are likely to be
disappointed if they buy a hand sepa-
rator.
The following are some of the i'm
portant arguments in favor Of this sep
arator 1t effectually skins the milk,
thereby saving all the cream or fat.
Where impurities have fallen into the
milk, such as hairs, dirt, manure, etc.,
the separator emoves them, so that
their influence on the cream is much
diminished In summer, separator
cream is free from milk curds, which
often occur in cream skinned by hand
and cause trouble in butter making.
The separator is also a labor-saving
device when one becomes familiar with
its use and care. The necessity for
caring for many pans and cans is done
away with in a large degree. There
are several excellent forms of sepa-
rators on the market. Prices vary ac-
cording to size and make, ranging from
$65 up, for frst-class machines. For
the above price, a machine can be
bought that will separate 175 pounds in
an hour. A popular and standard size,
which sells for 1925, will skim $50
pounds of milk per hour. Such a
machine is used at this station and
gives perfect satisfaction.
The amount of force required to run
a hand separator is not great enough to
tire an average man seriously. The
use of the tread power is, however, be-
coming extensive. Small dog or sheep
| powers are made, selling for $3.50 or SO,
hat are used for running hand sepa-
tors, and a larger tread power, suitable
for small bulls or ponies, is also used
Ohio Farmer.