The herald., 1896-09-26
EXAMINATION OF BUTTER
The Official From Washington Tells
Some Interesting Facts
Papers Read by Various Members Of
the California Observation-Disclosures
That Requires More Age.

the chamber of commerce yesterday, be-
ginning at 10 a. m.
This meeting was called in honor of
Major Henry f. Alvord, chief of the
dairy division of the department of as
riculture at Washington, who is pay
ing an official visit to the coast. The
meeting was opened by President c. II.
Sessions Introducing Rev. A. G. Smither
of this city, who is dairyman AS well
as minister of the gospel, and the rev.
erend gentleman gave a welcome ad-
dress to the various members and their
guest.
A paper on Dairy Associations by
President Sessions followed, and Prof.
A. j. Cook of Claremont read care
fully prepared paper on Silos and En-
silage.
This in turn was followed by an ex-
cellent paper on Dairy Feeds in South
ern California, by c. w. Keyes of AL
hambra.
After the reading of these paccrs
there were brief discussions Of the sub
ject, led by Major H. T.. Alvord, who
showed a wide knowledge of the dairy
business. 1t was during one of these
discussic ms that Major Alvord made
the statement new to most hearers,
that the dairy product of California now
amounts to $15,000,00 year.
The afternoon session commenced at
1870. During the interim between the
adjournment and reconvening Major
A1vOrd had made careful tests of about
thirty samples of butter and three sam
pies of cheese that had been entered in
competition for the prizes which had
been offered, and was prepared to an
nounce his decision on their relative
merits. fa sl. .sos7 II CO.,
After c.. B. Woodhead had given. a
brief address on the subject of cream
cries, embodying some interesting fig
ures on existing plants and their pro-
ductive capacity, Major Alvord took the
floor. He said he had been asked to
test the samples Of butter and cheese
on the table at the rear of the hall, and
he had made luncheon thereon
1.-The man who makes the best but
ter" said he, lis the man whose product
pleases the greatest number OF consum-
ers in the market. There are widely
varying tastes. Some prefer butter that
is salty; some want 1t fresh; some pre-
fer. 1t highly colored. others with little
or no color. The successful butter
maker will make butter to suit the taste
OF the greatest number Of consumers.
1t is the same with cheese. One will
want 1t fresh and mild, while another
will demand that 1t shall be old and
sharp"
The major said that for convenience
in Judging butter he had adopted sys-
tenn of points. Out Of a possible 100 he
allotted 40 to flavor, 80 to texture or
grain. is to color. 10 to salt and 5 to
style. For his part he preferred paper
to cloth for wrappings for butter rolls,
as being much more air tight, and he
suggested that the paper be wet at the
time it Is put upon the rolls. The matter
of coloring to suit the appearance he
would leave to the dairyman himself,
but he especially cautioned his hearers
to study the subject of salt. and avoid
the gritty and acrid article that too
often spoils an otherwise good article.
He had examined three samples of
Southern California cheese, and found
them all of high favor, but not of suf-
ficiently mature age.
When the major said that as result
Of his examination Of the butter sam
pies he found only three OF which he
could give rating of SO out of q possible
40 for flavor he greatly excited the curl
osity of his hearers. Some one In the
audience made motion, which, had it
prevailed, would have effectualIy OBJ
secured the decision of the expert from
Washington, but the greater proportion
Of members present insisted that even
If the report of the major was based
solely upon his individual opinion and
taste 1t should be heard. When it be-
came apparent that the awards could
not be suppressed Major Alvord COM
piled with the clamor and, after warning
the people that the responsibility lay
upon them and not him, he reported the
rating he had decided upon for the var
ious samples, allotting to each the num-
Der of points out possible 100 that he
considered proper. as follows:
Oak Leaf creamery, a. Sycamore,
Watson's rancho and ]. d. Durfee, each
%; Star creamery, and Lynwood cream
ery.each 81: Eureka and Norwalk cream
cries, each 80; Harper. of Downey, IS;
Palms creamery, "a; Oak Hill and Lit
tie Lake creameries. each SO, and West
minister creamery, 80. AS some of these
awards were announced more or less
applause was INDUCED in, indicating the
sentiments of the hearers.
To the cheese samples he had tried he
awarded points as follows To ]. j.
Harshman, "a; Nicholas Gregory, 81:
Alamitos, &c. On the subject of cheese
the major said that he could see no rea-
son why dairymen here should not pro-
duce large quantities of the best article
to not only supply the home market
and cut out the demand for eastern
cheese, but even enter the markets Of
the east. The only criticism lie could
make was on the process OF curing. and
this by care could be easily remedied.
AS some of the papers announced for
the afternoon were not ready on time.
Major Alvord followed his report with
an able address, in which he discussed at
length and in a popular way many sub
jects Of vital interest to dairymen--leg-
islation bearing on the prevention of
adulteration of milk and dairy products,
detection of adulterated or low standard
milk; the regulation of eleomargarine
and other limitations of butter; diseases
of dairy cattle and danger OF infection;
the proper feeding Of cows and the gen.
eral management Of dairies-to all of
which his hearers listened with pro-
found attention frequently manifesting
their approval by applause.
On the subject of diseases of milch
cows, tuberculosis in particular, the
major showed evidence of deep study
of the subject. He plainly showed how
and why mich COWS become infected as
will nearly all animals and in turn COM
municate their disease to others, not
only of their own, but of other species.
He expressed the opinion that there is
more danger Of a spread of consump-
ton from causes other than the drink
ing of milk and eating Of butter which
met with every evidence of approval of
the audience. ,f
Following the address of the expert
from Washington, George E. Platt of
this city, read paper on Dairy Cows,
and w. w. Cooke Of Downey read one
on Cheese Factories, both of which were
listened to with attention.
The numerous samples of butter and
cheese wAra 6onatad RI tho nrnIa e.