The log cabin Democrat., 1916-05-22
INA ln-1N\T |||l TIE lY lDNEIIURll
VARIATIONS IN CREAM TEST
Common Cause of Dissatisfaction on Part of Seiler-Use of Tester Is
 Urged by Expert.

(By C. H. ECKLES. Missouri College of
 AgrCultureD
 One of the most common causes of who sells cream on the butterfat basis, rises from variations in the test. This is especially true if each can is tested separately and the best way for the seller to convince himself that the tester is neither careless nor dishon- est is to secure little outfit for him. self. A well-made, accurate and satis- factory tester can now be bought for five dollars and it's use will not only satisfy the seller that he is getting honest treatment but will enable him to detect the boarders in his herd. The general interest in this subject is compelling the Missouri agricultural experiment station to reprint a cir cular for general distribution. but little discussion of the principal causes of variation in this briefer form may avoid the necessity for so wide a dis tribution of that circular.
 Speed of Separator-A change in the speed of the separator immediate ly causes change in the tests of the cream, the higher the speed the great CT the amount of skim milk thrown out and so the higher the test of the cream secured. Putting it in another way, low speed results in larger quantity of thinner cream.
 Rate of Inflow-The use of the float does not always insure a uniform flow of milk into the separator, because the faucet may not always be opened equally wide and the flow will be more rapid when the tank is full than when 1t is nearly empty. Anything which makes the inflow more rapid will in- crease the proportion of skim milk which goes through, and lower the test of the cream secured
 Flushing the Bowl-The amount of water used in flushing may easily be varied pint or more and this with out any other cause or variation may change the test by two, three, or even four or five per cent.
 Variations in the Milk Itself,-The milk of an entire herd may rise or fall in its test from day to day because of excitement or change in the weather. If the milk of a herd, whose average test is four per cent, is ordinarily so separated that the cream tests 40 per cent fat, the test will suddenly rise to 42.5 per cent if the milk of the herd is suddenly raised to 4.25 per cent without oh ;r, separating.
 Cream Screw.-Ihe test is. of course, readily controlled by means of the cream screw, but as it Is seldom changed in this way. on the average farm, there should be no trouble be- cause of variation from this source.
 Feed of the Cow.-Variations in cream tests are practically never caused by changes in the feed of the COW as every well-informed cream seller is now aware.
 Mistakes and Dishonesty. Mistakes are most likely to result from care lessness in taking samples. as they must be very carefully and skillfully taken if they are to tell the truth and result in fair payment. but actual dishonesty is probably much rarer than many sellers believe. A clever thief would manipulate the reported test in such a way as not to arousa the suspicion that an honest report sometimes brings up in the mind of the man who does not consider all the possible hidden causes of variation.