The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-08-02
A MODERN MILKING MACHINE IN
OPERATION
A Visit to the Richards Farm West of
Zion City

Driving to the farm of Mr.. c. N. Rich
ards, west of Zion City, few evenings
ago, arriving there at about milking time,
we were much interested in watching the
operations of the new Success milking
machine, which he recently purchased.
1t is truly remarkable invention. The
machine enables busy farmer to spend
more time on his land and at the same
time increase his dairy herd. With it one
man, or even an intelligent twelve year old
boy, can milk heard of 18 or 20 COWS as
quickly as three able bodied men.
Compare the difference in time and work
expended in milking by hand with that re-
qured with one of these modern mixers,
and you will see that it is a big time and
labor saver. Moreover, it converts the milk
ing of cows regarded by men and boys
on a farm as hated drudge, into an inter
esting and expeditions mechanical process.
1t renders the average farmer independ-
ent of keeping hired man several months
of the year; this going far toward paying
for the machine in one season.
An advantage of these up-to-date milking
machines is that they insure cleaner milk
of lower bacteria count This is effected
by means of the closed cover on the pail,
which removes all danger of filth getting
from cow or stable into the milk. This
is an important factor toward securing "a"
grade milk
Another thing, the use of these machines
commonly results in an increased flow of
milk. Every farmer knows that poor,
careless, or trough" hand mixer can easily
ruin a valuable cow by irritating the teats
so that she holds back her milk. But with
these modern machines, the suction is nat
ural, calf-like, and uniform, so that it is
soothing to the most nervous cow, and she
contentedly lets down the flow Of milk, es-
pecially after the first two or three applica-
TONS The noise Of machinery is very
regular and mild
Mr.. Richards has a Holstein herd of 20
head, including q cows milking.
The cows are sleek and fat, eating the
sweet smelling silage with great relish, al
though brought in at evening from pasture.
They are also given hay at noon.
The machine owned by him is a 3-unit
outfit, costing nearly $3.50. 1t is propelled
by small engine, using kerosene for fuel,
after having been primed with gasoline The
price of an extra unit is sos.
One can have as many units as he de-
Sires, as a unit can be placed for every two
COWS, along the line of stanchions
A man can easily handle three units and
keep them steadily at work, thus milking
three COWS at one time.
By timing, we found that it took twenty
seconds less than three minutes to milk one
cow : an average mixer Another COW,
with heavy flow of milk, required three
full minutes.
The milking machine is very simple in
operation. A pump for each unit makes
even and regular strokes backward and
forward along bar which runs the length
of the line of stanchions. The air is thus
driven through a hose into the cover of the
enclosed pail, where there is a simple valve
controlled by vacuum. Running from the
cover of the pail is the milk tube, from the
end of which branch out four tubes, and
on each of these metal cup is attached,
which is very readily slipped on the cows
teat, being fastened by means of valve.
A suction is produced and the milk instantly
begins to flow into the pail easily and natu-
rally There is no chance of injury to
teats or udder
Mr. Richards states that few of his cows
were little shy of the suction at first, but
it took only about two days for them to get
used to it. Most of them paid no attention
to it from the beginning.
We found it great treat to get out in
the country for little while, away from
the routine of office work. Having been
brought I'D on a farm it recalled a wealth
of memories of our boyhood days.
Mr.. Richards now owns farm of 385
acres, in ALL purchased from the Zion
Estate. A few weeks ago, he bought tract
of 127 acres, and last week, an additional
tract of 20 acres. He has this in hay, wheat,
corn, oats, barley, etc.
Mr. ard Mrs. Richards are parents of
family of sixteen children twelve of whom
are living. Five of the younger boys are
at home, ranging in age from six to twenty.
They are strong, manly lads, and the older
ones are more valuable on the farm than
hired men, taking much more intelligent
interest in it. One little bright-eyed chap
of perhaps eleven or twelve, drives a team
like man, cleans out the dairy barn, helps
with the milking, and does a great deal of
work in general.
And these little fellows enjoy the healthy
outdoor life on the farm. They are as full
of capers as young colts.