The modern packing house

by F. W. Wilder

Water Versus Brine.

—Where an abundant supply of cold water is available cream ripeners are arranged so that the first cooling is done by cold water passing through the chilling coil, since much cooling can be done in this manner. The work is completed by cold brine. It is best not to attempt this unless the volume of business is sufficient to justify intelligent supervision on the ripeners, because if it is done, some means such as compressed air must be attached to the coil in the ripener for the purpose of flowing out the water before admitting brine as the mixing would reduce the brine to a point where it would freeze on the brine coils or in the double pipe ammonia brine coolers with disastrous results.

In providing brine cooling capacity ample volume should be arranged for “reserve or inertia” since the demand is insistent and large in a short period of time.

Milk not Pasteurized.

—Some manufacturers do not pasteurize the milk and conduct operations as described in the following paragraphs. However, the acidity test is equally applicable in either system.

Preparation of Milk and Cream.

—Only sweet milk should be used. Milk that is sour before reaching the factory causes troubles impossible to remedy, and no matter how good the “starter” the milk will have developed bacteria that cannot be destroyed; and, as the milk or cream becomes older the development of the proper bacteria is impossible to control. This is as true after it has been worked into the butterine as before. Hence it will be seen, that a great deal depends upon the milk and cream being sweet in developing proper conditions with the “starter.”

The milk upon being received is passed to the ripener, the temperature reduced as desired, and the process of “starter” is followed.

What are Starters?

—The “starters” referred to are cultures—the bacteria found in clean, fresh milk, cultivated in vast numbers and when incorporated in milk containing an impure variety, miniature warfare is at once begun. If the “starter” is right, the warfare ends with the pure germs victorious.