288 KEPOKT OF OFFICE OF EXI'EKIMENT STATIONS. 



in thi> way as l»y fcodinji^ the silajj:!.' lo cows a shoi-l tiinc Ix^fore 

 niilUiiiir. 



Kussell " compaivcl the ahsurptioii of odors h\ warm and col^l milk. 

 The odoriferous substances experimented with were corn sihige, 

 horse manure, urine of cows, and the vohitih* essential oils of 

 cinnamon, winter^reen, and j)eppermint, the milk being exposed to 

 these odors in a large box. The results, on the whole, showed that 

 while milk absorbs odors when it is either Avarmer or cooler than the 

 surrounding air, the absorption, contrary to general belief, is nnich 

 more active when the milk is warm than when it is cold. The odor 

 of pe})i)ermint oil could be detected after exposures of as short dura- 

 tion as ten minutes. The milk was readily tainted by the odor of 

 fresh urine. Such data as were obtained in these experiments show 

 conclusively that it is bad practice from the standpoint of absori)tion 

 of odors alone to leave the milk for any considerable length of time 

 in the stable after milking. It also shows the necessity, in produc- 

 ing faultless milk, of having the stables clean and well ventilated. 



A still stronger argument for clean stables and yards is the impossi- 

 bility of keeping filth out of the milk when the cleaning of the stables 

 is neglected and cows are compelled to wade in muddy barnyards. 

 Under such conditions a large amount of dirt is sure to get into the 

 milk during milking, and there is then no possible way of removing 

 the greater part of it. • 



Suggestions for the improvement of dairy barns were offered in a 

 recent circular of the Illinois Station,'' and in another circular of the 

 same station '^ Fraser reported results of a study of the practice of 

 allowing cows the freedom of a closed shed or covered barnyard, in- 

 stead of confining them in stalls. Information obtained from 18 

 practical dairymen and the results of experiments at the station dur- 

 ing two years indicated that cows kept in this way were more vigor- 

 ous and healthy than when stabled ; they were cleaner, the stable used 

 for milking was in a much more sanitary condition, and consequently 

 it was easier to produce clean milk. Fraser considered that the 

 information at hand was not sufficient to warrant definite conclusions 

 for all sections of the country and all conditions, but as the method 

 had proved a marked success wherever he found that it had been 

 tried, he considered it probable that it could be put into more exten- 

 sive practice to the advantage of the dairymen and to the general 

 improvement of the milk supply. 



At the Maryland Station Doane ^ compared several materials as 

 bedding for cows. Sawdust was found the most satisfactory, but 

 about equally good results were obtained Avith shavings. These two 



a Wisconsin Sta. Rpt. 1898, p. 104. c Illinois Sta. Circ. 93. 



6 Illinois Sta. Circ. 95. <* Maryland Sta. Bui. 104. 



