No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 243 



We (lid not kuow before the adveut of the luicroscope aud the 

 laboratory just what dirt was. They have revealed to us the most in- 

 jurious class of dirt that we can have to contend with — the dust par- 

 ticles which are carried through the stables. Dust is the vehicle on 

 which gxirnis nuiy be carried and is the principle medium that infects 

 our dairy products. Heretofore we have been taught to regard dirt 

 that which was visible to the naked eye, and that any thing invisible 

 was of little or no importance. The microscope has turned these 

 conditions around. 



Bust carrying bacteria in stables can be largely prevented. Just to 

 the extent that this contamination i» prevented in the first few hours 

 is the danger lessened. While the milk is warm it is more susceptible 

 and furnishes a better medium for the cultivation of germ life. Our 

 stables, therefore, should be so arranged that the animals and tlie 

 milk are not exposed to dust. If the introduction of germs into milk 

 could be prevented it would keep almost indefinitely. In many of the 

 up-to-date dairies milk is kept sweet for two weeks without Pasteu- 

 rization, at a temperature of 50. If by the proper care of milk we can 

 prolong its life one day we will avert almost entirely the loss of 

 souring during its route to the consumer. The financial advantage is 

 an important one. I could cite many cases as object lessons. In 75 

 dairies with which I have been somewhat acquainted, there had been 

 for years a loss of five to ten per cent, of shipment by careless hand- 

 ling. After the adoption of inexpensive, but effectual hygienic 

 measures there has been no loss whatever. There has been no 

 change in the stables, except a general tidiness. Ceilings have been 

 made tight and whitewashed, and the stables provided with drainage 

 back of the cows. The method of feeding adopted has been one to 

 render the stable free of dust. The cows have been kept clean with 

 the curry comb. These simple measures resulted in a saving of ten 

 to twenty dollars a month, while the expense was possibly not one 

 hundred dollars per year. 



By adopting sanitary measures we would put ourselves in better 

 position to compete with dairymen north of us. In the northern 

 part of the State, and in the southern part of New York the milk is 

 cooled quickly and gotten to market in better condition than we do 

 here with our limited amount of ice. Tliere where they can cool it 

 so promptly it is not so necessary to have it absolutely clean as 

 here where our ice supply is limited. We must either have cleanli- 

 ness or cold, though it is preferable to have both. 



The effect of the adoption of dairy hygiene on the laborers about 

 the barn is good. In almost every instance there are at first objec- 

 tions by the men. They do not care to milk in the narrow top 

 buckets. They do not like to wear gowns, or to w^ash their hands. 

 They invariably come to like this care, however, and are given a 



