1902.] DISCUSSION. ^ 269 



smaller number of bacteria should curdle quicker than those 

 Avhich contained a greater number. 



The President. Do you imagine that it may have been 

 because the milk which was milked into the closed pail was 

 not so well aerated? 



Mr. Stocking. There might be possibly a chance for 

 that. Dr. Conn, I think, has one theory for that that may 

 possibly be right. You remember that he has spoken of the 

 struggle going on between the different kinds of bacteria, 

 and he has suggested that possibly in the closed pail so 

 large a number of nonacid bacteria are kept out that it gives 

 those which produce acid, or the curdling, a fuller chance to 

 ^row. We do not know yet whether that is true or not. 



Those are the results that we have gotten at the present 

 time. I will just run them over briefly and sum them up. 

 First, the use of the covered pail keeps out a large part of 

 the dirt during the milking, the covered pail is much more 

 effectual, and the number of bacteria getting into the closed 

 pail is in most cases, though not in all, less than in the open. 

 The time of curdling, instead of being put off by the use of 

 the closed pail, is hastened. 



The number of bacteria contained in the milk apparently 

 is independent of the amount of dirt getting in. This, I 

 think, will give you a fair idea of the condition we are in at 

 the present time. We are trying to dig our way out from 

 among the many difficulties which seem to loom up on all 

 sides of us in our attempt to study this question. I hope we 

 will be able to get some explanation for some of these prob- 

 lems. My little talk is simply to give you an idea of our 

 progress, and of some of the methods we are using, rather 

 than to enunciate any definite results. I hope we will be 

 able, later on, and I believe we will be, to get something that 

 will be more definite, and which will be of practical value to 

 the dairymen and farmers of Connecticut. 



Question. Is it practical to strain milk through this 

 filter paper? 



