578 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



"The scores in general agree quite favorably with the production of the 

 animal." although "the score cards do not show the wide variation they should 

 according to the records. . . . The measurements talceu on the udder, milk 

 veins, milk wells, chest, and barrel show that these parts are of as much impor- 

 tance with one breed as another, and for that reason the score cards should not 

 difl'er as they do on these important points of conformation." 



Hereditary traits in milch stock as revealed by Danish control unions, 

 J. J. Dunne illoarcVs Dairyman, J/5 (.1913), No. 26, pp. 856, 863, figs. 2).— An 

 account of the practical results of the Danish control unions in improving milk- 

 ing strains in cows. 



The formation of cow-testing' associations, H. H. Wing (New York Cornell 

 Bla. Circ. 17, pp. 53-6'i. figs. 3). — In this circular the author notes the wide 

 variation in the average yield of milk per cow in the different counties of New 

 York and points out that " the counties containing the largest proportion of 

 pure-breds include the counties in which the average yield was highest and 

 the counties which made the largest increase in yield during the 10 years." 

 lie discusses the financial side of the dairy and points out the necessity for 

 high-producing animals, value of records, and of the cow-testing associations, and 

 the actual results of one testing association in New York State. Plans for the 

 organization of testing associations are included. 



Milking' machines: Their sterilization and their efl5ciency in producing 

 clean milk, Lois W. Wing (New York Cornell Sta. Circ. 18, pp. 65-7.',. figs. 3). — 

 With a view of testing the efHciency of milking machines in producing a 

 high grade of milk, and to determine the amount of care necessary in order 

 to keep machines in a sterile condition, bacteriological counts were made of 

 milk under different conditions. 



Counts made on milk 30 minutes after coming from a machine which had 

 been treated in brine solution were higher than the actual germ content of the 

 cow's udder and indicated the existence of an external source of contamiuntion. 

 Counts of bacteria were then made of the brine used for sterilization, and these 

 indicated a very high percentage of bacteria. Experiments were then conducted 

 in the addition of hydrogen peroxid to the brine 1:10, of denatured alcohol 

 to the brine 1 : 10. and of potassium permanganate. In these tests the bacteria 

 count was lowered, but, because of the expense and special troubles, these 

 agents were discarded. The results from the use of a solution of formaldehyde 

 were excellent, but formalin was detected in the milk. Trials with vinegar, 

 acetic acid, and copper sulphate proved unsatisfactory. The use of a salt 

 solution containing chlorid of lime resulted in a marked reduction in the 

 bacteria count and without any objectionable effect upon the milk. 



A solution containing 0.1 per cent free chlorin proved satisfactory, although 

 even a percentage as low as 0.01 showed efficient results. The use of a small 

 amount of calcium peroxid showed some effect, but did not warrant the 

 greater expense. Experiments with solutions containing different degrees of 

 chlorin strength indicated the extreme germicidal action of this agent when 

 sufficiently strong. The percentage of chlorin in the solution decreases after 

 24 hours' exposure, hence the necessity of frequently adding fresh chlorid of 

 lime to the solution. 



The effects of the administration of extracts of the pituitary body and 

 corpus luteum to milch cows, W. Gavin (Quart. Jour. Expt. Physiol., 6 

 (1013), No. 1, pp. 13-16; ahs. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 101, (1913), No. 

 606, I, p. 1,21). — The administration to dairy cows of these glandular extracts 

 did not prove to be of any economic value. The intravenous injection of 

 pituitary extract did not increase the quantity of milk per diem nor change the 

 q-iality of the milk. 



