FIFTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VII 479 



The cream separator, as well as the milk utensils used, should all be 

 thoroughly washed with a brush. A brush is much preferred to a rag, 

 because of the bristles getting into the cracks and crevices and cleaning 

 the pails and cans thoroughly. After washing, the utensils should be 

 scalded and then placed in the air to dry. Cans and pails should be 

 inverted, but should not have the tops closely against the table. Pegs 

 fastened into the wall are a very good means of airing the milk cans. 



One of the most important features in producing clean milk is the 

 covered milk pail. This is simply an ordinary pail with the top partly 

 covered, in order to prevent the dirt which drops from the cow entering 

 the pail. These pails are little more expensive, than the ordinary open 

 pail and practical use shows that they are very desirable for the average 

 farm. 



Those who are producing the best grade of cream have constructed 

 small milk houses. These are inexpensive and are located near the 

 pump. The cooling tank, as well as the cream separator, are placed in 

 them, thus concentrating the work and making it easier to care properly 

 for the cream. 



Every farmer will be well repaid for constructing a small tank and 

 handling his cream in a sanitary manner. The premium on sweet cream 

 will continue to increase and the price will more than repay for the ex- 

 pense of the equipment and the trouble of giving the products good 

 care. 



BENEFITS OF THE CREAMERY. 



How to keep the small town prosperous is a problem that should interest 

 every citizen. This is particularly true in the Mississippi valley, where 

 there are numerous villages ranging in population from 200 to 1,000. 

 These towns are essential because they furnish a trading place for the 

 farmers in close proximity to their homes. Each is the center of the 

 business and social activities of a community. 



A town less than 1,000 in population is seldom located on more than 

 one railroad, and as a result the shipping facilities are not adequate to 

 justify a large manufacturing plant locating in it. Thus the prosperity 

 and financial support of every institution in the town depends entirely 

 upon local capital. One of the most remunerative factories for the small 

 town is the creamery. This is true because it does not necessitate products 

 being shipped from a great distance and it secures its supply of raw 

 material entirely from the surrounding community. 



Although the creamery does not employ a large number of men, it 

 makes the town prosperous because of the comparatively large returns 

 it brings to the community for the capital invested. The average plant 

 in Iowa has been built at a cost not to exceed $5,000, and according to 

 the dairy commissioner's report for 1910, the average annual business 

 of the Iowa creamery has been $61,852. Thus, it can be readily under- 

 stood that a large business is operated on an exceedingly small amount 

 of money. 



The average creamery in Iowa during the past fiscal year has manu- 

 factured 206,173.9 pounds of butter. If we value this at 30 cents per 



