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ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURE 



care of the milk. Milk cows should not be allowed to 

 drink stagnant or muddy water, or to eat "tainted" 

 food, as musty hay, cabbage, rape, garlic, wild onions, 

 or ragweed. These will certainly impart a bad odor 

 and a bad flavor to the milk, which the most careful 

 handling will not remove. 



Bad Odors in Milk. In the second place, milk is a 

 very great absorbent, and should never be allowed to 



HOLSTEIX-FRIESIAN COW. 



stand around the barn, or in any other place where the 

 air is filled with bad odors. 



Bacteria in Milk. But the most fruitful source of 

 bad milk is uncleanliness on the part of the dairyman 

 in the care of the cow, and of the milking utensils. 

 Milk should be kept pure and sweet. Sour milk, or 

 bad milk, is caused by tiny bacteria, too small to be 

 seen with the naked eye ; in fact, so small that they can 



