64 Agricultural Bacteriology. 



few or no gas holes, and no slimy condition is certain to- 

 have come from a good milk. If many gas-forming bac- 

 teria are present, the curd will be filled with small holes, 

 and will have a less agreeable odor than a curd from 

 good milk. The greater the number of gas-forming bac- 

 teria present, the more spongy is the curd mass. Some- 

 times ill-smelling curds are noted that are not accom- 

 panied by a spongy texture. 



Various other abnormal fermentations may be discov- 

 ered by the use of the curd test. It may be necessary to- 

 make similar tests on the milk of each cow before the 

 source of the trouble can be found. 



