CATTLE THE DAIRY. 845 



some water will be likely to enter the can. The cans should 

 be made of the best tin, and this will be much cheaper in the 

 long run, as they will be more durable. I have some made of 

 what is called four-cross tin, which have been in constant use for 

 ten years, and are still good. A can made in this way takes 

 but little space for the amount of milk it holds, and presents so 

 much surface to the water or ice-cooled air that the temperature 

 of the milk can be reduced rapidly. There are two methods of 

 cooling the milk well or spring water, and ice. Cold water, 

 where it is to be had in abundance, is cheaper than ice, and if 

 one has a well from which can be pumped an unlimited supply, 

 it will cost but little to arrange for setting the milk. A cheap 

 milk-house may be made merely a board shanty to keep off 

 sun and rain and in this place a box or trough for water, so ar- 

 ranged that it can be pumped directly into. The house may, if 

 necessary, be some distance from the pump, but the trough must 

 be lower, so that the water can be conducted to it. This box 

 should be made wide enough so that two cans can be placed side 

 by side, and be a little deeper than the cans. It will be neces- 

 sary to arrange some way of fastening the cans down, or they 

 will float and be likely to tip over when the water rises near the 

 top ; but this can easily be done by the use of small iron pins, 

 or by wooden strips nailed to the inside, under which blocks 

 or strips of boards can be slipped, so as to press on the cans 

 and prevent the water from lifting them. 



Have an arrangement for drawing off the waste water, so 

 that it will run away through tile under ground, and not make 

 a mud-hole near the milk-house. In the hottest weather you 

 will need to change the water once or twice during the day. 



Of course one may make a brick or stone milk-house, and 

 use water in it as I describe, but as the temperature of the air 

 will affect the milk but little when managed on this plan, and 

 neither cats, dogs, nor insects can get access to it, a cheap build- 

 ing, or even a grape arbor that will furnish shade, will enable 

 one to keep the milk cool and raise the cream successfully. 



I have spoken of using water from wells rather than springs, 

 because the springs in so few instances are conveniently located. 



