BUREAU OF ANIMAL. INDUSTRY. 97 



plans and making estimates of cost for proposed plants, collecting 

 data relative to cost and method of opci'ation, and giving special aid 

 in the selection of equipment. The field work has been largely the 

 gathermg of data and assisting new plants in planning construction 

 and equipment. At Atlanta, Ga., for example, the Dairy Division 

 representative worked in cooperation with the health department in 

 familiarizing the dealers with the new pasteurizing equipment re- 

 (juired and helping the foremen to systematize the work, and in 

 Minnesota, at the request of the State board of health, milk plants 

 were studied and recommendations Avere made for, the improvement 

 of pasteurizing methods and equipment. Work of this nature was 

 carried on in a large number of cities in 14 States. 



MILK IMPKOVEMENT AT GBOVE CITY, PA. 



Through experiments at the Grove City creamery an effort was 

 made to work out some plans for improving the quality of the 

 market milk and to procure better milk for cheesemaking. As a 

 result the average of the bacterial counts in the milk during the 

 summer of 1919 was even lower than the preceding winter's average. 

 Probably the most important step taken in connection with sani- 

 tation wlis the adoption of the grading system of milk, by which 

 milk sent in by the patrons is graded for bacteria, temperature, farm 

 conditions, and sediment. Tlic premiums paid on milk which re- 

 ceived a high score have done much to improve the quality of the 

 milk delivered by the patrons of the creamery. 



METHOD OF CLEANING MILKING MACHINES. 



The increase in the use of milking machines has made it desirable 

 to devise some method of cleaning and sterilizing that will prevent 

 excessive numbers of bacteria. After a study of the construction of 

 various machines and methods of cleaning and sterilizing them under 

 farm conditions, a system of cleaning has been devised which has 

 given good results in lowering bacterial counts and checking the 

 spread of garget, but further work is required on the problem. 



REQUIBEMENTS FOR MILK PRODUCTION. 



Studies of the various requirements for milk production have 

 reached a stage where some definite information is now available. 

 A two-year study on a group of dairy farms near Vergennes, Vt., 

 has been completed and tabulations have been made on the require- 

 ments and cost of producing 100 pounds of milk and the require- 

 ments for keeping a cow for one year. Similar data have been ob- 

 tained from two-year studies in Indiana and North Carolina. Ex- 

 periments of a like nature have been in progress for one year on a 

 ^rroup of dairy farms near Omaha, Nebr.; Amite, La.; and Mount 

 Vernon, Wash., and more recently another has been begun at Middle- 

 town, Del. 



DAIRY BESEARCn LABORATORIES. 



BACTEKIOLOGY. 



The Dairy Division laboratories, in addition to research pertain- 

 ing strictly to the dairy industry, have continued to carry on work 

 of a broader character with a view to contributing to the knowledge 



