FROM FARM TO CONSUMER 281 



are more expensive when first cost is considered, but pay 

 in the long run. 



The milk pail. The milk pail of two generations ago was 

 commonly of wood, with slightly flaring sides, but this has 

 been gradually supplanted by a metal pail of the same gen- 

 eral form. At present these flaring-sided, open-topped pails 

 are in use in practically all of the ordinary dairies, the im- 

 proved pails having as yet been adopted in only a few of 

 the more progressive ones. 



A satisfactory milk pail constructed upon scientific prin- 

 ciples will, in itself, exclude one hah* or more of the germs 

 which fall into an ordinary open pail during the milking 

 process. The pail should not be more than twelve niches 

 high over all. One of the commonest failings of covered 

 pails is their excessive height, which renders the milking 

 of short-legged or heavy-uddered cows awkward and dif- 

 ficult. 



Harding points out that an elliptical opening is prefer- 

 able to a round one covering the same number of square 

 inches, since it is easier to milk into. For ordinary milkers 

 the opening should scarcely be less than 5X7 niches, and 

 with a little practice this has been found practically as 

 convenient as the ordinary open pail. 



The cover should be sufficiently convex, so that the en- 

 tire inside of the pail can be seen and easily reached for 

 cleaning. It should be made flush with the very top of the 

 pail, so as to avoid a groove which will conduct material 

 from the top of the pail around to the opening and into the 

 milk. The various forms of covers and openings are shown 

 in the illustrations, which speak for themselves. Those of 

 the Stadtmiiller, Star and Neuberg type, and also those 

 of the Truemann, Storrs, or Loy type, are satisfactory both 

 in the ease of milking and protection afforded to the milk. 



A suitable cover soldered to an ordinary milk pail by a 

 local tinsmith will give satisfaction if the work is well done 

 and all the seams are carefully filled with solder. Such a 



