10 



DAIRYING 



to sour naturally, or it may be a bottle of solid or liquid com- 

 mercial culture which has been prepared for this purpose. 

 The prepared seed or pure culture grown in a small quantity of 

 sour milk which is to be added to this carefully prepared soil or 

 pasteurized skim milk is often called the "mother" starter or 

 startoline. 



534. Preparation of "Mother" Starter or Startoline. In 

 order to get the best results in making the "mother" starter, or 

 startoline, there should be provided : (1) Several quart bottles 

 each equipped with a glass tumbler cover, and a long-handled, 

 silver-plated spoon. (Fig. 1.) A glass vessel is better than any 

 other for this purpose, as it enables one to see the way in which 

 the milk is souring, and whether the curd is solid or wheyed off 

 and gassey. Tin, crockery, or earthen ware are more or less 



Plate 2 A Small Steam Sterilizer for Starter Bottles. 



porous, or cracked, and are not so easily kept clean and germ- 

 free as glass. 



2. A galvanized iron can, with cover and steam connection 

 at the bottom, as shown in Plate 2. A perforated shelf is placed 

 on strips so as not to stand directly on the bottom of the can, 

 and it also helps to distribute the heat from the steam. When 



