y6 THE STATE AS FARMER 



pastures on three bad cows for the same 

 result in milk. 



Again, we have to look at quality as 

 well as quantity, and it is dreadful to think 

 that some authorities consider that one- 

 tenth of our milk supply contains the germs 

 of tuberculosis. Here, again, we have no 

 real need to lie under this cloud of risk. 

 It is quite possible to remove from our herds 

 the dangerous units. Is it necessary for me 

 to labour the point that it is easier and better 

 in every way for the State to intervene at the 

 farm than for the municipalities to interfere 

 when the mischief has been done and perhaps 

 large volumes of pure milk have been mixed 

 with the diseased portions ? Before I leave 

 the question of disease, I may note that 

 milk has an affinity for, a talent for taking to 

 itself, all sorts of ills that gather round it, 

 and therefore it is of the utmost importance 

 that all who are in any way connected with 

 the handling of the herds should be in good 

 health. Can we catch up with the bacilli of 

 any of the fevers if we once let them get a 

 start of us in our milk at the farm ? Can 

 we be too careful in our arrangements ? Is 



