268 CLEAN MILK PRODUCTION AND HANDLING 



Milking stools made of metal and so simply constructed 

 that they may be readily washed are of some aid in the produc- 

 tion of the highest class milk. Xaturally some of the effects of 

 hand washing and udder cleaning will be lost if the milker is 

 compelled to seize a dirty stool just before starting to milk. 

 Though this is a minor item it nevertheless is one of the points to 

 be observed in the process of producing the highest class milk. 



The pails used are another factor. The ordinary open top 

 milk pail seems to have been designed to catch all the dirt pos- 

 sible. A pail 12 inches in diameter will have 113 square 



Fig. 85. — A well-lighted dairy barn. Note that top sash of windows fall inward to aid 

 in ventilation. Owned by H. P. Hood and Sons, Boston. (Courtesy of James Mfg. Co.) 



inches of dirt-catching surface, whereas one with half the open- 

 ing will have only a quarter as much exposed area. Then 

 again, if this open portion is raised to an angle shown in the 

 accompanying illustration (Fig. 86), a much smaller dirt- 

 catching area will be presented. There are many so-called 

 sanitary milk pails on the market. Many are reasonably good, 

 some are ridiculous. The construction of the pail within is 

 quite as important as the closing of a part of the top. All seams 

 should have been flushed full of solder, making it possible to 

 clean them, or better the pail should be made of pressed tin. 

 Every raw edge furnishes lodgement for dirt, which means food 

 and home for putrefactive bacteria. 



The sterilization of pails and cans used about the dairy 

 is essential in the production of milk which is to have good 

 keeping qualities. In order to sterilize, boiling water or live 



