ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 127 



the people of Chicago alone consume daily 61 pounds of filth in their milk 

 supply, or 11 tons per year; enough to fertilize a small farm. With 

 these facts before us we certainly have a subject worthy of attention. 



In reply to the question sent out by the Division of Dairying of 

 the United States Department of Agriculture, "What part of dairying is" 

 in greatest need of improvement?" most of the answers referred to the 

 «are of the milk from the time it leaves the cow until it reaches the 

 creamery, cheese factory, or milk train. 



After spending some time investigating the needs of dairying, includ- 

 ing city milk supply, I became fairly convinced that the production of clean 

 milk is the most important economical question as regards dairying to- 

 day, as well as important to the health of the consumer. 



Milk as ordinarily produced sells in Chicago for 6 cents per quart, 

 while a large amount which is secured by cleanly methods, yet possess- 

 ing no higher nutritive value, sel Is by the side of it for from 8 to 12 cents 

 per quart. This is surely a significant fact. 



The value of milk when it reaches the creamery or cheese factory 

 depends very largely upon the care it has received since leaving the cow, 

 and if intended for direct consumption its value depends almost entirely 

 upon this fact. 



If dirty and tainted milk is received at a creamery or cheese factory 

 it makes an inferior product that will not bring the highest price, thus 

 entailing a great loss. Milk should be paid for not only in respect to its 

 hutter content, but also according to purity, or freedom from filth, and 

 "badly contaminated and tainted milk rejected altogether. 



Successful dairying is closely associated with science, especially 

 hacteriology. This teaches us that most of the changes that take place 

 in milk are caused by the action of extremely minute organisms, so small 

 as to require several hundred of them placed side by side to equal the 

 thickness of ordinary writing paper. They are found in dirt of nearly 

 every description and are floating on the dust in the air. So far as milk 

 production is concerned dirt and bacteria are practically synonomous. 

 Since bacteria are everywhere present it is impossible to keep them out of 



