60 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



grain during the dry period I frequently have trouble from this 

 source. Dr.- Leonard Pierson of the Philadelphia Vet. College 

 warns dairymen on this point. The cows should have all they 

 wish of a proper food at all times, but keep the grain from them 

 when they are dry previous to parturition. 



The cow stable should be kept at a temperature above freez- 

 ing at all times. On this point I quote from the London Dairy, 

 in which Mr. Alexander Potter gives the results of some ex- 

 perimenting with temperatures of stables. He says a tempera- 

 ture of sixty-three degrees gives the best results. He says that 

 in one case with thirty cows the value of the milk was $15.00 

 per week more when the stable was kept at sixty-three degrees 

 than when it was kept at fifty-two degrees. I have used the 

 neck ties and stanchions, but have discarded them, and am 

 now using the Bidwell Stall. In. my new stable I have 

 cement floors, gutters and also cement mangers. I have 

 individual stalls which have some of the Bidwell ideas, 

 some from the Drown stall, and some of my own 

 ideas. The stall partition is entirely of iron, a No. 7 double 

 crimped wire, woven onto channel iron frames. 



Very few dairymen appear to realise the importance of the 

 work of milking, — the necessity for kindness, neatness, system 

 and regularity. 



I have found a difference in milkers in the matter of keeping 

 up the flow of milk, that was alarming, sufBcient to pay a man's 

 salary when he milked i 5 cows for a year. Some milkers can 

 and will keep up the flow of milk of their cows. Others can but 

 don't, and still others cannot when they do their best. 



Two seasons I offered prizes for my milkers to compete for, 

 and secured the best work I ever had. 



SKIM MILK. 



There is one point that I have given much thought during 

 the past three years. When I started the enterprise at my farm 

 of producing certified milk I adopted the plan of having each 

 milker cleanse the udders of the cows he milked before he com- 



