ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 303 



first have good milk and this comes from healthy cows. To keep 

 the dairy in thrifty condition it must be fed on good sweet 

 pasture, or on good grain, and wholesome forage, and given pure 

 water. The feeding of rotten silage, mouldy corn fodder, or 

 damaged grain, and allowing them to drink impure water will 

 have their effect upon the health of the animal and the quality of 

 milk. The cow^ when kept in the barn needs our special attention 

 and care. It has been found by experiments that milk is more 

 or less infected by germs (bacteria). A large number of those 

 germs are found in the milk when it is drawn from the cow in 

 the stable, even if the place where she is kept is clean and well 

 ventilated. 



Since bacteria are found nearly everywhere it almost seems 

 a useless^ task to try to fight them, but we have already many ways 

 in which we can destroy bacteria, and keep them from becoming 

 injurious to our dairy products. The best way to keep free from 

 injurious germs is to be clean. The cows should be provided 

 with clean bedding. Many times cows are allowed to lie in 

 filth ; this makes an environment in which bacteria grow rapidly. 

 In short the cow stable should be kept clean and well lighted and 

 ventilated. The cows should also be kept clean by brushing them 

 every day. The milk and butter utensils, that is, the milk pails, 

 strainers, milk cans, churn, and butter-worker, should be kept 

 clean and sweet. 



Clean Milk. 



The cow's udders and sides should be brushed before milking 

 begins to keep the dust and dirt from falling into the milk. The 

 milking should be done with clean, dry hands, for it is an ex- 

 tremely filthy habit to milk with wet fingers. The milk should 

 be strained immediately after milking, in a clean place, and 

 through a wire gauze and three thicknesses of cheese cloth. All 

 utensils in which milk is handled should be made of tin, wooden 

 utensils should never be used. It is a good rule to follow, to 

 clean all milk vessels immediately after using them. In washing 

 the utensils rinse them first in cold or luke warm water, and then 



