498 



Irish Agricultural Banks. 



milk absorbs odours (pleasant and otherwise) when it 

 is either warmer or cooler than the surrounding air, but this 

 absorption is much more active in warm than in cold milk. 



These experiments are held to show that the practice of 

 leaving milk in the milking sheds for any considerable length 

 of time is contrary to good dairy principles. Such a treatment 

 renders possible not only the introduction of bacterial life 

 from the germ-laden air, but the direct absorption of stable 

 odours that will seriously impair the value of the milk for 

 direct consumption, or for butter and cheese making. It may 

 be said that if the milk is not allowed to remain longer than 

 during the milking process the danger is so small that it can 

 be safely neglected, but such a practice is not recommended. 

 If the shed is kept thoroughly cleaned and is well ventilated, 

 an exposure for a few minutes might not produce serious 

 results ; but if the object is to produce as perfect an article as 

 possible, then even this limited exposure is, according to Dr. 

 Russell, fraught with danger from the purely physical stand- 

 point, apart from the biological phase of the question. 



Irish Agricultural Banks. 



In the seventh report of the Congested Districts Board for 

 Ireland reference is made to the co-operative agricultural 

 banks, on the Raiffeisen system, which have been introduced 

 into Ireland during the past three years by the Irish Agricul- 

 tural Organisation Society. On March 31st, 1898, fifteen of 

 these banks had been established ; but since, that date the 

 number has increased to thirty-nine. 



In order to assist in giving the system a fair trial in the 

 congested districts, the Board agreed to advance to six 

 banks at Carna, Rossmuck, Burriscarra, Addergoole, 

 Spiddal, and Kilmore-Erris sums of ;^50 to ;£ioo each — 

 £400 in all — in the form of loans at 5 per cent, interest, 

 issued on the joint and several security of the members of 

 the committee of management in each case; 2 J per cent., 

 half the interest charged, to be afterwards returned to the 

 bank if the Board are satisfied with the manner in which 



