14 BULLETIN 1, U. 8. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 
DAIRY HOUSES. 
Milk houses on certified farms vary almost as greatly as do the 
stables. Stone, brick, wood, and cement are used for their construc- 
tion. The same rules regarding- the absence of ledges and the smooth- 
ness of the walls, floors, and ceilings should be observed. An entirely 
separate room should be provided for handling the milk, and in the 
majority of certified dairies this room is kept tightly closed while milk 
is being bottled and no visitors are allowed access to it. In some of 
the milk rooms air is supplied through a filter, so that there is no 
danger of bacteria being admitted from the outside air. Screens 
should be provided for all openings in the milk house, and there is 
no excuse for flies in the milk room. 
HEALTH AND CLEANLINESS OF CATTLE. 
The medical milk commissions require the tuberculin testing of 
the herds under their supervision. In addition, any cows showing 
abnormal symptoms or any form of disease which might affect the 
milk are eliminated from certified herds. The cattle are carefully 
groomed at least once a clay so that there can be no accumulation of 
filth upon them, and in many dairies the cows' tails are washed 
daily. Many certified-milk producers are in the habit of clipping 
the hairs from the udders, flanks, legs, and bellies of all the animals, 
so that they are the more readily kept clean. A few certified dairies 
have installed vacuum cleaners with which the cows are cleaned 
previous to milking. These cleaners take up much of the dust, loose 
hairs, and scurf which would simply be brushed into the air of the 
stable by hand cleaning. After the cows are cleaned they are fas- 
tened so that they can not lie down until the milkers are through. 
REMOVAL OF MANURE. 
TTherever practicable the manure should be carried to the field 
daily. Many dairies follow this custom and find it economical, in 
that the manure does not have to be handled twice, as it would were 
it kept in a pit. At other dairies covered pits are built for the re- 
ception of the manure. Where these are built they should be of 
water-tight construction and should be tightly screened and covered 
to kpep out flies. 
BEDDING. 
TThile straw is used for bedding in some of the certified dairies, a 
large number use either planer shavings or sawdust. Baled shav- 
ings may be had at a nominal price and make a very satisfactorv 
bedding in sanitary dairies As fast as these shavings are soiled or 
become damp they should be removed with the manure and replaced 
with clean, drv shavings. 
