1576 
RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
December  23,  1916. 
When  you  write  advertisers  mention 
The  Rural  New-Yorker  and  you'll  get 
a  quick  reply  and  a  “ square  deal.  ”  See 
guarantee  editorial  page. 
A  Dairyman  on  the  Milk  Problem 
On  page  1475  you  ask  certain  questions 
about  the  milk  business.  Here  are  my 
answers: 
1.  First,  in  regard  to  scoring  barns  I 
would  cite  the  experience  of  our  local 
board  of  health.  Last  Winter  the  board 
of  health  took  samples  of  each  milk 
dealer's  milk  (who  all  produce  their  own 
milk),  and  tested  it  for  bacteria.  The 
man  who  would  have  scored  the  highest 
on  the  score  card  bad  the  highest  bac¬ 
teria  count,  300.000.  The  one  who  would 
have  scored  the  lowest  had  175,000, 
while  the  two  who  would  have  scored 
probably  fourth  and  fifth  had  7,000  and 
8.000.  Two  weeks  later  another  count 
was  made,  showing,  as  I  remember  it 
now,  in  the  order  named  above :  13,000, 
130,000,  7,000,  8,000.  These  counts  were 
all  published  iu  the  local  papers.  An  in¬ 
vestigation  showed  that  while  the  first 
man  had  everything  to  do  with,  live 
steam,  covered  pails,  a  first-class  barn,  a 
modern  milk-house,  and  everything  needed 
to  produce  first-class  milk,  he  simply 
didn't  use  them  properly.  The  second  man 
had  not  so  good  equipment,  and  even 
after  the  test  didn’t  care  enough  to  use 
what  be  bad  to  the  best  advantage.  The 
third  and  fourth,  while  having  very  little 
better  facilities  than  the  second  man, 
used  what  they  had  so  as  to  produce  the 
desired  result. 
Conclusion,  examine  the  milk  instead 
of  the  barn,  and  have  some  standard  for 
milk  which  is  reasonable,  and  publish  all 
counts  where  all  patrons  will  know  what 
their  neighbors  are  doing,  and  I  think 
there  will  be  a  decided  improvement  in 
the  quality  of  milk  produced. 
Another  test  which  is  more  convincing 
to  many  farmers  is  the  filter  test,  which 
shows  them  exactly  what  sediment  is  con¬ 
tained  in  a  quart  of  their  own  milk  and 
that  of  their  neighbors.  Both  of  these 
tcsls  could  he.  used  both  at  the  receiving 
station  and  at  the  city  end,  where  both 
producer  and  consumer  could  know  what 
was  being  done,  and  where  to  look  for 
good  milk.  Of  course,  all  milk  to  be 
cooled. 
Iu  regard  to  the  butter  fat  test  it  seems 
to  me  that  the  only  way  that  can  be 
worked  out  is,  first  license  all  testers,  see 
that  all  glassware  used  in  testing  is 
properly  marked,  and  do  not  allow  a 
variation  of  two-tenths  of  one  per  cent., 
as  the  Chief  of  the  Dairy  Division  of  the 
Agricultural  Department  told  me  was 
done  at  present.  Insist  on  all  tests  being 
made  of  a  one  day’s  sample  and  a  sealed 
sample  given  the  farmers  each  time,  with 
a  veasonab  o  charge  made  for  the  sample 
bottle  which  would  be  returned  on  return 
of  bottle.  These  tests  should  be  made  at 
least  once  a  week,  and  can  be  made 
oftener  in  case  there  is  reason  to  believe 
the  test  is  not  a  fair  one.  This  method 
gives  the  producer  a  sample  which  he 
can  have  tested  by  any  licensed  tester 
before  witnesses,  and  should  be  compe¬ 
tent  proof  of  dishonesty  if  there  is  more 
than  a  slight  variation  in  the  two  sam¬ 
ples.  These  two  samples  should  be 
taken  as  one  and  divided,  giving  each  a 
sample  exactly  like  the  other,  and  as  the 
farmer’s  sample  would  be  sealed,  and  no 
two  seals  exactly  alike,  it  would  seem  to 
me  that  it  ought,  to  he  easy  to  control 
this  matter.  As  every  farmer  would  have 
his  sample  each  time  that  he  could  use  to 
protect  his  rights  dishonesty  would  be 
reduced  to  the  minimum. 
It  would  seem  that,  the  cleanliness 
would  be  guaranteed  as  far  as  possible 
by  the  method  described  iu  answer  to  the 
first  question.  The  amount  of  fat  and 
solids  should  be  marked  on  the  cap  of 
bottle,  and  anyone  should  be  allowed  to 
buy  a  bottle  of  milk  from  a  dealer  and  re¬ 
quest  that  it  he  sealed,  which  could  he 
analyzed  and  be  competent  proof  of  vio¬ 
lation  of  the  law,  and  would,  I  think,  do 
more  to  protect  the  public  than  merely 
having  officials  to  do  this  who  might  be 
bought.  It  would  be  all  right  to  have 
officials  for  this  work,  but  there  needs  to 
be  some  check  on  officials. 
It  seems  to  me  that  the  Dairying’s 
League  ought  to  be  in  a  position  now  to 
do  a  good  deal  of  judicious  advertising  of 
milk,  especially  by  the  use  of  such  cards 
Ayrshire  f 
For  the  next  few  weeks  you  can  buy  heifer 
calves  with  record  backing  for  $100.00  each. 
Write  at  once  lor  pedigrees. 
HENDERSON  AYRSHIRE  FARM 
HUDSON.  OHIO 
AvrshireBullCalveR  and  heifers.  Bredforpro 
HpsimeDUII  bdives  dnction  And  beauty.  Shrop- 
Elure  rams  and  ewes.  ARTHUR  RIDER,  Jiarn.rvLIIe,  fl.  V 
SpotFarm  HoIsteins,$l  5 
A  sou  of  routine  Komdyka 
with  SO-ib.  <Um  anil  26  ot  hia 
daughters.  J,  llol.itoin  heifer 
i  cal  veil  tlK  each,  orprera  paid  in 
lots  of  5.  00  high  gi  n.!*  heifers, 
1  to  3  your*  old ,  W3  to  *7*  each, 
i  SO  rcgiatei.it  heifers,  C  months 
to  1  year  old,  MOO  ench.  Regis¬ 
tered  cowfl,  heifers  and  bulls, 
high  grade  cows.  I-arge  stock 
on  band -come  ftud  see  them. 
JOHN  C.  RCACAN,  fully,  N.Y. 
Dairymen’s  League  at  Utica 
The  annual  meeting  of  the  Dairymen’s 
League  was  held  in  Utica  December  8. 
There  were  nearly  n  thousand  enthusiastic 
farmers  present.  Previous  to  October  1 
these  farmers  for  40  years  had  been  mak¬ 
ing  milk  and  turning  it  over  to  dealers 
without  a  single  word  as  to  the  price 
that  they  would  pay  for  it.  They  are 
now  selling  at  a  price  made  by  them¬ 
selves  upon  their  own  terms,  and  the  ex¬ 
perience  has  not  only  put  a  little  money 
in  their  pockets,  but  it  has  put  light  in 
their  eyes  and  joy  in  their  hearts.  It.  is 
not,  so  much  the  extra  price  that  en¬ 
thuses  (hem,  as  the  fact  (liey  have  at  last 
discovered  that  through  co-operation 
among  themselves  they  ure  able  to  shake 
off  the  yoke  that,  they  carried  for  so 
many  dreary  years.  The  experience  lias 
strengthened  their  confidence  in  them¬ 
selves,  and  in  their  neighbors,  and  has 
given  them  the  satisfaction,  like  other 
business  men,  of  naming  a  price  for  their 
own  products,  tin*  reward  for  their  own 
toil.  The  work  which  was  once  a  drudg¬ 
ery  has  become  a  joy. 
The  record  of  the  League’s  development 
is  most  encouraging.  Tbe  organization 
now  has  30,000  members,  a  gain  of  10,000 
during  the  year.  They  represent  370,000 
cows,  a  gain  of  1 00,000  for  the  year.  The 
cash  balance  a  year  ago  was  $3,000;  to¬ 
day  it.  is  $43,000.  Last  year  it.  sold  no 
milk.  This  year  it  lias  contracted  for  the 
sale  of  approximately  $40,000,000  worth 
of  milk. 
The  24  directors  were  elected.  Tbe 
milk  territory  was  divided  into  districts 
containing  an  equal  number  of  cows  as 
near  as  could  be  approached,  and  one  di¬ 
rector  nominated  by  the  members  of  tbe 
districts  and  elected  by  the  membership. 
The  Board  has  not  elected  itR  officers,  hilt 
Jacob  S.  Brill,  who  served  as  president 
for  a  short  time,  and  whose  resignation 
was  demanded  by  the  board  iu  October, 
was  not  elected  a  member  of  the  board 
and  of  course  could  not  even  he  considered 
as  a  candidate  by  the  board  of  directors. 
The  members  of  the  association  en¬ 
thusiastically  endorsed,  confirmed  and  rat¬ 
ified  every  act  of  the  executive  committee 
and  of  the  Department  of  Foods  mid  Mar¬ 
kets  which  represented  them  in  the  reeent 
contest.  They  endorsed  them  on  the 
ground  that  they  knew  the  individual  en¬ 
ergy  that  had  been  put  iu  the  work,  and 
particularly  because  that  work  resulted  in 
satisfactory  results.  This  was  a  just  rec¬ 
ognition  of  a  good  service.  The  executive 
committee,  including  Mr.  It.  I>.  Cooper, 
Mr.  If.  H.  Thomson,  Mr.  Frank  Sherman, 
also  Mr.  Muuuing  and  Mr.  Hardin, 
worked  insistently  and  effectively  during 
that  contest.  They  rode  nights  and 
worked  days.  Minor  mistakes  wore  no 
doubt  made,  but  the  situation  was  handled 
with  energy  and  consummate  skill.  Tbe 
Department  of  Foods  and  Markets  did  its 
part  as  best  it  could,  and  the  recognition 
of  its  service  was  magnified  by  the  fann¬ 
ers  at  the  meeting.  It.  was  oven  extrav¬ 
agant.  A  just  cause  commends  itself,  but 
Purebred  or  Grade  Dairy  Cow 
Will  you  permit  me  to  add  a  word  to 
the  discussion  of  the  relative  merits  of 
the  purebred  cow  and  the  grade  cow  for 
farm  use? 
If  the  purebred  cow  is  not  a  good  cow 
for  the  every-day  farmer  (large  or  small) 
to  keep,  there  is  no  good  reason  for  her 
existence.  Farming  is  no  longer  the  sim¬ 
ple  means  of  livelihood  it  was  in  the  days 
of  our  grandfathers.  We  are  rapidly 
eliminating  useless  notions  in  the  farming 
business,  and  are  compelled  to  concen¬ 
trate  more  and  more  upon  the  things 
which  are  really  profitable.  Unless  the 
purebred  cow  can  compete  successfully 
with  the  grade  cow  in  the  functions  for 
which  a  cow  is  created,  then  there  is  no 
place,  on  the  big  farm  or  the  small  one, 
for  her.  She  must  produce  more  abun¬ 
dantly  and  profitably,  and  she  must  re¬ 
produce  hotter  calves,  than  her  grade 
cousin,  or  be  consigned  to  tbe  pages  of 
ancient  history. 
But  I  contend  that  the  purebred  cow, 
on  I  be  average,  will  do  anything  that  the 
grade  cow,  on  the  average,  will  do — and 
something  more.  Here  are  my  reasons 
for  that  belief: 
1.  The  average  production  of  the  dairy 
cows  of  the  United  States  is  approximate¬ 
ly  175  lbs.  of  fat  per  annum.  On  the  con¬ 
trary,  the  average  production  of  11,169 
purebred  cows  tested  to  January  1,  1916, 
is  430  lbs,  fat.  Which  pulled  down  the 
average — the  grade  cow  ir  the  purebred? 
The  answer  is  obvious. 
2.  The  simple  fact  that  it  is  possible  to 
quote  accurate  figures  in  giving  the  pro¬ 
duction  of  purebred  cows  is  distinctly  a 
recommendation.  The  above  figures  are 
taken  from  the  list  of  tested  cows  issued 
by  the  Jersey,  Guernsey,  Ayrshire  and 
Holstein  associations. 
3.  Certainly  conditions  of  feed  and  care 
affect,  production.  It  is  equally  certain 
that  the  farmer  and  not  the  cow,  is  re¬ 
sponsible  for  these  conditions,  and  it  is 
my  contention  that  under  similar  condi¬ 
tions  tbe  purebred  cow  will  produce  more 
profitably  and  reproduce  more  uniform 
quality  in  her  calves  than  will  the  grade. 
4.  Probably  all  of  us,  from  personal  ob¬ 
servation,  agree  that  the  purebred  sire  is 
desirable  at  the  head  of  the  herd.  Have 
ve  analyzed  the  reasons  why?  He  is 
simply  reproducing  the  qualities  of  his 
purebred  forebears  in  building  up  the 
producing  ability  of  the  herd.  Would  a 
grade  bull  do  the  same?  Would  he  im- 
pa,’t  the  same  uniformity  to  his  get? 
Not  iu  oue  case  out  of  fifty. 
5.  No  dairyman  ever  got  rich  in  a  day. 
The  dairy  business  demands  patience.  No 
dairyman  can  afford  to  neglect  the  build¬ 
ing  up  of  his  future  herd.  It  is  his  re¬ 
sponsibility  to  breed  better  cows  with 
every  generation.  The  grade  cow  is  a 
handicap  in  breeding.  So  many  conflict¬ 
ing  lines  back  of  her  prevent  prepotency, 
and  she  fails  to  breed  “true  to  type.” 
Her  daughters  are  just  as  likely  to  be  in¬ 
ferior  as  to  be  superior  to  her.  On  the 
other  hand,  purebred  stock,  carefully  se¬ 
lected  and  judiciously  bred,  afford  a  foun¬ 
dation  for  improving  quality  with  every 
generation. 
To  my  way  of  thinking,  this  is  not  a 
question  of  costs  So  much  as  of  profits. 
Grade  Holsteins  for  Sale 
0(1(1  extra  fancy,  well  bred  and  nicety  marked  cows. 
tuu  A  number  are  recently  fresh  nmt  or  hers  due  to 
freshen  wltliiu  CD  days.  The?  are  heavy  producers 
and  will  please  you.  Price  8TS  to  #l«5  per  bead, 
•j  (1(1  large,  well  bred  two  and  three  year  old  heifers 
■  bred  to  Rood  registered  U.  F.  bulls.  Price  »t>5 
to  $7 5  per  bead.  Two  tine  well  bred  heller  .salves 
and  ono  pure  bred  Holstein  bull  calf  for  S50. 
F.  P.  SAUNDERS  A  SON  Springdale  Farms,  Cortland,  N.Y. 
Stevens’  Farm 
$1  HOLSTEINS 
tag  %  Holstein  heifer  calves,  $15 
Reach,  express  paid  iu  lots  of 
lire.  ISrotft  stored  heifer 
-»  calves,  registered  bull  calves, 
all  agea.  All  from  hlgh-pro- 
duping  dams. 
Li  PAUL  H.  STEVENS,  Cortland,  N.  Y. 
J  00  Kxtra  high  grade  cows.  Fresh  and  due  to  calve 
eoon.  Cows  that  are  bred  for  milt.  They  All 
_ _ the  pall  Come  and  see  them  milked. 
fa"  Reg.  bulls,  all  ages.  A  few  Reg.  cows  and  extra 
high  heirer  calves,  10  day3  old. 
JOHN  B.  WEBSTER 
Dept.  Y  Cortland,  N.YU 
Phone  14-F-5  Phone  43-F-2  McGraw 
Quit  the  Holstein  Business?  No. 
Just  Moved.  Cramped  for  Room 
Male  calves  bred  xvny  op  at  prices  too  low  to  print. 
II  oifor  calves, heifers  a ii  ticows.Noblnff— • weinustsell. 
_  F.  H.  RIVENBURGH 
Elite  Stock  Farm,  Stockbridfe,  N.  Y.,  (formerly  Munnaville) 
2  Holstein  Service  Bulls 
A  pure  bred  grandson  of  Pontiac  Korndyke  and 
King  Segis,  from  A.  R.  O.  darns,  milk  mg  70  to  80  lbs. 
a  day.  The  kind  that  will  make  you  money.  Prices 
reasonable.  Ira  S.  Jarvis,  Harlwick  Seminary,  N.  V. 
HOLSTFIN^~Bl0ed  noB  down.  Cheap  bulls 
•  hint*  nl0  the  most  expensive-  Vfu  offer 
registered  sons  ol'  a  U5.fi!  lb.  sire,  A-  R.  O.  dams,  at 
$lZu,  easy  payments.  Farmers  can't  afford  to  use 
scrubs  at  these  prices,  Send  for  pedigrees. 
CLOVEKDA  I.Js  KAMI,  CHA R I.O'I  TK,  N.  V. 
for  Sale  -  -Holstein  Heifer, 
Fowls.  Harry  Tail,  New  Mitfnrd,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Wanted 
Registered  Holstein-Friesian  YearlingHeifers 
Not  bred.  GATES  HOMESTFAO  FARM,  Chitlenanuo,  N,  Y. 
QUALITY 
FOR  SAIF  J«r*ey  Bull  Calf,  5  months  old. 
ruiv  dAL£  Dam's  authenticated  record, 
826  lbs.  1-oz.  butter:  grand  am  744  lbs.  13.oz.; 
great-grandam  612  lbs.  2-oz.  Sire’s  dam,  608 
lbs.  7-oz.,  test  began  at  13  yrs.  7  moi.  of  age ; 
grand  am  737  lbs,;  14  in  his  pedigree  in 
Register  of  Merit.  He’s  a  good  one.  Address. 
E.  W.  MOSHER,  Brisbtride  Farms,  AURORA,  N.  Y. 
|  GUERNSEYS 
For  Sale-Registered  Guernsey  Bulls 
from  $150  up.  M.  J.  GRIMES  *  BRO  ,  Catawisi 
Harbor  Hill  Guernseys 
Every  siro  for  four  generations  in  the  pedigree  of  the 
bull  calf  we  offer  below  is  out  of  an  ADVANCED  REGIS¬ 
TER  DAM  or  has  sired  A.  R.  ANIMALS.  Price,  $75,  Express 
prepaid  within  600  miles.  For  further  particulars  address 
C.  M.  HECHLER  -  .  ROSLYN.  N.  Y. 
A  GUERNSEY  BULL 
In  a  grade  herd  in  Minnesota,  Increased  lta 
yearly  production  24%.  Let  us  to11  you 
more  about  It.  Address 
Am. Guernsey  Cattle  Club. Box R.Puterboro.N.H. 
