42 S 
Uairjr Xnusbattdm. 
MANAGING THE MILK BUSINES8, 
_. L _ « j . . v ^ » -v . uMi.wMn iu i/a* uw ai kt-i x 1/9 na 1 ivan ill 
of land, of a °dScfipt?on such™ ' th * city * The city ml]k wagonn unload the 
As a subscriber and attentive reader of 
your book on Practical Dairy Husbandry, I 
take the liberty of addressing you. I farm 
1,000 acres of land, of a description such as 
you recommend us well suited rot dairy pur¬ 
poses, being fifty miles east of Ogdensbueg 
and on the St. Lawrence. T have 150 head 
of cattle, which I purpose increasing to 800. 
I have, to f ills time, been making cheese, but 
a new avenue of greater profit, offers itself in 
the sale of the milk at Montreal, from which 
city I am three (3) mi I ok by railroad, and 
three (3) miles from the depot,; that is, would 
have to cart throe (3) miles from farm to 
depot. Now, what. I desire to have your ex¬ 
perience and advice upon, Is the modus ope 
randi in which I should go into the business. 
I have read your views upon the subject, but 
os many are presented feel tlmt a corres¬ 
pondence with you would load to my receiv¬ 
ing valuable information as to mode of ex. 
trading of animal heat from milk at farm, 
size and description of can rnoBt desirable, 
and the many points that will occur to yon 
but. not present themselves to me, and which 
it is indispensable I should be posted upon. 
Trains by which T could ship leave at « A. 
M. and 6 P, M.; would it be well to ship once 
f I *« A- % MM M A A n A A .t ? _ fi.1 _ . 
quite full, the milk dealers instruct their 
patrons to add water, if necessary, to the 
last can. 
The shipping, during warm weather, should 
always be done in refrigerator cars, in order 
that the temperature of the milk may be 
. kept low during it* transit and during the 
time it remain* In the car after its arrival in 
Jiarg of a pluralist. 
l milk car* in New York at an early hour in 
the morning, and our correspondent should 
moke arrangement* for the disposal of hi* 
milk in a similar way. 
Success in the milk business requires great 
attention to cleanliness in every branch of 
management. There must bo eternal vigi 
lance, that everything about the dairy be 
kept sweet, that every pail, can or milk vessel 
be thoroughly cleansed from day to day, and 
that they be aired and exposed'to the sun’s 
rays after cleansing. A little part icle of old 
milk left in the seams of the pails or cans, and 
coming in contact with the new milk, will 
not unfrequently do great mischief. They 
am the germs of decomposition which, under 
orable temperature*, multiply at. a fearful 
rate, and unless care is taken to exclude them 
from the milk by careful cleaning—scalding 
with boiling water- the milk will not. be 
likely to keep, and will in all probability turn 
out bad The milk vessels should be washed 
in a solution of 6al soda, boiling water should 
bo freely used, and what is better, the several 
or twice a day 1 and. m either case, send part* of the vessel should be treated with a 
morning’s milk by evening's train and vice jet of hot steam. 
..'Cl >a iu cm/i. <*uu 
versa, or must morning’s milk be distributed 
in the evening and the latter in the morning ? 
or could the morning’s milk be kept all day 
at the farm, and mixed with and sent down 
with the, evening’s milk at 6 P. M. for deliv- 
ery the following morning ? What, I wont to 
reach is, how is the milk to be kept sweet 
and pure for twenty-four hours ? 
C. B. Macdonald. 
Gray’s Creek Dairy Farm,Cornwallis, Ontario. 
When milk is sent, by rail to the city for 
consumption, it. must be properly “cured” 
at the farm before canning. The curing 
consists in thoroughly cooling the milk by 
means of cold spring water, and the process 
of taking out the animal bent should be ac¬ 
complished within an hour after drawing the 
milk from the cows, As milk is usually dis¬ 
tributed in the city in the morning or during 
the early part of the day, it would not be 
practicable to ship the milk twice a day. In 
order to do this, the milking in the morning 
would have to be done at a very early hour 
—at least by 4 o’clock, A. M. Then say that 
an hour was ■-perit in cooling the milk and an 
hour in hauling tho milk to the train, it would 
be U o’clock before the train arrived at the 
city, and the teams would not get fairly 
under way in furnishing customers until 10 
A. M. Again, if the night’s milk was to be 
taken to the train, the milking must be com- 
With due attention to health of cows and 
their management, good feed, good water, 
cleanliness in milking, and in all the details 
of handling milk, it will remain sound for 
the time we have named, and give good sat¬ 
isfaction to consumers. 
■ ♦- 
U8E8 OF THE MICROSCOPE. 
We copy from Mr. Willard’s report of 
the American Dairymen’s Association, the 
following abstract from ex-Gov. Seymour’s 
address : —Governor Seymour’s address in re¬ 
lation to the uses of the microscope was time¬ 
ly and suggestive. He urged that farmers 
could employ this instrument to advantage 
in the various branches of their calling and 
not, only Increase their knowledge but it 
would at the same time afford a vast amount 
of pleasure to every member of the family. 
Human sight is dull and weak. Out of the 
many objects and movements around us we 
see but few, The air and water are tilled 
with animal and vegetable organisms invisi¬ 
ble to the unaided eye. Plants change and 
grow, but wo do not see the processes; even 
large objects are viewed in mere outlines and 
wit.li our feehlo visions we do not learn their 
texture or real nature. We know nothing of 
the st ructure of the skin upon our hands, or 
the hair upon our heads, until they are sly>wn 
to us by artificial helps. In truth wo iicif m 
a dim twilight, on the outer edge as it were of 
the swarming active life which fills the earth, 
but which with our unaided senses we can 
not detect. He did not doubt but that this 
DAILY RURAL LIFE. 
From the Diary of a Gentleman near Newt 
York City. 
KEEPINO NEWSPAPERS. 
Feb. 4. —Few persons appear to value a 
newspaper after it has once been read 
through. Of course, if one takes several pa¬ 
pers and endeavors to keep them all filed 
I away, it will require considerable room for 
I storage. But if a few of the very best, and 
I those of a convenient form for binding, be 
reserved, such, for instance, as the Rural 
New Yorker, a library for reference, if 
nothing more, will very soon be accumulated. 
Think, for a moment, what a fund of Infor¬ 
mation there is in fifty-two numbers of such 
a paper; and when an index accompanies 
them, how readily one can turn to any arti¬ 
cle that, has appeared during the year. Now, 
the difference between keeping every num¬ 
ber of such a paper where it can be reached 
at any moment, when it is desirable to do so, 
or not, is as great as between a person who 
reads for amusement, and forgets everything 
the next moment, or one who reads to learn 
and remembers what is read. One is a bun¬ 
dle of useful knowledge, and the other an 
empty shell. One person accumulates knowl¬ 
edge for a time of need, another sows as fast 
as it is reaped, consequently his brain is a 
barren field that shallow culture ha* render¬ 
ed unfit to produce a bountiful crop. 
I have often heard people remark, when 
speaking of certain persons, “ What, a fund 
of information that man or woman possess¬ 
es ! There seems to be no subject upon 
which they are not well informed J” Now, 
when I meet such a person I always suspect 
that they have a habit of filing away their 
old newspapers, or of making scrap-books of 
the best articles cut therefrom. Perhaps it 
is u good thing that everybody does not save 
their old newspapers, or remember what they 
read; for if it were so, they would demand 
more originality in writers, and now discov¬ 
eries, after being repeated an indefinite num¬ 
ber of times, might cloy the mcnlul appetite 
of readers. 
I luvve had a habit of preserving a few of 
the best magazines and newspapers and ob¬ 
taining complete sets of the same when prac¬ 
ticable ; and I am often amused, in looking 
over the old volumes, to see how closely each 
7 1 l,uuu s do com- not aereci. 11c mu urn aoupt out tnat tins l generation of writers follow those who pre- 
menced very early in the afternoon ; but it 1* wisely ordered and that it is, in the main, 1 It ,, 
would arrive in the city at <1 o’clock in the for man’a well-being when we take into « dethem - It is the san e great scroll, con- 
Bvml „ „,, , , l f. 1 ' ' , ” 7® account the fact that lie is gifted with facili- denting and becoming a little ti.ranger with 
evening, ana lying in the car during the ties which enable him in a good degree to each successive turn; but still the same, and 
night, would be ready for distribution early overcome the evils of feeble vision. If eyes go uear alike in all its port* that one needs to 
in the following morning. were microscopic he would see too much for ~ . -. .._.. . , 
rr, 1_„ moral and mental strength. Enough is done be a close, observer to find distinctive marks 
I he more . eatible way, perhaps, would be f or us when we are put in the way of finding of advancement. To-day I have heen arrang- 
to adopt the plan practiced by the milk pro- out matter for ourselves and when, above a 11, ing and putting aside my accumulations of 
ducers of New York and Connecticut, who we are endowed with the power which ena 1873 where I can have them at hand for com- 
furnish New York city with this article. The Slentehfw. P arison with those of 1873. The questions 
night’s milk is kept over at the farm until after- u'djB a crime against the laws of our being. that will be asked and answered this year in 
noon of the next day, and the morning’s milk He referred to the high degree of perfection our periodicals may vary somewhat from 
is kept until afternoon of the same day. when to which magnifying glasses have been those of last, but the difference, must neces- 
S; 7 “■«*’* v f 
mg ti am, and the whole is ready for distnbu the laws of human life. In physic, in surgery' and new subscribers are educated m the same 
tdon in the city early the following morning, in the workshop and in the factory, it lias be school as their predecessors. Ongcan scarcely 
Under this plan one-half of the milk is thirty- come a great, practical instrument, and those pick up an old volume of any periodical in 
six hours and the other half twenty-four Jj 8 ® *t have a great advantage over those which he will not find articles giving the 
hours old when it goes to the city milkman’s " Referring to the manner in which the mi kind of information as those published 
cart. There is no troublo in keeping the milk croscopc would be likely to aid the dairy to-day. Novelties of to-day were, in many 
sweet for this length of time if everything at farmer, he said men can never be converted instances, novelties a half century or more ago. 
the dairy and in the shipping be properly from ways until they get clear ideas of y 0 illustrate this, I will open anv of my old 
wrong doing. It is hard to carry out. a shad- , . , . . - 
, owy. Indefinite idea ; it is hard to resist one volumes of magazines ; for instance, here m 
At the farm a milk house with cold water that is clear, strong, and clean cut. A good the first one taken down from the shelf, 1 
tanks or pools will be required. The pools microscope in each cheese factory in the see, upon page 11, an article headed, “New' 
should be about twenty inches deep, and the hands of one who could use it. and who would Zealand Flax:” but really, thin cannot be 
flow of water should be sufficient to divest fec t °2i£’iw th^trons the **"'* P lant whiph is attracting so much 
the milk of Its animal heat iu an hour—cool- an easy, cheap way work out, most of the ro attention at the present time, and the one 
ing it down to about 58‘ Fahr. The milk, as forms‘at, which we aim on the part of our that is being nursed, at great expense, in our 
it is drawn from the cow. is strained, and fanners. We should see with the instrument, Government Experimental Garden at Wash- 
tamed into tin pall* eight Inches In diameter "‘? wn ' thinly it to-the genuine Phor- 
oy about twenty inches long, and the pails they drink from stagnant pools. We should rnium ttnax, or New Zealand Flax, and is 
are immediately placed in the water pools, see the germs of poisononslife floating in the described in the First. Volume of the Farm- 
care being taken to have tho water come up air decaying animal and vegetable mat- ers > anc } Mechanics' Magazine, published in 
r- f 9 t i ** *«*. >** ^ » 
la of tri© mule. It i> usual to fill the pails port in irund. lie thought th© microscope more interesting to those who think they are 
within three inches of the top, giving a depth should be a farm tool. among the first to introduce and cultivate 
of milk say about seventeen inches. Here Insects, rusts and blight are great enemies this plant in AjnericA, the notice referred to 
™tS i ta*T7,Tn l " 1< ’ 7““"' *7 to * JiSflT sem'’S/Tl “SjdTm 1 ‘‘itTs ’t , « | x>™ 15 ■«» » defirriptlon of the plant 
out oi tue pools in a continuous stream) until great point guinea to be able to see what how to extract its valuable fiber, but it 
the time for carting to the train. vour enemy is and what he is doing. We also informs the public that Mr. Michael 
The New York milk cane hold about forty nave also numerous armies of friends' in in- p L 0Y of Harlem, has the plants growing at 
'“"’■I.!** 1 * ! lus nuwery. Perhaps soma of the old New. 
cans. They are provided with a close-fitting p. S) but'we can only do so by the aid of mag- Yorkers remember Mr. Floy and the many 
cover, so as to avoid all leakage or spilling of nifviiig glasses. choice trees and plants he introduced into 
milk during transit. Warm and cold milk I ,; is one of the greatest mistakes of the this country. Some of the old Magnolias and 
b “ < ^ •* •***« 
is no objection in mingling the mornings farm products than is known by those whoso but the encroachments of the city are fast 
atul evening’s mess of milk together when labor makes them. The buyer has tests blotting out those beautiful monuments of a 
both have been thoroughly cooled, as above which the farmer does not have. The wool departed horticulturist’s skill. Well, I must 
described. look no further in these old volumes, else I 
In shipping, the cans must be completely products, and the mm. w iio knows^the most wdl lotting out secrets which had better 
tilled, aud x'ather than have a can go out not always gets the best bargain. be kept. 
_ densing and becoming a little st ronger with 
5 each successive turn ; but still the same, and 
* so near alike in all its part* that one needs to 
[ be a close, observer to find distinctive marks 
j of advancement. To-day I have heen arrang- 
, ing and putting aside my accumulations of 
* 1872 where I can have them at hand for com- 
pai-ison with thoso of 1873. Tiie questions 
that will be asked and answered this year in 
1 our periodicals may vary somewhat from 
1 those of last, but the difference must neces- 
J earily be very slight, because the new readers 
and new subscribers are educated in the same 
S' 11ool a* t heir predecessors. On§ can scarcely 
pick up an old volume of any periodical in 
which he will not find articles giving the 
same kind of information as those published 
to-day. Novelties of to-day were, in many 
instances, novelties a half century or more ago. 
To illustrate this, I will open any of my old 
volumes of magazines ; for instance, here in 
the first one taken down from the shelf, 1 
see, upon page 11, an article headed, “New 
Zealand Flax but really, this cannot be 
the same plant which is attracting so much 
attention ar. the. present time, and the one 
that is being nursed, at great expense, in our 
Government Experimental Garden at Wash¬ 
ington ! Certainly it is—the genuine Phor- 
m/urn ttnax, or New Zealand Flax, and is 
described in the First, Volume of the Fann¬ 
ers’ and Mechanics’ Magazine, published in 
i New York, March, 1826. And, what may be 
more interesting to those who think they are 
among the first to introduce and cultivate 
this plant in America, the notice referred to 
above is not only a description of the plant 
and how to extract Its valuable fiber, but it 
also informs the public that Mr. Michael 
Floy of Harlem, has the plants growing at 
his nursery. Perhaps some of the old New- 
Yorkers remember Mr. Floy and the many 
choice trees and plants he introduced into 
this country. Some of the old Magnolias and 
other trees which he planted still survive ; 
but the encroachments of the city are fast 
blotting out those beautiful monuments of a 
departed horticulturist’s skill. Well, I must 
look no further in these old volumes, else I 
will bo letting out secrets which had better 
be kept. 
MY PET CHICKAREE. 
Feb. 5.—The bright warm sun to-day 
brought out my pet chickaree, or red squir- 
- rel, (Sciurus Hudaonius , Pallas,) which has 
been snowed under for the past two months. 
He has lived in the rocks or in the roof of my 
I ice-house for the past three or four years, and 
I crack nuts for him wherever he appears 
during tho Winter. The heavy snow* in De¬ 
cember buried his nest and home completely, 
a and he has not been seen since. I began to 
j fear for his safety. Most of our naturalists 
r say that this squ Irrel 1 ays up no food for Win- 
3 ter, but depends upon gathering it whenever 
r wanted. Perhaps my pet chickaree is an ex- 
1 crption to the general rule, or he has become 
so far advanced in education as to know when 
i. lie is likedy to be snowed under ; but there is 
f one thing certain, he did lay up a good store 
. of uuts last Fall. For, several days before the 
- coldest weather came, he was very busy lay- 
1 ing up hickory nuts, and would ascend a tree 
3 fifty or more feet high, take a nut in his 
- j mouth and carry it to his storehouse, and 
, j return in less than a minute. He would work 
an hour or more at a time, then rest for two 
1 hours or more before returning to hi3 labor. 
, If he happens to get out of food, as he did 
j two years ago, he is sure to let me know it 
; ; by coming near, but always keeping at a safe 
1 distance and sounding his welcome “chicka¬ 
ree.” He will sit upon a branch a few feet 
1 above my head and watch me while I crack 
a few nut* for him ; and as soon as I step 
, away he will come down and take nil t hat he 
,, can carry, returning for more until the last 
kernel is removed. This poor fellow is the 
last of five which once made their homes near 
my office, the others having been shot by 
my good Christian neighbors, who believe 
that man is the only animal on this earth that 
possesses the “ inalienable right to life, liber¬ 
ty and the pursuit of happiness.” Perhaps it 
is ray old fogy notions which prevent me 
from seeing tilings in just that light, for I 
cannot and don’t want to believe such doc¬ 
trines, 110 matter from whence they are de¬ 
rived. 
HYACINTHS IN WINTER. 
Feb. 6.—My Hyacinths are now coining in¬ 
to bloom ; at least thoso that were potted in 
December. There are few bulbs which make 
a better show or give more satisfaction for 
their cost than the Hyacinth. I usually put 
them into five or six-inch pots, with rich soil, 
placing them just deep enough to cover the 
bulb, and then, by giving plenty of water, 
there is little danger of failure. Bulbs treat¬ 
ed in this way may be turned out, of the pots 
in Spring into good soil, and most, if not all, 
will bloom again the following season. I 
have always had better success in blooming 
the bulbs in soil than in water, for usually 
when soil is used the flowers have more 
substance and seem to retain their form and 
color longer. By planting a few bulbs at 
different times during the Fall and Winter, a 
succession of blooms is secured. 
®hc f miltiiir £Jat[d. 
WHITE BRAHMA FOWLS. 
Is there such a fowl as a pure White Brah 
ma. and what kind of bird are they to keep 
for eggs, and mot here ? Is our Northern clime 
too cold for them '. I purchased eggs for pure 
White Brahma, set them, aud raised three 
pullet* from them. They are the same build 
as the Light Brahma and have very yellow 
legs and skin ; their feathers arc of a pure 
white, tine and soft. They are a handsome 
fowl; their body is very thick, and large 
frame, considering their short legs; I don’t 
think their legs as long as a Light Brahma. 
Will you please give us your opinion and de¬ 
scription of them. I like them rather better 
than t.he Light or Dark Brahmas, —0. II. M., 
Alfred , N. Y. 
Wk never saw a, fine White Brahma, and 
therefore, cau give our correspondent no in¬ 
formation. Nor do we remember ever to 
have heard of one before. 
-. 
PREVENTING EGGS FROM HATCHING. 
An Englishman having unscrupulous neigh¬ 
bors who steal his eggs, evidently, is advised 
by an English poultry journal os follows : 
“Thrust a needle through the shell at one 
end of the egg, and so deeply as to pass 
through the yolk, but not through the shell 
at the other end. Your unscrupulous neigh¬ 
bors will then be foiled. 
ANOTHER BIG EGG. 
In Rural New-Yorker, Feb. 1, page 76, 
we gave the measurement of a big egg. Now 
Robert Criswell, Honey Locust Farm 
Poultry Yards, near Brooklyn, N. Y., sends us 
an egg which measures 8 by 6^ inches, with a 
little to allow. He thinks it. a Dominique 
egg. Our correspondent (J. E. G. must try 
again. 
