382 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
May 28 
a nutritive ratio of 1:0 will be found economical for 
most dairymen. Eight to ten pounds of grain can, 
usually, be fed with profit, to the average cow. No 
small part of the profit in the dairy business will de¬ 
pend upon the skill of the feeder, who should know 
the amount of food that each cow can use economi¬ 
cally, and the quantity of milk that she is producing. 
INFLUENCE OK TUK PERIOD OF LACTATION. —The 
period of lactation is a factor which influences very 
materially the composition of herd milk. Individual 
animals vary much in this respect, but as a rule, a 
herd will decrease from 10 to 12 per cent in the milk 
flow, and increase from one to two-tenths in per cent 
of fat per month for the first five months of the lac¬ 
tation period, after which there will be but little 
change in the per cent of fat; but the quantity of 
milk will decrease a little more rapidly during the 
last four or five months. This is an important point 
in maintaining uniformity in the compo-ition of herd 
milk, and the manager of the herd should arrange to 
have fresh cows introduced regularly each month 
throughout the year. 
Variation in tiik Yield of Milk and Fat of II Gown for the 
First Eioht Months of the Pkiuod of Lactation. 
H C*tk _ IffMl POUWOS or Mil * _*Otftulr T0T»l PPUKPS or. fAT. AV O* Ct 
440 
2 |_ 10,113 
3f 
9,191 
♦[ 
8.4 J5 
Results of the Experiment. —The results of this 
study for one year are shown in the table above. The 
fresh cows were introduced at such times as to supply 
a uniform quantity of milk from day to day, rather 
than for the direct purpose of regulating the composi¬ 
tion. The milk of individual cows varied from day to 
day, and from month to month, but not to such an 
extent as materially to affect the average composition 
of the product of the herd. 
It will be observed from the table, that four per 
cent of fat could have been guaranteed throughout 
the year. The lowest, four per cent, is found in the 
month of March, 1807, and the highest, 4.4 per cent, in 
August and October, 1896. or a range of .4 per cent, a 
difference so slight from month to month as not 
materially to affect either the producer or the con¬ 
sumer. In other words, it appears from the study of 
H 7, if 6 I 12 8 
6 | 6,813 1 70 
1 1 5857 | if 4 
fl | 4.533 | 23 6 
A« n i 
a. i | 
68 
145 
325 
303 
259 
4.4 
4 4 
4 4 
22 8 
10. 5 
200 
The quality of a cow’s milk is, also, influenced by 
rough treatment, exposure to storms, change of food 
or milkers, interval between milking, excitement 
and sickness. Such disturbances often increase the 
richness of the milk for a short period, but this is 
usually followed by a reaction in which there is a 
decrease in quality, and taken as a whole, there is a 
considerable falling off in the milk and fat, because 
of these abnormal conditions. While any extreme 
variation in the composition of milk can, usually, be 
accounted for, the quality of some cows’ milk will 
sometimes change very materially without any appai- 
ent cause. Animals of a nervous temperament are 
most likely to show wide variations. As a rule, how¬ 
ever, the mixture of the milk of several cows is com¬ 
paratively uniform from day to day. The individual 
differences tend to balance one another, so that varia¬ 
tions when they do occur are less marked than in case 
of milk of single cows. 
An Experiment with 28 Cows.—The results of 
work done along this line at the New Jersey Station, 
are very encouraging. A test was made with 28 cows 
which had an average record of 6,000 pounds of milk 
per year. It was desired at the outset to maintain, at 
least, 4 per cent of fat in the mixed milk. With the 
exception of five purebred animals — two each of 
Guernseys and Holsteins, and one Jersey—the herd 
consisted of grades of the various pure breeds. A 
balanced ration was fed, but no attempt was made to 
force a large yield. During the Summer, soiling was 
practiced, and ensilage was fed throughout the Win¬ 
ter. The grain consisted of wheat bran, dried brew¬ 
ers’ grains, corn meal and linseed meal in proportions 
to make a balanced ration with the roughage used. 
The milk of each cow was weighed every morning 
and evening, and analyzed once each week for the 
percentage of fat. The average of the four analyses 
of each cow’s milk for each month was taken for the 
basis of quality for her milk that month. The aver¬ 
age per cent of fat in the mixed milk of the herd per 
month was obtained by dividing the total pounds of 
fat produced, by the total pounds of milk for the herd 
for that month. 
The Avekagk Monthi.t Composition of Herd Milk and the 
Variation in inn Composition of that of Individual Cows. 
Month. 
Average Per Cent of 
Fat in Mixed Milk. 
Minimum Per Cent of 
Fat of Individual Cows. 
Maximum Per Cent of 
Fat of Individual Cows. 
tn 
O 
o 
o 
« bfc 
* B 
p 
A ff\ 
Number of Fresh Cows 
Introduced During the 
Month. 
May, 1896. 
8.6 
6.3 
18 
1 
Juiie. 
. 4.3 
3.7 
6.5 
20 
2 
July. 
3.5 
6.1 
19 
9 
3.4 
5.9 
20 
i 
September. 
. 4.3 
2.6 
6.8 
23 
4 
October. 
2.9 
7.4 
24 
2 
November. . 
2.5 
7.6 
22 
i 
December. 
2.6 
8.8 
18 
January, 1897. 
. 4.3 
2.8 
8.0 
22 
3 
February . 
3.1 
6.6 
22 
2 
March. 
3.1 
6.0 
25 
4 
April. 
3,0 
7.1 
?6 
o 
this herd, which is fairly representative, that it is 
entirely practicable to maintain uniformity in the 
composition of herd milk, and guarantee a standard of 
quality to consumers. As people become educated to 
know the superior value of high-grade milk, they 
will demand a guarantee of quality, and the dairy¬ 
man who is ready to meet this demand is the one who 
w'ill succeed. c. n. lank. 
New Jersey Experiment Station. 
WHAT THEY SAY. 
Bio Horns Useful. —Thecampof soldiers at Tampa, 
Fla., is said to be well supplied with provisions of all 
kinds. Uncle Sam believes in feeding his soldiers 
properly before they take hold of the Cuban job. The 
supplies of fresh beef are brought on the hoof, and 
frequently in steamers from Texas. The Chicago 
Daily Record artist has sketched the method of un¬ 
loading these cattle, and we reproduce his picture at 
Fig. 169. It will be seen that ropes are caught under 
the large horns, and that the cattle are then pulled up 
out of the vessel, kicking and struggling, but unable 
to get away. No wonder they start on the run for 
UNLOADING CATTLE AT TAMPA, FLA Fig. 161). 
their pens when once again their feet strike the ground. 
It is certain that this method would not have answered 
for dishorned cattle. 
Phosphates as Medicine, —Last year, we had several 
notes giving the advantage of using a mixture of 
dilute phosphoric acid and glycerin as a tonic. For 
overworked and rundown people, this simple home- 
mixture seems to give excellent satisfaction. Two 
weeks since, we spoke of a mixture of phosphate of 
soda and Rochelle salts as a laxative in cases of 
chronic constipation. Now' some readers want to 
know whether the phosphate of soda will not take the 
place of the phosphoric acid and glycerin as a tonic. 
The answer is, no ; phosphate of soda has chiefly a 
mechanical effect, anil will not be largely absorbed 
by the system, whereas the phosphoric acid and 
glycerin will go into the system directly to aid in 
bone or nerve formation. 
Hidebound Trees : Brahmas. —Referring to the 
article on the New Life for Old Trees on page 335, Geo. 
58. Graves, Herkimer County, N, Y,, says that he has 
frequently practiced slitting the bark of hidebound 
orange trees in Florida. In the case of the orange, a 
single slit would be followed by an expansion of the 
bark all the way from one-half inch to three or four 
inches. He has several old apple trees yet sound, hut 
not productive, on which he purposes to experiment. 
Speakiug of Brahma hens, Mr. Graves says that his 
four, averaging about nine pounds apiece, when sun¬ 
ning themselves in the doorway, would not get out of 
the road for anything hut a cyclone. As incubators, 
they failed, for their big feet smashed too many eggs. 
Our Brahma has smashed four of her eggs already. 
As nurses, they did well, and did not strike at the 
other hens’ chickens as the Plymouth Rock hens do. 
They won’t run off to the neighbors, and will not do 
much more scratching in the ground than a man with 
snowshoes. 
Dairy Certificates in Iowa. — A law recently 
passed by the Iowa Legislature requires that all the 
different styles of milk-testing machines offered for 
sale in the State must be examined and tested at the 
Iowa Experiment Station. Where such a machine is 
used at a creamery, cheese faetoi^ or other place 
where milk is publicly bought, a certificate as to 
its accuracy must be filed in the office of the State 
Dairy Commissioner. Here is the way in which this 
certificate is made out: 
Certified tubes are furnished by the State Dairy Com¬ 
missioner. The object of this legislation was to secure 
uniform and accurate tests of milk by the creameries 
of the State, where milk is purchased on the basis of 
its butter fat. This seems like a fair and reasonable 
thing to do. for there is no doubt that the apparatus 
used in running the Babcock test may vary as widely 
as the weights and measures used by grocers or others. 
In Iowa, the State Dairy Commissioner has already 
issued 1,200 test bottles and 150 pipettes, while the 
law seems to be giving excellent satisfaction. 
Canada Wood Ashes.—A number of readers have 
asked how' it is possible that such vast quantities of 
wood ashes can be sent from Canada for sale in this 
country. It has been reported from time to time that 
Canada wood ashes have been adulterated. It is said 
that, by adding sifted coal ashes with small quantities 
of sulphate of potash and basic slag, one can make a 
very good imitation of the average wood ashes, at 
quite a saving in cost, W. W. Ililborn, Ontario, Can¬ 
ada, says that he is quite confident that most of the 
wood ashes shipped to this country are the genuine 
article. He says that it would not pay dealers there 
to mix with coal ashes, because very little coal is 
ever used in the districts where the wood ashes are 
gathered. Quite a large quantity of ashes has been 
shipped from the many large mills that cut lumber 
and staves, and probably more have been gathered 
from the mills than from house to house. For many 
years, the Canadian custom has been to give one pound 
of hard soap for a bushel of ashes. He does not think 
that it would pay to adulterate these ashes while the 
price remains so low. It has always been a wonder 
to the rest of the civilized world why Canada sends 
abroad this vast amount of fertilizing matter every 
year. It seems to the rest of us as though it would 
be much better economy to keep the ashes at home, 
and use them as fertilizer. 
Chemicals for Weeds. —We often receive inquiries 
from readers who want to know whether chemicals 
can be used in destroying weeds on roads and gravel 
walks. Prof. L. R. Jones, of the Vermont Experiment 
Station, has investigated this matter considerably, 
and says that the following chemicals seem most 
useful: Salt, sulphate of copper, sulphuric acid, 
carbolic acid, kerosene, and arsenic. Salt is most 
commonly used on walks to keep down weeds, and if 
liberally applied, will destroy most of them. Prof. 
Shutt, of the Experiment Farms at Ottawa, Canada, 
No . 
State «»f Iowa. 
Agricultural Experiment Station. 
Ames. 
To Whom It May Concern: 
This is to Certify, That the. 
steam motor hand milk tester, manufactured by 
.located at. 
State of.and sold by.. 
located at.. State of.. 
has been examined and tested at the Iowa Agricul* 
tiiral Experiment Station, and when properly and 
correctly operated will produce accurate measure¬ 
ments of butterfat, on condition that the test bottle 
or bottles, milk pipette, cream pipette, acid, and 
acid measure shall conform to the following de¬ 
scription and standard: 
The head, wheel, or cylinder of this Milk 
Tester has a diameter of.inches, and requires 
not less than.revolutions per minute. This 
Certificate is issued in compliance with Sec. 251.3 
of the Annotated Code of Iowa, enacted at the 
Extra Session of the 20th General Assembly, 1897. 
Signed. 
Director Exp. Sta., la Apr.College. 
Dated this.day of.189.. 
