886 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
September 2, 
Live Stock and Dairy 
“THE BACTERIAL COUNT.” 
Probably every dairyman who has tried 
to make milk for a critical market has 
heard of the “bacterial count” as a method 
of determining the quality of milk. We 
liud many, however, who do not understand 
what this “count" means. What is there 
to count in milk which will show its qual¬ 
ity? In the following article we have tried 
to make this hard question clear. 
Tilings that a man sees he generally 
manages somehow to understand, but to 
things unseen, especially when they 
mean money out of his pocl«^, he has 
only one thing to say, “Show me.” My 
neighbor down the road is an up-to- 
date dairyman supplying a special city 
trade. A fevy years ago the people be¬ 
gan to call for better milk. Inspectors 
were sent out. The dairyman had 
either to make changes or go out of 
business. My friend made the changes. 
He put in windows. He drained the 
barn floor and the cow yard. He be¬ 
gan cleaning off his cows before milk¬ 
ing. He takes his milk almost as fast 
as it is drawn to a separate building for 
cooling and handling. He submits to 
the tuberculin test and stands for the 
loss. He has been reasonable in all this 
because he had no other choice, and 
also, he could see the benefits of such 
changes. Now, some little time ago, 
without an inspector’s visit or any other 
warning, he received notice' that the 
quality of his milk was not up to the 
mark. Among other thing, the bacter¬ 
ial count was too high—over 100,000 
bacteria to the cubic centimeter. Well, 
what were bacteria and what had they 
to do with the price of milk? A good 
deal, evidently. And a cubic centimeter 
—how much? Less than a thimbleful! 
And here was a dapper little man in 
a city office, with an M. D. tacked to 
his name—a man who had never milked 
a cow or worked in a dairy—telling him 
that there were 100,000 and more things 
he couldn’t see in every thimbleful of 
his milk and therefore his milk was not 
good. Pretty hard to believe. 
But the bacteria are there by the hun¬ 
dred thousands, the millions, and the 
tens of millions. They are living things, 
and in milk they live and grow better 
and faster than almost anywhere else, 
and the warmer and less clean the milk 
the better. Their chief business is to 
break down animal matter and hasten 
decay, and under the right conditions 
they work fast, and milk that supports 
them in great number is also the best 
of living for the germs of typhoid, of 
diphtheria, and of scarlet fever. So 
though most of the bacteria found in 
milk are not harmful in themselves, the 
fact that they are there in any quantity 
shows that the milk has not been 
handled carefully, and its keeping qual¬ 
ity is poor. So to keep their numbers 
.down, the milk must be clean. It must 
be kept cool, and it must be fresh, for 
no matter how clean or cool, there are 
some bacteria that will grow anyway as 
the milk ages. So there you have a 
record of the quality of the milk right 
in itself. 
Yet, counting is not such an easy 
matter. It must be done very carefully, 
under absolutely clean conditions, and 
in a way that leaves no room for guess¬ 
work, certainly when there may be any¬ 
where from 10,000 to several million 
bacteria to the thimbleful. The inspec¬ 
tor if taking the sample of milk from 
a can, stirs it up thoroughly first. He 
fills a pint or quart bottle, packs it in 
ice and gets it to the laboratory as soon 
as possible. The test should be made in 
four hours from taking the sample—be¬ 
fore the bacteria have a chance to get 
busy. After shaking the bottle thor¬ 
oughly, you draw 10 cubic centimeters 
into a tube. From this you take just 
one cubic centimeter (your thimbleful), 
put it in an absolutely clean and bac- 
teria-free tube or bottle. To this you 
add enough sterile water so that to one 
cubic centimeter of milk you will have 
100, 1,000, 10,000 or even more parts of 
water as will best help in counting the 
bacteria. Then a substance called agar 
in which bacteria grow well and which 
in hardening holds them in place is 
poured onto a shallow dish or plate. 
Into this one cubic centimeter of the 
much “watered milk” is stirred. The 
mixture is now placed in an oven or 
“incubator” for two days at a tempera¬ 
ture of 37° Cent. At the end of that 
time it is taken out and each of the 
bacteria has grown a colony or family 
that can be plainly seen and counted. 
The number being counted, is multi¬ 
plied by 10,000, 100,000 or whatever the 
number of parts of water to milk, and 
there you have it, 10,000, 100,000 or 
500,000 or more bacteria to your 
thimbleful, and if the job was done 
carefully and correctly, the man in the 
office knows, as well as if he had 
watched the handling of the milk from 
the start, whether there has been care¬ 
lessness or not. REUBEN BRIGHAM. 
Maryland. 
Ohio Oxex.—-I see in The R. N.-Y. a 
number of readers want oxen. I have two 
yoke, and I think a carload could be ob¬ 
tained iu three or four days, perhaps a 
week, at about six cents per pound; good 
work cattle that will weigh 2,000 pounds 
to 3,400' pounds to the yoke. One yoke 
of mine will weigh about 2,000, and' the 
other about 2.700. three and four years old, 
and will do anything an ox can do, the 
best broken cattle I have ever had. 
Vinton Co., Ohio. p. M, clark. 
Big Black Pigs.— A new society of 
breeders of "Big Blacks” has been formed 
at Lexington, Ivy.; J. F. Cook, secretary. 
This is an English breed known as Large 
Black—one of the oldest breeds on the 
other side. It is claimed for these hogs 
that they are ideal pigs for both the 
farmer and the bacon curer. As breeding 
sows there are no pigs that come anywhere 
near them, as they have large litters up 
to 17 and 18 pigs and can rear 14 to 15 
pigs. The sows are the best possible 
mothers, as they have plenty of milk, and 
even where a litter of 14 are raised there 
will not be six pounds difference between 
any of the youngsters at two months old. 
No better paddock hog- can be got. They 
eat very little, arc easily satisfied and 
they make good use or what they do eat, 
the most important quality iu any pig. 
There is no other breed that grows so 
quickly or fattens on so little. 
are as much superior to other sep¬ 
arators as other separators are to 
gravity setting methods. Why go 
but “lialf-way” when buying a 
separator ? Why not insure satis¬ 
faction by getting a DE LAVAL ? 
THE DE LAVAL SEPARATOR CO. 
165-107 BROADWAY, 
NEW YORK. 
29 E. MADISON ST. 
CHICAGO. 
This Cooler 
Requires No Attention 
whatever after the 
flow of milk and 
water is once 
started. The 
“Bestov” 
Milk 
Cooler 
cools and aerates 
milk quickly, abso¬ 
lutely removing all 
undesirable odors. 
It is well made and 
durable, and very 
reasonable in price. 
Write for onr cata¬ 
logue II describing 
a full line of sup¬ 
plies for the dairy. 
Dairymens Supply Co., Philadelphia and Lansoowne, Pa. 
ALPHA 
PORTLAND CEMENT 
is absolutely the best that can be made 
for all farm work. Largely used by 
U. S. Government and in State, Munici¬ 
pal and Railroad work—a reputation of 
20 years behind it. Ask your dealer for 
ALPHA 
Send for Booklet and learn why it is the best. 
ALPHA PORTLAND CEMENT CO., 
ADDRESS 
2 Center Square, EASTON, PA. 
When you write advertisers mention Tiie 
R. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and g 
“square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
QUALITY 
Is All That Counts In A 
Cream Separator 
If you put your money into some disk-filled 
or cheap cream separator, how long will you be 
satisfied? Only until you find tiiat sucli machines 
repeatedly lose the price of a 
SHARPLES 
Tubular Cream Separator 
The self-balancing Tubular bowl, hung like a 
plummet below a single ball bearing, and fed 
through the lower end, gives Tubulars twice the 
skimming force of others. Tubulars skim twice 
as clean. DairyTubulars have no disks 
You will finally have a Tubular be-- 
cause it is the World’s Best. If you 
get some other first, you will discard it 
for a Tubular—just as thousands of 
others are doing right now. 
A wasteful separa¬ 
tor is expensive, 
even as a gift. We 
tell you positively 
that other separa¬ 
tors repeatedlylo.se 
the price of a Tubu¬ 
lar by wasting what 
Tubulars save. Tu¬ 
bulars are cheapest 
in the end, wear a 
lifetime and are 
guarante 
forever 
America’s 
est 
biggest sep 
ratorconcer 
Is it not 
Common sense 
you to write us for 
a free trial of 
a Tubular ? 
Other separa¬ 
tors taken in 
exchange. 
Ask for cat¬ 
alog No. 153 
THE SHARPLES SEPARATOR CO, 
WEST CHESTER, PA. 
Chicago, III., San Francisco, Cnl., Portland, Ore. 
Toronto, Can. Winn I pci;. Can. 
SO 
yrs 
ReduceThat Feed Bill 
Increase your milk supply at the 
same time by feeding Dried Brewers 
Grains and Malt Sprouts. Send for 
our valuable descriptive booklet on 
Points for Stock Feeders. 
Farmers Feed Co., 
76th St., East River, New Yerk City 
Millr PvoHtrr'prc for ^ ew York City market 
mun. rtuuuucii desiring information how to 
form branches of the Dairymen’s League, write to 
the Secretary, Albert Manning, Otisville, N. Y. 
XX OR.SES 
T HAVE just 
arrived 
fromBelgium, 
F ra » e e and 
Germany, 
where I pur- 
" chased an ex¬ 
tra line lot of 
STALLIONS 
and MARES 
of the differ¬ 
ent breeds, 
which will ar¬ 
rive at the 
Sharon Valley Stock Farm, 
Newark, Ohio, 
in the next ten days. Will be glad to welcome any 
customers to the farm. Will also exhibit at all the 
loading fairs in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Vir¬ 
ginia, where I will be glad to meet friends and 
customers. Col. G. W. CRAWFORD. 
STALLION FOR SALE OR TRADE. 
KUSHIKO, Trotting Stallion, a first-class siring 
son of Kremlin, is offered for sale for $500, or will 
trade for a first-class “roadster automobile.” This 
stallion has a mark of 2.08, is pronounced sound 
by Dr. Edward Moore of Albany, N. Y., is guaran¬ 
teed fearless, kind and gentle in all harness, and 
has never hurt a fly. Particulars by letter. 
K. B. ANDERSON, 
Maple Hurst Stock Farms, Guilford, Conn. 
P ercheron and Belgian Stallions and Mares for sale 
at farmers’ prices. A. W. GREEN, Route 1, 
Middlefield, O. Railroad station, East Orwell, O., 
on Penna. R.R., 30 miles north of Youngstown, O, 
COD OAI C—Best six Mares In Beaver Co 
rUll OnLL Imported—registered. Two 
gians. four Percherons. C. F. “ 
Pa. 
Bel- 
Mount, Koppel, Pa. 
DAIRY CATTX_.E 
ROCHROANE JERSEY HERD 
Write for our next price list. 
f Karnak’s Noble P 4330 C. 
Calves from j Fontaine’s Chief P 4153 H. C. 
(. Rochroaue’s Golden Courage 852.3 
M, A. TRAVIS (Supt for S. M. Beltzhoover), 
Irvington, New York. 
Pllfokq Qtnplf Farm—Registered Jersey Bulls 
LUICP.a OlUL-n r aim and Heifers, 0 months to 2 
years old. Chester White, Poland China and 
Berkshire Pigs. Scotch Collie Pups and a variety 
Of poultry. Send two-cent stamp for circular. 
EDWARD WALTER, West Chester, Pa. 
Sws HOLSTElNS 
ave bred for large production, good size, strong 
constitution, and best individuality. The best 
sires are usod in tiiis herd that it is possible to se¬ 
cure. A nice lot of young bulls for sale; no females. 
A. A. OORTELYOU, Somerville N. J. 
AT LAUREL FARM 
we have on band some half-dozen sons of Ferns’ 
Jubilee, 73852, A. J. C. C., from ten mouths down 
to a few days old. All out of good cows. Discount 
price for next thirty days. 
J. GRANT MORSE, Hamilton, N, V. 
Breed Up—Not Down^vr..Ti«Sa T S 
buy. Superior dairy dams. No better sires. It. F. 
SHANNON, 907 Liberty Street, Pittsburg, Pa. 
SIR AAGGIE LINCOLN DE KOL^K™ 1 , 1 ; 
way, born Jan. 1, half white, by Belus Lincoln, out 
of Pansy Aaggie Queen. Price only $75 f, o. h. 
crated. CLOVERDAL E FARM, Charlotte, N. Y. 
SHELDONCROFT 
J. T. RUSSELL, Prop. CHAS. B. DAYTON, Supl. 
SILVER LAKE, Susq. Co., Pa. 
Pure Bred Jersey Cattle. Berkshire Swine. 
HOLSTEIN CATTLE 
THE MOST PROFITABLE DAIRY BREED 
Illustrated Descriptive Booklets Free 
HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN ASS N OF AMERICA 
f.l.houghton.secy.box io5.brattleboro.vt. 
SWI3NTE 
-‘--‘--‘■-‘■A-*--*--*-*--*--*--*-*.*** t . * «, . » f 
[BELTED HAMPSHIRE SWINE] 
4 WELL MARKED PICS t 
j CHAS. STEWART DAVISON ► 
I 60 Wall St,, New York City [ 
r T ■T ▼ T T ▼ -T T " f T V T T T T~r 
KALORAMA FARM 
is now offering a limited number of 
BERKSHIRE PIGS 
from eight to twelve weeks old, of 
the highest quality and breeding, 
. . . AT REASONABLE PRICES , . . 
CALVIN J. HUSON, - PENN YAN, N. Y 
SPRINGBANK BERKSHIRES.- 
in Connecticut. Sows bred for April litters all sold. 
Have 4 sows bred to farrow in July; late, to ser¬ 
vice of Watson’s Masterpiece. Will book orders 
for March and April pigs now. Send for new 
Booklet. J. E. WATSON, Piuurietor, Marblcdalc, Conn. 
1 ARGE BERKSHIRES AT HIGHW000 - Regular Summer 
*■ Offering of Bred Sows. Eighty at our home farm, 
8 to 111 months old, some of them bred; selected from 
large litters out of mature dams. $35 up. Come and 
look them over. H. C. & H. B. HARPENDING, Dundee. N.Y 
PBirCUIDKrC Tho WHITE hog which marches 
vneomneo abreast with the Berkshire iu 
- all its good qualities. M0RN- 
1——— INGSIDE FARM, Sylvania.Pa. 
nas, Berkshires, C. Whites. 
Fine, large strains; all ages, mated 
not akin. Bred sows service Boars, 
Jersey and Holstein Calves. Collie 
Pups, Beagles and Poultry. Write for 
prices & circulars. Hamilton & Co., Ercildoun Pa. 
CflR CAI DUR0C JERSEY BOARS-One choice 
rUll OnLL BROOD SOW bred for 1st of Septem¬ 
ber Farrow-Some ui<-o SPRING PIGS. Address 
J. H. LEWIS, R. F. D. No. 2, Cadiz, Ohio. 
miRnpC THE BIG ’ Hi:I P FELLOWS 
UUflUllO that grow and mature quickly. 
Pigs and Gilts for sale at all times. 
S11ENANGO RIVER FARMS, Transfer, Pa. 
CHELOON FARM registered Durocs. Pigs of both sex. 
O Bred Sows. Service Boars. Best of breeding. 
C. K. BARNES, Oxford. N. Y. 
O hio Improved Chesters—Choice Boars for 
Fall service at bargain prices. Pigs not akin. 
CROSSROAD FARM, Plattsburg, N. Y. 
FOR SALE—BERKSHIRES. 
ALL AGES, BRED SOWS, SERVICE BOAR. 
I KED. TUTTLE, Manlius, N. Y. 
SHEEP 
HAMPSHIRE DOWNS 
ling Ewes and Ewe Lambs for sale; from fine im- 
orted Ram. All registered. Write your wants, 
rices right. W. H, Crawford, R.F.D. No. 10, Mereer, Pa. 
Hirui AWH FAPM 0frers some choice 
niunhrtnu r/VlVlfl shropshires—yearlings 
and lambs of either sex. Bred for type and 
quality. W. F. BLACK, Hall, N. Y. 
CHDfYDCHTDF Yearling Rams, Ewe and 
AinI-v Kam Lambs and a few 
Young Ewes; priced to sell quick. Write 
H. J. VAN DYKE, Gettysburg, Pa. 
REGISTERED SHROPSHIRE RAMS SuV&VS 
Yeoman. FRED. VAN VL15ET, Lodi, N. Y. 
FOR C A | P — REGISTERED RAMBOUILLET 
run oAll rams; o. r. c. swine. 
C. W. HALLIDAY, North Chatham, N. Y. 
pm I IT nil DQ— From imported stock. Females 
UULLIL rUiO cheap. Nelson Bros., Grove City, Pa. 
