632 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
April 30, 
“ROPY” MILK. 
Every year we have many questions 
about “ropy milk.” Usually the milk 
begins all of a sudden to form slimy 
strings on being set in a cool place. It 
is a peculiar condition, not like thick, 
sour milk, but as the name implies, “ropy,” 
so that a fork passed through it brings 
up strings of slime. Bulletin 13C of the 
Rhode Island Station gives an elaborate 
study of a case of this sort. It is so 
nearly like dozens which have been re¬ 
ported by our readers that we give the 
facts about it. 
On a small farm, among the hills, one 
Jersey cow was kept. She was six years 
old, and the surplus cream was made in¬ 
to butter. The milk when fresh seemed 
of good quality, but, when set for cream, 
became “ropy,” at some times being 
worse than at others. It was milked into 
an ordinary milking pail, strained 
through a cloth into pans, and put in a 
cool cellar. The “ropes” appeared in 
from 12 to 24 hours, sometimes taking 
them longer than this to form. It was 
easily shown that a 'sample of this ropy 
milk would inoculate a fresh sample— 
that is, when some of the “ropes” were 
put into other milk, the trouble spread 
all through it. This was evidence that 
a germ was responsible for it, and upon 
investigation the germ was discovered. 
The question then was, how did this 
germ get into the milk and where did it 
come from? A search was made for 
that germ. 
When we want to speak of a well-nigh 
impossible search we refer to hunting for 
a needle in a haystack. That certainly 
is looking for a fine point, yet hunting 
for a germ which can hardly be seen 
with a compound microscope beats it 
for close observation. The station ex¬ 
perts decided to look in five places, the 
udder of the cow, the dust or filth of the 
stable, the air cf the cellar where the 
milk was set, the water used in washing 
the utensils, or these utensils themselves. 
The test of the cow’s udder consisted in 
drawing the milk directly into sterilized 
tubes, so treated that the live germs 
could not be found in them. If such 
milk became “ropy” it would show that 
the germs came from the cow. In all 
34 of these tests were made, but in not 
a single case did the “ropes” form. This 
proved that the cow herself was not 
guilty. 
In most of the cases reported to us 
the trouble is laid to the cow and usu¬ 
ally to the way she is fed. The owner 
of this Rhode Island cow still believed 
the cow was responsible, and determined 
to sell her for beef. She was bought and 
taken to the station and carefully milked 
—the milk being handled with sterile 
hands and utensils. With the exception 
of two days the cow's milk showed no 
signs of ropiness. Careful experiments 
proved the dust and dirt from the stable 
and the air of the cellar, or the water 
used were probably not responsible for 
the trouble. It remained to test the 
utensils, and upon these the germ was 
found. When strained through the cloth 
and into pans the milk became ropy. A 
small piece of the straining cloth, said to 
have been boiled and hung in the sun 
to dry, was put into sterile milk and 
caused the ropes. When the cloth and 
the pans were properly boiled and the 
milk was strained in as before it re¬ 
mained clear. Here was the evidence— 
the den of the germ had been found. 
The trouble is chiefly in the straining 
cloth or strainer. In many cases this 
is merely washed in hot water and dried 
in the sun or at the stove, and this proc¬ 
ess will not kill those germs. The strain¬ 
er ought to be boiled for 10 minutes if 
there is any trouble with the ropy milk. 
The germs are also passed from one pan 
to another on the hands, or in the cloth 
or brush used in washing. If they are 
left in a pan, usually in the seams, the 
milk is always liable to “rope.” 
The remedy is to boil the pans, pails 
and all cloth used in handling the milk. 
By following up this plan the germs will 
be destroyed and the milk saved. We 
have no doubt this will be read by people 
who are puzzled and disgusted by these 
“ropes.” Do not blame the cow. but boil 
everything that touches the milk, except 
your hands, and come as close to boiling 
with them as you can. 
DOES COAL DEPRECIATE WITH AGE? 
C., Waupaca, Wis .—Does our common 
hard coal depreciate in value or heating 
properties by age, or being kept from one 
season to another? If so, to what evtent 
wilh soft coal? 
Ans. —The experiments conducted by 
the fuel division of this survey and the 
practical experience which has come to 
the notice of the chemical engineers 
charged with investigations of storage 
and spontaneous combustion of coal lead 
to the belief that anthracite coal in the 
lump grades above one inch size, deteri¬ 
orates only very slightly, if at all, in 
storage, and gives almost no danger from 
spontaneous combustion. Inferior grades 
of anthracite, especially slack, probably 
do depreciate, and cases have been 
known of spontaneous combustion in 
such coals stored in large piles. An¬ 
thracites and the better grades of smoke¬ 
less soft coals, such as Pocahontas and 
New River coal, probably do not deteri¬ 
orate more than two or three per cent 
unless they are very finely divided as in 
slack. Coals of the interior and western 
fields, however, depreciate often as much 
as five per cent in the open air or in 
warm indoor bins during one year’s time. 
Depreciation in heat value and spon¬ 
taneous combustion are both induced by 
slow oxidation or absorption of oxygen 
by the coal in the open air, that is, by 
actual slow burning at ordinary temper¬ 
atures. Heat is produced in this way, 
but is ordinarily dissipated by radiation 
and ventilation unless the coal is packed 
closely or in deep piles, or alternately 
wet and dried, when spontaneous com¬ 
bustion often occurs. geo. w. smith. 
U. S. Geological Survey. 
VEGETARIAN HENS. 
Is there anything that will take the 
place of meat and bone and animal meal for 
laying liens and chicks that will make them 
do their best? What about sunflower seed 
to take their place? Has anyone a dis¬ 
tance from the cities who cannot get green 
bones made a success in Winter eggs, also 
without animal meal? Would like to hear 
from anyone who has made a success 
without meat in any form. o. s. b. 
New York. 
I doubt if there is anything else that 
will take the place of meat feed for hens 
in W inter. In the Summer, where the 
flock is not too large and has plenty of 
range, it is not necessary to feed meat, 
but they get it just the same in the shape 
of worms and insects. Sunflower seed 
is good feed, but will not take the place 
of meat. Nor will oil meal, which is a 
feed rich in protein, but a feed the hens 
do not care for. We are unable to get 
green bone in quantity sufficient for our 
flock, but the commercial beef scrap is 
one of the cheapest feeds we have, fig¬ 
ured on the basis of the protein con¬ 
tained in it, and a feed we cannot do 
without economically in the production 
of eggs. FLOYD Q. WHITE. 
DISEASE OF CALVES. 
One of my neighbors has trouble in rais¬ 
ing his calves. They keep fat and nice un¬ 
til about four months okl; then all at once 
their ears begin to droop, then the blood 
starts to run, seems to drip off almost 
every hair in the body, and down on eye¬ 
brow, and in a couple of days all may be 
dead. He has examined some and found 
the throat under jaw all red and inflamed 
and sometimes the stomach, but not al¬ 
ways. He has tried vaccinating for black¬ 
leg, bu-t did no good. No one in this part 
of the country has ever heard of anything 
like it. Can you explain the trouble? 
Oregon. n. w. j. 
The thing to do in a case of this sort is 
to lay it before the experts of the State 
Agricultural Experiment Station, and have 
them make an investigation, or have it 
made by. the State Veterinarian. It is not 
a disease to be treated with impunity by 
the owner. We fear it may turn out to be 
anthrax, which is not onlv contagious and 
incurable among cattle lfut communicable 
and fatal to man. It can be vaccinated 
against, but there is no cure. Hannorrhagic 
septicaemia, a somewhat similar disease, 
also may be suspected, and it too is in¬ 
curable and contagious. a. s. a. 
TORNADO FEED AND ENSiLACE 
CUTTER 
W. li. HARRISON & CO. 
DON’T buy an ENSILAGE CUTTER or 
a SILO until you know all about the celebrated 
TORNADO 
They are not equalled by any other make. 
We use only the very best material the 
market affords. All our Silos are furnished 
with our patented, self-adjusting doors. 
Catalog And Full Particulars Mailed Upon Request. 
Massillon, Ohio. 
CHR. HANSEN’S 
Danish Butter Color 
MAKES PRIZE-WINNING BUTTER 
r 
SILOS 
The kind you would buy 
if acquainted with all. Sur¬ 
pass all others in Strength, 
Durability, Convenience. 
Ask the man who uses one. 
Only Silos used by U. S. 
Government, Washington. 
AlsoSilo Filling Machinery. 
Catalog* free, 
. HARDER MFG. CO., BOX 11, COBLESKILL, N. Y. 
tTHE 
R 
SSSI 
.The only thoroughly manufactured 
Silo on the market. Full length stave. 
Continuous door frame complete with 
ladder. Triple beveled silo door with 
hinges. Equipped witfi extra heavy 
hoops at bottom. 
AIR TIGHT 
Makes winter feed equal to June 
grass. THE BOSS will more than pay 
for itself in one season. Write to¬ 
day for catalog which gives facts that 
will save you money. Agents wanted. 
The Id. W. Boss Co.(Est.iaoO) 
Box 13 SPRINGFIELD. OHIO 
A 
mi fi 
III! 1« 
itOlimW 
lllliw 
'Miliaria 
ijniLdAia. 
Ill »IP* 
lll'BH 
■I..* 
BEFORE YOU BUY WRITE FOR 
NEW CATALOG DESCRIBING THE 
UARANTEED MONEY-SAVING 
INTERNATIONAL 
SI LOS 
strongest built, simplest to put up and easiest operated 
on the market. Adjustable automatic take-up hoop— 
continuous open-door front—air-tight door and per¬ 
manent ladder are some of the unusual features. Th« 
International 811o Co.. US Bain St.. Lineaviile. l>a* 
Dirip Splined Silos 
Durable Lumber. No North¬ 
ern Pine or Spruce used. Con¬ 
venient Air-tight doors. 
Buy at Factory Prices. 
STEVENS TANK <fc TOWER 
COM PA N Y 
145 Turner St., AUBURN, Me. 
ECONOMY SILO 
Our simple ye t perfect-fitting doors, 
forming air-tight silo, entirely pre¬ 
vent possibility of ensilage spoiling. 
Quick, easy adjustment without 
hammer or wrench. Free access. 
Every silo easy to erect. Seasoned 
white pine or cypress staves. Refined 
iron hoops form easyladder. 
Write for free catalogue with proof 
of our claims from delighted users. 
ECONOMY SILO & MFC. CO., 
Box 38.J Frederick, Md. 
DAIRY SUPPLIES 
We are headquarters forSIilk Bottles, 
Cans, Caps, Carriers, Churns, Drain¬ 
ers, Pasteurizers, Separators, Joe 
Crushers, etc., and every utensil used 
by handlers of milk, cream, butter, 
eggs, ice cream or cheeso. Best goods, 
fair prices, prompt shipments. Satis¬ 
faction guaranteed. Send us today 
your list of needs. No order too small. 
WISNER MFG. CO , 230 A Greenwich St.,N.Y. 
Everything For Dairymen Always In Stock 
MINERAL. 
HEAVE 
REMEDY 
Purely Vegetable and Guaranteed under all Pure 
Pood Laws, State and National. 
RENNET TABLETS and CHEESE 
COLOR TABLETS for Cheese Milk¬ 
ing: on the Farm. 
JUNKET TABLETS for dainty milk 
desserts and ice cream. 
JUNKET BRANI> B U T T E It M I L K 
TABLETS. 
Manufactured and put up only by 
CHR. HANSEN’S LABORATORY, 
Box 1106, Little Falls, N. Y. 
the UNADELLA 
SILO 
The sensation of the agricultural world 
Write for our “ TWENTY- 
FIVE REASONS" why it 
is in a class by itself. 
Extra discount for early orders. 
Agents wanted. 
UMDILLA SILO CO., Inc. 
llnadilla, N. Y. 
NEGLECT 
Will Ruin 
YourHorse 
Send today for 
only 
PERMANENT 
SAFE 
CERTAIN' 
$3 PACKAGE 
will cure any case or 
money refunded. 
$1 PACKAGE 
cures ordinary cases. 
Postpaid on receipt of 
price. Agents Wanted. 
Writ© for descriptive booklet. 
Mioeral Heave Remedy Co.. 461 Fourth Avenue, Pittsburg, P» 
LAMENESS from a Bone Spavin, Rina 
Bone, Splint, Curb, Side Bone or simi¬ 
lar trouble cun bo Btopped with 
ABSor 
BINE 
Full directions in pamphlet with each 
bottle. $2.00 a bottle at dealers or delivered. 
Horse Book 9 D free. 
AUSOHBINU, JR,, for mankind, $1 
a bottle, removes Painful Swellings, En¬ 
larged Glands. Goitre. Wens, Bruises, Vari 
Cose Veins, Varicosities, Old Sores, Allays Pain. 
W. F. YOUNG, P. D. F., 88 Temple St., Springfield, Mass. 
NEWTON’S HEAVE 
COUCH, DISTEMPER/*%■ BBC 
AND INDIGESTION OU rCt g 
The Standard Veterinary Remedy. 
Makes the horse sound, stay sound 
DEATH TO HEAVES 
The first or second $1.00 can cures. The third can 
is guaranteed to cure or money refunded. 
$1.00 per can at dealers, or express prepaid. 
THE NEWTON REMEDY CO.. Toledo. Ohio 
WHEN 
Doctors 
Disagree 
—orat any other time, 
use Kendall's Spavin 
Cure to cure that 
Spavin, Curb, Ringbone, Splint, 
Bony Growth or any other lameness, 
isalest way. Keep a bottle of 
It’s the 
KENDALL’S 
SPAVIN CURE 
on hand so you can use It promptly. 
“Please send me one of your books, ‘Treatise 
on the Horse.’ I have been using Kendall’s 
Spavin Cure for years and llnd it a sure cure for 
Spavin, Kingbone. Splint and Lameness. 
W. M. Singlr, Perham, Minn.” 
Good for man and beast. Your druggist will 
supply you. Price$1.00 per bottle; 6 for $5.00. 
Also ask him for that valuable book, “Treatise 
on the Horse,”or write direct for a copy. Address 
DR. B. J. KENDALL CO.. Enosburg Falls. Vt 
Quinn's Ointment 
does for the horse what no other remedy can do.' 
There’s not a curb, splint,spavin, windpuffor bunch 
that it will not remove. Sure and speedy. Thous¬ 
ands of horse owners use it—Quinn’s alone. They 
regard it as the unfailing remedy. 
PRICE *1.00 PER BOTTLE. 
At all druggists or sent by mail. Testimonials free. 
W. B. Eddy £ Co., Whitehall, New York. 
GREENuMOUNTAIN 
SILOS 
Have heaviest hoops and 
staves. Patent air-tight 
door front, and other ex¬ 
clusive features. 
Write now for Booklet and 
Special Offer for Early Orders 
CREAMERY PACKAGE MFG. CO. 
888 WEST ST.. RUTLAND, VT. 
