588 
American Agriculturist, June 28, 1924 
Concrete in Producing Clean Milk 
This Material Is Rapidly Replacing Wood in Farm Construction 
A BRIEF study of the factors governing the 
quality of milk produced shows us that the 
physical condition of the cows and the 
■ conditions under which they are housed, 
play an important role in the production of clean milk 
and which if neglected often cause unnecessary hard¬ 
ships to the farmer. The health of the animal with 
A well-lighted, well- ventilated barn fnished in this manner 
insures healthy surroundings for clean cattle. The litter 
carrier reduces back breaking labor to a minimum. 
regard to tuberculosis and other diseases has been 
receiving considerable attention during the past few 
years both by Congress and the State legislatures and 
it is expected that the State of New York alone will 
appropriate over five millions of dollars this year to 
help free the State from disease but the conditions which 
tend to keep the animal in a healthy state, have in 
many cases been overlooked. 
Certainly it is not economical from a dairyman’s 
point of view to house unhealthy animals and neither 
is it economical to combat disease by purchase of 
animals if the dairyman does not co-operate with the 
State in maintaining a clean herd.. It will be found 
difficult to maintain a clean herd in a barn which is 
poorly ventilated, lighted, and situated especially 
where disease has been prevalent before. 
Flooring a Big Factor in Sanitation 
One of the biggest factors of sanitation is that of the 
flooring used in the stables of the dairy barn. Up to 
about twenty years ago, wood flooring was prevalent 
but since that time this material has been gradually 
displaced by concrete both for sanitary and economic 
reasons. The concrete type of flooring is non-absorbent, 
easily cleaned and disinfected where disease in the 
herd is to be stamped out. Wood construction with 
tight joints is good while the floor is in first class condi¬ 
tion but being of an absorbent nature soon loses this 
quality. A soaked floor lends itself readily to harbor¬ 
ing disease germs. The better designs of dairy barns 
have the concrete foundation walls raised to. meet the 
elevation of the window sills. This height is usually 
four feet above the floor line. Such construction 
furnishes a permanent wall and does away with rotting 
of sills that is common in the older wood structures. 
It also has a distinct sanitary feature where the cows 
face inward. 
Sanitation Just as Necessary in the Milk House 
In considering the milk house this also should have 
ventilation, adequate lighting and non-absorbent 
flooring. The cooling tanks are quite commonly 
constructed of concrete instead of wood as the latter 
type are comparatively short lived. These tanks are 
usually dropped below the floor so that the upper edge 
of the tank is about four to six inches above the floor 
level. This is sufficient to keep any. floor wash from 
being slopped into the tank. A drain with bell type 
trap should be inserted at the low point of the floor to 
facilitate cleaning. Outer foundation walls should be 
constructed of concrete. Health requirements of many 
cities often require the milk house to be separated 
from the barn with its door built so as to be self-closing. 
The area of the window glass should be at least equiva¬ 
lent to 10 per cent, of the floor area. All openings as 
windows, doors and ventilators should, be screened, to 
prevent entrance of flies and other insects carrying 
disease germs. 
i In new construction the additional cost of the window 
glass and framing is negligible. The cost of concrete 
flooring, where sand and gravel is available, is very 
low usually running less than wooden flooring. Recent 
costs where ordinary farm labor was utilized, averaged 
six to ten cents per square foot. A good concrete floor 
is free of maintenance charges for all time. 
Costs of Improvements with Relation to Income 
A survey of the dairy industry shows us that the 
demand for clean- milk is constantly progressing and 
that the demand for the poorer grades of milk is falling 
off and in some cases there is no market for it at all 
even when pasteurized. In localities where a premium 
is paid for clean milk, it is undoubtedly to the advantage 
of the dairyman to make such changes or improvements 
as may be necessary to produce a grade A milk instead 
of one of the lower grades. In places where the poorer 
grades of milk have no market at all the dairyman must 
make these changes if he desires to continue in the 
business. In both of the above cases the advantages 
of clean milk production must be weighed against the 
cost of improvements. 
A Milk House That Has Many Good Features 
Orin Crooker 
T IS rather odd that so few farmers and dairymen 
have seen the advantage of placing the milk house 
directly between the supports at the base of the wind¬ 
mill. An arrangement of this sort can be made to 
serve many practical ends. A neighbor of mine has 
devised one improvement after another along this line 
I 
until his milk house arrangement approaches the 100 
per cent, mark for efficiency. 
The pump occupies the middle of the floor. While 
it is possible to draw water direct from this source, the 
usual practice is to keep the pump water flowing 
through the cooling tank along one wall. First, 
however, the water enters a chamber that is separate 
('Continued on page 591) 
How to Save the Boy from the Grindstone 
“It's Lots of Fun to Watch the Boy, the Hired Man and the Engine Do the Work ’ 
By R. B. RUSHING 
R ECENTLY I heard a farmer make this remark: 
“I know nothing about a gas engine, but I 
bought one for my boy and it is a lot of fun to 
. watch the boy, the hired man and the engine 
do the work.” 
We all know the amount of work which an ambitious 
housing the machinery necessary will be well repaid. 
Very often a great many of them can be driven from 
one line shaft and if the engine is mounted on a home- 
creasea cost. made truck, or one supplied by the manufacturer, it 
One of the greatest possibilities of an engine on the can. be. moved from place to place and do any work 
farm is the generating of electricity. This not only which it is impossible to bring to. the pov\ er house. 
hauled away to a mill or done by hand at a greatly 
increased cost. 
We all know the amount of work which an ambitious tarm is the generating ol electricity, mis nox, omy wnicn il is impussiuic tu n . , — 
bov will accomplish in his play, but if he realizes it is means electric lights in the house and barn, and where- At the present time the reliable hired man on. the farm 
-Ui m _i- e;* tUmns fn W A'machine ever else needed, but also the installation of such lm- is a big problem. \ou cannot find the right man 
real work his enthusiasm begins to lag 
capable of running under its] own power 
and moving other machines has a certain 
fascination for a boy, as he finds pleasure 
in doing work when he does not have to 
furnish the motive power. There are lots 
of jobs on the farm, some of them un¬ 
usually hard ones, which, the boy is. re¬ 
quired to do that an engine can do just 
as well and at a great deal less cost. For 
instance, pumping water for a great big 
bunch of stock ’on a hot summer day— 
or indeed, in the bleak wind on a zero 
winter day. 
Neither does sawing wood even in the 
summer time for the kitchen stove offer 
many] inducements under the old buck¬ 
saw method. The ring of a buzz-saw, how¬ 
ever, has a sound which seems to call 
all the time for more wood and in a short 
time a large pile is ready to be split and 
corded and the supply for the season 
is prepared. 
While I have never kept any exact cost of doing 
these jobs with the engine, I am fully satisfied that it 
“There are lots of jobs on the farm, some of them unusually hard ones, which the boy 
is required to do that an engine can do just as well. . . . As an aid to the housewife we 
have also found the engine. ... an ever ready servant in doing such jobs as running the 
washing machine, the separator and churn. ...” 
provements and conveniences as electric fans, the 
electric iron, electric motor for the sewing machine 
is a big problem. You cannot find the right man 
every time you want one, and often the 
number of places is greatly in excess 
of the desirable men. It is only natural, 
therefore, that the hired, man will be 
attracted to the farm which is equipped 
with machinery for doing away with 
some of the drudgery. Thus the engine 
helps solve the labor problem not only 
by lessening the amount of labor re¬ 
quired, but by making the farm work 
more attractive to the better class of 
laborers. 
Many farmers are buying automo¬ 
biles. They have been the great factor 
in overcoming distance in the country 
by bringing neighbors closer together 
and placing lecture halls and amuse¬ 
ment places within the reach of the 
farmer. Previous experience with the 
small farm engine must be given credit 
for at least a good part of the success 
which the farmer has had with the 
It has been the means of driving out the 
automobile. ~~ -- -- . ^ 
idea that Mr. Farmer cannot handle mechanical power 
these jobs with the engine, I am fully satisfied that it electric iron, electric motor tor tne sewing rnacnme mea , ‘ . 
costs less than half of what it does in doing them by and many other little appliances in the home, which, with success or la le ai s o lea lze ‘ s 
costs less man nan s s necessities, are great con- which it can be placed. There are few farmers who own 
hand. 
As an aid to the housewife we have also found the 
engine to be very profitable and an ever ready servant 
in doing such jobs as running the washing machine, the 
cream separator, the churn, and such things. In the 
while they may not be necessities, are great 
veniences. 
Many farmers have not been accustomed to these 
new contrivances and perhaps are of the opinion that 
they can do without them on account of their cost. 
cream separator, tne cnurn, anu suui uiuiga. xu me .... ~ . 
barn when it is hooked onto the feed grinder, root. In my opinion they are worth all they cost, m making 
cutter, corn sheller, fanning mill, grindstone and other the farm a better place to live. 
11. 1 " _ 1, In n iclirt/I nl tvt Ttn ik A 1 llll Q ll Ol 1 Cf M f 1T1 f ll P 
which it can be placed. There are few farmers who own 
automobiles who do not also have an engine on the 
farm. 
There are engines of many various sizes and types 
suitable for farm use, and the question should be 
carefully studied before making a final decision. 
Efficiency should be considered before the cost, and 
V J '-'VXX XX XXXXN^XXV^X , *--O * . 
small machines, the work is accomplished almost with¬ 
out any effort, which otherwise would have to be 
arm a better place to live. .,, , — , , , ■ , . 
A little forethought in the construction of a small the size will of course depend on the kind and amount 
suitable building for doing these various jobs and of work to be done. 
