THE RURAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 594, 16 August 1913, Page 2

THE RURAL WORLD.

<>«o MILKING METHODS. DRY VERSUS WET HANDS. Discussing the question of which is the best method of milking—with wet or dry hands—and why, J. M. Peterson, winner of the essay competition on the subject, instituted by the Dairy and Food Department or" the State of Minnesota, has the following to say:— "In copmaring different methods of milking there are three things, I believe, which ought to be considered as being of the greatest importance, namely, cleanliness, its effect upon the cow, and rapidity.

"The first-named is the one which we need to consider the most as it directly affects the quality of dairy products, for without clean, wholesome milk it is an absolute impossibility to bring out a good dairy produce no matter what is done to it.

the essence of tho dirt will still re main in the milk.

"For this reason, dry-hand i- boiler ; than wet-hand mikiing because if all i external dirt and dust are removed from the udder and teat?, there still remains some dirt m the pores which . in wet-hand milking are washed and worked out. as it were, and is con- [ stantly being drawn downwards towards the end of the teats where it will eventually jkoin (he milk. ; CALF SCO I! I IS. Dirt is the ehioi ::u!se of , ! ult scours, as filthy, poorly-light*, d and badiy-ven-tilated quarters harbour disease germs in great numbers. Sometimes calf scours occur in contagions form-!, and then only prompt measures will prevent serious losses. AU.he College nf Agriculture ~f the University- of Wisconsin, special pro- j cautions are taken against scours. | Not only ore the caives kept, in well- i lighted and otherwise sanitary (mar- j ters. but they are fed regularly until four weeks old on two to six pounds of their mother's milk three times? daily. Care is taken to have (he temperature of the milk as near that of freshly drawn milk as possible, and to keep the feeding pail clean. "In spite of all precautions." states Professor G. C. Humphreys, "wo now and than have of scours among our calves. For the past two years vve 'nave successfully treated such cases as follows. As soon as symptoms appear, two to four tnbic-spDontuls of castor oil are mixed with one halfpint of milk and given io the calf. This is followed in four to six hours by one teaspoonful of a mixture of one part snlol and two parts subnitrate of bismuth. This dose can also h 3 given with one-half pint of new miik, or the powder can be placed on the tongue fand washed down by a small amount of milk. "The salol and sub-nitrate of bismuth can be secured from any druggist, mixed in the proper proportions at the time of purchase, and thus the powder will be available for use at any time. As an additional precaution against contagious scours it is advised that the navel of the new-born calf be wetted with a f to 500 solution of bi-chloride of mercury—corrosive sublimate."