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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1919-10-02, Page 7Clean Cows and Clean Milkers. Healthy cows- becrete healthy milk. Bacteria and lirt get into the milk after it is d. vn from the cow or in: the process of milking. The cow is' not the guilt , party. Milk does not j come from ti-.- eow entirely free from bacteria, because it is impossible to- keep the teal of the cow sterile;' however, we .n keep them clean and reduce con ■ urination from this source. The nets of the teats and the body tern .erature of the cow af­ ford ideal conditions for the bacteria to multiply and,-the best we can do, the lower ducts of the teats will con­ tain a considerable number of bac- teria. By using the first few jets of milk to wash out the ducts, the milk that goes int > the pail will be practi­ cally free from bacteria. If proper, care is taken at this stage of pro- sumers of milk, duction, the few bacteria which get into the milk from this source are of but little consequence. On the other hand, cows that have local diseases of the udder may give milk which at times is contaminated with the bacteria which cause this disease. There is a well-founded opinion in medical circles that such germs can live and pass into the body of the user and cause the same dis­ ease as the. cow was affected with. This shows us that tuberculosis of the udder may readily be transmitted to human beings, or to young stock. Milk from unhealthy cows should never be used by human beings, or to feed young stock on the farm. No matter how well the other require­ ments are met, if the cows producing the milk are not all in good health we fail. After proper precautions in milking we are confronted by other troubles. First, it is exposed to dust and dirt in the stable, which consists largely of dried manure and urine from the floor. The cow is not a particularly clean animal and the same materials that are found on the floor will be found, in a greater or less degree, dried upon her flanks, belly and tail. If the long hair on the cow’s tail, flanks and udder are not clipped and brushed and the udder washed the movements of the cow and milker set in motion a rain of this bacteria- laden dust and the swishing of the cow’s tail only adds to the trouble. The dried excrement dust is rich hi organic matter, and loaded with bacteria from the intestines and urin­ ary passages of the cow, which .thrive and multiply on the food thus given them. By adhering to this solid dirt they get into milk and find ideal places to grow and multiply. When We drink such milk we take in many of the former inhabitants of the cow’s stomach and intestines. The thought of this becomes repulsve when we re­ member that the cow may be throw­ ing off tuberculosis bacilli before the disease appears elsewhere. There is greater danger in milk being con­ taminated from this source than be­ fore it leaves the udder. 'Such bacteria cause serious diseases when taken into the human stomach and intes­ tines. Dried excrement from the cow’s body will cause this kind of contamination and undoubtedly plays even a greater part when the cows are kept in a filthy, dust-laden stable so common on dairy farms. hay and straw dust will give rise to no very serious diseases, but it will tend to hasten the souring of the milk, and cause various bacterial gro wths that will impart a disagree­ able odor and taste to the milk. Such dust is as much out of place so far as clean milk is concerned as the other. Lactic acid germs are always present where conditions are right for their growth and development, and while they do not affect the sanitary qualities of the milk, they do affect its keeping qualities. The milkers and handlers of milk in the dairy rooms are a prolific source af contamination. Unclean methods of milking and handling of the pro­ ducts afford opportunities for the pol­ lution of the milk by disease organ­ isms, as well as dust and dirt that adheres to the milker’s hands and slothing. Here is where such disease bacteria as typhoid, scarlet fever and diphtheria get into the milk. Milk M it comes from the healthy cow does not contain these bacteria. They come from the outside after the milk to drawn from the cow. Any person t." . . ■---- -—-------- ---------- ----- who has been attending a sick per-' son can not work among cows or in ■ the dairy room without being a source! of danger to all who use the milk I from such a dairy. Typhoid, diph-- theria and scarlet fever outbreaks’ without number prove this point with their deadly results. In the care of dairy utensils there is still further chance of contamina­ te cn. This trouble is not from bac­ teria that commonly adhere to these: utensils but from those introduced in i handling and washing. Washing and: caring for the dairy utensils is very { exacting from the standpoint of, ■ cleanliness and the quality of the! water used. A supply of bacteria- 1 laden water which will leave some of I the bacteria on the utensils is an i insidious source of danger to con- When the milk goes into these utensils there is a fresh i supply of these bacteria ready to i thrive and multiply on their new sup- food and they grow and mul­ tiply with disastrous results. If ty­ phoid germs are in well-water they will have a chance to contaminate any ' milk that goes into the utensils after they have been washed in such water, i Numerous other kinds of bacteria , such as those that cause ropy, colored ! and slimy milk are frequently in well­ water that is used in washing the dairy utensils. Cooling the milk immediately after it is drawn from the cow will retard the development of bacteria and the more the temperature is lowered the I more the bacterial growth will be retarded. Milk thatHs promptly re­ duced in temperature to forty degrees Fahrenheit, and held at that temper­ ature until ready for use, will keep for a long time. When the milk is shipped to the city the trouble is invariably with the morning milk, which goes into the cans without be­ ing properly cooled. In the fresh milk the bacteria soon exceed that m the older milk that has been prop­ erly cooled. Cooling the milk does not kill any of the disease-producing bac­ teria or the lactic acid bacteria, so that it can not take the place of cleanliness in the production of milk. All of. the bacteria present in cold milk will become active as soon as the temperature conditions become favor­ able. Cleanliness is of first import­ ance and cooling is next. Many instructive and entertaining artic.es have been written on the sub­ ject of clean milk, and if all of this advice could be carried out, a prac- Iticaily dean product could be made. But the success of such a plan in­ volves expenses that would work hardship upon many of the producers at the present time. This is not say­ ing that good milk cannot be made at present prices, but to show that the dairymen who have a few cows can make clean milk without having any very elaborate equipment. He can keep his milk clean by simply giving attention to the few simple detail? of handling the milk and the small expense involved will require but a j small outlay of time and money. ! Among the essentials of clean milk . * would name a healthy cow, milked | m a clean stable, by a clean milker I and a clean covered pail, and handled i only by clean and healthy attendants i m a clean dairy room and put into [clean shipping cans and immediately i C°°Jei f0rty or fifty degrees . and held at that temperature until ready to be shipped. By clean and sanitary milk I mean only such a degree of cleanliness as outlined in this article, and which does not involve exposes that are entirely out of reach of the dairyman’s means. Healthv cows and cleanliness will give milk kin‘tVbaCtellt-free- Cold^iU keep it in thus condition. We can not get sanitary milk from cold, dirty milk, or from warm, clean milk. Both fac­ tors are essential to success. Most of the dirt which gets into ™lk tolls into the paal during mi£ mg A large part of thia dirt may be kept out by the use of a small top or partially covered pail. In producing clean milk it is not we need so much as it is the desire to do decently the things we already know. It is easy for the scientist to tell us how to keep harmful bacteria out of milk, but in our every day work we are doing pretty well if we succeed in keeping out something that is called by a different name. y Fighting Quack Grass With­ out a Hoe. One of the farmer’s problems is to get a crop that he wants, avoid a crop that he does not want, and get out on the right side of the ledger. One of the methods of getting rid of such pests as thistles and quack-grass that has been suggested is to put a ce­ ment pavement over the place and keep it there for a few years, or as a cheaper substitute: cover the land with tarred paper till the existing plants are smothered out, all of which seems paying too much, assuming that the desired result could be ob­ tained. Another method, not involving much use of the hoe, and which looks good, on paper, however it might work out in practice, has been suggested, viz., to seed the plant to alfalfa and crop the alfalfa till the weeds are choked out. If that would work it would seem hard to beat; but, like the story of the Swede who want­ ed his chum to jump from the dock to the ferry, and suggest­ ed that he might make it in a couple of jumps, there might be an initial difficulty in getting the stand of alfalfa. Perhaps such suggestions may look like the cogitations of a man too lazy to work, hunting for some easy way; but if such men really find the easy way they are public benefactors. If they fail they are called dreamers We judge by the results. Fact is, to be honest, none of us care to do work for nothing. But to get back to the subject, we all start out in the spring, hoe m hand, or with some more effective instrument, resolved to keep the land clean this year. But by the time the days get hot and the weeds come fast, they begin to get the better of us, and soon the battle is lost again for us and won by the weeds. No one feels this difficulty more than the mail-order farmer, who is compelled by force of circumstances to accept such results as he can get from others. But even for the man on the job it is no easy trick. To any who are interested in getting results of this kind, the fol­ lowing experience is recited: Last spring we decided to put in some sunflowers for silage on a plat that had quite a patch of solid quack­ grass on it; and by such cultivation as could be obtained we tried to hold the quack back, till the sunflowers got going, and it looked for a while like a losing game; but fighting one weed with a more vigorous and thrifty one is pretty good logic, and surely the reader will admit that the sunflower is a hustler. Well, pretty soon the sunflowers were reaching up higher than the quack could; and unlike corn, the broad leaves of the sunflowers left no spaces between for the sunlight t0 /et d°wn to where the quack was*/ and the groundlings began to look rather pale but still there. Then came the second part of the play. The sunflowers were then about six or eight feet high and fairly stocky. As a method of getting rid some of the quack without laying off from the haying, we turned the sheep into the field. They immediately be­ gan turning the quack into mutton without charge, picking only the low-1 er leaves of the sunflowers that would soon fall off anyway, and doing little other harm. This done, they were turned out. Now the ground looks pretty clean, without any labor ex­pense to get it, and we hope the quack I j will not be so robust next spring. The Autumn o’ the Year. When the leaves are turning red, And the long hot days are over; When the silo’s full o’ corn And the barn is full o’ clover; When potato digging’s on And the husking time is near—- I kind o’ like the rush o’ things , In the autumn o’ the year. Then we roll out in the morning Long before the rising sun, Ere the breaking of the day Have our early chores all done. The griddle cakes are baking And the cook is full o’ cheer—• I kind o’ like the mornings In the autumn o’ the year. When the twilight shadows quicken And the evenings grow apace, And we form the family circle In a kind o’ homely grace, With papers, books and fancy-work The passing hours to cheer—- I kind o’ like the evenings In the autumn o’ the year. Now the silver threads appearing On the heads o’ loving wives, Tells us that the years are passing And it’s autumn of our lives; That the time of our departure And1 our gathering in is near; Still we hail with growing pleasure The autumn o’ the year. Sand or gravel is better bedding than straw for shipping hogs. Straw heats. Inspection of Fruit. Of late years great improvement has taken place in the handling and classifying of fruit in Canada intend­ ed for shipment. Twenty-five years ago there was danger of our losing our export trade, particularly in ap­ ples, owing to carelessness, first in sorting and next in packing. In 1901 the Fruit Marks Act was passed by the Dominion Parliament, its object being the elevation of the standard of the commercial output of fruit. The administration of the Act fell to the Fruit Branch of the Dominion Department of Agriculture. Eight inspectors were appointed' whose work was confined almost entirely to ports of export Testimony as to improvement was almost immediately forthcoming from brokers and' in mar­ ket reports. For eleven or twelve years the work was practically con­ fined to the docks at Montreal, St- John, and Halifax, and to the large consuming centres like Toronto, Win­ nipeg, Regina, Calgary and Van­ couver. In 1913 additional inspectors were appointed,, and' a year later the system of inspection 'had been extend­ ed to all commercial fruit-growing districts. This year no fewer than sixty inspectors have been working among the growers and packers, not only inspecting the fruit after pack­ ing, but also givng instructions in the proper methods of picking, grad­ ing and shipping, thus preventing loss in marketing and protecting the consumer. If fruit shipped is found not up to standard, the packer is noti­ fied and given a demonstration in grading. If the grade is not lowered by the packer, the inspector may mark the package “below grade” or place the proper grade mark thereon. If a shipper requires it, he is supplied with a copy of the official report re­ ferring to his fruit. Inspectors are also authorized to inspect cans, thus insuring prompt settlement of dis­ putes between shipper and consignee. Experienced traffic men are stationed at several points to give advice on long distance shipments; complaints of improper loading or handling are investigated; improved methods of car loading are demonstrated', and ad­ vice given on distribution. The Welfare of the Home PLAY-UTILITY OF THE. CARDBOARD BOX By Mrs. Richard K. Thomas Red Ribbons for Better Families BY MARY T. WATTS A new department was added last year to the Fall Fair held at Topeka in the State of Kansas, which might well be copied in this province. It was called the Eugenic Department and was listed in the program (or fair book) between the milk goats and the pouter pigeons. Amongst the prizes offered in this department was a handsome silver trophy, the gift of Governor Allen, to the “fittest” Kansas family. The con­ test was open to all healthy Kansans, and as the rules declared that the contest was “not a clinic,” no person obviously ill was admitted. In this “Fitter Family” contest, as it was called, entire families were tested and scored according to a score card prepared for the contest by a'group of experts. This scoring included hereditary history, psycho­ logical and mental tests, a thorough physical-examination, including sight, hearing and teeth, besides the special laboratory tests for adults. The examinations were made in a building on the fair grounds. This building was divided into eight small rooms, opening from a centre hall, thus giving easy access from one room to another and securing the de­ sired privacy for the individual tak­ ing the examination. The examining staff consisted of eight specialists, besides their assist­ ants and clerks, making in all a force of eighteen people who gave their time and talent free, because of their interest in the plan. As the physicians examined each person, they interpreted their find­ ings so that the examinations would be as instructive as possible. Defects were pointed out and constructive measures advised, so that the greatest good- possible to both the family and the individual might result from the expenditure of time and effort. A physician in private practice would be entitled to a large fee for an examination of this kind; but in ■this case not even an entrance fee was required. The money value of the examination was a big inducement to enter the contest, but it was not the only one. Parents realized that it was a wonderful opportunity to obtain expert advice not only from one specialist but from several, and they were not stow to take advantage of it Twenty-five families, comprising 101 individuals, competed for the gov­ ernor’s trophy. Of this number forty­ seven were parents, one a grand­ mother, and fifty-three were children. Seven families were turned away be­ cause there was not sufficient time to take care of them. The time required for an adult to pass through the entire test was about three hours, and although the un­ avoidable “waits” prolonged the time needed for the examinations, there was no complaining. “I missed the races this year, but this health test is certainly worth more than' a good many races,” re­ marked one husky farmer as he gathered up his family of wife and five children for the hundred-mile journey home. For these people came from all parts of the state and as one man said, “There was but one family from our town this year but you can get ready for fully a dozen- families next year.” Entrants were to be scored A, B and C or below. Forty of the indi­ viduals examined scored B, fifty-six were in class A and a few did not quite finish the test. There were no C’s in the whole group. All grade A families received bronze medals. All entrants complet­ ing their examinations were given health certificates by the Kansas State Board of Health, officially certifying the grades attained. • The family receiving the highest i grades for all its members was awarded the governor’s handsome sil­ ver loving-cup with an appropriate inscription thereon. When all scores were in, it was found that three families tied for the trophy. Two of these families consisted of father, mother and one child under two years, while the third family included three children in their teens. After careful considera­ tion the judges awarded the trophy to the larger family, the Ford Robin­ ette family, living on a farm near Topeka, Mr. Robinette comes of a family whose members enjoyed long lives. All four of his grandparents lived to nearly ninety years of age. His father was killed- accidentally all seventy-six and his mother is enjoy­ ing good health at eighty-six. Mrs. Robinette’s family also shows a fin® record of longevity. The immediate family of the Robinettes consists of two daughters, aged eighteen and fifteen, and a son just entering his teens. The Robinettes have never suffered serious illness and may be called out­ door people. All three of the Chil­ dren have done well at school, the eldest daughter having won many school honors before entering college, where she is now a sophomore. There are many healthy families in every community, but there are like­ wise many that are decidedly below par. This “Fitter Family” contest’ plan was originated by Dr. Florence Brown Sherbon, Chief of Child Hy­ giene of Kansas, in connection with the writer, as a follow-up of the Baby Health contest, with the hope that all parents would be made to realize their responsibility for the health of their offspring. The periodical health test is quite as essential for growing children and adults as it is for babies, and eugenia records are of valuable assistance in circumventing bad heredity, say our human stock experts. There is splendid scope for a sim­ ilar department in the fall fairs held throughout Ontario. Here is an ex­ cellent work to be done by public- spirited citizens who have the true welfare of Canada at heart Com Borer Causing Serious ,. Damage. Owing to the extensive spread of the European Corn Borer in the Province of Ontario and the States of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, in 1921, fifty official entomologists and agriculturists of Canada and the United States recently met at San­ dusky, Ohio, and St. Thomas, Ontario. It was recognized that the natural spread of the insect and its establish­ ment over large areas, makes exter­ mination impossible and it was agreed that efforts be directed to check fur­ ther spread so far as possible ar.d to promote the speedy development of practical control measures. The conference adopted the follow­ ing methods of control, which have been found of value:— (1) Cut corn close to the ground and early as possible. (2) Ensile entire crop wherever possible, and this should include all waste from canning factories. (3) Shred or cut cornstalks before feeding, since this kills many borers and promotes consumption of the fodder. (4) Uneaten corn stalks, including corn stover in field, lot or bam or parts of stalks should be completely plowed or burned before May 15th. Such material should not be used for bedding or thrown into manure. (5) Fall plowing, thoroughly done, especially early, kills many borers. Heavy roiling prior to plowing is sug­ gested. (6) Bum weeds and' grasses in or near infested com. (7) Early planted com is most like­ ly to become infested; consequently, somewhat later planting usually re- gn1^ Have you a card-board box in the house? If you have two, all the bet­ ter, a half-dozen, better still, for whether you are a mother with one child or a half-dozen, ranging from six months to twelve years old, you will never find yourself at a loss when the old toys pall, or the day is rainy. Of course the box must have quali­ fications; and a few accessories are necessary, according to the ages of your children. The accessories are so simple that any household may have them or the children may make them. As early as six to twelve months, baby tires of his rattle. Give him the lid of a clean white box’, or make two slits and tie his rattle to it. It will never cease to amuse him anew. Do not forget the qualifications, clean and white. Then if he puts it in his mouth it will do him no harm. In his second year the child will enjoy a whole box or several boxes, which he can take apart. Also give him a large lid, into which his toys may be piled and turned out again. The child of two or three years be­ gins to want accessories. A string attached to a box makes it into a fine wagon or coach. No wheels are nec- essiary. Pulling and carrying are the first activities suggesting themselves to a child and a little girl likes a few covers with the boxes, such as clean cloths to make a bed for dolly. a few small ones make a tea table and chairs. The painted engine and the real tea table may have lost their charm. The box toy is your alter­ native. At the pre-school age a pair of scissors, at your suggestion, and a few paper fasteners, which you help adjust, awaken new possibilities. Boxes of less stiff and heavy card­ board are more adaptable to the scis­ sors. Wagons with wheels that turn, or tables and' chairs with legs are a result. One big box in which to put the furniture serves as the doll house. The suggestions that follow the idea of a “house for dolly” will be amply forthcoming from the children' them­ selves. With another and' another year, while hands grow better trained, pos­ sibilities widen rapidly. All kinds of furniture (made without your assis­ tance), rows of houses, stores, a whole community in fact, may be the out­ come. Your big boys and girls can find: endless amusement indoors or out, making their own accessories, and collecting the boxes themselves. Further suggestions are unneces­ sary. They are for the children them­ selves to make. You will find they are able to make them much more rapidly than you can yourself. What I wish to impress upon you who are mothers or even you who know children whose play materials are limited, is the value of weighing the “play-utility” of an article before throwing it away. Do not discard things which hold possibilities for the Butter Scoring Contests. This is the third year of the Do­ minion EdrZational Butter Scoring Contest conducted by the Dairy and Cold Storage Branch of the Depart­ ment of Agriculture at Ottawa. Last year aad the year before four cream­ eries in each province contributed a fourteen pound sample each month from May to October inclusive for the competition. This year six creamer­ ies in each province are competing, a different creamery each month from May to October sending in a sample. The scores for the first three months, May, June and July, of this year show Manitoba and Alberta leading with an average of 96.7 points, Quebec next with 96, Nova Scotia following with 94.5, Saskatchewan with 94.3, British Columbia with 94.2, Ontario 93.7, New Brunswick 93.6 and Prince Edward Island 93.3. Manitoba leads in flavor with the others according to score ex­ cept that British Columbia is eighth and Ontario ninth. The average per cent, of salt added- at churning was 2.37 pounds, the average per cent, salt in the butter was 1.45. Testing shows that from 1 to 1% per cent, salt is about right for the export trader In the opinion of the judges, the texture, incorporation of moisture, and salting, so far this season, are more uniform than in previous con­ tests. The average per cent, of mois­ ture in the butter, it should be stated, was 14.05. The color, however, varied from almost white to a deep June shade. --------- ---------- - But God has made no better things In all the stars that rise and set Than life that grows by cherishing And cannot falter or forget. -------------------- Courage is helped by encourage­ ment. Help others by giving it freely.----------*--------- “Whatever his trials, the farmer does not know the horror of having no food in his cupboard.”—Vivian. Saskatchewan Farm Revenue, 1920 With the new experiences of the fourth and fifth years which are going to be reproduced continually, the box gains additional value. A half-dozen boxes joined with strings makes aitraning or entertainment of your train, a few spools provide wheels' child. And save, at least, the oard- and a smokestack. A large box and board box. The Province of Saskatchewan is noted for the vast quantities of grain it annually produces, and the figures for 1920, which have just been issued by the Provincial Department of Agriculture, not only corroborate this, but also reveal the fact that besides being a grain-grower it receives a large revenue from livestock activi­ ties. The official figures give the total value of agricultural products and livestock as $549,997,969, of which sum the value of agricultural products is $308,967,214, and live­ stock, $241,030,755. Of the agricultural products pro­ duced in the province last year, wheat leads all other grains in value, in fact, as much as all other products combined. Slightly over ten million acres were planted in wheat, from which 113,135,274 bushels were pro­ duced, valued at $175,359,674. This compares very favorably with the preceding year when the crop' was much smaller. Of the other grains grown, oats stand out predominately, 141,549,000 bushels, valued at $58,035,090, being grown on 5,106,822 acres. These figures indicate, to a large extent, the estimation in which this grain is held by Saskatchewan farmers. Both the acreage and the yield are the largest since 1916. The value of creamery products, owing to an intensive educational campaign conducted' by government and other officials interested among the farmers of Saskatchewan, has in­ creased phenomenally. In 1916 the to­ tal value of dairy products was $1,- 338,180, increasing to $2,221,403 in 1918 and to the record figure of $23,- 043,048 in 1920. Horses and mules, to the number of 948,280, were valued at $151,724,800, which is more than -half the total value of livestock and more than tha combined value of all other livestock. Cows were second in value with $35,- 450,700, followed by other cattle, $26,5 673,075; swine, $7,725,600; steers, $7,- 191,140; calves, $6,526,160; bulls, $4< 130,100; and sheep, $1,609,180. Last year there were in operation throughout the province a ' total of 3,600 grain elevators, ranging in siz® from the small 35,000 bushel standard to the mammoth government eleva­ tor, with a capacity of one million bushels and’ more. These elevator®, ® large proportion of which are owned and operated by farmers’ organiza­ tions, have a total storage capacitj ' of 110,009,000 bushels.