The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-06-12
MINNEOPA PARK FARM.
A Visit to this Well Known r1ill
Supply, and its Modern Methods.
The Finest Herd of Jerseys i'm the
West.

1t was our pleasure the other day
while inspecting the Improvements
on the South Bend road, to stop at
the Minneopa Park Farm. The beau
ty Of scenery as viewed from the
house cannot be surpassed anywhere,
for the distant bluffs on all sides are
clothed with the richest and greenest
of vegetation this spring, as result
of the frequent rains. The excellent
soil of the large farm owned by the
Minneopa Park Farm Co., stimulated
by fertilizers, is producing heavy
crop, while the hundred and fifty
acres of pasturage affords ample graz
ing for the stock. Minneopa creek
waters this feeding ground, which is
known as Springdale pasture, with
crystal water from a flowing artesian
well.
1t was the herd of jerseys that most
attracted our attention, however, for
such herd was never before gotten
together in the west. 1t numbers
over fifty head of registered cattle,
and was selected from fourteen states
at great expense, representing all of
the leading families in the Jersey
breeds. These cattle cost from S10O
$3.50 each, and none better can be
found in the entire country. To show
what reputation this herd has al
ready acquired, it is only necessary to
state that the company is shipping
calves to all of the western states
for stock purposes, while inquiries
come in on almost every mail.
Those who are familiar with the
different breeds of cattle know what
beautiful animals Jerseys are. Small
and gentle, with fawn colored hides
and black noses and small curving
horns, they remind one of nothing so
much as deer. They are proud ami
mails, dainty in what they eat and
drink, and naturally clearly. Their
great point Of popularity, however,
is in their milk qualities, for in rich
ness they cannot be surpassed, many
of the COWS testing over seven per cent
butter fat. The particular herd of
which we are speaking, besides having
it's best Of pastures, with nutritious
grass and sweet water, is also kept in
spacious and well ventilated barns
whit eWaShed within and sWeetened
Cleanliness and kindness are two
essentials which the proprle-
tors insist that the employees
shall exercise in their care Of
the cattle, and it is a pleasure
to observe how faithfully these in
functions are carried out.
Night and morning, four mixers
have their duties to perform, and each
cows milk is removed at once to a
large cooler and 8rator, where the
temperature is reduced from about 90
degrees to so. In this process, all
foreign substances are removed. The
milk is then bottled, Theoretically
sealed and placed in a refrigerator,
where it is kept until ready for de-
livery, which is the next trip that the
wagons make. The object of this
extreme care is to remove every op-
portunity for germs of whatsoever
numbers.
The empty bottles are thoroughly
washed, steamed and then cooled.
Two sets are used, one every other
day, to allow time for disinfecting
those that have last been used. The
company has decided to use the Jiber
cover, which has been rendered inn
pervious to air and moisture by the