The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-06-08
WEEKLY DIGEST
Of Experiment Station Bulletins.
No. 70.
BACTERIA AND RoPINEss OF MILK.

BACTERIA AND RoPINEss OF MILK
The Michigan Station has been con.
Quoting some studies and experiments
in Bacteriology and is issuing q series
OF bulletins on the subject, two of
which, Nos. 1S9 and-44O are out. No.
1S9 explains the meaning of some Of
the terms used. Bacteria are minute
plants SO small that it requires q pow
erful microscope to enable the eye to
see them. Some Of these are rod
shaped and are called Bacillus, which
means one plant, or Bacilli, which
means several or millions Of them.
Others are ball-shaped and these are
called MicrococCus, or MicrocoCci, ow
ing to whether one or more than one
is meant. Others are spiral shaped
and are called Spirillum or Spirilli.
These small plants exist in millions
in the dust floating in the air, in water,
and in the soil. The surface of clothing
curtains, walls, furniture, in fact every.
thing upon which dust settles, teens
with myriads of these little plants.
Some of these Bacteria are harmless,
some are very beneficial, and some of
them are deadly poison. One kind
produces the poison known as typhoid
fever, another consumption, another
lockjaw, and SO on. Laborers in a
paper mill who sort and handle rags
shipped from city infected with yel-
low fever, cholera, or smallpox, will
draw in with their breath, the bacteria
Of those diseases. LAborers in tanner
les who sort and handle hides contract
authax, or charbon by breathing the
air loaded with the special bacteria
that cause that disease. Typhoid fever
is caused, generally, by drinking water
in which bacteria float. A rusty nail
covered with dirt is apt to have lock
jaw bacteria on it.
Some Of the bacteria which are bene
fetal to men are those which cause
yeast TO rise, others cause wine or cider
to ferment, others cause cream to ripen,
others, which cling to the roots of
clover, peas, and other legumes (podded
plants) cause the soil to be enriched by
stores of nitrogen taken from the air,
and others give good favors to butter,
cheese, etc.
Bacteria play a very important part
in the dairy. As noted, they cause
cream to ripen. give bittsr, aromatic,
or other favors to milk and butter and
now it is found that they cause ropiness
of milk. The reason boiled milk keeps
sweet longer than raw milk is, the bac
terra in it are killed by the heat, and it
cannot sour till it absorbs others from
the dust fl )ating in air. Hence, the
benefit of steriljzjng or pasteurizing
milk. Some kinds require q higher de-
gree Of heat than others to produce
death, and some require longer period
of heating than others. Repeated heat
ing to a low degree and then cooling
down is as effective as one heating to a
high degree, and avoids giving a cooked
flavor, which some people do not relish.
A special study Of ropiness leads to
the opinion that it is due to bacteria
that cling to the cows udder and teats,
probably in sWemps. In such cases,
wash the udder in q strong solution of
tormalin before milking. It is also
well to wash the vessels, stalls, etc.,
with the same, and sprinkle the floors
with it.
VEGETABLE GARDENING
Bulletin 20. of Alabama Station, is
full of caution aud common sense to
would. be truck growers for Northern
markets. 1t calls attention to the fact
that all adjoining States greatly excel
Alabama in the extent of this industry,
though in points OF soil, climate, and
transportation facilities Alabama's ad
vantages are equal to those of any of
the other States with the possible ex-
ception of Florida. But competition
has become SO great, shipping rates are
80 high, commission men so uncertain,
and the products so perilous, that the
Station does not feel warranted in ad-
vising any very great expansion OF the
business at this time. The risks are
many, the expenses heavy, and the
skill, industry, care and business ability
required are of a high order. But,
every man should look ahead and pre-
pare for the future opening that is sure
to offer. Consumption of vegetables
from the Southern truck farms in.
creases every year, and cheapened pro-
duction will increase the demand, so