The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-06

iSoSl oPdCc ioT storage ana is lnIuen-
ced to some extent by local conditions
Of production
|, Practically all of the milk sold is
supplied by the producer direct, very
little being transported by rail. With
| the methods ordinarily in use, cli-
| matte conditions necessitate two de-
livereies day, which frequently
bring the production of the herd to
the consumer in less than five hours.
Bottles are used only to limited ex-
tent, and the practice of dipping from
the open can prevails where the milk
is not drawn through faucets.
The quality Of southern milk is
generally satisfactory from the stand
point of milk solids. Where Jersey
blood prevails in the herd, the milk
will average from As to per cent
of fat When the quality is unsatis-
factory from the sanitary standpoint
knowledge of proper methods and to
lack Of cleanliness. Producers Of
limited means of the tenant class
whose conditions .necessitate a strug-
gle with small business to produce
living, most frequently have small
barns and milk houses as well as in
adequate facilities for the proper
handling of milk and washing uten-
sils
| The sanitary side Of dairy inspec-
ton has not been given the attention
due but improvement is being made
in this direction. At Atlanta, Ca,
uniformed inspectors provided with
buggies look we'll into every condition
and see that the rigid rules incorpo-
rated in the city ordinances are re-
Ispected. In Louisville, KY, the ac-
tivity of the officials has done away
with the sale of milk from swill-fed
dairies. This warfare has had its eff
feet in other cities Of the State against
milk from cows fed on distillery
slops.
In order that cows may produce
the most milk and do it economically
they must have feed suitable in char
acter and sufficient in quantity. The
| common practice of buying feed is
extravagant, when all rough feed and
at least part of the grain can be
grown. Green feed is important, and
this can be provided in the winter by
silo. This and the added advan-
tage of the long pasture season are
two very valuable features which are
not being fully taken advantage Of
The dairy division of the bureau Of
animal industry will furnish, free of
charge. plans for the construction Of
silos.
There is no branch Of agriculture
that is more needed in the South than
dairying. AS conditions now are,
more is consumed than is produced.
The country in general is adapted to
dairying, and with better stock and
improved methods the South can
supply it's own demand.
Southern dairymen as a rule do not
practice the most economical meth
DDS. The average cow produces only
about half what 1T should. Too many
of the dairies are in the city and
should be on the farm where better
milk and butter could be produced.
The whole situation could be i'm
proved in the three essentials, bet
ter cows. more home grown feed, q
better product.
1t is the desire of the department
of agriculture to have the work taken
up and continued by the different
States of the South so that the fed
eral government may withdraw after
the work is well started, and some
States have already taken hold.
Agriculturalists and dairymen who
are interested can secure much val
liable information from the twenty
fourth annual report of the bureau
of animal industry, volume Of sew
eral hundred pages. Application
should n made to a member of con-
gress. Ne portion dealing with pres
ent dairy conditions in the South has
been issued separately in pamphlet
form as Farmers Bulletin 349, "The
Dairy Industry in the South" and
can be obtained on application to
members of congress or to the bureau
of animal industry. Washington. d.
&c.