The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-03-09

the Dairy Division in its work of i'm
provement. Many herds are kept
within the thickly settled portions Of
the cities where land is expensive.
This quite naturally results in over
crowded stables with the accompany
ing evils, poor light and ventilation
and contracted yards for exercise, fire.
qaently filthy and knee deep mud at
ter rain. The feed is usually Of a
character that requires the least space
for storage and is influenced to some
extent by local conditions Of produce
ton.
Practically all of the milk sold is
supplied by the producer direct, very
little being transported by rail. With
the methods ordinarily in use, clima-
tic conditions necessitate two deliver
les a day, which frequently bring the
production Of the herd to the con-
sumer in less than five hours. Bottles
are used only to limited extent, 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 5 per cent of
fat. When the quality is unsatisfac-
tory from the sanitary standpoint this
is due in the main to lack Of know
knowledge of proper methods and to
lack Of cleanliness. Producers Of limit
ed means of tenant class whose con-
ditions necessitate a struggle with
small business to produce living,
most frequently have small barns and
milk houses as well as inadequate fa-
cilities for the proper handling of
milk and washing utensils.
Inspection.
The sanitary side Of dairy inspe>-
ton has not been given the attention
due but Improvement is being made i'll
this direction. At Atlanta, Ca, uni
formed inspectors provided with bug
eies look well into every condition and
see that the rigid rules incorporated
in the city ordinances are respected.
In Louisville, KY, the activity Of the
officials has done away with the sale
of milk from swill-fed dairies. This
warfare has had its effect in other cit
les of the State against milk from
COWS fed on distillery slops.
Proper Feed.
In order that COWS may produce the
most milk and do it economically, they
must have feed suitable in character
and sufficient in quantity. The COM
mon practice of buying feed is extrav
agant, 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 advantages of the
long pasture season are two very val
liable features which are not being
fully taken advantage of. The Dairy
Division of the Bureau Of Animal In
dustry will furnish, free of charge,
plla..ls for the construction of silos.
Summary.
There is no branch of agriculture
hat is nor: needed in the South than
dairying. As conditions now are, more
is consumed than is produced. The
country in general is adapted to dairy
ing, and with better stock and improv
ed methods the South can supply its
own demand.
Southern dairymen as rule do not
practice the most economical methods.
The average COW produced only about
half what it 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 improved in the
three essentials. better COWS. more
homegrown feed, better product.
It is the desire IF +Ao Department
Of Agriculture to have the work tax
en- up and continued by the different
States of the South so that the Fed
eral government may withdraw after
the work is we'll started, and some
States have already taken hold.
Agruculturists and dairymen who
are interested can secure much valua-
bic information from the Twenty
fourth Annual Report of the Bureau
Of Industry, a volume Of several hun
dred pages. Application should be