Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-12-02
RURAL SCHOOLS HAVE
new FARMING IDEA
Children Informed How to Test Milk
For Batter Fat.
PROVES PRACTICAL HELP
FOR ALL IN FUTURE
State Food and Dairy Department.
Reports to Governor Of the
Work Being Done.

| DeS MOlneS, Nov. 23.-One very
practical step in the work of giving
to children attending the rural
schools definite information that will
be helpful to them in farm life. is re-
ferred to in the report Of the stajc
Gov. Clarke. 1t relates to the teach
ing of children how to test milk for
butter fat. That part of the report
follows:
Ever since the Babcock test has
been generally Used as a means of de-
termining the amount of butter fat
produced by individual cows, dairy
authorities have recognized the value
of placing these machines in the
hands of dairyGen. Farmers and
dairymen have been urged to weigh
the milk from each COW and test the
product on the farm, as this part Of
the dairy work always creates an in
terest in better dairy animals and
adds an attractive feature to the 9TH
erwise monotonous labors of the dali
ryman.
Demonstrated in Schools.
Realizing the Importance of reach
ing the young people on the farm,
the operation oil the Babcock test
has been demonstrated to large num-
bers Of pupils in the schools through
out the state and the interest shown
in this subject leads us to believe
that within a short time the subject
of testing milk and cream swilsF be
taught as a part of the regular
course in agriculture in the rural
schools.
The Owasa public school has
during the past year carried on a
course of instruction in testing milk
and cream and prizes were offered
to those who stood highest in an eX-
animation given at the close of the
school year in June 1914. In giving
the examination the same blanks
were used as have been adopted in
examining operators of the Babcock
test before issuing licenses in this
state and the papers filled out by
these pupils were very creditable ard
indicated that the instruction had
been thorough. In addition, these
pupils were given instruction in the
care of milk and cream and bulletins
issued by this department were used
as text in school work. Essays writ
ten by the varioTs pupils, which weIe
later submitted to this department
for grading, indicate that the pupils
gained a very clear idea of the SUBJ
ject matter, and we believe this plan
furnishes the best means of improv-
ing the quality OF Iowa butter. Keep
ing in mind that many of these boys
and girls will within few years be
the people who will live on the farms
of Iowa, we cannot overestimate the
importance of teaching them proper
methods in the care OF milk and
cream.
Much of the poor cream produc-
ed is a result of failure on the part
of our dairymen to understand the
necessity for giving the best care to
their produce and no work undertah-
en- in recent years will bring greater
benefit to the individuals and to the
state as a whole than this line Of in
struction in the rural schools of the
state.''
Want Practice To Grow.
The department Of public instruc-
tion is in entire harmony with the
food and dairy department in this
matter. 1t is hoped that other
schools will take up the idea. espe-
cially in commodities where there Is
much dairying.
Belgium will go down in history as
the little nation that flung herself
in the path of mighty force and
was destroyed braVely. Its king and
it's generals will hold their places on
the pages of glory. The common
herd who suffered and died and
starved-well, they contributed to
the glory. However, if somebody
starts across your front yard with q
traction engine don't send the wife
and babies out in front Of it to stop
it's progress with their bodies.
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