The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-04-22
A FINE DAIRY FARM


Many of our readers are doubtless
familiar with this farm, but for the
benefit of those who are net we shall
attempt brief description, such as
one who lays no claim to being a
farmer might attempt. The farm is
$50 acres in extent, as we have said,
all in one body, level sandy loan,
with natural slope from the front
to the rear Of the whole estate. The
fields are we'll fenced and sufficiently
large to permit the employment of
tractor or other advancedlrlethods
of tillagc. A small piece of second
growth timber on the back end of the
farm affords shade for cattle in the
hot days of summer and rounds out
in just the proper way an almost
ideal tract for dairy or stock farm
ing.
Having thus briefly described the
farm itself, let us take up, for little
while, the buildings. The farm
house is spacious and substantial,
affording room for the lather num-
erous helpers who might reasonably
be expected to be requisite to so ex-
tensive a business. But the barns
certainly deserve more than the pas
sing notice we have given the house.
Many an observer has remarked the
fact that the average farmer pays
nre attention to his barns than to
his house, and this certainly is defen-
sible, if true. 1t is defensible be-
cause the barn is part of the bus-
ness equipment of the farm and must
he had in order to provide for the
home. But to get back to the mat
ter at issue The barns on this farm
are large and well built, with
two big silos attached, capable of
holding so or so tons of ensilage.
But it is to the quarters that have
been provided for the dairy herd
that we would particularly call at
tention. This structure is about 40
by 120, ground measurement, and is
up to date in every respect. The
floor is constructed of cement and
the stalls and stanchions of iron,
making it possible to care for the
cattle in the most cleanly manner
and with the minimum Of labor.
Each stall is provided with an auto
matte drinking fountain so that the
animals can have an abundance of
pure water at all times, operating the
fountains for themselves, and it is
interesting to see how easily they
do it. At the time of our visit there
were about forty cows in the stanch-
icns, twenty-siX cf which we've CIV
ing milk. The average of milk pro-
duced is from 1000 to 1900 lbs.
daily. Tie cows are for the great
er part selected grade Holsteins, but
il is the purpose of Messrs. Selby e.
Daily to develop herd of pure bred
Holsteins as soon as practicable.
For this purpose they have already
laid the foundation by purchasing
several fine thoroughbred cows, the
progeny of which will be used in the
furtherance of the plan. At the
time of our visit one cf the pure
bred cows was being tested offici-
ally, a representative of M. A. C.
being present for that purpose.
This COW was being MIXED four
times daily, giving a good, big pail
full at milking. We ought to give
due credit, at this point, to Allan
Daily, who supervised the feeding of
this COW, and who is rapidly develop
ing into a successful and scientific
feeder and breeder of dairy cattle.
We may say, too, that where indi-
vidual animals are selling for one
hundred thousand dollars and better
il is easy to see a promising future
in the avocation which Allan has
taken up
Clio people, especially, will be in
terested in brief description of the
equipment and methods used in car
ing for the milk which is brought to
their doors by the Selby-Daly Dairy
Co. The milk house was especially
constructed for the purpose which
il serves. 1t is neat and commo-
dious building, having cement floors
and perfect drainage, so that it can
be kept in a sanitary condition at all
times. 1t is provided with hot and
cold running water. There is a pat
ent cooler for removing the animal
heat from the milk as soon as it is
produced, also patent washer
for cleaning the bottles as they are
returned after use, and sterilizer
in which they are treated with live
steam before being refilled. The
other apparatus is entirely of metal
construction and of approved sani-
tary type. To sum it all up, this
plant in its entirety is ideally
equipped to produce the very best
milk for the use of its patrons.
Finally, we want to pay a little
tribute to the proprietors of this
dairy for the conscientious manner in
which they are endeavoring to serve
the public. 1t is more than possible
they could make more money by de-
voting their acres and efforts to
some other purpose. Certain it is
their present enterprise is one re-
quiring extraordinary care and lab
htrf Al