Imperial Valley press., 1922-06-07
THE MILK HOUSE
IS PROTECTION
REQUIRED BY LAW
By r. II. BILES,

In California, special house for the
handling of milk and its products is a
legal requirement. This is because
dairy products need the utmost protec-
tion in their production and manufac-
ture to have them marketed in prime
condition. The law demands a room or
house not connected to a dwelling or
any building where stock is kept, to
| be fly tight, and 100 feet from horse
stables, hog pens, manure piles, toilets,
stagnant water, open cesspools, or other
filth. This does not include the milk
| ing barn or corral. The aim and de-
! sire is to have the house close enough
to the milking place so that every
bucket Of milk can be taken inside
as soon as possible after milking. The
milk house may be placed within few
few, say five, of the corral or barn on
! the wind side.
In construction, many points of ad-
| vantage can be gained by observing
the details, and thus much work saved
| in handling milk. The floor is prefer.
able of concrete with one corner low
for drainage, and a wall six to II inches
high all around, except at the door.
Place the sills on this wall and bolt
them down with half of three eights
| inch bolts driven head down into the
cement wall, while soft land projecting
enough to extend through the sill and
nut. A floor Of matched flooring is
good. The frame work can be erected
and the walls placed on the inside of
it, leaving a smooth and easily cleaned
surface inside the house. The east and
npt ,o1. o,l l.
| and south contain as much screen as de-
sired, with flaps for shutting tight dur
ing the winds. This arrangement al
lows the south breeZes to be effective
in summer, and in winter tight wall
faces the west winds. There is no
| reason why a house should not be com
pletely ventilated this way in summer
| and closed perfectly tight during the
dust storms of winter. The flaps are
hinged at the top so they serve as
| shades when open.
Interior arrangement, if proper, will
give maximum space for work in a
small building. The separator should
be placed against the wall opposite the
door with the large tank in the corner
above. This allows funnel for pour
ing milk through the wan from plat
| form outside, which is the most prac
teal and easiest method. With the
| platform between the house and corral
the house is kept about the proper dis
tance from the corral fence. The bay
projection for summing utensils may be
built on the east or south side The
door may be placed where most conven
lent. An engine may be inside the
house if the exhaust is outside to avoid
the Odor, which easily flavors cream.
Walls are required to be whitewash-
| ed every two years or Oftener if nee
essary in judgment of the inspector
Some kind of paint is to be advised on
account of giving better satisfaction in
| cleaning when dirty. Whitewash is for
the purpose Of keeping the walls dis.
| infected, as lime is a good germicide
| A painted or whitewashed interior is q
great aid toward keeping the whole
building clean and neat. Floors and
walls need cleaning often enough to
give the results desired, which is to
protect milk from contamination. Much
work can be saved by guarding against
carelessly spilling milk about the house
The wash water of the floor can be
carried away through an open concrete
| ditch or caught in a large can or recep
tacle placed under the low corner OF
the house. The soil outside and al
| about the house for at least 30 feet
should be kept dry and clean, thus
avoiding foul odors and attracting flies
Skim milk and the cans or tanks used
for skim should be kept away from the
house also on this account. Should the
| soil become foul, lime can be raked in
to the surface and soon eliminate all
odors.