HEALTH

NEW HAVEN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Vol. LII, No. 10	October, 1925

This article excerpted from p. 4 of the issue.

One of the essential factors in the production of clean milk is proper cooling and refrigeration. During the warm weather cold in some form should be available for rapid chilling and storing of the milk. Ice is best for this purpose. In many localities natural ice is available and, if properly handled, is a very worthwhile crop. Its harvesting comes during that time of the year when other work on the farm is light. However, as with other crops, preparations must be made in advance for its harvesting. An ice house is essential. This need not be expensive. Most of the material needed is usually at hand. Certain principles of refrigeration must be followed. Farmers' Bulletin 1078, "Harvesting and Storing Ice on the Farm," which may be procured from the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., gives the details of construction of various ice houses. Likewise, methods of harvesting and storing are explained.

The expense connected with the liberal storing of ice, where natural ice is available, is so small in comparison with the benefits derived, that a dairy farmer can ill afford to neglect this crop. At this time of the year, when the farm work is more or less slack, the construction of an ice house in preparation for storing ice during the winter would not be burdensome to most dairy farmers.

The small amount of time, labor, and expense incurred in erecting an ice house will pay big dividends next summer. Lack of proper cooling and cold storage is one of the greatest causes of sour milk and low-grade dairy products. If this matter is presented to dairy farmers in the proper light, it will be much easier to secure their co-operation in putting up this valuable adjunct to the dairy.

Under average conditions about 1^1/2 tons of ice per cow should be stored for cooling milk. This allows for wastage and for use in the home as well.