—52—
in view of cold weather ahead the retrograde is pushed beyond its own needs and infringes on the quality of the cheese. In their zeal to have the standard just right, I have known old makers to produce a lot of weak October cheese before they realized where the trouble was. Better have a little fullness of acid on fall stock than not enough. "Doctor, why is it that you always buy a late fall cheese for winter family use?" was asked one of the medical fraternity by a factory employee as he delivered a forty pounder at his door. "We have in my estimation far better goods on the shelves made in August and September, and the price is the same." "Well, you see, young man," said the Doctor, pouring some quinine into a vial, "I have a notion that late fall cheese is healthier; the milk is no richer, perhaps, than in September, but the air is cool and pure, and, of course, you know what a debilitating effect heat waves and miasmatic atmospheric currents have on milk. Well, the less poison there is in the air, the less there will be in the milk and subsequently in the cheese, consequently my choice." I believe the man of pills argued in the right direction there, but then there is happily a way of expugning from the curd infections absorbed by the milk from the atmosphere, namely, airing.
The most diabolical enemy of October cheese is the skimmer. In factories where that is unused there is a clear field for developing fine stock, but there is no concealing the fact that all attempts to smooth over the impoverishing effects of its use by the most skilled treatment are futile and unavailing. If all of the good endeavor to make mellow, rich cheese out of substance that is but dross was expended in divorcing the illegitimate union of creamery and cheese factory, incalculable benefit would accrue to dairy interetes.
This month avoid cold draughts through the make-room during the scalding process, as a vat presents a large surface for a current of air to exert a chilling effect upon. Be sure
