544 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



culvert external to the sheds. By these means any defect that 

 may arise in the drains is prevented from affecting the sanitation 

 of the milking-sheds. These sheds are used solely for milking, 

 so that they are only occupied by the cows for a short period 

 twice a day. The rest of the day the animals spend elsewhere. 

 In summer and in mild weather they are in the meadows ; while, 

 in winter, they are cared for in specially constructed winter 

 quarters. These may be described as large yards roughly 

 covered in to protect the animals from the inclemency of the 

 elements while securing for them plenty of fresh air. 



The cows are selected with great care so that a milk may be 

 obtained which is most suitable for the purpose of infant feeding. 

 Jerseys and Guernseys, for example, are strictly excluded, 

 owing to the fat-globules of their milk being excessive in size 

 and insufficiently discrete. Various other factors are carefully 

 considered, such as steadiness of yield, quantity of milk pro- 

 duced per diem, etc., etc. The closest scrutiny is kept upon the 

 actual work done by each cow as a milk-producer. This point 

 is of the greatest importance in relation to both economy and 

 efficiency. A cow, for instance, may yield a good quality of milk 

 as regards purity but one which is low in total solids and the 

 amount of milk she yields per diem is below the proper amount. 

 In such a case, when the cow is in good health, it will generally 

 be noticed that the cow is increasing in weight ; in other words 

 she is producing beef instead of milk. 



This question, which is one of prime importance, as a 

 matter of fact, is almost entirely neglected by farmers. It has 

 amused the writer on many occasions to hear the farmer 

 lamenting the fact that milk-production yields little or no 

 profit, when the most casual inspection of his herd was sufficient 

 to show that he had hardly a single efficient milk-producer 

 in it. If the average farmer is asked what quality of milk a 

 given cow is producing, i.e. what is the amount of fat and of 

 albuminoids in her milk, his only reply is a vacant stare of 

 astonishment. Of course the absolute want of knowledge 

 of essential matters directly connected with proper manage- 

 ment has a direct bearing upon the breakdown of the milk- 

 supply. If ignorance be the mother of all evil, then there 

 cannot be much doubt as to the cause of the condition of the 

 general milk-supply — the average milk-farmer is gloriously and 

 magnificently ignorant. 



