56 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



This habit, it was found, invariably diminished the flow of 

 milk at night ; and, in order to learn the extent of the diminu- 

 tion, careful observations were made. It was ascertained 

 that standing in the water an hour diminished the flow to 

 the amount of one quart to each animal. The loss was so 

 great, that, whenever they resorted to the water, they were 

 driven away to the pasture again at once. A draught of 

 ice-cold water taken by a cow in winter cuts short the milk 

 yield for the day from one to two pints. Well-water drawn 

 into vessels, and allowed to stand a few hours covered in 

 the warm barn, has its temperature raised several degrees ; 

 and this practice should be adopted by all thrifty farmers. 

 It would undoubtedly pay well to warm the water slightly ; 

 but this is attended with considerable inconvenience, where 

 large herds are kept, unless steam apparatus is used. The 

 influence of a cold current of air, and cold drinking-water, 

 upon cows in milk, is not of a transient nature : it extends 

 for a longer period than a day or a week. Many fine 

 animals are ruined by careless exposures every year; and self- 

 interest and feelings of humanity should prompt all cow- 

 owners to keep diligent watch over their welfare and comfort. 

 Cows in milk are often greatly injured by rapid driving 

 from pastures by heedless boys and unthinking men. They 

 should never be urged faster than a walk. Gentleness and 

 kindness of conduct towards cows have a wondeiful influ- 

 ence upon the milk-pail, and also upon the progeny of the 

 animals. A bad-tempered, irascible man ought never to be 

 allowed in a cow-stable. A man who will kick a cow in a 

 passion ought himself to be kicked into the barn-yard, and 

 forever prohibited from again coming in contact with the 

 noble animal. The right person placed in charge of a herd of 

 twenty cows which have been badly managed will in one 

 month raise the lacteal products so that the increased cash 

 returns will pay his wages. This is a statement the correct- 

 ness of which has been verified more than once. The new 

 agriculture does not permit of the rough treatment of our 

 domestic animals, so common under the old. There are so 

 many practices which it forbids, that I am embarrassed by the 

 number, and can only briefly call attention to two ^r three 

 most prominent. The practice, so common formerly, of 

 applying considerable quantities of salt to hay in the mow, 



