412 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



three cows, and makes a cheese every day, that will 

 weigh, when ready for market, 90 lbs., worth six cents 

 a pound at home, or $5.40, besides a liberal supply of 

 milk and butter for a large family. And better butter 

 and cheese, I never tasted; nor did I ever sit at a better 

 table than in this farmhouse — this American farmer's 

 home — Ah, "Home, sweet home," indeed. 



Milking the Coivs. — These are driven from the pasture 

 long enough before night to enable the laborers to finish 

 by daylight, without haste. From the lower yard, about 

 half are driven into a commodious stable, and fastened 

 in a long line by "stanchions," composed of two upright 

 pieces of wood about five feet long, one of which is fast 

 in a sill, and in a girder at the top, and the other move- 

 able so the top falls back to give the cow convenience of 

 putting her head and horns between, and is then closed 

 with a catch, almost as fast as a man can walk along. 

 Cows soon learn to take their places without any con- 

 fusion. As soon as all are fast, the milkers commence, 

 each being seated upon a stool, or chair, with a sort of 

 back attached for the convenience of handling, and a 

 great convenience it is. The milking is done with both 

 hands, as rapidly as possible, as the owner has found that 

 a dribbling milker will deteriorate the best cow in a very 

 short time. As soon as all are done, the first section of 

 the herd are turned out at another door, which opens into 

 the upper yard, and then the second section is brought in, 

 and when all are done, they are driven again to pasture. 

 In the morning, the same course is repeated. 



The Advantages of Stabling to Milk, are, that all the 

 cows are sure to be milked — all stand quiet while milk- 

 ing, and there is no hooking and running one after an- 

 other, and upsetting milk and milkmaid. If it is rainy 

 and muddy, all are sheltered and upon a clean floor, and 

 men and beast are better tempered, and give and get 

 more milk, and save a deal of scolding, much time, and 

 more money ; insomuch that a herd of forty cows will pay 

 for a shelter in one season. Putting in one half at a time. 



