406 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



for sitting on. A bucket of water and a cloth should be at hand, 

 to either wash, wipe, or otherwise clean the udder and teats 

 before commencing the work, if necessary. The cows may 

 be fed just before, or after milking, as the season of the year, 

 or the habit of the dairyman may be; but the habit, which- 

 ever way, should be regular, always. No noise, or loud talking 

 should be indulged among the milkers. No scolding, fretting, 

 thumping with stools, or otherwise; and if, in refractory cases, 

 some discipline of a restive cow be needed, none other than a 

 light switch should be used for punishment. Mild treatment, 

 and soothing terms in most cases, are more effectual than harsh- 

 ness in making cows gentle. They should learn to regard their 

 milkers and keepers as friends, to love their presence, and confide 

 in their kindness. 



The milk should be drawn rapidly, and with both hands, in as 

 cleanly a manner as possible. Sometimes, if the milker be musi- 

 cally inclined, the cow is soothed and entertained by the droning 

 of a low-voiced song. We have seen an unquiet, and restive 

 one, stand quite still while the milker hummed his tune, when, 

 without it, she would be timid and uneasy; not that it is 

 necessary in usual cases, but we have known such. One person 

 will milk eight to twelve, and sometimes more cows at a time, 

 and the times of milking should not occupy more than an hour 

 each. There is a great slight in this work, and some will milk 

 a dozen cows better, and in less time than another will six. 

 The cows should be taken in regular turn, with the same 

 milkers to the same cows, as nearly as possible, as they both 

 become better used to each other. The times should be as 

 equally divided in the twenty-four hours of the day as possible, 

 and be the division of time as it may, it should be regular, that 

 the udders be not subject to undue distension. System, order, 

 and regularity in milking, has much to do with equable flows of 

 milk, and cows habituated to certain times, yield their messes 

 more regularly in quantity, than when irregularly milked. 



