MODEL FARMS. 



593 



Stable Management. It is some one s duty to look to every individual cow, calf, 

 and bull every hour through the night, from dark to dawn, and at stated intervals during 

 the day. This gives regular employment to one night-watchman, and to three regular day- 

 hands. The stable-men clean out the stalls, cut, mix, and give the feed, clean the cows, 

 Svveep out the stables, turn the cows out to water, feed the calves, etc., under the supervision 

 of an efficient foreman, who, indeed, supervises all the work of the farm, working with the 

 men wherever his labor will do the most good, but in all things following the directions of 

 the proprietor, who takes the responsibility of ordering everything of importance. It is an 

 inflexible rule, that all the animals shall be treated kindly and gently. No shouting, halloo 

 ing, or alarming demonstrations are made; hence they grow up docile and gentle, and the 

 bulls, old and young, have so far proved no exception. 



All the animals are kept clean; the cows brushed or carded daily; their stalls not only 

 cleaned out, but swept out and sanded. The temperature of the stables is regulated by the 

 ventilation in cold weather, and thermometers are hung where they may be conveniently 

 inspected. During the winter it is intended not to allow the temperature to sink below the 

 freezing point; but a temperature of 40 is considered desirable. 



Regularity is a marked feature of the management. Every important daily duty in and 

 about the farm, barns, and dairy has its appointed time. A large, clock is centrally placed, 

 and all hands are held responsible for accurate punctuality. Not only are things done like 

 clock-work, but if anything goes wrong by day or night, the proprietor, if at home, may be 

 at once communicated with by telephone. A signal given at the lower stable, the upper 

 stable, or at the foreman s dwelling, notifies the proprietor at once that his presence or that 

 of the foreman is needed. From his office the proprietor can also summon the foreman, 

 gardener, coachman, or others, at any moment. This is an arrangement which is not only a 

 great security against accidents of many kinds, but a great convenience For instance, if 

 anything seems to the night watchman to be going on wrong in the lying-in stalls, in the 

 horse-stable, or elsewhere anything that he cannot himself manage he has only to leave 

 the animal long enough to give the signal, and he is sure of help within a few minutes. 



The Dairy, etc. Each milkman has his slate to record the weight of the milk given 

 by each cow. With the last pails of milk, these slates are brought to the dairy and delivered 

 to the tidy dairy-woman. 



The milk is set in deep cans in summer, which stand in running water, and are thus 

 kept at an equable temperature; but in winter the o.ld-fashioned shal 

 low pans are used; no seamed ones, however but those struck or 

 stamped from a single sheet. It is poured from the strainer milk- 

 pails, having the usual form, and a fine brass wire-cloth strainer at 



the spout, into a large pail, which is a triple 



strainer an Echo Farm invention, and one 



worthy of being extensively copied. The 



spout of this pail is a four inch cylinder. 



There is a fine brass wire-gauge strainer 



placed over the spout inside the pail. Over 



the outer end of the spout a hoop of tin is 



fitted loosely; and by means of this, two 



thicknesses of muslin are fastened like a 



drum-head over the end. The milk is poured 



into the pans, or deep cans, from the pail, 

 and I must say it seemed as though it was carrying the cleanly hobby rather far, to strain the 

 milk virtually four times; but after seeing the milk of some fifty cows strained, and making 

 a thorough personal examination, I was fully convinced of the wisdom of the course adopted, 

 and that it was in keeping with the other rigid and excellent rules of the farm. 



TRIPLE STRAINER-PAIL. 



CREAM-STRAINER. 



