THE DAIRY. 201 



done and that loss will follow is equally certain. I am speaking of no exceptional cases, but 

 of those that are of common occurrence wherever any considerable herd is kept, and where 

 the eye of the master is not sharp to detect and punish these offences. The pressing want in 

 the dairy districts to-day is for good, kind, humane laborers, who can be trusted to do the 

 milking in a proper manner. Many of these people do not understand that any particular 

 loss is to follow from a moderately brutal and cruel treatment of cattle. 



I have always advised dairymen to make a special contract with laborers who are to be 

 employed about the dairy. Let it be understood that the moment a cow is maltreated that 

 moment a settlement is to be made, and the party offending to be discharged, with a 

 reasonable deduction from his wages. This, fairly understood at the time of hiring, together 

 with proper oversight of the animals, and those about the dairy, will go far to mitigate a great 

 and growing evil. It is a lamentable fact that there are a large number of ailing milch cows 

 in the dairy districts cows that are not in vigorous health, that fall off in milk, that have 

 sick turns now and then which, if the history of their treatment was known, could all be 

 traced to the causes I have enumerated. A rap upon the spine with the stool has ruined 

 many a valuable beast; a stroke upon the udder has often produced unaccountable cases of 

 garget. 



I wish it could be generally and thoroughly understood that nothing pays better in the 

 dairy than kindness and gentleness to stock. Milch cows should be kept as quiet and 

 comfortable as possible, and no person should be employed in milking that the animals fear. 

 Any undue nervous excitement not only lessens the quantity, but depreciates the quality of 

 the milk. Sometimes cows take a dislike to their milker, and in such cases a change should 

 be made, otherwise there is a liability of the cow falling off in her milk. I have seen several 

 cases of this kind, and although such freaks are unaccountable it will always be found better 

 to change the milker if possible, rather than to attempt to conquer this peculiarity. I do not 

 approve the practice, common with some dairymen, of the milkers milking the cows indis 

 criminately. The hands should each select a certain number of cows, and continue to milk 

 them from day to day throughout the season. 



The hours of milking should be regular, and each cow should be milked in regular 

 order. The milk should be drawn rapidly and to the last drop, and all loud talking, singing, 

 and wrangling avoided. These are little things in themselves, and may seem to many to be 

 over nice; but repeated and well-conducted experiments have convinced me that they are 

 important points to be attended to, and must be observed to obtain the best results.&quot; 



The manner of milking exerts a great influence on the yield. A slow and careless 

 milker will soon dry up the best cow. The milk should be rapidly drawn, and the last drop 

 obtained, as that which is left becomes reabsorbed into the system, or becomes hardened in 

 the udder, and diminishes the tendency to secrete a full quantity afterwards. Harshness in 

 pulling and drawing upon the teat in milking should be avoided. Many cases of garget are, 

 without doubt, caused by this practice. In milking, the teat should be clasped and the milk 

 squeezed out by the pressure, or the ends of the fingers may be pressed upon the milk duct 

 in such a manner as to force out the milk, a slightly upward movement or lift being given to 

 the udder previous to the pressure. The nails of the milker should always be cut short, to 

 avoid injury to the teat. 



Much has been said and written respecting the milkmaids of Holland, and the benefits 

 resulting from their gentle treatment of the cows under their charge. The London Grocer 

 gives an exceedingly picturesque description of them in their attendance upon the large black 

 and spotted cows that are kept in stables scrubbed so clean as to be in contrast with many 

 carelessly-kept kitchens. It is stated that the health of these great, shining cows is guarded 

 with such care that it is not uncommon to see their feet covered with leather shoes when 

 taken to pastures where the soil is damp, to prevent them from contracting a disease of the 

 feet. In winter they are protected from the cold by cotton blankets. 



