192 



ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



than when abused. Systematic beating or abuse de- 

 creases the value of an animal many dollars. The 

 utterly senseless and cruel practice of using checkreins 

 to force horses to hold up their heads in an unnatu- 

 ral- position cannot be too strongly condemned. The 

 checkrein should be banished from all well-regulated 

 farms. 



186. Treatment of Cows. — The cow is very sensitive 

 to ill treatment. One of the dairy experts of this 

 country, after a careful study of milch cows, says: 

 "The elaboration [formation] of milk does not pro- 

 ceed at a uniform rate from milking to milking, but is 

 most active at the time of milking, and is dependent 

 not only upon the stimulus which the milk glands derive 

 from the manipulation of the teats and udder, but upon 

 the nervous condition of the animal at the time of 

 milking. 



"In consequence of this, slight changes in the con- 

 dition under which the milking is done may have a 

 decided influence upon both the yield and quality of 

 the milk/' He says further : " It is my opinion that 

 kind treatment and pleasant surroundings will have a 

 greater influence upon the quality of milk than the 

 kind of food, provided the rations given contain suffi- 

 cient nutrients for the maintenance of the animal."* 



187. Regularity and System. — All animals should 

 be fed and watered regularly, and it is very important 

 that cows should be milked at regular intervals. Most 

 animals form habits quickly, and soon learn when to 



♦Professor Babcock in the Wisconsin Station Report for 1889. 



