302 



AGRICULTURE FOR COMMON SCHOOLS 



COW has been lying down in her stall or in the field, more 

 or less dirt and dust cling to her udder and the under 

 part of her body. If this is not brushed off, it is sure to get 



into the pail when the 

 milk is drawn. There 

 is also always a great 

 deal of scurf which 

 rubs from the skin 

 and drops into the 

 milk pail. Therefore, 

 before the milk is 

 drawn the udder and 

 the surrounding parts 

 should first be care- 

 fully brushed with a 

 good bristle brush like 

 that used for brush- 

 ing horses. Then a 

 moist sponge should 

 be used to dampen 

 the hair and skin. 

 Sometimes it may be 

 necessary to wash the parts well, but it is better to brush 

 them off well unless they are very dirty. 



The milker should wash and dry his hands before begin- 

 ning to milk and should keep them dry while milking. He 

 should also brush his clothing well before beginning to milk. 

 In many dairies the milkers put on clean white suits and 

 caps before beginning to milk. The milking should be done 

 quickly, so that as little as possible of outside dust can get into 

 the milk. It is sometimes necessary to have a cloth over the 



69. 



AN UNKEMPT DAIRY COW 



Clean milk cannot be produced from cows kept in 

 this condition 



By courtesy of the Illinois Experiment Station 



