528 HANDY-BOOK OF HUSBANDRY. 



the most nutritious character, for the development of the fcetus ; 

 and that they must not be allowed to become so fat, nor to get 

 into such a stimulated and feverish condition as to render the pro- 

 cess of parturition dangerous. 



4. To so feed the stock that the manure heap shall be made as 

 rich as is consistent with profitable feeding. 



The details of the stable work should receive much more atten- 

 tion than farmers usually give them. Above all should every 

 operation be conducted with perfect regularity and system, and in 

 a quiet and orderly manner. Neither boisterous actions, singing, 

 nor unnecessarily loud talking should be allowed to disturb that 

 tranquillity which is more conducive than is any thing else to the 

 successful keeping of milch cows. Not only should all of the 

 utensils used for receiving and carrying milk be kept perfectly 

 sweet and clean, but the stable itself should be kept as clean as 

 a stable can be, should be thoroughly well ventilated, and should 

 be light and cheerful. Food and water should be given by the 

 clock at unvarying hours ; and the hours of milking should be as 

 punctually adhered to as is the dinner hour of the farmer himself. 



These details are often regarded by the farmer as minor and 

 unimportant. Minor they undoubtedly are, but their importance 

 is much greater than is commonly supposed. The fact should be 

 considered that proper attjention to them adds nothing, or com- 

 paratively nothing, to the expenses of the business ; and that 

 even a slight benefit resulting from them is to be passed entirely 

 to the side of profit. But ordinarily the benefit will be by no 

 means slight. Cows fed at irregular hours, spend much of their 

 time in a state of worrying expectancy. Either they eat or drink 

 too little, owing to the short interval that has elapsed, or the 

 sharp edge is taken off of their appetites by too long waiting, while 

 that regular secretion of milk, which ought, in animals of full 

 flow, to accomplish the complete distention of the udder at ex- 

 actly the time when the milking is to be done, is very much 

 disturbed, and the completeness of the secretion permanently 

 injured by too great distention at one time and too little at another. 

 It is generally stated that it is better that milking should be done 



