THE DAIRY. 529 



by women than by men or boys ; and owing to the greater gentle- 

 ness of women this is probably true ; but by whomsoever the 

 milking may be done, it should be insisted that under all circum- 

 stances the cows shall be treated with the utmost tenderness, and 

 that they shall not be agitated by loud talking and skylarking. 

 Perfect decorum and absolute silence should be the rule of the 

 cow stable ; frolicking, music, and story-telling should be reserved 

 for some other place. 



Bearing in mind the well-known physiological principle that a 

 perfect development of any organ or any function of the animal 

 system is only possible in a general condition of perfect health and 

 normal activity of every organ, much attention should be given to 

 the condition of the animal's hide. The transmission of animal 

 moisture and the loose texture of the skin, which indicate per- 

 fect health, always conduce to the most complete development 

 of activity in the various departments of the organism, and to the 

 best adjustment of the secretion of milk that, under the various 

 circumstances of food, shelter, and individual capacity, is possible. 

 At pasture, cows should be afforded either natural or artificial 

 shelter from the intense rays of the sun, should be undisturbed by 

 rolicking colts, and unworried by dogs. The feed should be am- 

 ple — enough to enable them to fill themselves without undue 

 labor ; and there should be comfortable places where, unpestered 

 by flies, they may chew their cuds in quiet contentment. It is 

 easy, both in the stable and in the pasture, for every element of 

 profitable keeping to be harassed out of the best cow ; and it is no 

 less important to keep her in all respects in such condition as to 

 be able to make the most of what she eats, than it is to give her 

 food enough. 



The question of exercise, especially during the winter season, is 

 an important one j and, in estimating its advantages, we should 

 not lose sight of the importance of maintaining an equal tempera- 

 ture. Many of the most successful dairymen in the country keep 

 their cattle in the stall uninterruptedly, providing water within the 

 building in order that the animals may have no occasion to go out 

 into the cold air. I have in my mind now one well-managed 



