152 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



the teat-cups and mouthpieces are properly adjusted the machine is 

 not injurious to the teats and udder or objectionable to the cows, 

 some even preferring it. 4. The machines are not difficult to keep 

 clean and a high grade of milk is secured when machines are used. 

 If neglected, however, they soon become filthy and are a serious 

 source of contamination. 5. One man running two machines is 

 nearly equal to two hand-milkers. There is a great difference between 

 the number of cows different men will milk per hour. To secure thor- 

 ough milking and rapid work, the operator should follow the ma- 

 chines closely to see that each cow is milking properly. 6. Success- 

 ful milking with machines depends upon the proper fitting of cups 

 and mouthpieces, the operator being sure that each teat is milking 

 before going to the next cow, and thorough manipulation of the 

 udder before removal of the machine. In many cases it is necessary 

 to use a smaller-sized teat-cup during advanced stages of lactation 

 than when the cow is fresh. 7. The operator should be above the 

 average farm laborer in intelligence and mechanical skill. 8. Trou- 

 bles that occur in operating are due more to misuse than to any fault 

 of the machine. (Tenn. B.) 



Milking Machine Experiments. Of the 41 farmers reporting, 

 31 submitted favorable reports either the first or the second time, 

 while 27 submitted only favorable reports. We may consider, there- 

 fore, that we are justified in concluding that 27 out of 41 farmers at 

 the time they reported their experiences, had made a success of ma- 

 chine-milking, while six out of this number had failed. It is evi- 

 dent from the comments made by the farmers that the success of ma- 

 chine-milking will depend largely on the man operating the machine 

 and on his attitude toward machine-milking. If he is willing to give 

 the machine a fair trial and to follow the directions of the manufac- 

 turers he will, as a general rule, foe able to make a success of this 

 method of milking, at least to the extent of approximating the results 

 obtained by good hand-milkers, and perhaps even improving on 

 those secured by general farm help who are often prejudiced against 

 the work of milking. 



The experiences of practical dairy farmers and the results of 

 careful exhaustive trials agree in showing that so far as the machine 

 itself is concerned, the problem of mechanical milking may now be 

 considered solved, although minor improvements in the present ma- 

 chine are needed and will doubtless be made before long. Properly 

 cared for and handled the milking-machine will prove a valuable 

 aid in the solution of the hired-help problem on many dairy farms 

 and will become an important factor in the further development of 

 our dairying industry. (Wis. B. 173.) 



First and Last Milk Drawn. A number of tests were made of 

 the same and of different cows in order to discover the difference, if 

 any, between the first pint of milk drawn from the udder and the 

 pint last drawn. The average per cent of fat in the milk of each 

 cow for a number of days before and after the trial is shown herein 

 for the sake of close comparison. The udders were washed before 

 milking, excepting in a few instances. It was omitted in these 



