126 BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. [Jan. 



to watering, I think that is a matter which is governed a 

 good deal l)y circumstances. There is something in the in- 

 dividuality of the animal, but a good deal in the habit. I 

 have found, in my limited experience in feeding cattle, that 

 they will acquire habits just as people do ; and I think a 

 great deal more depends upon the regularity of the feeding 

 and watering than upon the number of times they have food 

 or water. I think, also, that the same thing will apply to 

 the process of milking. I want my cows milked about the 

 same time in the morning every day and the same time at 

 niffht. Some of the best farmers in our town milk their 

 cows three times a day, — at four o'clock in the morning, at 

 eight in the evening, and once between. I would feed and 

 water and milk at regular times ; and very soon the cows will 

 become accustomed to it, and expect that at a certain time they 

 will be attended to. Meantime, they are quiet, and spend the 

 time in ruminating or chewing the cud. In regard to water- 

 ing, I will say that I have tried various ways. The last two 

 winters I have watered my cows only once a day. The water 

 comes from wells, and is not very cold. I do not take the 

 trouble to warm it, and think it would not pay to do it. I 

 have tried watering my cows twice a day, and I found that 

 some of them would drink in the morning and some in the 

 afternoon ; but I did not lind that any of the cows would drink 

 any amount twice a day. So I have adopted the practice of 

 watering once a day, and every cow drinks regularly and 

 just about so much every time ; and then they go and lie 

 down, and I do not disturl^ them until it is time to feed them. 



Question. How often do they have salt? 



Mr. GoDDARD. Once a week. 



Question. What temperature of water is best for milch 

 cows? 



Professor Cooke, Will you tell? I cannot. 



Mr. Petekson. You would not like to have your cows 

 drink ice-cold water even in a tight barn, would you? 



Professor Cooke. You just make this experiment. If 

 your cows have been wintered in a warm barn, — not a hot 

 barn, but a reasonably comfortable barn, — along in January 

 just go through your whole herd and set two pails of water 

 in front of each cow, one at the point of freezing and one at 



