212 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



May lOtli ; from May to early in September, grass alone ; from 

 September to midwinter, corn, sowed broadcast for forage, and 

 carefully cured in the sap or when green. When that was 

 expended, carrots and pumpkins to the time of their exhaus- 

 tion ; and then, say the first of February, he commenced on 

 this mixed provender, and continued it, w4th hay, to the 10th 

 of May. 



Milking the Co%vs. 

 No one but a careful observer is aware how much there is in 

 the mere milking of a cow to make a good yield of milk. One 

 of the greatest requisites is gentleness. A harsh, rough hand- 

 ling by a coarse man or a coarser boy will pinch a cow's milk 

 almost one-half. The cows, then, should have a gentle milker. 

 If you have a hired man who kicks or cuffs them, or swears at 

 them, discharge him at once. Then she should always, if pos- 

 sible, have the same milker. She should be milked as quick as 

 gentle usage will permit, and, in rough weather, always in the 

 stable, with some food before her. And, lastly, she should be 

 milked at regular hours. Going home to milk one night at 

 five o'clock and another at seven, and so on, will do very much 

 to diminish the milk of any cow. 



Carrying in the Milk. 

 It is better, if convenient, to have some one to carry in the 

 milk when you have a herd sufficient to furnish a number of 

 pailfuls. To stop in the middle of milking for any purpose will 

 cause the milk to cease flowing. Then it should be strained 

 into a large can ; and, when you have strained in the whole 

 mess, it should be well stirred with a ladle till the foam disap- 

 pears. The foam impedes the rising of the cream, and the stir- 

 ring is necessary, as the milk of some of your cows will require 

 more time to separate than others ; but, if stirred, you will not 

 have to watch each separate pan. When the cream is ready on 

 one, it will be ready on all. 



Setting the Milh. 

 The best-sized pan is one holding about seven quarts, with 

 flaring sides and large diameter. In hot weather, put about 

 two and a half quarts in a pan ; in cold weather, three quarts. 



