296 THE DAIRY. 



the cow-house than many persons suppose. It should be per- 

 fectly dry, very airy, and comfortably warm. The greatest 

 attention must be paid to the cleanliness of the house; and the 

 management of the cows must in no case be confided to an in- 

 experienced, incompetent, or unfaithful person; and no one 

 should be employed about cattle, of any description, who pos- 

 sesses a bad or ungovernable temper, as cattle require kind and 

 gentle treatment.* 



Milking is a process that requires extreme care and nicety, 

 as the manner in which it is performed is apt to diminish the 

 quantity and impair the quality. During the summer season, 

 cows, if well fed, should be milked three times a day early 

 in the morning, at noon, and just before nightfall and nothing 

 is of greater importance than to have the milk thoroughly 

 drawn from the cow; not solely because that last drawn is the 

 richest, but also because whatever portion is suffered to remain 

 is re-absorbed in the system, and at the next milking a less 

 quantity is yielded. This fact is accounted for on the princi- 

 ple that nature generates no more than is necessary to supply 

 the waste of that taken away. Therefore, if this imperfect 

 system is permitted, the produce of the dairy will be greatly 

 diminished, and the cow, in the process of time, cease to yield 

 her milk. 



The late Dr. JAMES ANDERSON, whose name is intimately 

 and honourably connected with the cause of agriculture, and 

 who for many years was one of its brightest ornaments and 

 ablest advocates, combining scientific knowledge with great 

 practical experience, furnished for the Bath, west of England, 

 Agricultural Society,! a valuable paper "On the Management 

 of the Dairy, particularly with respect to the making and 

 curing of butter." To this day, and in all dairy countries, this 

 paper is considered as of the highest authority: though of con- 

 siderable length, it may be found published entire in the third 

 volume of the Farmer's Cabinet, and also in the Farmer's 

 Register for the year 1S39. The following extracts will give 



* Cows should always be treated with great gentleness, and soothed by mild 

 usage, especially when young and ticklish, or when the paps are tender; in 

 which last case, the udder ought to be fomented with warm water before milk- 

 ing, and touched with the greatest gentleness, otherwise the cow will be in 

 danger of contracting bad habits, becoming stubborn and unruly, and retain- 

 ing her milk ever after. A cow never lets down her milk pleasantly to the 

 person she dreads or dislikes. The udder and paps should always be washed 

 with clean water before milking; but care should be taken that none of that 

 water be admitted into the milking pail. 



+ This society we believe is still in existence. It has been the means of 

 effecting great improvements in the various departments of agriculture, and 

 numbered among its members and correspondents some of the most intelli- 

 gent and worthy men of this country. 



