230 HOME LIFE IN FLORIDA. 



elbow on his own knee, she will very likely be upset or so 

 ''hustled" ascaiust him as to lay him on his back. 



Usually the cow does not seem to object to this energetic 

 attack, but patiently stands as still as she can, chewing the 

 cud and sleepily nodding, though she does sometimes pro- 

 test against it by moving forward a step or two after each 

 thump, and every such action must be followed up by the 

 milker instantaneously or he will lose his share ; for the 

 calf, like its mother, is " a curous critter," and ever on the 

 watch for an opportunity to take possession of the coveted 

 reserve. 



The milker holds the teats, one, two, or three, as it may 

 chance, until he feels them swelling out, then the milk has 

 " come ; " a moment or two longer he waits '' to make as- 

 surance doubly sure," and then, if he is alone in the pen, 

 he springs like a madman to the sliding panel, drops the 

 bars, rushes back and drags the calf forcibly from its 

 mother's side, giving the latter the command to *'go!" 



It is curious how soon both the cow and calf learn the 

 meaning of this summary injunction : the one steps back 

 into the pen with the other cows and the other watches its 

 retreat mournfully, licking its foam-flecked lips the while, 

 but seldom making any attempt to follow its dam. 



Then the milker puts up the bars and proceeds to milk 

 the cow ; no generous pail has he into which the copious 

 white streams go churning and foaming ; his pail stands 

 in a safe corner by the fence or is hung on a hook, and in 

 his hand he holds a two-quart milking-cup — for the Florida 

 milker can use only one hand in the process, the other 

 must hold the cup that receives the milk. He must be 

 ever on the qui vive for unexpected movements, for the 

 cows are not the steady, well-trained animals of the north- 

 ern dairies. There is a difference in them, it is true ; with 

 the steady ' ' old stagers " he may kneel on one knee and 



