THE DAIRY QUESTION — OLD STYLE. 



243 



enemies — its tail— and the latter interferes in the least with 

 the milker's comfort, it is greeted with a blow or kick ; or 

 if — because a sore teat is roughl}^ handled, or a fly bites, or 

 a sudden movement or shout startles its already overstrung 

 nerves — it lifts its leg to free itself from its tormentor, an- 

 other kick or bloAv, often on the sensitive bone of the leg, 

 is the result. 



Again, when a young cow fresh from two or three years 

 freedom in the open range is to be " broken" for milking, 

 how is it done, only too often ? Not by kindly treatment 

 and gentle persistence. No, but by driving it into a cor- 

 ner of the pen, lassoing its head and unmercifully lashing it 

 with the cruel " cow-whip" until it is exhausted and stands 

 or lies down in helpless misery. 



We have watched closely, and regret to say that there 

 is all too much of this sort of cruelty being practiced, 

 even where it is unsuspected by the owners of the nnfor- 

 tunate cattle, whose interest and duty should combine to 

 render such an abuse of his property impossible. 



How can such things be? Why, certainly, only by 

 criminal negligence on the part of those who leave their 

 stock at the mercy of dependents. 



If the owner is not able to attend to the wants of his 

 cattle in person, let at least his presence at odd times and 

 seasons in the pen or field act as a check, and let it be un- 

 derstood that the man, woman or child, who is proven to 

 have ill-used the animals under their care will be discharged 

 on the spot. 



Not till the present usual manner of treating the Flor- 

 ida cow is totally changed can there be any decided im- 

 provement in the race. It is this loud shouting, driving 

 and beating that makes them, as they often are, half wild 

 and intractable. 



Wherever it is possible the owner should overlook in 



