THE ART OF MILKING. 451 



may take shelter whenever they feel uncomfortable either from heat 

 and flies or cold and damp. This shed should be well drained and 

 opening to a warm aspect. 



An animal always cold is always uncomfortable, and a large pro- 

 portion of the food she takes is consumed in keeping up the heat 

 of the body instead of making milk ; warmth is therefore food to 

 the cow, and may be obtained with little cost and less trouble than 

 some other food. Cold and sudden chills are a great detriment to 

 the appearance of the cow, and are frequently the cause of her 

 falling off in her milk so early in the season. So it is in turning 

 cows out too early in the season ; much injury is done by exchang- 

 ing them from a warm yard or shed to pass the night in the open 

 air before the season is sufficiently advanced. 



In proportion as the breed of cattle has improved, so has the ne- 

 cessity of care increased. It is a question of economy whether 

 it is not best to bring cows in at night all through the year, for they 

 spoil much grass, and are not benefited by being in the dewy grass 

 too early in the morning ; and the manure would be in the yard, 

 where it is valuable, instead of under the fences, where the cattle 

 would naturally lie for protection. 



Perfect cleanliness in every part of the cow-house is of essential 

 importance ; the stalls should be kept clean, the walls free from 

 cobwebs and dust, and the mangers clean also. Much of the ben- 

 efit of good food is lost by giving it badly prepared or in uncleanly 

 boxes. The importance of ventilation is very great, but its benefits 

 will be in a measure lost if the interior of the house is not kept 

 clean.- Another point to be attended to is the bedding and littering 

 of cows ; in many cases this is grossly neglected, the animals being 

 kept in a very uncomfortable condition. The long straw as gene- 

 rally used is not economical ; it is most efficient if cut with the 

 straw-cutter. Less straw is required in this form than if used long, 

 and it not only admits of the droppings being hfted easily away 

 without disturbing the rest of the bedding, but it is in the best con- 

 dition for the manure-heap. Sawdust also forms an excellent bed- 

 ding, as do chaff, leaves, etc. 



THE ART OF MILKING. 



Another matter to be attended to, to keep the cow in profit, is to 

 see that she is milked properly. As a general principle, cows 

 should be milked twice a day, and the time should be regular, say 

 at six in the morning and six in the evening all the year round. If 

 after calving, in the early state of milk, it should be found that the 

 bag becomes too full from extreme heat or other cause, it will be 



