THE DAIRY COW. 123 



alluded that would exist in the tropics. It is almost as hard 

 to make butter in Vermont in August, as it would be in 

 Louisiana. The condition of the climate, the condition of 

 the feed, the condition of the animal itself, are such, that the 

 processes of the dairy can hardly be carried on, and it is the 

 mean temperature of early summer and of early autumn, in 

 the latitude of which I have spoken, which is peculiarly 

 adapted to the production of milk, butter, and cheese. Now, 

 we live in that latitude, we live in that belt, and to us espe- 

 cially it is of the first importance to develop, as far as we can 

 possibly, some definite laws in regard to this business. 



I conceive, therefore, that there are two laws which can be 

 laid down, if I can express them definitely, that may possibly 

 guide us in our work. In the first place, the condition of the 

 animal economy. A perfect condition of the animal economy, 

 not pinched by cold, nor weakened by intense heat, is neces- 

 sary for a good dairy. Take a cow in the month of June, — a 

 cow adapted to the dairy, — and her physical condition is 

 entirely in accordance with the physiological processes going on 

 to enable her to eliminate from the food she takes the largest 

 and richest amount of milk. There is no portion of the animal 

 economy so sensitive as that which a dairy cow employs in 

 the production of milk. There is none so easily affected by 

 heat ; there is none so easily affected by cold ; there is none 

 so easily overthrown by accident ; there is none so easily 

 destroyed by excessive muscular exertion. The fat-producing 

 functions or organs of the animal generally, perform their 

 duties with perfect ease. They are those organs which enable 

 you to fatten a hog at almost any season of the year. They 

 are those organs which enable you to raise Shorthorn beef 

 readily. A cold day, or a hot day, or a thunder-storm, does 

 not affect a Shorthorn bullock in the manufacture of beef; 

 nor does it affect a Suffolk pig in the manufacture of pork. 

 But the organs which a dairy cow uses in the manufacture of 

 milk are so sensitive and so nicely balanced, that a thunder- 

 shower suddenly coming up will throw them out of gear ; 

 exposure in a hot day will affect them ; a north-east storm 

 will affect them; a blow struck by a harsh attendant will 

 affect them ; a bad, stupid, or blundering milker Avill almost 

 destroy the capacity of a dairy cow. I say this to show you 



