THE PRACTICE IN WINTER. 299 



so that the milker sits on this side. In West Friesland 

 and North Holland there is an exception to this rule. 

 The cows are tied in pairs in the stalls, and one is 

 milked on one side and the other on the other, the 

 milker sitting with his back to the board partition, to 

 avoid annoyance from either animal. 



When the milking is ended the milk is poured 

 through the hair strainer into the bucket, or through a 

 strainer or tunnel in the cans or casks, whichever are 

 used. The milk is taken to the dairy-house, without 

 delay, in some of the ways already mentioned. When 

 the yoke is used, one bucket is hung on the right side 

 and another on the left, each with a float on the top of 

 the milk to keep it from slopping over. The large 

 metallic milk-cans, with wooden stoppers, are borne 

 home on the cushions already described as being held 

 by shoulder-knots strapped round the waist. The 

 mode of transportation depends much on the distance 

 from the dairy-house and the quantity to be carried. 



In winter, when the cows are in the barn, they are 

 likewise milked twice a day, and the milk is at once 

 strained through the hair strainer into casks made for 

 the purpose. These implements differ according to the 

 object pursued in the dairy; yet pans and pots are 

 mostly used for raising the cream to be made into 

 butter, since but few dairymen make cheese in winter. 



All utensils necessary for milking, the preservation 

 of milk, and the making of butter and cheese, are kept 

 with the utmost neatness. Where a stream of running 

 water flows through the yard, the implements are gene- 

 rally washed in that, and flowing water is preferred for 

 the purpose. But where the farm or dairy-house 

 stands at a distance from a stream, a shallow fountain, 

 or basin, is dug out in the earth, walled up, and so 

 arranged that the water can be taken from it and fresh 



