MANAGEMENT OF COWS IN THE STABLE. 179 



or hardwood sav/dust, as the case may be, and two or 

 three wheelbarrows of dry swamp muck are scattered 

 along the gutter. The cows are then well carded and 

 brushed, and a little hay or green fodder is given 

 them, by which time breakfast is ready. After break- 

 fast the cows are fed in the manner previously described 

 and while eating they are milked. This plan has been 

 adopted as the best in every way, and it certainly tends 

 much to the largest yield of milk. As each cow is 

 milked the pail and milk are weighed on a spring balance 

 hanging in the stable, and the weight is marked down 

 on a slate or a tablet hanging on the wall at the back of 

 the cows. The milk is then strained from the pail, 

 which has a lip strainer, through a separate double 

 strainer of wire gauze with a fine linen muslin stretched 

 over it, into a deep pail. The milk is thus passed 

 through four strainers at one operation, and perfect 

 cleanliness is secured. After milking, if any cow evinces 

 a desire for more feed, an additional supply is given 

 to satisfy her. The system is to give to each cow all she 

 can be persuaded to eat. If any cow's food is not all 

 eaten the fact is noted and the reason ascertained. If 

 the milk of any cow has fallen off or has increased more 

 than the usual small variance from day to day, this is 

 made a matter for inquiry and note. 



In the summer the cows are then let out and taken to 

 the pasture or a grass lot, or kept in the yard, as the case 

 may be, and have as much water as they desire. The 

 yard is always kept clean, the manure being taken up 

 and thrown upon the heap in the center of the yard. In 

 the winter the cows are kept in the stable and remain 

 there until noon, when they are watered. In the hot 

 weather, when flies are troublesome, great care is taken 

 to preserve the cows from annoyance. This plague of 

 flies is very detrimental to the cows, and should be 

 avoided in every possible way. 



