MILKING AND MILKING APPABATUS. 223 



advised in every business dairy, as it gives an indication 

 that everything is going on right, or that something is 

 wrong which requires attention. This method should 

 commend itself to every business dairyman. There are 

 sometimes troubles occurring even in the best regulated 

 dairy. 



The principar difficulties in milking consist of holding 

 up the milk, hard milking, leaking of the milk, and 

 spattering of the milk. The first is the most trouble- 

 some, because it is a sort of intangible matter, arising 

 out of the wilfulness of the cow, which is very difficult 

 to deal with. It is usually first noticed at the time when 

 the calf has been taken from the cow after having been 

 permitted to suck. In the author's dairy not a single 

 calf has ever been allowed to suck its dam, and the 

 cows that have been thus trained from birth have never 

 exhibited any desire to let their calves suck. The cow 

 is removed, a few days before her time is expired, to a 

 secluded building, where there are all the necessary con- 

 veniences provided for her safety and comfort, in a roomy, 

 loose stall. Here she is closely watched, and when the 

 calf is soon expected, attention is given so that, as soon 

 as the cow has dried it, tlie calf is picked up and carried 

 away to a pen out of sight and hearing of the cow. Thg 

 cow is then fastened up by her neck^strap to a ring in 

 the trough, in the usual manner, for reasons that need 

 not be particularized. A slop of scalded bran is then 

 given warm to the cow and she is left alone for several 

 hours. By that time she has become quiet and her ner- 

 vousness has gone. Tlie pail is then brought in, and she 

 is milked. If she should try to hold up her milk for 

 the calf no harm is done at this time, because the flow 

 of milk has not come ; but it has never occurred to the 

 writer, in many years' experience with cows, that a heifer 

 with her first calf, and that has not herself sucked her 

 dam, has ever refused to let her milk down at tho fir^t 



