78 FARM HOMES, Itf-DOORS AND OUT-DOORS. 



being accustomed to, and content with, small quarters, 

 and will nibble patiently about wherever a little grass 

 grows, instead of hooking down bars or bounding over 

 fences in search of possible better feed ; so that they 

 are not only good cows on general principles, but are 

 particularly good cows for village-families, or for small 

 farm-homes where pasturage is limited. 



For both quality and quantity of milk, for large size, 

 for good beef, and for easy keeping, the Durham stands 

 high in the scale of excellence, and has been widely intro- 

 duced in this country. Allen's Cattle Book says they 

 have been known to give from thirty-four to thirty-six 

 quarts a day on grass pasture only being equal to from 

 twelve to fifteen pounds of butter per week. Mr. Allen 

 thinks the Shorthorn crosses with the native stock prove 

 to be more profitable to ordinary farmers than the pure 

 breed, and certainly they are far less expensive. 



But whatever the breed, rare or common, every com- 

 mon-sense fanner bears in mind that there is almost as 

 much in the proper treatment of cows as in their lineage. 



At milking-time, in the best dairies, the cows' bags are 

 washed and wiped dry before the milk is drawn ; and if 

 the weather is rainy, they are placed in shelter and their 

 flanks and bags rubbed dry, before milking, that no hint 

 of what is called a "cowey" taste may be conveyed to 

 the pails. Milking should be performed m a cheery and 

 vigorous manner. No one is required to sing at the work 

 unless he feels like it, but I've no doubt the " singing 

 milkmaid," who figures in pastoral poetry, gets more 

 milk in her pail than the glum and silent farm-hand 

 who plumps himself down with a crossly drawn out "so- 

 o-o !" and falls to milking as if he hated existence gener- 

 ally and the dairy business in particular. 



It is hardly necessary to suggest that the pails, strainers, 

 pans, and everything belonging to dairy-work should be 

 perfectly clean and sweet. 



