10 A Xczi' Dairy Industry. 



that towards the end of the lactation the percentage 

 of solids and of fats grows. With reference to the 

 time of day at which it is drawn, it is generally con- 

 ceded that in barn feeding the quantity of morning's 

 milk is larger than that of the evening's milk, but 

 that the latter is richer. 



Spaying, the removal of the cow's ovaries by a sur- 

 gical operation, has the effect to prolong the period 

 of lactation, in some instances which are on record 

 for a time of three years running, and upward. The 

 length of the period of lactation is one of the most 

 important factors in judging the value of a cow, but 

 for obvious reasons castration should only be executed 

 on such animals as by nature are arriving at the close 

 of their remunerative career or of their generative 

 functions. 



From the foregoing we should receive the impres- 

 sion that the udder of the cow is a valuable machine, 

 one whose handling should be thoroughly understood 

 by every person — male or female — called upon to 

 A\ork it. Where is the wisdom of spending a large 

 sum of money on a superior cow if her udder is to be 

 handled by an ignorant and careless milker? In 

 ever}- other trade we expect from the workman, 

 and even from the apprentice, an exact knowledge 

 and familiarity with the tools he uses and with the 

 processes embraced in the application of his trade. 

 The average farmer or dairyman, however, seems to 

 be an exception to this rule, if we may judge by the 

 lack of knowledge he possesses as to the physical 



