Mammal Study 301 



drinking, if the cattle must be turned out of the bam for water in winter; 

 it is far better to have the water piped into the bam, although the herd 

 should be given a few hours each day in the open air. A dog should 

 never be used for driving cows. To be profitable, a cow should give milk 

 ten months of the year at least. Calves should be dehorned when they 

 are a few days old by putting caustic potash on the budding horns, thus 

 obviating the danger of damaging the cow by dehorning. 



In a properly run dairy, a pair of scales stands near the can for receiv- 

 ing the milk; and as the milk from each cow is brought in, it is weighed 

 and the amount set down opposite the cow's name on a "milk sheet," that 

 is tacked on the wall, near by. At the end of each week, the figures on 

 the milk sheet are added, and the farmer knows just how much milk each 

 cow is giving him, and whether there are any in the herd which are not 

 paying their board. 



References — Elements of Agriculture, Warren; Agriculture for 

 Beginners, Burkett, Stevens and Hill, p. 216; First Principles of Agricul- 

 ture, Vorhees, p. 117; Elements of Agriculture, Sever, p. 57; Ele- 

 ments of Agriculture, Shepperd, chapters 15 and 22; First Principles 

 of Agriculture, Goff and Maine, p. 154; Agriculture Through the 

 Laboratory, School and Garden, Jackson and Dougherty, chapter 8; The 

 Dairy Herd, Farmers' Bulletin No. 55, U. S. Dept. of Agr.; Care of Milk 

 on the Farm, Farmers' Bulletin No. 63, U. S. Dept. of Agr. 



LESSON LXVIII 

 The Cow 



Leading thought — Certain characteristics which enable the cow to live 

 successfully as a wild animal, have rendered her of great use to us as a 

 domestic animal. 



Method — Begin the lesson with leading the pupils to understand the 

 peculiar adaptation of cattle for success, as wild animals. This will have 

 to be done largely by reading and asking for oral or written work on the 

 following topics: "The Aurochs," "Wild Cattle of the Scottish High- 

 lands," "The Buffaloes of the Orient," "The American Bison," "The 

 Cow-boys of the West and their Work with their Herds," "The Breeds of 

 Beef Cattle, Where they Came From, and Where Developed," "The 

 Breeds of Milch Cattle, their Origin and Names." The following ques- 

 tions may be given out a few at a time and answered as the pupils have 

 opportunity for observation. 



Observations — i . What- are the characteristics of a fine cow ? Describe 

 her homs, ears, eyes, nose and mouth. Do you think she can hear well? 

 What is the attitude of her ears when she is listening? Do you think she 

 has a keen sense of smell? Is her nose moist? Is her hair long or short? 

 Smooth or rough ? 



2. The cow walks on two toes. Can you see any other toes which she 

 does not walk on ? Why is the cow's foot better adapted than that of the 

 horse, to walk in mud and marshes? What do we call the two hind toes 

 which she does not walk on? Can you point out on the cow's leg those 

 parts which correspond with our elbow, wrist, knee and ankle? Is the 

 cow a good runner? Is she a good jumper? Can she swim? 



