576 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 20, ISO-f. 
WATERING DAIRY COWS.—5. 
Cleanliness is a matter of the first importance in the 
management of dairy cows; it is especially so in winter, yet 
is practically ignored very generally. The term is comprehen¬ 
sive. It includes everything — cows, buildings, litter, food, 
water, and the cowmen too. Who that looks into such matters 
closely has not seen eviden'e of negligence in almost everything. 
Of what use is it for the dairy maid to scrub and scour the 
wood and metal of milk pails if she has to hand them over to 
a dirty cowman for milking cows absolutely reeking with filth P 
The practice of keeping cows tied up in stalls during the winter, 
and only allowing them to go out for water, is most objection¬ 
able. Since writing our last article we have seen some 
so mismanaged, whose coats were already clotted with filth, 
and they were standing in litter sodden and filthy, in most 
wretched plight, about as miserably uncomfortable as they 
could be. The sight is only too common, and is a lamentable 
example of the heedless negligence resultant from custom which 
is so prevalent on dairy farms. 
Let us now see what is absolutely necessai’y during winter 
for the comfort and health of cows. In doing this, necessity 
only must be kept in view, and all fanciful ideas avoided. 
The cowhouse, byre, or milking hovel should be free from 
draughts, well ventilated by louvres, with stalls deep as well as 
wide. We have seen stalls so short that when the cows lay 
down the tails and udders were in the gutter, both becoming 
so foul that a swing of the tail during the milking often throws 
filth into the pail. It is self-evident that dirty udders must 
defile the milk and soil the milker’s hand. We have seen their 
hands presenting a disgusting appearance while milking. 
By having floors sloping gently to the gutter, the gutters 
shallow, wide, and sloping to the outfall, the stalls so deep that 
when the cows lie down they are well away from the gutter, and 
the floors and gutters kept thoroughly clean, there is much less 
risk of defilement. But we only have the cows in stalls at 
milking time and in very rough weather. At all other 
times they are out in the snug yards and open 
hovels. There is, of course, always some accretion 
of filth on tails and coats daily, therefore the cows have 
their coats dressed daily by the washing off of filth, and by 
a free use of the currycomb and brush. They are thus kept 
clean, to the promotion of health and comfort, and of cleanli¬ 
ness during the milking. To this end also a sink with 
water laid on, soap, bowls, and roller towels are provided for 
the milkers, who are made to wash their hands before milking. 
We have seen also long white milking coats used, and like 
them, provided they are kept clean by washing as regularly as 
the towels. There may be a little difficulty about all this 
with the men at first, but the exercise of a little firmness and 
tact soon sets things going in the right way. The master’s 
hand and eye must be there, and he must insist upon the 
same care and neatness for cow and cowhouse as for horse 
and stable. 
It may be asked. Is all this care—this striv’ng for cleanliness 
necessary? It is. Even after the exercise of the utmost care, 
milk that is filtered through sand—as is done in Denmark— 
leaves behind it so much foreign matter, as shows how difficult 
it is to deliver it pure to milk pan or separator. 
The possibility of taint from the cows’ food was shown 
last week with sufficient clearness to induce caution. Jt is 
certain that no taint is imparted by really good meadow 
hay and sweet crushed Oats. It is well to be particular 
about quality, beciuse Oats badly harvested become 
mouldy in the stack, and are then unsuitable for cows. 
Make these the main thing, and be cautious about 
quantity in all such things as silage, Swedes, or Cabbage. 
Carrots and Mangold do not impart taint, but even these 
excellent roots are regarded as additions to the dietary. By 
all means have a mixture of green food and roots, but mix 
with discretion, so as to promote health and yet do no harm 
to the milk. Feed well, keep up condition. Better be without 
cows than to half starve them in winter, and to suffer them 
to become filthy. The care we so strongly advise, though first 
of all for the comfort and well being of the cows, is also clearly 
in the farmer's interest. A healthy, well-nourished cow gives a 
strong, sturdy calf, and affords a good milk yield, or in other 
words there’s profit in it, which is worth remembering, apart 
from the kindly care which mere humanity should prompt. 
WOEK ON THE HOME FAEM. 
Though it is not considered a good root year the crop generally is a 
fair one, and will be invaluable in the first months of the new year. 
Apart from the folding of hoggets on Turnip all roots are being held in 
reserve for hard weather, the abundant supply of magnificent Drum¬ 
head Cabbage being ample to carry us well into the new year. This is 
an invaluable green crop, good for cows, store cattle, and sheep, which it 
has answered to transplant this year, but let it not be forgotten that in 
hot dry summers drilling answers best as the plants sustain no check. 
To have enough Cabbage for three or four months of late autumn and 
winter, and to follow with an equally abundant crop of Thousand¬ 
headed Kale is indeed good practice. Both when well grown are sound 
wholesome food, the Kale being much hardier than the Cabbage. 
Where lambing is timed to begin early in January the ewes should 
now be settled on sound pasture near the fold or lambing yard. Avoid 
much disturbance by dogs, allow no roots to be used, and if the herbage 
is insufficient give trough food and some Cabbage. Chaffed Oat or 
Barley straw, mixed with some crushed Oats at the rate of about half a 
pint per head, will answer very well. But if snow comes, or the weather 
becomes cold and wet, increase the Oat ration by half, and give Pea 
straw in racks. See to it that the ewes have not to search beneath the 
snow for food, that they have access to rock salt, and that there is no 
negligence about the trough food. Perfect quiet is now of vital im¬ 
portance. If there is the slightest risk of alarm by stray dogs use every 
precaution by night as well as day, or irremediable mischief may be 
done. Be on the alert if there is fox or stag hunting near the home 
farm, as much harm is occasionally done by reckless riding through a 
flock. A good shepherd will bear all this in mind, but we desire to 
assist beginners, and a word to the wise in matters of such vital 
importance is always worth while. Sheep are still so profitable that a- 
good fall of lambs is worthy of our best efforts. 
Spbatts’ Almanac. —We have received from Spratts Patentf 
Limited, Henry Street, Bermondsey, S.E., a copy of their Almanac for 
1895. It contains an illustrated detachable sheet for each month of 
the year, with descriptive notes of the subjects pourtrayed. Dog 
fanciers, poultry keepers, and farmers generally will find it particularly 
interesting. It can be obtained from the above mentioned firm if m 
writing a stamp is enclosed for postage. 
MBTEOEOLOGICAL OBSEEVATIONS. 
Oamden Squarb, London. 
Lat.Sl® 32'40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
In the Day. 
d 
"S 
Pi 
1894. 
December. 
1 Barometer 
at 32°, and 
1 Sea Level. 
Hygrometer. 
Direc¬ 
tion of 
Wind. 
Temp, 
of soil 
at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Sun. 
On 
Grass. 
Inchs. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Inchs 
Sunday 
e 
30145 
35-3 
35-2 
N.E. 
41 2 
45-3 
33-0 
48-1 
26-8 
— 
Monday ., 
10 
30 116 
450 
43 2 
S. 
41-1 
47 7 
34 7 
52-9 
34-9 
— 
Tuesday .. 
11 
30160 
45-8 
43-4 
S. 
42-1 
48-6 
41-9 
52 1 
36-9 
0-181 
W ednesday 
12 
30-075 
47 7 
47-0 
s. 
42 9 
50-4 
440 
56-9 
41-0 
— 
Thursday.. 
13 
30-183 
48-9 
46 7 
s.w. 
13-1 
5.*7 
42 8 
54-3 
37 6 
0-079 
Friday 
14 
30156 
49-7 
49-6 
N.E. 
44-2 
50-7 
48-3 
51-3 
46 0 
0-929 
Saturday .. 
15 
29-977 
41 9 
39-4 
W. 
44-9 
48-8 
41-0 
69 6 
37-3 
0-142 
30-116 
44-9 
43-5 
42-8 
49 0 
40-8 
55-0 
37-2 
1-331 
REMARKS. 
9th.—Fog all day, thick in the morning. 
10th.—Fog early ; dull day, with spots of rain at 3 P.M.; fine evening, 
llth.—Overcast early ; fair day, with a little faint sunshine. 
12th.—Rain in small hours; cloudy morning; faint sunshine at midday ; fine afternoon 
and evening. 
13th.—Cloudy all day. 
14th.—0 ntinuous rain from 6 A.ll. to 10.30 P.M., and fog all morning. 
15th.—Bright sunshine from sunrise to sunset; bright night. 
A wet and warm week, but barometer rather above the average.—G. J. SYMONS. 
