Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-06-22
1QttCultutal
MILKING cows.

10 insure the greatest yield OF milk from
a COW, she should not only be well fed and
well tended, but also well MIXED. Now it
is not every man and every maid, who can
squeeze fluid from cows udder, that is a
"a good mixer.
1t is important in the first place, that a
COW S Dag should be clean. For this purpose,
when the animal is stablcl-as they are, or
should be during the winter, on all tarms,and
throughout the year, by many, let the whole
udder be washed with cold water, and imme-
datelJ thoroughly dried with IA towel. The
advantages OF this practice to the health oil
the animal, and the healthiness Of the milk,
are great and manifest; and in this way, too,
we escape the black sediment OF which milk
buyers so constantly complain, and which is
nothing else than small particles OF manure,
brushed from the bag and belly Of the COW
into the milk pail. The hands Of the mixer
by this process become washed clean, OF ne
ceSsity; an operation too generally omitted
by those who consider themselves neat and
careful. This obviutes, too, the supposed ne
cessity Of moistenng the teats by milking
fine stream into the hands and washing the
teats therewith,-a filthy practice, followed
by almost all men, and too many women.
The udder being now cooled and cleansed,
we are ready to commence milking. Ii the
COW be well trained, she will now extend back
ward her hind leg for your convenience with
but word accom- panied with the word OF
command ho,sf" They understand what is
required of them, and need only at times,
gentle reminder. But it is a singular fact,
that men who are kind in every other relation
of lie, as husband, father neighbor and mas
ter-are rough in their treatment of gentle
Glossy" If they say "hoist," it is in sento-
rian tones aud too generally, the first lnti-
nation OF their wishes is conveyed in strk-
ing manner by the edge of heavy milking
stool. Now considerable experience among
the 'lhilking mothers Of the herd" has con-
WINGED us that harshness OF tone, or petty
cruelty is not only productive of bad results
nut is extremely Instantaneous Many
COWS who hold up their milk to ii cross mixer,
will give down freely to one more gentle
And the sack OF grain, or other weight across
the loins, which is well used to compel the
animal to give down, would have been uncal-
led Tor, if kind hand had always drawn her
milk, or could be dispensed with if gentleness
takes hold Of the teats.
Now the cow may kick. Well, we have in
previous numbers OF this Journal shown that
return kick for kick is IL poor method OF con-
verting Mooiey from the error OF her ways,
but she may be completely cured by kind
ness.
When fairly seated, it is of the utmost
consequence that the milking should we done
without violence, and as rapidly as possible
Many persons who pride themselves III their
fast milking, jerk the teats violently, and 9TH
ers will cause them to become sore by the
pressure of their finger nails The best milk
ers scarcely move their elbows, but with the
upper portion of the hand graspng and COM
pressing the teat, force the Jet OF milk by the
pressure OF the lower fingers.
Whether COW should be MIXED before,af
ter or during feeding, is Il question Of minor
importance, and must be decided by circum-
stan, es. r. l.. Allen, in his excellent work
on &c Domestic Animals" recommends if we
rightly remember, that they be MIXED while
feeding for the reason, that while thus en-
gagged they will more readily let down their
milk; but many cows, at other times quiet,
will be little uneasy while eating, and anx-
ious to get not only all that belongs to them,
but a share OF their neighbours meal also. For
this reason we always MIXED before feeding
that the feed might appear as reward OF
merit. Where one has but one or two COWS,
it is of course u matter OF little moment.
In fine, we recommend to those who want
much milk and good milk, kmdness and ctcaa-
inesS -Jouraa' Of Ayr'cuhure.