Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-08-30
How 10 MIN.

Mr.. w II. White, Of South Windsor, o.,
contributes to the Country Gentleman the
following practical hints about milking;
All owners Of cows should thoroughly un.
derstand the principles Of, and be able to
perform the operation Of milking as It should
bedone. Very many persons, children and
grown persons, set about and are trusted
with the business of milking who never per.
form their part properly, although they may
have practised for years Almost oil cows in
milk are nervous animals, If not often will
fol, and in order that you may obtain all the
milk theyare capable Of giving, they must be
treated with the utmost gentleness, and that
at all times liza COW stands in fear PERI r
trembling, of your blows, kicks or threa's,
she will very likely withhold her milk; at all
events, it will affect either the quality or
quantity to greater or less extent There
are seldom cases requiring chsstisement ;
more frequently kindness, with frmDess, will
answer much better. In most cases where
chastsement is administered, an expectation
Of a full quantity Of milk will be disappoint.
ed. The COW should be first brought to a
proper position by approaching her on the
right side, stool and pail ready; place the
stool, sit down on it, and with the right
hand brush the bag and teats clean before
commencing to draw the milk. During this
operation the milk flows rapidly and all the
ducts leading to the teats are filled complete
ly. The faster a1d sooner il is completely
drawn out, with gentleness, the more likely
you will be TO get the whole, The mixer
who sits and talks or in any way delays his
business, will never obtain all the milk the
COW is capable Of yielding. The stripping,
to obtain the last drop should be done with
great genteness, by working the udder some
what in imitation Of a calf sucking. A per-
son who understands and faithfully performs
the operation of milking, will cause the COW
to yield milk that will make one quarter more
butter than one-half the common grown per-
SONS who do the milking will. This is a
strong assertion, but no stronger than we be-
lieve the facts will warrant. All beginners
should be properly taught at first how to take
hold of the teats, and when once learned, they
will remember This is seldom explained or
taught to beginners, and hence each chooses
their own mode Of milking They should be
instructed that if they would milk with ease,
the hand should be kept very near the extrem-
ity Of the teats, not so near, however, as that
the milk will strike any part of the hand or
fingers. They should sit down close to the
COW, not at arms-length away the left arm
should always press against, or be in close
proximity to the leg Of the COW, and then if
she kicks or steps, you can ward of the force
and protect yourself and pail of milk. With
proper handling of hefers while young and
previous to calving, there is very little liza
bility to have kicking cows Sometimes a
heier with her first calf, or even older cows,
get their teats sore, cracked or otherwise, and
this will cause uneasness and often pain them
so as to cause them to kick or step In all
such cases they should be humored, coaxed,
and dealt gently by, and even caressed and
fed some choice bite after milking Itwould
be well to have a pot Of soft grease, from top
of the pot where pork and greens have been
boiled, to apply to soften the cracks, ETC., pre-
vious to milking, and again afterwards. The
above mentioned grease is the best application
the writer ever used to soften and heal crack.
ed and sore teats on cows.