The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-07-19
PRACTICAL Hints ABOUT ELiIking.

Practical Hints About Milking.
All Ownors Of COWS should thor
oughly understand the principles of,
and be able to perform the operation
of milking as it should be done.
Very many persons, children and
grown persons, set about and are
trusted with the business Of milking
who never perform their part prop
erly, although they may have prac-
ticed for years.
Almost all cows in milk are ner-
vOus animals, if not often wilful.
and in order that You may obtain
all tho milk they are capable of Civ
ing, they must be treated with the
utmost gentleness, and that at all
times. If COW stands in fear, per-
hAps trembling, Of your blows,
kicks, or threats, she will very like
ly withhold her milk; at all events,
it will effect either the quality or
quantity to a greater or less extent.
There are seldom cases requiring
chastisement; more frequently kind
ness, with frmness, will answer
much better purpose. In most cases
where chastisement is administered,
an expectation ola full quantity of
milk will be disappointed
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 com
mencing to draw the milk. During
this operation the milk flows In rap
idly, and all the ducts leading to the
teats are filed completely. The
faster and sooner it is completely
drawn out, with gentlcEsss, the
moro likely on will be to get the
whole. The mixer who sits and
talks, or IN any way delays his bus
mess, will never obtain all the milk
the COW is capable of yielding.
The stripping, to obtain the last
drop, should be done with great gen
tleness, by working the udder some
what in imitation of calf. A per-
son who understands and faithfully
performs the operation of milking,
will cause the COW to yield milk that
will make one-quarter moro butter
than one-half the common grown
persons who do the milking will.
This is a strong assertion, but no
stronger than we believe the facts
will warrant
All beginners should be properly
| taught at first hOlU to take hold Of The
teatS, and when once learned, they
viii remember. This Is seldom ex-
planned or taught to beginners, and
hence each chooses their own mode
of milking. They should be instruc-
/ ted if they would milk with case, the
hand should be kept very near the
extremity Of the tcats, not so near,
however, so that the milk will strike
any part of tho hand or fingers.
They should sit down close to the
cow, not ut 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 off the force and
protect yourself and pail of milB.
With proper handling of heifers
while young and previous to calV-
ing, there Is very lILtlo liability to
have kicking cows. Sometimes a
heifer with her first calf, and even
older cows, get their teats sore,
cracked or otherwise, and this will
cause uneasiness, and often pain
them SO as 10 cause them to kick OF
step. In all such cases, they should
be humored, coaxed, and dealt gent
ly by, and even caressed and fed
some choice bits after milking. II
would be we'll 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, &c.
previous to milking, and again af
forwards. The above mentioned
grease is the best application tho
writer ever used TO soften and hea
cracked and sore teats'on cows.-W
H. White IN albany Country Gentle
man.