Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-10-22
agricultural.
The Philosophy of Hilking.

The IN auipuatl0ns IN milking are best
learned by pi actice. But there is philosophy
in milking, well as III everything else, and
a right and a wrong way OF doing 1t, and be-
cause the right way is the best it snould BE-
pointed out and followed. HoweRer plain
and SIMPLE the AIT of milking COW may be
considered, the particular manner in which
it is d ne may have much to do in modityiD
the profits of the dairy.
i description of the internal structure o
the udder will explain the reason Tor certein
directions insisted on as essential, which
might appear unimportant. The udder is
divided into four paris, entirely distinct from
each other, except as they are held together
by membranOus hgaInents.
The milk III each is held in cor fluent tubes
which, ike the roots Of tree, are all cor-
tracted into one, just above the teat the milk
entering that funnel-shaped organ by sin
gle channel. just at the upper end OF tie
Il at the walls oil this channel are contracted
and he contraction is surrounded by band
of muscular fbres. Tie will OF the cow can
operate ON this band, contracting or expand
ing it at pleasure, making 1t operate ike ii
valve. AT the Junction OF each smaller tube
with large one, is d similar cODtrac ion and
bind, also under the control of the will Or
neck OF the bIadder) SO that the m'lk has to
crowd It's way through them to get FROM tie
smaller into the larger tubes.
This is an admirable arrangement for sus
tanning the weight OF the milk equally IN al
parts Of the udder, and preventing 1t from
pressing heavily upon the teats.
When the udder is full, 1t the milk is
drawn out OF the teats, relieving the press
ure IN them, 1t requires vigorous etf,rt OF
the will OF the COW, to prevent the pressure
above from crOwdIng the mix down to fill
the vacancy. If the udder is only partly
filled, she can hold the mIk back more east
ly; and the less there Is ID it, the more east.
Iy Can she maintain the tension OF the mus
GUAR bands necessary to prevent entirely the
mix from HURIng through them When the
mixer first takes bold o the teaIs and begins
to milk, the excitement causes the cow to
contract the bands So firmly to hold back
the milk perfectly for IA time But presently
this vigorous Contraction " Ill begin TO slack
en-, and the milk will begin TO pour through
and If all Is quiet, she will relax the bands
fully, when the milk all settles down non
the teats, and il quickly drawn, IL can be ali
mi ked out to the very last drop.
But this perfect reaxati0n Will only last
for hort time. L the milk is not soon tx
tracted, she Will begin to tighten up tue
muscular bands again. and the last part o.
her mess will be held back and permanently
retained, WHEN the mixer probably thinks
he has got it all, because it stops coming. a
COW should, therefore, be MIXED quickly ar
well as quietly. 1t Is natural Tor her to pal
with her milk in a few minutes, and a mi h
er should come as near that time possible
If the time Of milking Is much prolonged
no vi baaorno nd 10
give down y perfectly. The quickest milk
er gets the most milk, because lie .. is ali tht
''strippings," which are the rich st part.
The more quiet and peaceable the cow
can be kept while being MIXED the more
perfect will be the relaxatlOa OF their udder,
and the longer will 1T last. Ii any tnIns
occurs to disturb or excite or attrac
their attention, the relaxation will ceas
IN moment, and il it occurs near th
close Ut the milking, some OF the best mill
Will be Leld back TIL the next milking, whel
1t Will have become the poor, blue milk tina
Is hrst drawn. double loss eneues from ev
cry such occurrence, btcause leaving mill in
COW bag always tends to diminish secretion
The method OF milslng and keeping I'll
COWS should be III accordance with the fore
gong facts. They should be kept as que
and comfortable and iIee from excitement a
possible. 10 accomplish this, regularity
OF the first Importance, The COWS shout
come slowlya nd peaceaDly INTO the barn %
yard, but promptly at certain hour. Fy
10 the morning and five at night are goo
hours. Some milk at five In the mornl 10,
and seven at night, but 1t is not ST. we'll t
divide the time 0 IN, qualiy. Observable
have shown that milking II hours apart vii
give 80 pounds OF cheese to the COW, in
season, more than when they are 10 and L
hours apart; and a greater inequality Wi
make more difference STILL
An hour is long enough to keep the he,
confined, and mixers enough should be EN-
ployed to complete the work in that time
Tins will REQUIRE one hand TO about 10 COW
and that number is about as many as one ca
safely milk at a time without danger OF IN
jury to the hands OF the Id ker OF 10 the CO
The number had better be less than more
Each mixer should have certain cows I
milk, and he should mink the same ones j
the same order, SO as to DIVIDE the tin
equally. Changing mi kers attracts the a
tenslOn OF the Cow and exeltes little leelin
OF cautlousness, and she does not u,
down as per ectly when always mixed b
the same person.-Cd Farmer.