The Portland daily press., 1875-08-09
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
HOw-tO Milk.

At the suggestion of Warbeck will state
briefly the best method of milking. The
first requisite of good milking is that the
COW be kept where her sides, teats, and udder
shall be clean and dry. In the summer,
when cows are grazing, this is easy, but in
the winter, when they are stabbed, it requires
some attention and effort to keep them clean.
But it can, and always should be done with
cows which are MIXED. Some advise the
washing of the udder before every milking.
This is all nonsense, except in accidental
cases. A cows bag has no business to be at
every milking in a condition to require wash
ing, whether stabbed or not. The man who
keeps his COWS SO filthy as to be habitually
subject TO this necessity has failed, not only
in the initial step to good milking, but in the
first essential to neatness in dairying. The
udder of COW is not likely to become filthy
without involving other portions of her
body. If it were necessary to wash her bag,
it would be equally so 20 wash her sides also.
Milk is very powerful absorbent, and if there
is filth upon or near her, the scent from it
will infect the milk, to say nothing of the
danger Of getting filth into the pail.
The next requisite is that she shall be
where she will be comfortable and free from
any annoyance or excitement. This is es-
sential to her "giving down. perfectly. A
cows bag is interspersed with delicate mus
that she can easily contract them and hold
back portion of her milk. There are but
few cows which can long "hold back" the
milk of a full udder, but it is very easy for
them TO hold back whenever there is but lit
tie in the bag, as at the last end of milk
ing; and this they are very sure to do if
there is anything unusual to disturb or ex-
cite them, as loud talking, being MIXED by
stranger, or even his presence. had my dali
n fyua nfu foil CT, Arf ~, as. x:all
pailful of milk several times one summer
simply from a neighbours dog following into
the milking barn when I was milking, nv
COWS not being accustomed to the sight of a
dog.
Assuming that the COW and her bag are
clean and dry, and that she is comfortable
and quiet, the mixer should sit down gen.
tly ON firm stool, and with light and
careful motion brush the teats, udder and
side OF the COW next to him, to free them
from any specks of dust or dirt or hairs that
would be liable to fall into his pail. A tin
pail with the top wider than the bottom is
the best vessel to milk in. Let this be held
firmly between the knees, with the bottom
resting on the ANGLES, as this is the safest
and best way to hold pail to protect it
against any sudden motion CT the COW. If
the bag is much pendant, and the cow is very
gentle, there is no objection to setting the
pail on Inc SrOunu. Let Inc mixer now
grasp the teats with his whole hand, and by
firm and rapid but steady pressure crowd
the milk out by closing the fingers next to
the udder little liz advance of those below,
being careful not to hurt the COW by pinching
her teat between the ends of his fingers and
ms hand, or by pressing his fnger-nails into
lne Ieat as his hand is closed. Milk the left
nlna ieat with the right forward one, and the
!lgbt hand with the left forward, always hold
my Tue ieit wrist firmly so as to be ready ia
stanti y to crowd the cows leg back if she
should attempt to kick or step Suddenly for
ward. The milking should always he done
with dry hands, both on account of ceani.
ness and for the sake of keeping the tea ts in
good order. II the teats are too drv and IN; ~
clined 10 crack, they may be wet after r"u milk IL
ing with little of the strippngs, or with .
little linseed oil or other soft grease. wy The @
hands should press alternately, and not both
at once; and when milking is once begun if
should go on as rapidly as it can consistently
with the comfort of the COW and the strength
OF the operator, and without any cessation
until the milk is all drawn, otherwise the COW
will get out of patience and hold back the
best part of her milk.