The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-07-19
Chorus
FARM ANp GRANGE
How to Milk.


state briefly the best method OF milking.
The first requisite to 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 kept graz
ing, this is easy, but in the winter when
they are stabbed, it requires some atten-
ton and effort to keep them clean. But
it can, and always should be done with
cows which are MIXED. Some advise
washing the udder before every milking.
This is all nonsense, except in accidental
cases. A cows bag has no business to
be in condition at every milking to re-
quire washing, 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 a
cow is not likely to become filthy without
involving other portions of her body. If
it were necessary to wash her pag it
would be equally necessary to wash her
sides also. Milk is a very powerful alb
sorbent, 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 shall be comfortable and free
from any annoyance or excitement
This is essential to her "giving down.
perfectly. A cows bag is interspersed
with delicate muscles so much under the
control of her will that she can easily
contract them and hold back a portion of
her milk. There are but few cows which
can long "hold back" the milk of q full
udder, but it is very easy for them to
hold back whenever there is but little in
the bag, as at the last end OF milking );
and this they are very sure to do il there
is anything unusual to disturb or excite
them, as loud talking. being MIXED by a
stranger, or even his presence. l had
my dairy of twenty cows fall short in
their yield pailful of milk several times
Z one summer simply from a neighbours
dog following into the milking barn
when was milking, my cows not being
accustomed to the sight of dog.
Assuming that the cow and her bag
are clean and dry, and that she is CON-
Portable and quiet, the mixer should sit
down gently on firm stool, and with a
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 be-
tween the knees, with the bottom rest
ing on the ankles, as this is the safest
and best way to hold pail to protect it
against any sudden motion of the COW.
II the bag is much pendant, and the
cow is very gentle, there is no objection
to setting the pail on the ground. Let
the mixer now grasp the teats with his
whole hand. and by firm add rapid but
steady pressure crowd the milk out by
closing the fingers next to the adder 4
little in advance of those below, being
careful not 10 hurt the cow by pinching
her tsat between the ends of his fingers
and his hand, or by pressing his finger
nails into the teat as his hand is closed.
Milk the lett hand teat with the right
forward one. and the right hind with the
left forward, always holding the left
wrist firmly so as to be ready instantly
to crowd the cows leg back ii she
should attempt to kick or step suddenly
forward. The milking should ALWAYS
be done with dry hands. both on ac-
count of cleanliness and for the sake Of
keeping the teats in good order. If the
the teats are too dry and inclined to
crack, they may be wet after milking
with little of the strippings or with q
little linseed oil or other soft grease.
The hands should press alternately and
not both at once; and when milking is
once begun it should so on as rapidly as
it enthusiastically with the comfort Of
the cow and the strength of the opera
tor. and without any cessation until the
milk is all drawn, otherwise the COW
win get out Of patience and hold back
the last part of her milk.
The milk in the uddsr is contained in
branching tubes and numerous small
cavities distributed through it, the tubes
coming together Just at the upper end
of the teat, and forming . CONSTRUCTED
channel, which is inclined to keep closed,
and is nearly equiyolsnt toavalve. To