Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-07-28
Milking the Cows.

this subject, and the editor thus alludes
to the matter: "Read the article on
Milking the cows in this issue. The
writer, one of our most prominent citi-
zens, deserves the thanks of every lady
in the land, and more so, as he prac-
tees what he breaches. 1t is needless
to add that he and his wife love each
other as tenderly as they did the day
they first plighted their faith and that
theirs is happy family. If we ever
get a wife, we expect not only to do
the milking, but help our sweeter half
wash the dishes after supper, or atleast
hold the light and talk to her whilesh
washes them"
Here is what the writer has to say
on the subject of milking, and we ear
nestly commend his views to all readers.
No farmer can get a good supply of
milk who does not have his COWS prop
erly and kindly attended to during the
milking process.
This article is written with the ex-
pectation that it will be read, and if
you don't read it, it will be because
you are afraid your toes will be stepped
on and you made to acknowledge the
"corn."
Whose duty is it to milk the cows?
Certainly not our mothers, wives or
sisters, but the duty belongs to the
male, and will try in this article to
tell you why. In the first place, a
man or boy has more strength in his
hands, a better grip, and can handle
the COWS better. 1t is perfect shame
for the ladies to go to the COW pens
when the weather is bad. They general
ly get their dresses soiled, and as they
generally wear thin shoes, will get their
feet damp, while the men and boys can
put on their heavy boots and rubber
overcoats and attend to the duty with
out getting wet. There is plenty of
time in the morning to milk while the
wife is getting breakfast ready, and
you need not say that you are tired at
night, and cannot milk, for while you
have been blowing Or at work all day,
your wife has not been idle, for the
cooking and household work and at
tending to the many wants of the chill
dren, has kept her busy, and you had
rather pillow six days than to attend to
her duties one, and you have been out
in the open air, while she has been con-
fined in the house; but no use in stat
ing all these facts, for they are patent
to any one. What | want to say is
that if you have been in the habit of
holding the calf while your wife milks,
stop it; tie the calf with stake.rope
or keep him off with stick, and let
your wife stay in the house.
If you have sons and daughters,
make the boys milk. I've heard men
say 81 can't milk" Do you know
why? Because you don't want to. OF
course you could learn if you wanted
to-your wife can show youin ten min.
utes how, and if you want to know
will tell you; grasp the teat firmly
with the thumb and forefnger on the
upper part, and with the other fingers
press with motion down the milk
out. When you first grasp the teat il
you will try to prevent the milk from
passing back into the bag and with the
whole hand press down, the milk will
flow freely, then relax the teat, when
it will fill again.
Many men are so accustomed to their
wives and daughters milking that they
think it right for them to do so-that
is the way their mothers and father;
managed but that argues nothing.
tell you that men and boys should milk
the COWS. Many time have | seen
poor woman milking and the man
holding the calf off, and when she had
finished she could hardly straighten up
The weather in this country is SC
changable, and often facilitating, that
many times it is not suitable for wo
man to be exposed, and yet have seer
men sitting by the fire in rainy weather
with their boots on, and their wives a
the COW pen milking.