The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-09
Southern Dairying.
BY S. P. G.

The amount of sentiment expended on
Blossie Daisy and other gentle-eyed Jer-
seys, Holsteins and Ayrshires can only be
appreciated where one has had the manage
ment OF dairy. City folks usually form
their ideas of it by reading descriptions Of
such places as Mr.. Havemeyer, Mr.. Hewitt's
and those belonging to other wealthy gen.
tlemen. 1t is said of Mr.. Hewitt that he
usually asked his guests, when served with
refreshments, which they preferred, milk or
champagne, assuring them that both cost
him the same. Descriptions of such elegant
establishments usually find their way into
the newspapers, and is it any wonder that
our city brethren are carried away with
the thought of being ideal dairymen9 Just
for place to drive to after the days work
in the city is over. How restful to look
upon the long row Of beautiful cattle stand
ing in their elegant hard wood finished stalls !
Such picture Of contentment, and to
think, too, of the profits arising from this
recreation. Irather think Mr.. Hewitt was
nearer the truth than he had any idea when
he said his milk and champagne cost him
the same. Now these gentlemen are mill :
extravagant establishments without know
ing or caring about the debit and credit
side OF the dairy account. Unfortunately,
there are few of us in the business who
have very much smaller bank accounts to
look after, ard are constantly struggling to
keep things from going long on the wrong
side.
Now here Is something like our daily
routine which makes a picture very differ
emit from that which came into mind while
reading of those refer cd to. First let me
say, IL you have any idea Of going into the
dairy business for profit or to make a living,
right here, take my Twice and go to some
dairyman about Nov. and go to work for
him for your board, if he won't give you
any more, aud will take you at that price.
If you survive the months of December,
January and February and still wish to go
on in the work your success as a dalryman
is assured. A hundred to one YOU will have
quit in disgust before the first month has
rolled by. We milk forty-five COWS twice,
daily, averaging about 81 quarts each
daily.
Work commences at 2:3o in the morsIng
after a cup of hot coffee, bread and butter.
the lanterns in the COW house are lighted and
the milking begins. Five white men per-
form this duty, the milk is taken to the
milk house, strained and bottled off in quart
aud pint jars by woman. One man gets
the delivery wagons ready, and with cart
carries around the feed to such of the cows
as will not give down their milk unless
they are allowed to eat while being milk.
We try to train ours to wait, but some per-
sistenty refuse to give down their milk and
no amount OF coaxing or scolding has adv
effect. An occasional rafting of tinware
and a scramble out of the gutter informs
you that one of the gentle-eyed creatures
has taken umbrage Of being aroused from
her morning nap, or possibly the rough
touch of cold, stiff fingers has caused her
to demonstrate in most vigorous manner,
resulting 10 the loss of few quarts of milk,
the ruin of pail and Gripping man, to
say nothing of the bad words that flow
more freely than the spilled milk. Occa-
sionally we And one of the mixers sound
asleep with his head janlmed into the flank
of some motherly COW. No amount of
proof will convince him that he was
asleep. ., MOI he was only counting up in
his mind how much milk we were going to
be short or over. or he was only warming
up his fngers-scouts the idea of being
caught asleep.
The milking is finished at o'clock, the
two drivers assist in botting off and loading
milk on to the wagons The quantity of
milk carried by each is put down daily
in the dairy house book. In the meantime
other hands havs finished feeding COWS,
calves. etc. Wagons leave by or before g
o'clock and deliver the milk to 1888 custom
ers, scattered over q city Of $4,000 people.
Owing to the speed required to supply so
many the wear and tear on these teams and
breakage of jars is very heavy. Something
is giving out all the while, and keeps us in
an uneasy frame of mind until they return,
which tdey usually do by 9 O'Clock, when
breakfast is served. In the meantime the
men iu the yard have turned the COWS to
pasture, cleaned out the COW house and
ward, sanded stalls, cutters, etc. been TO the
city for feed or anything else needed, mixed
feed for the afternoon and the next morn
ing.
At 10 o'clock the drivers make returns of
cash, tickets, and report any changes or
complaints from customers, then with the
dairy woman wash the jars and place them
upside down on a rack provided for the
purpose. When this is finished the men
wash and grease the wagons, harness, etc. the
women securing the dairy house and cans.
These people now have a rest until o'clock.
At noon the yard men drive in the cows
from pasture and tie them up. At l o'clock
the af ernoon milking commences. and is
finished at $50 Wagons loaded and dinner
served after which the wagons hurry off on
their routes, returning about z o'clock.
when the lars are washed and placed in the
racks. In the meantime the yard men have
fed down all stock, raked out stalls, bedding,
etc and made everything snug for the
night. Supper is now served, and the
dairyman's day ends. BY $50 O'Clock all
are supposed to be In bed and asleep. This