The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-08-01
AGRICULTURAL.
Concerning Milking,

/ have never claimed to be "the
champion mixer" but among the
many different ones l have bad to as
sist ia milking in the last twenty-five
years | have never been beaten as to
time. The importance of milking prop.
erly demands more consideration than
has been given it. l always think a
good mixer is one who quietly and
quickly draws the milk in such a man
ner as to please the COW, and at the
same time have the COW continue to
hold out her mess late in the season.
In the first place, good mixer will
always have a kind word or gentle pat
of the hand, and the COW learns to ex-
pect it, and knows she has friend in
the mixer. No COW will do her best
for the mixer who hits her with his
stool, saying, "Get around there, you
old fooll" How many times we have
heard that, and had Balaam's ass been
present should have expected him to
make some comments. The good
mixer will study the individuality of
the COW. Some cows are so extremely
sensitive that if the teats are grasped
little too quickly they will jump, and
through fear of being hurt will not give
their milk as readily.
My practice in milking is this: First,
/ select the Understanding cows, if
there are any, but l do not long milk
very hard one without cutting the teat.
If there happens to be one more nerv-
Gus than the others, take her for my
COW. AS come to COW No. l q al
ways milk the same cows and in the
same rotatOn) | speak kindly to her,
so as to attract her attention. Sitting
down, take goodsized cloth | keep
for the purpose and carefully wipe off
the udder and teats, reaching under
meath and on the further side so as to
remove any particles of loose dust that
may adhere, Taking my pail between
my knees, take hold of the teats gently,
and the first two or three streams press
firmly, but not too quick. Many times
mixers make great mistake here, in
grasping the teats quickly and begin
jerking away at the time of Yankee
Doodle" After one or two streams
are carefully drawn, the COW finds the
operation pleasing one and is ready
to give her full flow of milk. Taking
the forward teat next to me in my
right, and the back teat from me in my
left, begin firmly and steadily to draw
full streams. | agree with Mr.. Boyd in
having the hand as close to the end of
the teat as possible. | have carefully
watched mixers, and firmly believe
best results are obtained by milking
diagonally-as l have described.
The hands should be frequently
changed, so as to relieve all quarters of
the udder as nearly alike as possible. l
open my hand wide for two reasons, to
relax the muscles of the hand, for by
so doing l can milk twice as many COWS
without firing my hands, and consider
it very essential to frequently slip the
hand up on the udder and gently obtain
all the milk. l never strip as long as
the streams come readily. Toward the
close l reach up on the loosened and
nearly empty udder with my left hand,
pressing the last remaining milk down
into the teat, and with the right quickly
remove it. Going round in this manner
quickly from teat to teat, the udder is
quickly and thoroughly freed from milk,
and there IS no call for any thumb-and-
finger stripping. AS to the matter of
sitting on the right side, it is simply
matter of custom. We could use our
selves and cows to the left side Just as
well.
Just one more point. know from
years of experience that some cows
will not let the mixer have all their
milk, but will dry off prematurely, un.
less they are fed while being MIXED
Finally, study your COW and make up
your mind you can get along with her,
the same as with most people, good
deal better by coaxing than by driving
Josiah d. Smith, IN H0ard'S Dairyman.