The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-11-10
In the Cow Barn.

that they should have screen doors and
blinds for the windows. A good base
ment, with cement floor, smooth, plas-
tered walls, and ceiling either lathed
and plastered or ceiled with smooth
lumber, is best. Then, with q suitable
trench behind the COWS, there is no
excuse for not keeping the COWS and
their quarters healthy, clean and
sweet.
We have not an ideal barn, but hope
to have soon. In our barn every COW
has her own stall, and is fastened
either with a stanchion or a headstall
halter. | like our stanchions best. All
our cows are brought into the barn to
be MIXED, both winter and summer,
and every COW receives a ration of grain
in proportion TO her needs, no differ
ence how good the pasture or the con
ditions without. This encourages the
kind feeling already existing between
the mixer and the cows, induces the
latter to come from the field and to
hasten into their stalls, and adds to the
profit in the pail.
We let the "boss" stand in the first
stall nearest the door, and the next
best next, and so on. This, however,
is because the COW door is in the west
side of the barn opposite the door next
the house, and our ows stand facing
the north. l milk the last one in first;
then the next, and so on to the first
one in. By this method | I'm never
compelled to sit between two cows at
any time while milking Except in win
ter when we keep them up all the time)
and therefore do not have a COW be-
hind me as well as in front of me,
slashing her tail into my face and eyes
or making a necklace of it, as she will
frequently do if she has a chance, re-
gardless of the filth there may be on it;
and by this method, if any are SLOW in
leaving the barn, the last MIXED will
drive out all preceding her, or if they
90 out promptly as MIXED, the one that
is ''driven by all the others" can go
to the trough and get her drink undis-
turbed while her bosses are being
MIXED, and the next can do the same,
and so on to the last. 1t seems to be
the chief delight of the boss to go to
the trough, whether she wants a drink
or not, and show her superiority by
standing there and keeping the others
away.
We usually strain each cows milk as
soon as drawn so that the mex GOV
may not spill il or get filth into it, and
that no cream may rise upon it until
strained. This we deem necessary that
there may not be any loss or waste of
milk or cream at any time.
The best thing is to have a good
basement stable, such as we have de-
scribed above, and during the day keep
it as dark as possible by closing the
blinds and doors, and the flies will give
it a wide berth, for they, in their nature
directly opposite of many of a higher
order of creation, do not " love dark
ness rather than light" but they
&c come to the light" although their
deeds are evil" Then, keep the cows
up during fly time during the day and
turn them out at night. This will be
profitable in many ways, but especially
in this, that as the stable will be both
cool and comparatively free from flies,
the cows will be very comfortable and
show their appreciation of it by giving
a largely-increased flow of milk.
But every one has not such a stable
as this and may not find it convenient
O ever possible to have such a one
for some years to come. In that case
some one of the following fly washes
will help wonderfully to keep the flies
off and add to the comfort and profit OF
the cow as well as to the peacefulness
of the temper of the mixer: L. Goa
tar 2 parts, coal oil and grease each
part, with a little carbolic acid. 2.
Equal parts of coal oil and fish oil with
a little carbolic acid. 3. Turpentine
l part, linseed oil 2 parts, and a small
portion of carbolic acid.
Either of these should be applied
every three or four days or oftener if it
should for any reason be needed. They
can be applied very readily with a cloth
fastened onto a thin piece of board
or shipgle, dressed to a proper shape.
The horns, zeal the head, and the legs
and feet should be brushed owe with
the wash, as well as the body. The
greatest objection to either of these
\ washes, and especially the first, is that
one is likely to get his clothes as well as
his hands stained and creased by them.
But by using much care, the comfort
rendered the COW and increased profit
will much more than outweigh the OBJ
jections.
Another excellent idea is to get pieces
of burlap, or other thin, strong cloth
o large enough to reach to the very
q head of the cow, down we'll over
her sides and clear back over her tail.
. Then sew together the two parts that
cover the tail, and when this covering
is put on at milking time draw it as far
forward as possible and with a buckle
fasten it around the neck, or with 8
small strap or rope fasten it around the
waist, and you will be surprised to see
the degree of contentment and happi-
ness thereby brought to the COW, and
the peace and quietness brought to your
temper by the little use she will have
of her.tail.
4 But cows will switch their tails more
or less while being MIXED, whether
Z there are flies about or not, in winter
K as well as summer. 1t seems to afford
4 them almost infinite pleasure at all sea
( son of the year to tie their tails around
+ ones neck, or cut him Herewith in the
face and eyes, or slash them into the
milk pail, no difference how filthy they
4 are-the more filthy the more they
n -- - "a I'LL l. :.