Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/106

88] difficulty. For the same reason, when cows are ticklish (as farmers express it), they should be treated with the most soothing gentleness, and never with harshness or severity. If the udder be hard and painful, it should be tenderly fomented with luke-warm water, and gently rubbed, in order to bring the creature into a good temper.—Thus, she will suffer the milk to flow without restraint; whereas, if she retain, and not allow it to be drawn off freely, it will prevent her from yielding the accummulated quantity, and eventually dry up her udder. When a cow has been milked for a series of years, and begins to grow old, the most advantageous mode that can be adopted, will be that of making her dry. To effect this purpose, a correspondent, in the 21st vol. of Annals of Agriculture, directs six ounces of white resin to be well pulverized, and dissolved in the evening in a quart of water; and at the same time to house the cow. On the following morning, she should be bled and milked, when the liquid is to be administered, and the animal turned out into the best grass. After these preparatory measures, she ought no longer to be milked, but may be fattened with any of the vegetables already pointed out, under the articles, , and.

With regard to the cows intended for breeding, care should be taken to select those which give abundance of milk. For about three months previously to calving, if in the spring, they should be turned into sweet grass; or, if it happen in the winter, they ought to be well fed with the best hay. The day and night after they have calved, they should be kept in the house, and no cold, but luke-warm, water allowed for their drink. On the next day, about noon, they may be turned out, yet regularly taken in during the night, for three, or four successive days; after which they may be left to themselves. Every night, the cows thus housed should be kept till the morning cold is dissipated, and a draught of warm water given them previously to their going to the field. Without this precaution, they would be apt to slip their calves; an accident which, independently of the loss it occasions, cannot fail to weaken them considerably. Where this is the case, and a cow begins to grow old, the most experienced farmers generally cause her to be spayed; and after keeping her two or three weeks from the cold, turn her into pasture. Such practice, if properly attended to, may be of considerable advantage, as the cows thus treated will thrive exceedingly, and soon be fit for sale.

Having already mentioned the advantages of soiling and sweating (see ), we shall only add here, that in the management of cows, a warm stable is highly necessary; and if they be curried in the same manner as horses, they not only receive pleasure, but will give their milk more freely. Farther, cows should always be kept clean, laid dry, and have plenty of good water to drink; in consequence of which, they will produce both more milk, and afford a quantity of rich dung, that will amply repay the trouble and attention bestowed upon them.

Cows are liable, in common with other cattle, to the (which see), and various other diseases (see ), but more particularly to a stoppage, that  casions