THE MUSIC OF THE MILK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 261, 4 November 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE MUSIC OF THE MILK.

The principal of Cirencester Agricultural College, in advising farmers of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, on milking methods, said that cows liked human company and music. Cows, it was stated, should be treated to lively ditties at milkinjj time and not such strains as "Art Thou Weary, Art Thou Languid?" (London message.)

Come cancatrice and carol to the cow, Your country sadly needs you nt the bail, Sing, her soothing songs and sweet when e'er you bow Your sunny curls above the seething pall; Sing her songs of mother love and sunlit sward, Sing her sagas, sing them sweetly, soft and low, Then observe the brimming bucket's rich award, And the magic of the extra lacteal flow.

Come contraltos, gather round the milking shed, . . Chant your tuneful sonnets—music of the spheres, See the bovine tails beat time—each heifer's head, Drinking in the mellow music through her ears ; Search for soulful girl sopranos—alto boys, Choirs and orchestras and bands—and then, my hat! If you give the family cows the proper noise, • You will double all your for butterfat.

See the burly basso leg-rope Lady Jane, Singing songs as lovely as the Milky Way, While the baritone is encored once again, - As milking time is ending for the day; Handicap the reedy tenor if you will, Don't permit the voice falsetto to creep in, In case you ne'er your shining buckets fill, And all your cream is bluish, pale and thin. Bassos booming to the bullocks every' morn, Baritones a singing solos by the sheaf, Tenors, vieing with the very best French horn, All engaged in growing more and more fat beef; Gramophones to make the poddy calves grow fat, •Badio music for the bobbies doomed to die. If you take advice and do It, just like that. You will all be rich as Croesus by and by. Hear the pizzicato passage—plaintive, sweet, As the milkmaid sings her song to Jersey Queen, Note the slow adagio—ornate though neat, As she sings again "The Wearin' o' the . Green," The rallentando rattle of the can, Andante of the pulsing little cup, The allegro of the music—happy man ! When the pails are all a brimming—all full up!

Give 'em young grass and old music—lots of both, Sing 'em hymns, or sing 'em oratorio, Bring brass bands to breed big beef and be not loth. To. sing sweet songs to make the milk strenm flow; Company and concerts cattle need. Give them freely to your heifer, here and now, Grass and music mixed together as a feed. Will produce the best results—yes! A fair cow.