THE "DAIRYMAN'S TEN COMMANDMENTS."

Bruce Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 1691, 23 October 1885, Page 3

THE "DAIRYMAN'S TEN COMMANDMENTS."

In his recently published " Cheese and Butter-maker's Handbook," Mr Harris prints the " Dairyman's Ten Commandments," an American production which he read occasionally at his lessons in Ayrshire last autumn. They are as follows : — (1) Thon shalt not abuse nor worry thy cow — thou nor thy man servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy dog, nor thy mischievous boy who driveth her up, but thou shalt at all times treat her with gentleness, and allow no one to molest or make her afraid, for in the day that thou vexest her or suffereat her to be vexed there shall come a pestilence upon her, and it shall enter into her milk, and taint thy butter and thy cheese, so that it shall become a stench in the nostrils of the buyer and he shall turn away from thee with contempt. (2) Thou shalt not starve nor stint thy cow for food, nor give her poor, innutritious, or unwholesome food of any kind whatsoever; but an abundance of that which is palatable and good for ber system, that she may keep in good flesh, have a smooth coat, and a clear eve, for I have given her unto the a» an inheritance and a blessing, and a woe shall come upon him who offendeth. against her, for his bank account shall wither away and become as nought, and he shall be a bankrupt in the land. (3) The water that thy cow drinketh shall be pure water — water _ that bubbleth up in the crystal fountain, or

runneth in the brook or the swift river, or that which is drawn! from the deep well, for if thou by sloth compel her to quench her thirst at mud-holes and stagnant pools, there shall a day overn take thee when thy goods shall be! refused at the hands of the markefcnirin, j and- he shall set his mark upon thee and \ "will have no further dealing with thee. * (4) Thou shalt give thy cows ample shade in summer, and warm shelter in the'wiuter; and the latter shall be kept clean and . sweet, and be withal well ventilated j and thy cow shall have room for freedom of motion, a clean bed: tO lie on, and opportunity for such outdoor exercise as she may desire, to the end that her blood shall freely circulate, that her muscles shall not deteriorate and become weak or stiffened, and that her digestion and appetite Bhall remain good. (s) 'When fchou milkesb her thou shalt lead her apart into a quiet cool place where 'there is nought to disturb her or make her afraid ; and' while she cheweth her cud thou shalt milk after a fashion of cleanliness. Thou shalt not ; Bell* or offer, to Sell as food for man her milk,-if she hatb. a call of an age less than four days j or if she be struck with any plague ■< like unto horn distemper, or j fever, or gorget, or any other disease, lest' the magistrate summon thee to appear "and answer before him. (6)i Thou shalt be clean, for lo ! it standeth* as an everlasting truth that cleanliness is next to godliness, and if thou keep thy byres clean, and thy milking vessels thoroughly washed and scalded, and everything about thee neat and clean, it shall become a mark of distinction unto thee, and thou shalt be favoured before thy brethren, and shalt increase in possessions and honour. 1 (7) Thou shalt cool and air thy milk as soon as drawn from the cow, by using the best appliances at thy command — not' by J putting cold water or ice into it, for that would be a violation of both the law and the commandments — but by bringing thy milk in contact with a cool surface above the freezing point, arid exposing thy milk in thin sheets to a clear atmosphere that it may become charged with oxygen which has a wonderful Virtue to prevent souring j and tainting It is shrewdly suspected by some of the prophets that airing milk is ; of more value than cooling it, and experience showefch that stirring , with a dipper has a preservative effect. Thou shalt confine thy milk in a covered can as short a time as possible, and protect it from the rays of the sun and the hot atmosphere. f _(B)' ; Th6u shalt not water thy milk by mixibg it with the contents of the spring* the ''well, the cistern, the brook, the watering-trough, or other sources of water supply, nor by feeding tby cow with villainous slops, whey or extremely succulent food; whereby the contents of thy milkicari shall be increased in quaiatity'at' the expense of quality with the view of cheating thy neighbour. For tnbu will thereby be cheating thine oiwiiVsoul, and stand in constant danger of the penalty of the law. ..(9). Thou shalt not skim tby milk betaking off the cream that riseth in tKe can .over night, that thou mayest have a little cream, for coffee; nor by setting it in pans or other utensils over night, nor by saving shippings, nor by any other; process ; for if thine own gense of honesty does not restrain thee, tnmysbouldsfc constantly have the fear ofthe law and of the watchful eyes of tby neighbour before thee. It is better to save out a small mess of milk for thine own user ;.-:(lo),; Thou i, shalt not-commit adultery by .adulterating: thy milk with burnt sugar, chalk, salt,, soda, or any ingredient; or compound whatsoever, nor by giving Tile.stufEs to thy cowj norby any means^ trick, device, or process, known or an-

known to be naturally depraved. The laws of the country, the health of the community, and the lives of the people, especially of the hosts of little ones, who are likened xinto the Kingdom of Heaven, cry out against this unpardonable sin. Under the new dispensation I add the eleventh commandment. (11). Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, and keep thy Sunday's milk at home for the purpose of making swtet butter for the use of thy family, and thut the cheese-ni'iker and all who labour with him in the factory may rest and worship according to the dictates of conscience on every Sunday. Thereby shalt thou meet the requirements of the scriptures and of the laws of the country, and prolong the lives and improve the morals of a large and constantly increasing class of useful citizens. "By faithfully observing these commandments," Mr Harris concludes, "the dairyman will keep a clear conscience, avoid annoying and expensive prosecutions, ret-un the respect of his neighbours, secure a competency of the world's goods, live a peaceful life, and in Ms old age ' appYO-Ach the hed of death like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams.' "