A BRILLIANT IDEA.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1561, 17 June 1920, Page 7

A BRILLIANT IDEA.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Brilliant, because it is of such vital importance to the dairy farmers of the Dominion: because it is an absolutely new phase in the science of co wo logy, and an intensely profitable one; because it is economic in the highest degree, costing nothing to carry it out, needing no new machinery or any alteration in any part of Ihe milking departments. An idea which can be put into immediate operation by the youngest milker, be they boy or girl, and may in some cases convert the stockyard from a bear garden or even an arena of bad language to a lyric association, from which sweet sounds may emanate. But most of all, will increase the milk supply by at least one-fifth, without any increase in the herds. In other words, the man with 20 cows will, by the application of this idea, be able to induce his 20 to give down the product of 25 —five gallons of lovely milk, whereas before he was only getting four. The cream and substance of the idea is that, if when a cow is being milked, the milker sings to the cow. then the cow, through its phrenological construction, being a lover of music, responds, and as a consequence gives down a fifth more milk than in the old orthodox way. No details were given in the article I read as to whether a feminine voice was more effective than a masculine, or whether a lyric quartette would cause more milk to flow than a solo, or again, if “Angels ever bright and fair” or “Come into the garden, Maud,” would please better than “St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning,” or “Tommy, make room for your Uncle.” Only the bare statement that the cew is fond of music, and would respond as aforesaid. At any rate, there is one thing about it, that a trial would cost nothing, nor would the milking machine need any alterations. Seeing we are not all Melbas or Carusos, or in the event of there being no musicians on the farm, the difficulty is soon overcome by the introduction of an up-to-date gramophone. Don’t, for a moment, think I am a phone agent, not at all. (My object is purely philanthropic). Nor am I hunting for a mausoleum, nor a monolith Still, I think the inventor or originator of the idea well worthy of a Cleopatra’s needle as high as the P.O. tower. The is a boon and a blessing to the dairy farmers of the Dominion, especially when milk is so scarce and vendors at their wit’s end to get supplies. Perhaps there is a possible danger in the method. If the cow owner happens to be a devotee of the light fantastic, and perhaps from a dreamy melody sud- , dcnlv breaks out into a jazz or turkey trot strain, it might have the effect of starting the Jersey, or short hours off, and as a result eliminate the necessity of a separator. Of course it would be a plum for a movie camera man to get a Him delineating a dozen cows m the bails, and the rest of the herd in the vard doing the turkey trot. No doubt the thing is at present only in the initial stage and capable of development. The cows may prefer church music to secular, or oratorios to coou songs, but this can soon be discovered. But seeing the state ot the butter market, and the remunerative price of butter-fat, let us get a move ou without delay in all the farming centres. Anything to win the affections of the Jerseys and the Holsteins, and tickle their musical sensibilities —T am. etc.. H-B.