The ”Dairyman’s Ten Commandments.”

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1754, 2 November 1885, Page 3

The ”Dairyman’s Ten Commandments.”

In his recsntly published “ Cheese and Buttermaker’s Handbook," Mr Harris piints the " Dairyman's Ten Commandments,” an American production, which he read occasionally at his lessons in Ayrshire last autumn. They are as follows : (1) Thou ehalt 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 shall at all times treat her with gentleness, and allow no one to molest or make her afraid, for in the day that thou vesest her or suffereat her to be vexed, there shall come a pestilence upon her, and it shall enter her milk, and taint thy butter and thy cheese, so that it shall become a stench in the nostrils of the buyer and ho shall turn away from thee with contempt. (2) Thou shall not starve nor stint thy cow for food, nor give her poor, innutritions or unwholesome food of any kind whatsoever ; but an abundance of that which is f alateble and good for her system, that she may keep in good flesh, have a smooth coat, and a dear eye, for I have given her unto thee as 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 bs 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 overtake thee when thy goods shall be refused at the hands of the marketman, and he shall set his mark upon thee and will have no further dealing with thee.

(4) Thou shall give thy cows ample shade in summer, and warm shelter in the winter ; and the latter shall be kept clean and sweet and he withal well ventilated ; and the 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 and that her bleed shall freely circulate, that her muscles shall not deteriorate and become weak or stiffened, and that her digestion and appetite shall remain good. (3) 'When thou miikest 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 obeweth her cud thou shall milk after a fashion of cleanliness. Thou shalt not sell or offer to sell as food for man her milk, if she hath a calf of an age less than four days, or if she be struck with any plague like unto horn distemper, or fever, or gorget, or any other disease, lest the magistrate summon thee to appearand answer before him.

(6) Thou shalt be clean, for lo ! it staudeth as an everlasting truth that cleanliness is next to godliness, and if thoti keep thy byres, clean, and thy milking vessels thoroughly ■washed aud 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.

(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 putting cold water or ice into it, for that would be a violation of both the Jaw and commandments—but by bringing thy milk in contact with a cool surface above the freezing point, and 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 and tainting. It is shrewdly suspected by some of the prophets that airing milk is of more value than cooling it, and experience showeth that stirring with a dipper has a preservative effect. °Thon 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. (8) Thou shalt not water thy milk by mixing 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 thy cow with villianona slops, whey or extremely succulent food, whereby the contents of thy milk can shall be increased in quantity at the expense of quality with the view of cheating thine own soul, and stand in constant danger of the penalty of the law.

(9) Thou shalt not skim thy milk by taking off the cream that riseth in the 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 strippings, nor by any other process ; tor it thine own sense of honesty does not restrain thee, thou shouldst constantly have the fear of the law and of the watchful eyes ol thy neighbour before thee. It is better to save out a small case mc-ss of milk for thine own use. (10) Thou shalt not commit adultery by adulterating thy milk with burnt sugar, chalk, salt, soda, or any ingredient or compound whatsoever, nor by giving vile stuffs to thy oo*, nor by any means, trick, device, or process, known or unknown 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 the little ones, who are likened unto 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 sweet butter for the use of thy family, and that the cheese maker 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 cf tbs scriptures fmd lavra ol the country, and prolong the lives and improve the morale of a large and constantly increasing class of useful citizens. “ Hy faithfully observing these commandments, Hr Harris concludes, ** the dairyman will keep a clear conscience, avoid annoying and expensive prosecutions, retain the respect of his neighbours, secure a competency of the world's goods, live a peaceful life, and in his old age ‘ approach the bed of death like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams.’ ’’