1 and 510 of a foot, if clear of wall, will be fully sufficient; for, if they be deeper, they will retain or concentrate heat, and harbour vermin.
The last, and most important point to be considered in the building of a house, is the structure of the chimnies; but as we have already discussed it, and pointed out the best and most improved mode of building them, we refer our readers to that article.—See vol. i. p. p. 516, and following.
COW, in zoology, an animal too well known to require any description.
A perfect cow ought to have a broad forehead, black eyes, large clean horns, a long thin skin, a large deep belly; strong muscular thighs, round legs, broad feet, short joints, and a white large udder with four teats. The use of this animal is equally important for the dairy, and the propagation of its species. For the former purpose, the Alderney breed of red cows is generally preferred, as they are supposed to yield the best milk; though the quantity they produce greatly depends upon the nature and quality of their food.
Grass growing spontaneously on good, sound, meadow land, is in general deemed the most proper nutriment for those cows which are kept for the supply of the dairy. When, however, other green food cannot be procured, the tops and tenderest parts of furze may be chopped, bruised, and given to them. It is affirmed that this vegetable is greatly superior to fodder; as it increases their milk, without imparting any unpleasant flavour. Carrots, oil-cake, cabbages, turnips, potatoes, and burnet (see vol. i. p. 459), are excellent provision, and well calculated to afford beneficial winter-food tor this useful animal.
The proper periods for milking cows, during the summer season, if they are well fed, are three every day, at the least, and at intervals as nearly equi-distant as possible, namely, in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, just before the approach of night. We are well aware that such practice is not generally followed in England, the cows being milked twice only in 24 hours: this method, however, is against all the rules of good economy; for experience has amply evinced, that if a cow be milked three times a day, she will yield a greater quantity, and as good, if not better milk, than by drawing her teats only twice, namely, in the morning and evening. We are, therefore, induced to recommend this circumstance to the attention of our agricultural readers; for, if by the bad milking of their cows, they lose only half a pint in quantity, they in fact are deprived of as much cream as six or eight pints would produce at the beginning of the operation, together with that part of the cream, which alone can impart a rich and agreeable flavour to butter.
Every precaution ought to be taken in the choice of milkers. When this manual work is roughly performed, it becomes painful to the cow; but if a soft hand be gently applied, the animal seema rather to receive pleasure, and allows the milk to flow plentifully; as she possesses the singular faculty of retaining or parting with her milk. Indeed, instances have frequently occurred, in which one dairy-maid could not obtain a single drop, but another drew the milk in abundance, and without the least
