A COW’S MILK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 547, 30 January 1882, Page 3

A COW’S MILK.

i>ome curious evidence was given in the Wellington Compensation Court recently concerning the estimated annual net profit to be derived from a milking cow. One witness, who was examined with a view of showing that the profits were substantial, stated that between L4O and LSO per annum was derivable from such a source. This estimate, says the Post, naturally startled the Court, and provoked His Honor the Chief Justice to remark that, if such were the case, keeping cows was a more profitable means of employment than adopting the legal profession. The witness, however, qualified his statement by adding that “ it depended very much op the consideration whether the owner’s family was extravagant or not in using the milk.” On the other hand, a practical farmer residing at Karori was called to show that Lio per annum was considered a “ good profit” from one cow. Another witness also gave evidence on the same subject. He said he had had fourteen years’ experience as a dairy farmer; and the crossexamining counsel, with the object of detracting from the weight of his testimony, asked him which was the “ near side: of a cow.” The learned counsel invited the witness to consider a long roll of paper a milking cow, and indicated the position of the head. The witness promptly pointed to what he believed to be the “ near side,” and it was remarked that the side so pointed at would be the “ off side ” 'ff a horse. The uninitiated were consequently astonished when the learned counsel £ said the witness’s reply was perfectly ( Correct ; but their doubt was sdt at rest < when it was explained that the “near 1 side; ” of a milking cow was the side ( on which she is milked, and that it was the opposite side to the “ near ” side of a horse.