MILK-PRODUCTION RUN RIOT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1456, 3 June 1912, Page 8

MILK-PRODUCTION RUN RIOT.

THE A'ALCE OF MUSIC. Exports have more than once calculated the monetary advantage that would accrue to New Zealand if herd-testing we.ro universal, and now, it would oppear, if the follo.wing .article is to be relied on, that music as an aid to milk production will also have to be reckoned with, and the successful dairy farm will not be complete without an expoi;t in (his branch, .According lo the London "Standard," the higher education of tbe cow is In begin in England. Lectures to agricultural organisations are promised by an American who is convinced that one can lure the unsuspecting cow to give good fresh milk nnickly and expeditiously by the simple expedient of playing music to her poetic, soul. Mr. .losiah Grant, of Wisconsin, who has such faith in cows, believes that most of tlio unfortunate animals at present non-milkers need just a little sentimental music to calm their nerves and restore their placid temperament. He clnims to have carried out experiments showing that cows to whom music was played have increased their milk supply by one-third. "This is not sentiment," said Mr. Grant recently; "it is downright business. If I get lirilish farmers to listen to me, I mean to convince them."

A few agricultural experts in the Vnited Stales are apparently already convinced. The idea arose out of the success which has attended Mrs. Howie, of Sunny Peak Farm, "Waukesha County, who has been playing tho mandolin' to her cows for years and reaping the commercial benefit, plus the enjoyment of evening concerts among her bovine friends. Since she started the plan her dairy farming business has gone up by leaps and bounds, and people come to hear her sing love songs to neurotic cows. Arguing that just as cows are easily frightened by harsh noises, so they may be soothed by melodious sounds, the believers in music's milk-producing power have great hopes. Thunder and lightning, it is known, injure the quality and flow of milk. Why, then, should not music have the contrary effect. The logic is simplicity . itself. "Chewing the cud" may, after all, be a cow's way of beating time to her silent song.

At milking-timo, according to Air. Grant, the best music to play is a low, soft tune, which will soothe the troubled nerves of the cows; but it has also been discovered that, young cows prefer a light composition. ' All cows revel in the waltz. The AVrdding March, from "Lohengrin." has also been found to have a good effect on most animals. It must not bo supposed v that because one piece of music played on' the riolin or maud-din has stimulating affects a whole orchestra would give a corresponding supply of milk. As a matter of fact, the experiment was tried, but the cows refused to have so much persuasion, and bolted across the meado.v with tails waving and voices raised in protest. .Two instruments, carefully selected, are as many as an ordinarycow will listen to at once, and both instruments must be pitched in a key not too high or harsh. Harmoniums are ideal, and suit the slow-moving brains 'of. cows admirably. The great point to be remembered in this cow-treating campaign is that they are gentle, peace-lovi.yg animals. Every caressing pat on the head, every kind word spoken, every broken vioiin string will be repaid ih hard cash when milking-time comes round.