hey admit a free
circulation of air; and if too much wind draws in, oiled paper may be
pasted over the lattice, or a frame constructed so as to slide backwards
and forwards at pleasure. Dairies cannot be kept too cool in the summer:
they ought therefore to be erected, if possible, near a spring of
running water. If a pump can be fixed in the place, or a stream of water
conveyed through it, it will tend to preserve a continual freshness and
purity of the air. The floor should be neatly paved with red brick, or
smooth stone, and laid with a proper descent, so that no water may
stagnate: it should be well washed every day, and all the utensils kept
with the strictest regard to cleanliness. Neither the cheese, rennet, or
cheesepress, must be suffered to contract any taint; nor should the
churns be scalded in the dairy, as the steam arising from the hot water
tends greatly to injure the milk. The utensils of the dairy should all
be made of wood: lead, copper, and brass are poisonous, and cast iron
gives a disagreeable taste to the productions of the dairy. Milk leads
in particular should be utterly abolished, and well-glazed earthen pans
used in their stead. Sour milk has a corroding tendency, and the well
known effects of the poison of lead are, bodily debility, palsy, and
death. The best of all milk vessels are flat wooden trays about three
inches deep, and wide enough to contain a full gallon of milk. These may
be kept perfectly clean with good care, and washing and scalding them
well with salt and water. As soon as the operation of churning is
performed, the butter should be washed immediately in several waters,
till thoroughly cleansed from the milk, which should be forced out with
a flat wooden ladle, or skimming dish, provided with a short handle.
This should be quickly performed, with as little working of the butter
as possible; for if it be too much beaten and turned, it will become
tough and gluey, which greatly debases its quality. To beat it up with
the hand is an indelicate practice, as the butter cannot fail to imbibe
the animal effluvia: a warm hand especially will soften it, and make it
appear greasy. If the heat of the weather should render it too soft to
receive the impression of the mould, it may be put into small vessels,
and allowed to swim in a trough of cold water, provided the butter do
not come in contact with the water, which would diminish some of its
best qualities. A little common salt must be work