136 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



English salt) or the Syracuse (made especially for the use of 

 the dairy). If you do not use either of these kinds, ask your 

 merchant to get them, so that henceforth you may have a 

 full supply of the purest and best salt. 



Of course tastes differ. What would be objectionable to 

 one would be satisfactory to another ; yet it is true that that 

 butter which is not over-salted generally commands the high- 

 est price in the Boston market. The right- proportion is 

 about eight ounces of salt to ten pounds of butter ; while that 

 which is made for the Parker House, Boston, receives but six 

 ounces to ten pounds of butter. Of course it must be fresh, 

 put up in a neat and attractive form, have a firm and waxy 

 texture, and possess that peculiar butyraceous fragrance 

 which unmistakably indicates its true quality. For such 

 butter, even in these times of over-supply, there is a con- 

 stantly increasing demand. Does it not, then, become our 

 farmers and dairymen that this demand be met ? Judging 

 by what was before us, it is certain that this is done in part. 

 Why not in all, so far as our means will allow ? 



To do this we must not only have the best cows, the best 

 pastures, feed the best food, have the best appliances, but put 

 the best thought into our work, and success is assured, not 

 as the exception, but as the rule. 



The dairy, with most of the farmers of our society, is one 

 of their principal means of support. It is not only for their 

 interest that they make the best article of butter and cheese, 

 but it is their duty and privilege also. To this end we should 

 not only know how this work can be done, but we should 

 resolutely and intelligently set ourselves at work to do it, 

 and so not only be able to satisfy the demands of a pure 

 taste, but do our share towards cultivating a purer and more 

 delicate taste in the community among all people. 



We repeat, then, that our prosperity is so dependent upon 

 our dairies, it becomes a matter of the first importance that 

 we not only aim to make the best butter and cheese, but that 

 we do it, for not only is our pecuniary welfare involved, but 

 our intellectual and moral ; so that with an increase of means 

 there shall be a corresponding increase of manly character, 

 that at all times and in every thing will scorn to speak a low 

 word or do a mean act. 



Of the cheese we must speak briefly ; for what we have 



