OF THE COUNTY OF DOWN. aoi 



beginning of winter to thofe, which being calved in 

 the preceding month of May are fix months older : to 

 make ufe of the breeder's expreffion, it makes them 

 long in bone ; if this is not accomplifhed at an early 

 age, it can never be done by fubfequent care. Another 

 advantage of cows calving in winter, efpecially in a 

 gentleman's family, is plenty of milk, and the pleafing 

 confequence, a fupply of frefh. butter and cream, no 

 fmall confideration in any feafon, but efpecially at that 

 time, when neither the one nor the other of good qua- 

 lity are to be procured, even for money. Some gentle- 

 men allow their calves to fuck, which, being the moll 

 natural, is afiuredly the bed mode , and when two 

 calves are put to one cow, I fhould think it a profitable 

 way of employing the milk, which thus without trou- 

 ble turns to very good account, whether the calves arc 



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reared for ftock or for the butcher. 

 Dairying. 



Butter is the great objeft of the dairy ; confiderable 

 quantities are made here and fold, fome frefh in the 



towns, but moftly faked and packed for exportation ; 





 the markets Belfaft and Newry. It is not eafy to 



afcertain exactly the produce of a cow, fo much de- 

 pends upon adventitious circumflances, upon the good- 

 nefs of the cow, and the quality of the pafture, and a 

 great deal upon the fkill of the dairy-woman : the ge- 



D d neral 



