BUTTER-MAKING. 



129 



others are not. That idea of his of a " helical roller " for his 

 " worker" was one of Mr. Bradford's many fortunate inspira- 

 tions. The butter is rolled out into a fluted cake, and rolled 

 up again into a lump as quickly, and yet as gently, as we like, 

 and all dairymaids sing its praises who know how cleverly it 

 does the work for them. 



Making it Up. 



This is done now with boxwood pats, called " Scotch hands," 

 for people are agreed that the butter is all the better and harder 

 if not touched by dairymaids' hands, or dairymen's either. Few 

 human hands are cold enough to knead butter and not injure 

 it, and among the physiological processes which are always in 

 progress in our bodies moisture and gases are exuded through 

 the pores of the skin much more through some persons' skins 

 than others'. These are likely to taint the butter. 



To end the argument, I may remark that there is no need 

 whatever why butter should be touched by hands of flesh when 

 hands of boxwood do 

 the making up so much 

 more nicely. The best 

 market form pounds 

 and half-pounds of 

 butter is that of a brick ; 

 this form packs better 

 than any other except 

 cubes, and is conve- 

 nient for lifting and 

 moving about. 



Grease-proof paper, 

 air- and damp-proof 

 too, is the best pos- 

 sible material to fold up 

 butter in, and the parcel may then be packed in a box (Fig. 

 38) for transit to market. For sending through the post, or 

 by any other possible means, these chip cases, themselves tied 

 up in brown paper, are excellent. 



K 



FIG. 38. BUTTER BOXES. 



