438 FARMING POR LADIES, [chap. xxil. 



should be placed in a colander, and firmly, 

 though gently, pressed until every drop of 

 butter-milk is drained from it : in doing 

 which, it must, of course, be kneaded by the 

 hand. However, as the butter must, in this 

 operation, pass repeatedly through the fingers 

 of the dairy-woman, some ladies object to that 

 mode of effecting it, and prefer its being done 

 with an instrument like the present, which is 

 merely a roller of about the size of a common 

 rolling-pin, but worked with a handle. 



The butter is then usually washed in cold 

 water until the water comes from it perfectly 

 pure; for, if any portion of the milk be allowed 

 to remain, it will soon occasion the butter to 

 become sour and rancid. On this subject there 

 is, however, so much difference of opinion, 

 that many persons consider the rich flavour of 

 the butter to be wasted by its being washed; 

 and in many large dairies it has been relin- 

 quished. We know, indeed, that in one upon a 



