CHAP, xxn.] FARMING FOR LADIES. 439 



very large scale, conducted with superior ma- 

 nagement, it is never done; for "it is found 

 by long experience that the butter retains its 

 sweetness much longer when no water is used 

 in making it up. When it is taken from the 

 churn, it is well worked with the hand, which 

 presses out most of the milk ; it is then beaten 

 with a cloth, or rather a cloth is repeatedly 

 pressed down upon it to absorb all the re- 

 maining milk." A soft cloth will, of course, 

 absorb much of the moisture, and its use is 

 certainly an improvement; but the less the 

 butter is beaten, or worked, the better ; for 

 the more it is kneaded, the more tough and 

 gluey it will become, and the moment the 

 milk is extracted, it should be discontinued. 

 If the weather be very hot, we, however, see 

 no objection to its being placed, for a short 

 time, in a large pan of cold water, to harden 

 it; though, if laid upon a marble-slab, in 

 some very cool spot exposed to the air, that 

 vdll probably effect the purpose. 



The quality of the butter depends mainly on 

 the care and nicety of management in the 

 making; for if that be not well performed, 

 you may look in vain to have it of fine fla- 



