11$ OF LIVE STOCK. 



but in winter and spring, was necessarily higher. The 

 milk was sold to retailers, but the net profit was inconsider- 

 able, more especially when distillation from grain was pro- 

 hibited. 



The most important improvement that has recently ta- 

 ken place in regard to the management of the dairy, is the 

 invention of cast-iron milk dishes, by Mr Baird of the Shotts 

 ironworks, near Whitburn in West-Lothian. These dishes 

 are made of cast-iron, softened by annealing in charcoal, 

 turned smooth inside, then laid over with a coat of tin, to 

 prevent the iron coming in contact with the milk, the rust 

 from which might injure it. The outside of the dish is 

 painted over, to prevent rust also. The advantages they 

 possess over woooen milk dishes, are, 1. That they preserve 

 that proper degree of coolness necessary to cause the milk 

 throw up the cream, in which respect they are so preferable 

 to wooden dishes, that the farmers' wives who have given 

 them a fair trial, affirm, that they throw up one-third more 

 cream, from an equal quantity of milk ; and, 2. They are 

 very easily kept clean, by washing them, and giving the in- 

 side a rub with beat chalk, on a little flax, or a piece of 

 woollen cloth. It is well known the great labour that 

 wooden dishes require to keep them clean ; and should the 

 dairy-maid allow milk to sour in them, it requires much 

 time, and severe scrubbing, to make them sweet and fit for 

 use again : but should milk be allowed to sour in the iron 

 dishes, if they are washed clean, and rubbed all over with 

 chalk, they become as fit for holding milk as ever. These 

 milk dishes are softened by the annealing to such a degree, 

 that although they should fall on a stone, they will not 

 break, unless let fall from a great height. They will retain 

 their coat of tin for many years ; and should the tin wear 

 off, from much usage, they can easily be re-tinned at small 

 expence, They were invented by Mr Baircl, and first made 



