126 Implements of Husbandry. 



farm ought to be provided with rollers of different diameters 

 and weights, so as to suit the various purposes for which they 

 are destined. Those of a small diameter, are generally ap- 

 plied to land in tillage $ and those of a large diameter, with 

 double shafts, to grass land. Heavy rollers are of great use 

 for destroying worms, slugs, and other vermin in the soil ( 2 1 3 ). 

 When rollers are of large diameter, they roll easily, and 

 smooth the surface of the ground. But when they are 

 made of stone, and of small diameter, they do not easily turn, 

 but break the ground, and injure the herbage when dragged 

 along. Hollow cylinders of cast iron, 3J feet diameter, make 

 the best of all rollers. 



11. Dairy Implements. 



The most essential implements for the dairy, are, Milk- 

 dishes, Churns, and Cheese- shapes and Presses. 



1. A number of articles have been used for holding milk, 

 as wood, stone-ware, slate and lead, but none of them can 

 be compared to those made of cast-iron, lately invented. 

 They are softened by annealing in charcoal, turned smooth 

 inside, and then laid over with a coat of tin, to prevent the 

 milk from coming in contact with the iron, the rust of which 

 might injure it. To prevent rust also, the outside of the dish 

 is painted over. They are easily kept clean ; and as they 

 preserve a proper degree of coolness, the milk throws up 

 more cream than in wooden dishes. Nor are they expensive ; 

 for a dish, to hold an English quart, only costs Is. 2d. ( ai4 ). 



It is objected to earthen-ware dishes, that they are com- 

 monly glazed with the glass of lead, which the acid of milk 

 very readily dissolves, and thus forms a compound of a most 

 poisonous nature. But some consider this to be a refine- 

 ment, as lead itself has been used for ages, (and still is in 

 Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Sec.), without any perceptible 

 ill effect; and milk seldom stands to be sour. 



2. A variety of churns are in use. Of these, the sort 

 shaped like a barrel is much approved of, being simple, 

 easily wrought, and capable of being made of greater or 

 less dimensions, according to the extent of the dairy. 

 Others recommend a churn, somewhat in the shape of a cra- 

 dle, but on a frame of wood. It is rocked regularly, not fas- 

 ter than the pendulum of a clock ; and answers the purpose 

 of making butter uncommonly well ( ai5 ). 



3. In the manufacture of cheese, the shape, (called a vat\ 

 and the press, are important articles. The best kind of 



