406 Saddle and Sirloin. 



and manure heavily, the same land will carry many 

 more, but rich grass does not improve the quality of 

 cheese. The rent is not regulated by the price of 

 cheese, and there is no bowie system as in Ayrshire. 

 Cheese-making commences in early spring, with what 

 is termed " the Boosy Cheese ;" but the opening day 

 of "the prime season" is the I2th of May, or "the 

 turning-out day " when all cattle begin their summer 

 grazing, and cheese is made more, or less, until Octo- 

 ber 1 2th, when the ley season closes. 



The principal cheese market is at Chester. There 

 is also one at Crewe, but the factors generally travel 

 about from farm to farm, and purchase the whole or 

 the greater portion of their cheese from the same 

 places, year after year. The cheese of the North or 

 North Eastern part of the county is made for the 

 Manchester market. It is lifted from the farms about 

 October, and is used in a green state ; and in fact it 

 will not keep. The farmers adopt this plan because 

 they want to have no trouble with their cheese during 

 the winter months ; they have also no loss in weight, 

 and they get their money sooner. A much smaller 

 quantity of cheese is now made on the Knutsford side, 

 as the demand for milk in Manchester has increased 

 so largely. Tarporley and the country round Chester 

 is of good report ; but perhaps the best Cheshire 

 cheese, which is generally sent to London, is made in 

 the Nantwich and Broxton Hundreds. This cheese 

 is made to keep, and is generally not lifted from the 

 farms until February or March It commands a higher 

 price in consequence, and is worth, on an average, 90^. 

 per cwt, whilst the more ordinary sorts range from 55.$-. 

 to 8os. Prices ruled high in 1869, and they were at 

 their lowest point before the cattle-plague fell upon 

 the county with such fearful virulence. 



Our " Cheshire worthies " are connected more or 

 less with the Roodee. Of old Joe Maiden and his 

 doings, and the wooden leg of later life, we have told 



