214 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



on such matters the decisions of instinct may much 

 more safely be relied upon than the mere opinion 

 of any observer ; and it is well known that sheep 

 will always drink when they can find water, and 

 seek a shelter, if it can be had, during high winds 

 or severe storms. It is contrary to the order of na- 

 ture that any animal should suffer injury from being 

 kept comfortable. If the place of shelter is too 

 small or is ill ventilated, sheep are injured by being 

 crowded into such confined limits ; but it is the 

 height of absurdity to suppose that the health of a 

 sheep, and, consequently, the quality of its wool, 

 will not be better where care and comfort are at- 

 tended to than where both are neglected. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



CHEESE-MAKING. 



Comparative Quality of Cheese. — Rennet. — Attention to Tem- 

 perature. — Gloucester and Stilton Cheese. — Products of a 

 Dairy. 



The greatly increased demand for the products of 

 the dairy ; the comparatively small amount of capi- 

 tal required for a beginning by the small farmer ; 

 the avoiding the expenditure that is necessary where 

 several labourers are employed ; and the increasing 

 conviction that the profits of the dairy, if not as 

 great as those of wheat-growing, are far more sure, 

 have induced many of our farmers to turn their at- 

 tention to this subject, where, with proper manage- 

 ment, they are certain of an abundant reward for 

 their labour. There surely can be no reason why 

 cheese may not be made hi the United States equal 



