214 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



We have now on hand fifty-five fowls, having lost by sickness 

 fifteen fowls during the Piimmer." 



Mr. Prior states that his land is very low, and is not a good 

 location for raising chickens, which accounts for the unusual 

 mortality. Under favorable circumstances, he would have had 

 at the close of the season quite as many as he started with. 

 He states, in addition, that his hen-house, coops, &c., cost forty- 

 three dollars, and were paid for out of his last year's profits, and 

 since sold for fifty dollars. 



It is evident that there is a profit here of at least one hundred 

 per cent., which we think is as great as can be realized from any 

 other department of farming. It would be gratifying to your 

 Committee if breeders of poultry would furnish them with 

 statements like the al)ove. 



Edmund Rodman, Chairman. 



THE DAIRY. 



BERKSHIRE. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



It is an established fact that the milk of some cows is deficient 

 in one or more properties that are requisite to make sweet and 

 delicious butter, though they may give a large flow of milk and 

 rank number one in the cheese department. I will here simply 

 state that in former years'our occupation was what we termed 

 a practical farmer's and dairyman's, and give our system of 

 making butter. First, and not least, cleanliness in all things 

 relative to our vocation should bo strictly observed, for without 

 this necessary precaution you cannot make a good article. In 

 warm weatlier fill the pans abont two-thirds full of milk and set 

 them in a cool milk-room. Place them in a vat or sink about 

 six inches deep, then let a stream of cool water in until it stands 

 two or three inches deep in the sink and around the pans ; let 

 them remain until the sink or vat is wanted for the succeeding 

 milking ; then remove the pans to shelves and let them stand for 

 thirty-six hours from the time of filling. (I know some will 

 demur to this theory, and would prefer good fresh cool air. 

 I am not writing from theory or a wide stretch of imagination. 



