HAMPSHIRE SOCIETY. 329 



butter. It also finds a ready market at all our country stores 

 and groceries, in exchange for cash, or goods ; so that butter 

 never fails of finding a ready market. Those individuals who 

 buy butter for their tables, understand well what we mean 

 when we say that butter is a "cash article." 



They know how much it costs to supply their families with 

 butter for a single season, and that it is no mean item in their 

 bill of yearly expenses, this "butter bill," especially when butter 

 is from one shilling to twenty-five cents per pound. A young 

 couple recently married, and who had just begun housekeep- 

 ing, were asked how they liked the matrimonial state. " First 

 rate," answered John, "only it costs almost everything for' but- 

 ter!'^ But we have extended these preliminary remarks farther 

 than we intended, and will now hasten to give the statistical 

 items of this report. 



Whole number of entries, thirty. Twenty-nine lots con- 

 tained upwards of ten pounds each. Only a single sample 

 contained less than ten pounds. The whole display was one 

 of the richest we ever saw, in the butter line ; and as we re- 

 ceived parcel after parcel of the "yellow lumps," we thought 

 how much more desirable and beautiful was such an exhibi- 

 tion, than the finest collection of "yellow lumps" ever thrown 

 to the surface from the mines of California. 



Some of the fairest looking and best prepared parcels, beau- 

 tifully stamped and ornamented, we were obliged to reject as 

 unworthy of a premium, on account of being too salt, and 

 savoring a little of "old age." Those who present butter for 

 a premium, should always bring to the tables newly made 

 butter, if they have any desire of obtaining it. But little 

 attention is given to specimens, (let them be prepared with 

 the nicest taste as to external contour,) if they are over salted, 

 and flavored by standing in pine tubs, or have been kept for 

 too great a length of time. 



Uepectfully submitted, 



David Rice, Chairman. 

 Leverett, Oct. 27, 1852. 

 42 



