THE EARTH'S BOUNTY, 



Though cream has to be kept at such a low 

 temperature that souring will not develop 

 naturally, it is necessary, for flavor, that it 

 should be sour when churned; and, to produce 

 the exact condition most advantageous to 

 butter making, what is called a starter has to 

 be used; which is simply fresh skim milk, kept 

 at a temperature between 70 degrees and 80 

 degrees, which will turn it within twenty-four 

 hours. To make a good starter, the milk 

 should turn into a jelly that will fall into 

 sharp-edged pieces when broken. Before, or 

 after, that exact point in the process of sour- 

 ing, conditions are present which mitigate its 

 value as a starter. 



Taking special pains to keep cream sweet, 

 and then troubling to create a medium for 

 turning it, may seem a ridiculous proceeding; 

 but the scientific gentlemen, who are inti- 

 mately acquainted with the respective fami- 

 lies of bacteria which work good and bad 

 effects, have discovered that the natural 

 ripening of cream encourages the develop- 



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