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A great improvement is thought by some to have been made m 

 capping the cheeses, as it is termed ; that is, as soon as they are 

 taken from the press, covering them completely with cotton cloth 

 sowed over them tightly ; or else drawn round the sides of the cheese 

 and over the edges, leaving the centre partially exposed. Where the 

 cheeses are covered entirely, the cloth itself is completely covered 

 and saturated with the usual unguent of whey-butter and some simple 

 and harmless coloring matter. The effect is to preserve the cheese 

 against tiie attacks of flies ; and to render the daily turning of the 

 cheeses not indispensably necessary; besides preventing their spreading 

 and cracking. It is said by some persons, that tlie cheese does not 

 cure so perfectly in tiiis way as when exposed ; and that the sale is 

 not so ready. Such contradictory statements are made in this case, 

 however, by those who have tried, and those who refuse to try it, 

 that I cannot decide on its expediency. It impressed me favorably. 



I found in use, in Sandisfield, a cheese-shelf of a siniple construc- 

 tion, and suspended on a horizontal centre bar, in such a manner that 

 many cheeses can be turned upon it by a boy, and at one operation. 

 Bars are so placed that, in turning, the cheeses are prevented from 

 falling out. The shelves are moveable, and those which have 

 been used can be easily taken out and thoroughly cleaned and 

 dried, until by another revolution of the shelves, they are 

 wanted in their places. This is a cheap construction ; of great con- 

 venience ; and so useful, that I shall give a full description of it in the 

 appendix.* 



I have much pleasure in saying, that many of the Berkshire dairies 

 are most exemplary in respect to neatness ; and in this matter pre- 

 sent beautiful models of domestic management. There are excep- 

 tions, however, to this commendation. In some instances there is 

 any thing but neatness. The sink and the pig-stye with all their of- 

 fensive exhalations, on account of what is called convenience, which 

 is only an apology, in such cases, for gross laziness, are in much 

 too intimate proximity with the dairy-room ; and there are cases, — 

 I shall not venture to say whether I saw them, or only heard of them 

 — where, if the pigs should perchance mistake their own apartment 

 and go into the next door, they would never suspect their error, un- 



".\ppeudix C, 



10 



