300 Report on the Dairy-Farming of the North-west of France. 
and I am informed on high authority that the farmer receives 
for it as much as 2s. and upwards per English pound, according 
to the season.* 
The mere fact of such high prices being given for first-class 
butter implies that there is comparatively little of it. In fact, 
it may be safely asserted that none of it comes to England, and 
that the butter which is still good enough to command higher 
prices than our own on the London market is made with far 
less care and skill than that just described. A careful inquiry 
into the manner in which butter is made in the several districts 
of Normandy has convinced me that, other things being equal, 
the quality of the butter depends upon the earlier or later period 
at which the washing in the cJmrn is commenced. This is so far 
recognised by some of the dairy-farmers that they have their 
churns fitted with a glass window, to enable the eye to see and 
thus assist the ear to hear when the butter first begins to be 
formed. 
Prevalaye Method. — This mode of butter-making takes its 
name from the historical Chateau near Rennes, in Brittany, 
where probably it was first introduced, or where very fine 
butter, in comparison with the general product of the district, 
was made many years ago. The old farm has long since dis- 
appeared, and at the date of my visit only six cows were kept in 
the dairy belonging to the chateau. To see the making of the 
real Prevalaye butter of the market I went to a farm about 10 
miles from Rennes, and about 100 acres in extent, where 22 cows 
were kept. They were of all sorts, sizes, and colours, but most 
of them appeared to be crosses of the Norman and Breton 
breeds. The floors of the farm-house were of mud throughout, 
and in the principal apartment there were four large and lum- 
bering bedsteads, which article of furniture was abundantly 
represented in the kitchen also. Everything about the ])lace 
was primitive and old-fashioned except the churn and the 
manure-heap, which latter was well and solidly made. The 
churn was a revolving barrel-churn, differing from the Norman 
in having the fixed dashboards extending to its circumference. 
Madame was very proud of her churn, and believed it'was the 
only one in the neighbourhood. Doubtless she was right, as 
the farmers in that district generally use an upright piston-churn, 
with a perforated dashboard at the end of the piston. The cows 
are milked very early in the morning and again at noon. 
* As this Keport is intended for the infoimation of agriculturists, I huvo pre- 
ferred to give tiirougliout. when pos»inh>, the prici.'s tictually received hy the 
farmers, iiistenil of the uiMrkct valuf ; but in Ft hrunry this year (187!)), tlu; price 
of Isi,L(ny butter on the Paris iimrki t wiis (juotod at uiorc than 8 fr. per kilo, 
wliolesiilc, or above 2s. lOJ. prr lb. avoirdupois. 
i 
