90 
Franco-Swiss Dairy -Farming. 
Such a dairyman disposes of the butter and cheese he makes 
at his own risk. 
The dairies, as they exist at present, are very old buildings. 
The Society consists of the original peasants who subscribed to 
the building fund, or of their descendants. The rate for paying 
the annual expenses is levied on the cheese produced, and may 
be said to average nine centimes (nearly a penny) per pound ; 
and of course every member only pays on the quantity of 
cheese which is his share. The peasants who belong to the 
Society are not bound to send their milk to the communal 
dairy ; but at the beginning of each season, that is to say, on 
the 1st of June and the 9th of October, they must declare 
whether they intend to send milk or not, and having once 
decided to send, they must continue to send the whole of their 
milk for the season, except that required for home consumption. 
They are not, under any circumstances, allowed to sell milk at the 
same time as when they are sending any to the dairy. Owners 
of cows who do not belong to the Society are allowed to partici- 
pate in its privileges, and they have to pay a slightly higher 
rate towards the expenses, namely, about two centimes per 
pound of cheese made, more than a member. The following 
case of a breach of the rules came under my notice : it was 
found that a non-member was selling milk at the same time 
that he was sending milk to the dairy ; he made a profit on 
his sales, and bought other milk to replace that which was 
thereby withdrawn from the dairy, in order that the Society 
should not suffer. Nevertheless, he was fined 20 francs (16s.), 
which is considered a mild fine, and was debarred from ever 
again having any connection with the Society. 
From what has been said, it will be obvious that the de- 
pasturing of the mountain herbage by the cattle during the 
summer plays a not unimportant part in the production of milk, 
and in the general receipts obtained from the cows. The summer, 
or mountain-pasture, season lasts from the 1st of June until the 
9th of October, the fete-day of Saint Denis ; the valley, or 
winter dairy, system from the latter date to the time of ascending 
the mountains on the 1st of June again. 
The 9th of October has been fixed in an arbitrary manner, 
probably owing to the old-fashioned system of fixing events on 
Saints' days, such days having been then more readily observable 
by people who had not learnt the use of the almanack. It 
appears now that the authorities of the Canton de Vaud have 
decided th.at the 9lli of October is too late for the cattle to 
remain profitably on the mountains, and have accordingly fixed 
the date of descent for the 1st of October. On the French side 
the peasants say that if the cattle are brought down nine days 
