MANAGEMENT OF A LE, 21 
found in grasses of slow growth ; they will contain more 
of woody fibre, with less of starch or sugar. The quality of 
butter grown on poor pastures is characterised by greater 
solidity than on rich-feeding pastures ; the cows having to 
travel over more space require a greater supply of the ele- 
ments of respiration, whilst the grasses grown on these poor 
pastures contain, in all probability, less of these in a digestible 
form available for respiration. The like result seems probable 
as from common winter treatment— a produce of butter less 
in quantity, and containing a greater proportion of marge- 
rine, and a less of olein. 
It is well known that pastures vary greatly in their butter- 
producing properties; there is, however, as far as I am aware, 
no satisfactory explanation of this. If you watch cows at 
pasture, you observe them select their own food ; if you 
supply cows in stall alike with food, they will also select for 
themselves. I give rape-cake as a mixture to all, and induce 
them to eat the requisite quantity ; yet some will select the 
rape-cake first, and eat it up clean, whilst others rather 
neglect it till towards the close of their meal, and then leave 
pieces in the trough. Two Alderneys — the only cows of the 
kind I have as yet had — whose butter-producing qualities 
are well known, are particularly fond of rape-cake, and never 
leave a morsel : may not these animals be prompted by their 
instinct to select such food as is best suited to their wants 
and propensities? If so, it seems of the greatest importance 
that the dairyman should be informed of the properties of 
food most suitable for his purpose, especially whilst in a 
stall, where they have little opportunity of selecting. 
It appears worth the attention of our Society to make 
inquiries as to the localities which are known as producing 
milk peculiarly rich in butter. When travelling in Germany 
I well recollect being treated with peculiarly rich milk, 
cream, and butter, on my tour between Dresden and Toplitz, 
at the station or resting-place on the chaussee or turnpike- 
road, before you descend a very steep incline to the valley in 
which Toplitz is situated. I travelled this way after an 
interval of several years, when the same treat was again 
offered. It was given as a rarity, and can only be accounted 
for by the peculiar adaptation of the herbage of the country 
for the production of butter. 
Burley Hall , Yorkshire , May , 1856. 
P.S. June 1th, 1856. — Having had occasion to visit Lon- 
don I called upon J. F. Wilson, director of Messrs. Price’s 
manufactory at Belmont. In addition to other interesting 
xxxi. 29 
