1079. Method of making excellent Butter from the Milk of Cows fed upon Turnips.—Let the bowls, either lead or wood, be kept constantly clean, and well scalded with boiling water, before using. When the milk is brought into the dairy, to every eight quarts mix one quart of boiling water; then put up the milk into the bowls to stand for cream. By keeping strictly to this method, you will have, during the winter, constantly sweet and well-tasted butter from the milk of cows fed upon turnips.
1080. Improved Method of making Butter.—If the dairy consists of three or four cows, they should be milked in the summer thrice a day; in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. Each milking must be kept by itself, in flat wooden vessels, to cool in like manner; and thus in succession for two or three days, according to the temperature of the air, the milk thickens, and thence is fit for churning, soonest in the warmest weather. The quantity of butter will be generally in the proportion of a pound (twenty-two ounces) for each ten pints, or five English gallons of milk. In winter, the cows are to be milked only twice a day, and the milk is to be put into the churn warm from the cow, where it must stand a day or two longer than in summer before it becomes sufficiently thick; although to promote the coagulation, it is sometimes brought near the kitchen fire, particularly on the preceding night before it is churned; and, in intense cold, it will be necessary to add a small quantity of boiling water. The operation of churning is performed with the plunge-churn, from two to three hours, for thirty or forty pints of milk; and at the last stage of the process, a little cold water thrown in has the effect of promoting the separation of the butter from the milk. This method of making butter has long been practiced in England; it may be worth trial in America.
N.B.—The dairy-maid must not be disheartened if she does not succeed perfectly in her first attempt.
1081. To prevent Cows from contracting bad Habits while Milking.—Cows should always be treated with great gentleness, and soothed by mild usage, especially when young and ticklish, or when the paps are tender, in which case the udder ought to be fomented with warm water, before milking, and touched with the greatest gentleness, otherwise the cow will be in danger of contracting bad habits, becoming stubborn and unruly, and retaining her milk ever after. A cow never lets down her milk pleasantly to the person she dreads or dislikes. The udder and paps should always be washed with clean water before milking; but care should be taken that none of that water be admitted into the milking pail.
1082. To mark Sheep, without injury to the Wool.—To thirty spoonfuls of linseed oil, add two ounces of litharge and one ounce of lamp-black: unite them together by boiling, and mark the sheep therewith.