milking is generally performed by the cowkeeper, and the dairy-maid only
receives the milkpails from him morning and night, and empties and
cleans them preparatory to the next milking; her duty being to supply
the family with milk, cream, and butter, and other luxuries depending on
the "milky mothers" of the herd.

2358. _The Dairy._--The object with which gentlemen keep cows is
to procure milk unadulterated, and sweet butter, for themselves
and families: in order to obtain this, however, great
cleanliness is required, and as visitors, as well as the
mistress of the house, sometimes visit the dairy, some efforts
are usually made to render it ornamental and picturesque. The
locality is usually fixed near to the house; it should neither
be exposed to the fierce heat of the summer's sun nor to the
equally unfavourable frosts of winter--it must be both sheltered
and shaded. If it is a building apart from the house and other
offices, the walls should be tolerably thick, and if hollow, the
temperature will be more equable. The walls inside are usually
covered with Dutch glazed tiles; the flooring also of glazed
tiles set in asphalte, to resist water; and the ceiling, lath
and plaster, or closely-jointed woodwork, painted. Its
architecture will be a matter of fancy: it should have a
northern aspect, and a thatched roof is considered most
suitable, from the shade and shelter it affords; and it should
contain at least two apartments, besides a cool place for
storing away butter. One of the apartments, in which the milk is
placed to deposit cream, or to ripen for churning, is usually
surrounded by shelves of marble or slate, on which the
milk-dishes rest; but it will be found a better plan to have a
large square or round table of stone in the centre, with a
water-tight ledge all round it, in which water may remain in hot
weather, or, if some attempt at the picturesque is desired, a
small fountain might occupy the centre, which would keep the
apartment cool and fresh. Round this table the milk-dishes
should be ranged; one shelf, or dresser, of slate or marble,
being kept for the various occupations of the dairy-maid: it
will be found a better plan than putting them on shelves and
corners against the wall. There should be a funnel or ventilator
in the ceiling, communicating with the open air, made t