Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/682

 658 COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA ARCHITECTURE. any other material. Zinc, however, is one of those metals which are most readily acted on by acids ; and all the soluble salts so fonned are poisonous. Zinc, therefore, is a dangerous metal to introduce into a dairy. A thermometer should be placed in every dairy, and the dairy-maid should be taught to regulate the temperature according to some fixed prin- ciple. It has been found, by experiments made at the in- Etance of the Highland Society of Scotland, " that the most proper temperature at which to commence the operation of churning butter is from 50° to 55°, and that at no time in the operation ought it to ex- ceed 65° ; while, on the con- trary, if at any time the cream should be under 50° in temperature, the labour will be much increased, without any proportionate advantage being obtained ; and a temper- ature of a higher rate than 65° will be injurious to the qua- lity as well as the quantity of the butter." {Highland Soc. Trans.) 1381. Among the Furniture for the Wash-house we would strongly recommend an im- proved washing and wringing machine, fig. 1262, as calculated to save a great deal of