The wives of the peons were now taught to milk; and more and more
cows were gradually added to the number, until in six months there
were fifty cows in full milk. Maud and Ethel had now no longer
anything to do with the house, Mrs. Hardy undertaking the entire
management of that department, while the girls had charge of the
fowl-house and dairy.
The milk was made partly into butter, partly into fresh cheese.
These were sent off once a week to catch the steamer for Buenos
Ayres. Mr. Hardy had a light cart made for one horse, and by this
conveyance the butter--starting as soon as the sun went
down--arrived in Rosario in time for the early boat to the capital.
It was sent in large baskets made of rushes, and packed in many
layers of cool, fresh leaves; so that it arrived at Buenos Ayres,
forty hours after leaving Mount Pleasant, perfectly fresh and good.
The skim milk was given to the pigs, who had already increased to
quite a numerous colony.
Although they had been planted less than a year, the fruit trees
round the house had thriven in a surprising manner, and already
bore a crop of fruit more than sufficient for the utmost wants of
the household. Peaches and nectarines, apricots and plums, appeared
at every meal, either fresh, stewed, or in puddings, and afforded a
very pleasant change and addition to their diet.
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