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if not superior, to the kindly flesh "sort of theDishley breed, as the follow- 

 ing extract from the Agricultural survey of Northumberland fully proves : 

 " that the long-horns of the most approved stock have been introduced 

 into the county, from the midland counties, by different breeders, and at 

 different times ; but, in most instances, they have given way again to the 

 improved breed of short-horns. At the time the first report was pub- 

 lished, in 1 804, they had been totally abandoned by every breeder in the 

 county, the improved breed of short-horns, from the stock of Messrs, 

 Collings, having proved themselves much superior." 



Since that period, continued exertions have been made for the improve- 

 ment of the short-horned breed, and the great weight to which they 

 arrive must always ensure them a high rank in the estimation of those 

 graziers who possess land of sufficient richness to forward heavy beasts ; 

 indeed, the question seems to be in a manner settled. The popularity of 

 the long-horns soon passed away. Their maker, (if he may be so term- 

 ed) — the man who brought them to the state of perfection which they 

 attained — had scarcely departed when the character of the breed began 

 to change. "It had acquired a delicacy of constitution," says the author 

 of the work on cattle in the Farmer's Series, "inconsistent with common 

 management^and keep : and it began slowly, but undeniably, to deterio- 

 rate. In addition to this, a rival — a more powerful rival — appeared in 

 the field. The improved short-horns began to occupy the banks of the 

 Tees. They presented equal aptitude to fatten, greater bulk, and earlier 

 maturity. 



The contest among the larger breeds of cattle now lies between the 

 middle-horns and the short-horns, and particularly between the Here- 

 fords, belonging to the first division, and the improved short-horns, or 

 the Durham cattle, belonging to the second. The short-horns may have 

 some advantage in early maturity, and will grow to a larger size ; but for 

 aptitude to fatten, they are nearly equal. The flesh of the Herefords is of 

 finer grain and flavor ; in fact I believe the Herefords are not much beaten 

 in either particular. The short-horn certainly has no rival for the dairy. 

 Perhaps to those who are not strongly prejudiced in favor of either, this 

 advice may be acceptable. Were I a breeder of Durhams, I should try 

 across from a pure- bred, gray Hereford bull; thus preserving the Dur- 

 ham color and improving the Durham quality of flesh, and at the same 

 time lessening their frame ; thus enabling me to keep a greater number 

 of cattle upon the same quantity of land. One other difference there is. 



