76 WEST OXFORD SOCIETY. 



in a team with draught oxen, which, according to the biography of 

 Elijah, were of great antiquity. 



The Devons and the Herefords seem to represent races as dis- 

 tinct from breeds. The Long horns are, perhaps, entitled to the 

 same distinction. In Ii-eland it is stated that no distinct race or 

 breed can be traced. Cattle from this green isle were proverbially 

 the most inferior animals seen in the English cattle market. It 

 was the result of the haphazard breeding which prevailed over por- 

 tions of England and Scotland. This was the state of things a 

 century ago. Since then, much improvement has been made. The 

 first step in this was to breed from the best, and often from these 

 accidental crossings, animals of remarkable beauty and symmetry 

 were produced. The merits of the first cross are well known to 

 many farmers of this Society. 



In sheep, Bakewell, it is said, put together white-faced and black- 

 faced, white-legged, and black-legged, horned and hornless, long- 

 woolled and short-woolled ; and so it is said he did with the different 

 breeds and races of cattle. From such heterogeneous materials, 

 have the modern breeds of cattle and sheep been made. 



The improved Short horns, and the new Leicester sheep, became 

 celebrated, and were sought and introduced into nearly every 

 farming district in England, Scotland and Ireland ; and also into 

 this country. The uncultivated stock seemed to disappear before 

 them like the red man before the onward march of civilization ; the 

 old and distinct races hardly proving an exception, but in their 

 strongholds of Devonshire and Herefordshire. In these I'egions 

 three ways seemed to be open for the breeders ; first, to discard 

 their own stock and adopt the new breed ; or secondly, following 

 the example set them, seek improvements by crosses of which their 

 own herds should be the foi^idation ; or thirdly, to seek improvement 

 by breeding only from the best. The latter course was adopte ^ 

 and pursued, and hence, the purity of the races was preserved. 

 But for this course, the beautiful Devons, the picturesque West 

 Highlanders, and the noble Herefords, would have disappeared 

 from England. 



Breeding from the best, it was found, improved them without 

 the introduction or infusion of other blood. This may have been 

 less marked, but it should be kept in mind, that it started from a 

 higher point and is more permanent. 



What farmers and breeders desire to know is, " What breed or 

 race of cattle is best for our farmers ?" This interrogation should 



