FARMS. 91 



latter arc chiefly the breeds known as Downs, including the 

 Essex or South Downs, the Hampshire, and the more newly 

 formed breeds, Shropshire and Oxfordshire Downs. Some 

 experiments that have been made in England, indicate that 

 the Leicester and Cotswolds will make more flesh in a given 

 time than any of the Downs ; but the superior price of the 

 latter in market will nearly or quite overbalance this advantage. 

 It should be remarked here, that the Essex and Hampshire Down 

 mutton commands the highest price, with the exception of that 

 of the Scotch and Welsh mountain breeds, in the English 

 markets. In American markets, the difference in the quality 

 of the mutton of the breeds mentioned is as yet only partially 

 recognized. The principal criterion here, in mutton, as in 

 other meats, is fatness, although there are people who judge 

 on better principles. But until a similar standard to that 

 of England is established in our markets, it is probable that 

 the production of mutton from the Cotswold and other long- 

 woolled breeds, will be found most profitable on lands which 

 afford a tolerable supply of grass. 



" Still there are many circumstances which affect the relative 

 profit of breeds, and those above mentioned have scarcely been 

 sufficiently tried in this section to determine which are, on the 

 whole, to be preferred. Actual experiments only can settle 

 the question. May we not hope that something will ere long 

 be done in this direction ? 



" Tours truly, Sanford Howard." 



An increasing disposition to raise or keep superior breeds 

 of cattle, horses and sivine, is a marked feature in the present 

 agricultural condition of the county. We have been gratified 

 to observe remarkably fine farm stock in places where the want of 

 means and facilities for procuring such animals would formerly 

 have been considered an insuperable obstacle to the possession of 

 them. Although the show of blood and grade stock at the late 

 annual exhibition of the society was very good, we believe it 

 might have been increased by large additions from parts of the 

 county which are seldom represented there. The distance from 

 our show grounds, and the injury to which cattle are often 

 exposed when driven far from home, together with the known 

 fact that much greater means and better facilities are possessed 



