76 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



nality of mind and persistence in his plans, as lie encountered 

 for some time much ridicule, and many disapiDointments. 

 Success at last crowned his efforts, not only in the wonderful 

 improvement of the stock of all those who followed his direc- 

 tions, but in yielding him personally large pecuniary gains. 

 But, unfortunately, at his decease it was found that he had 

 not left the slightest memorandum of his experience which- 

 could throw any light upon his operations, or afford any guide 

 to others. Still there were those who, from their intercourse 

 with Bake well, or from their own observation, soon acquired 

 much knowledge, and entered fully on this field of inquiry 

 and experiment. Among these were Charles and Robert 

 Colling of Darlington, Benjamin Tomkins of Herefordshire, 

 Sir Thomas Gresley of Stafford, and many other persons, too 

 numerous to mention. Great improvements were soon made 

 in the domestic stock of England. What were called the 

 aboriginal, or native cattle, noted for their diminutive size, 

 their homely looks, and comparative inutility, became changed 

 into fine stock, of large size and beautiful proportions. The 

 ox was transformed into a noble animal, adapted to various 

 kinds of service, and affording the best of beef. The cow be- 

 came wonderfully improved, in enlargement of size, beauty of 

 form, and capacity for dairy purposes. 



As this improvement was carried on in many different 

 localities , the stock was christened with the name of the place 

 to which it belonged, — as the Durham, the Devon, the Ayr- 

 shire, the Alderney, the Jersey breed, &c. To such an extent 

 was this classification carried as to amount to over twenty dis- 

 tinct breeds, so called, each having its own excellences, and 

 none without some defects. In most of these cases each class 

 has qualities peculiarly adapted to the soil, the situation of 

 the land, and th^ climate of the place to which it belongs. 



Specimens of these breeds have been transported to our 

 own country, and great improvements in stock have been 

 made here, similar to those in Great Britain. The difference 

 in the climate, soil, locality, and other external agents, has 

 had an influence in these changes. AVhile there has been dif- 

 ference of opinion as to which was the best stock, or the best 

 adapted to this or that place, or for this or that purpose, 

 ffreat interest has been manifested as to what were the best 



