338 Comparative Profit of Cheese and Bulter-Maldng, Sfc. 



In close connection with the subject of early maturity, and 

 inseparable from it, is that of breed ; for unless the animal is of 

 the right temperament and constitution, much of the food given 

 to it is thrown away. However thoroughly this may be under- 

 stood in theory, it cannot be said to have received on all sides 

 practical recognition, while we see at every fair and market so 

 many animals of inferior breeds. 



I remember no other such instance of perfect indisposition to 

 fatten as in a little flock of ornamental sheep from the Hebrides. It 

 is perhaps worth quoting as an example of the influence of breed. 

 They and their progeny have lived for ten years in our pastures, 

 while ten generations of other sheep have in turn become mutton. 

 But the native wildness of the little hill-sheep does not abate. 

 Fifty times a day thev are scared into frantic flight by some 

 imaginary danger, flying in close ranks and facing round at last 

 to watch the supposed foe with their gleaming eyes. The wear 

 and tear of their little lives must be excessive. 



From this wild temper to the placid disposition of the mutton- 

 making Leicester there is a long gradation. Observing the 

 extremes, it would be well to remember by what successive steps 

 they are connected, and to avoid every drop of ungentle blood. 



But there are other characteristics of greater importance than 

 a mere disposition to fatten, such as constitution, rapid growth, 

 fertility, suckling qualities, wool, 6cc. And it is because these 

 qualities are so essential to profit, that we find many shrewd 

 breeders preferring what may be termed the " homely virtues," 

 even at some small sacrifice of those points which constitute the 

 highest standard of form. 



Gosfield IlaU, Hahted 



XXVI. — The Comparative Projit from Mailing Cheese or Butter, 

 Selling Milk, or Grazing. By \V. H. Heywood. 



Prize Essay. 

 On a little consideration of this subject it will appear that the 

 comparative profits of these methods of farming must necessarily 

 depend, in a great measure, on the nature of the soil, as well as 

 the situation, &c., of the respective farms to be compared ; 

 therefore it is obvious that it will be the fairest test to deal with 

 cases that are somewhat analogous as regards the quality of the 

 soil, and are also on a par as regards other advantages. 



With this view I propose to state approximately the actual 

 results on several farms of equal size of the same description of 

 soil, and situate in the same locality, but farmed in the three several 

 ways, namely, cheese and butter making, milk-selling and grazt 

 ing, rather than to write an essay not based on actual practice. 



