54 Cross-Breeding Cattle. 



best breeders jealously guard their cows from contamination. In 

 the richer pastures of Cornwall the native breed is less pure, but 

 attains a greater size : they are frequently crossed with the short- 

 horn or Hereford, but the produce is generally coarse in the horn, 

 has a large head, a profusion of bone below the hocks and knees, 

 and a thick tail. Its muscular development is more remarkable 

 than its disposition to fatten. The ribs are generally flat — a 

 flat-sided animal of any breed is particularly liable to derange- 

 ment of the digestive organs. Good new blood is here much 

 required ; but it must be thoroughly good, to work an effectual 

 change. In Hampshire, Devon bulls have been largely used ; 

 but as the produce were shallow milkers, short-horn, Ayrshire 

 and Channel Island sires have been preferred. The use of the 

 two last has led to improved milking capabilities — the former to 

 greater aptitude for feeding ; but in each case the success or 

 failure of the experiment has depended greatly on the purity of the 

 male parent. In Somersetshire the old original breed, when put. 

 to the improved Devon or Hereford bull, have bred on the rich 

 feeding-lands cows of gigantic size, highly prized by the dairy- 

 farmers. Many of the heifers and barren cows may be seen at 

 the fair held at Kingston-on-Thames on the second of August. 



The county of Hereford, with its fruitful soils resting on the 

 old red sandstone formation, and moist climate, favourable for 

 crops both of grass and of roots, has not only celebrated cattle, 

 but farmers who are first-rate managers of stock. Foremost among 

 these was Mr. Benjamin Tomkins, who, commencing his career 

 about the year 1769 with two cows, "Mottle" and "Pigeon," 

 by judgment, industry, and perseverance, raised himself from a 

 humble position and made himself a name in the annals of agri- 

 culture. The best breeders jealously preserve the purity of their 

 stock, yet in cases where a cross with the short-horn has been 

 tried, the produce has invariably been a superior animal for the 

 grazier. 



In Shropshire the Hereford bull has been largely and success- 

 fully used for crossing with Welsh and native cows, and the 

 combination of the Welsh and Hereford blood has by frequent 

 repetition become almost a distinct breed. They are of a dark 

 red colour, with mottled faces, are thick-fleshed, and generally 

 more hardy than the best-bred Herefords, but do not attain so 

 early a maturity : they are highly esteemed by the graziers, and 

 are known in the fairs of Leicester and Northampton by the 

 name of Shropshires. 



The Pembroke or North Wales breed are sometimes crossed 

 with the short-horn, but more frequently with Hereford bulls. 

 The first cross are in some cases an improvement on the original 

 stock of the district ; yet they are slow growers, and being less 



