328 Farming of Leicestershire. 



the day, characterised by Pitt as at that time, 1809, the natural 

 breed of cattle of the county, is now nearly extinct. East of the 

 Soar we are not aware of the existence of a single herd of this 

 breed, but a few specimens inay yet be seen on the western 

 boundaries of the county. One herd of great purity and ex- 

 cellence is at Upton, the property of Mr. Chapman, in whose 

 family it has been upwards of a hundred years — the foundation 

 being laid by his grandfather hiring and putting to selected cows 

 Mr, Bakewell's celebrated bull " Twopenny." 



Great enthusiasm is exhibited by the patrons of this breed, 

 and assertions confidently made that, besides their great hardihood, 

 they render as good a return for the food consumed as the best 

 animals of the most favoured breeds. As milk-producers they 

 are deficient, although what they do produce is particularly rich 

 in casein. Their utility, however, either for the dairies of the 

 west or the fattening pastures of the east side of the county, is 

 pronounced by the majority as doubtful, and whether they can 

 much longer struggle for a separate existence is at least open 

 to question. The graceful curving horn, white back, and 

 brindled sides, are distinguishing traits of this breed. 



With few exceptions, the Shorthorn is the breed kept on the 

 dairy farms. The variety rather coarse, but in some instances 

 of late years the quality has been improved by crossing with well- 

 bred bulls. But, under the ordinary management of the dairy 

 farmer, much improvement in quality is rarely effected : a cow's 

 pail-filling capability rendering her a much greater favourite 

 than mellowness of touch or symmetry of form ; while that hcau 

 ideal animal combining quality, symmetry, and fattening pro- 

 pensity, with great milk-secretion, is rarely found, and as rarely 

 can all her good qualities be transmitted. 



The feeding and general management of the cow is given 

 under the heading " Dairy Farm." 



Perhapii the only recent changes worth noting in the feeding 

 departmer t are the greater care taken to utilise all the natural 

 produce of the farm, and the greater liberality in the purchase 

 of cake, *5cc. By the free use of the chaffcutter, pulper, and 

 millstones, a combination is effected which gives an appetising 

 form to foods that separately would be unpalatable. 



This unquestionably tends to increase the number of cattle 

 wintered in the county, and though, perhaps, individually the 

 increase may scarce be appreciable, still in the aggregate it may 

 be very considerable. 



We instance the farm occupied by Mr. Crawshay, at Slawston, 

 where by the above-mentioned means an increase of live stock 

 has been effected equal to 40 per cent, on that kept by his pre- 

 decessor on the same farm. 



