Sheep versus Cattle. 559 



this simply to support Mr. Randall's principle, that on some clay soils 

 it was fighting against nature to force a breeding flock, and he should 

 recommend no one to try it. 



Mr. Stratford observed that the question under consideration was 

 very closely connected with the influence of climate. He recollected 

 a period when Lord Ducie had one of the best breeding flocks in the 

 kingdom, but it soon showed a remarkable deterioration. In Cam- 

 bridgeshire Mr. Frere had not half the amount of water that fell to 

 the lot of Lord Ducie and most of the West of England farmers, who 

 were compelled to keep their sheep to a great extent in yards. 

 Mr. Eandall might be said to farm in the midland district, and 

 in considering cases like his it was desirable to keep in view the 

 differences of climate and moisture. 



The Chairman had great pleasure in moving a vote of thanks to 

 Mr. Torr for his kindness in coming forward and delivering so 

 interesting and important a lectui'e. He should like to make a few 

 remarks, but would not trespass upon their time at any length, espe- 

 cially as the subject turned chiefly upon heavy lands, of which he had 

 not had much experience. He foimd that it was extremely advan- 

 tageous to keep up a good breeding flock of sheep. In fact, he had 

 two difierent kinds —Southdowns and Leicesters, and he found both 

 useful — the latter for wool, and the former for mutton. He concurred 

 in the observation of Mr. Toit, that the best waiy to keep them for- 

 ward for early maturity and in good condition was to feed them 

 abundantly upon oilcake when in the fields ; and he could not agree 

 with Mr. Dent in the advisability of keeping cattle in yards during 

 the summer ; it was far more conducive to the health of the animals to 

 turn them out to grass, and more in accordance with nature. Indeed, he 

 believed that it was greatly owing to the two last seasons being very 

 dry ones that the cattle disease had prevailed so extensively, although 

 he admitted, at the same time, that it might have been materially 

 checked in some parts of the country, if due precautions had been 

 taken in the fii'st instance. It was a remarkable fact that the high 

 breeds of cattle — the " pedigree " breeds as they were termed — had 

 been entirely fi'ee from the pestilence. He could answer for his own, 

 for the Duke of Devonshire's, and for many others; and he should 

 bo extremely sorry, whilst agreeing that sheep were of the utmost 

 importance to cultivate, improve, and increase in quantity, if in con- 

 ' sequence of sixch an increase the cattle of the country were to be 

 sensibly diminished. He knew perfectly well that sheep did improve 

 the land, and were more profitable to the farmer ; at the same time, 

 it was of great importance to maintain our best herds of cattle, and 

 ho believed that the more farmers had the opportunity of crossing 

 their cows with the best-bred bulls, the better and more profitable 

 they would find it to be, and the more conducive to the continued 

 fertility of the land. The meeting was greatly indebted to Mr. Torr ; 

 and he had much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to that 

 gentleman for his lecture. 



Mr. Dent seconded the motion, and explained that he had not 

 recommended the indiscriminate sale of straw on farms. With regard 



VOL. II. — S. S. 2 O 



