On the Management of Breeding Cattle. 501 



century that the subject received the attention it deserves. The 

 efforts of agricultural societies throughout England have, at a 

 much later period, been worthily directed to the encouragement 

 of the breeding and feeding of cattle, and the importance of the 

 subject is now sufficiently admitted. I make no apology, there- 

 fore, for endeavouring, in a plain, intelligible manner, to offer 

 some practical remarks on the general management of a herd 

 of breeding cattle, and on the mode practised upon my farm at 

 Sigglesthorne, in the district of Holderness. 



To trace the progress of the various breeds which are now to 

 be found in the British islands, though exceedingly interesting, 

 would be beside the object now in view ; nor is it desirable at 

 present to discuss their relative merits. Climate and variety of 

 situation must influence the choice, and experience will select 

 that breed which is found most profitable in the farmer's hands. 

 It has long been a disputed point as to which is best ; but if 

 a world-wide reputation be the test, the " improved short-horns " 

 are decidedly entitled to carry away the palm. I therefore pro- 

 pose to confine my observations to this breed. It had its origin 

 in the judicious blending of the blood of other breeds ; and to 

 do it justice a full history of the earlier herds would be required. 

 Public opinion has, however, long since put its seal upon the 

 superiority of the short-horns ; and no further explanation, there- 

 fore, can be needed of my choice of them when about ten years 

 ago I commenced laying the foundation of a small herd, less 

 with reference to dairy purposes than to obtain early maturity, 

 and in order that the best meat might be produced at the 

 least cost. 



My attention was first directed to house accommodation, and 

 ever since I commenced the breeding, rearing, and feeding of 

 cattle, every effort has been made to remove the bad and ill- 

 adapted houses, and in their place to supply, at the least cost 

 combined with efficiency, such accommodation as might be pro- 

 vided by a safe and profitable outlay. 



The farm consists of 194 acres, 65 of which are grass, all 

 thoroughly underdrained. The observations of Mr. Caird, pub- 

 lished in 1^51, on the mode of farming in Holderness, encou- 

 raged me to proceed with confidence in my experiments and 

 improvements. He says, at p. 304 of his work entitled ' English 

 Agriculture in 1850 and 1851,' that the want of — 



*' drainage and accommodation for live stock appear to be the chief de- 

 fects in the farming of tliis district — drainage, which will render an 

 additional expenditure of manure a pirofitable outlay ; and better housing for 

 stock, in which the increasing breadths of green crops may be consumed with 

 economy both of the substance of the animal (by shelter and warmth), and of 

 labour, by convenient arrangements to facilitate the o[)erations of the feeder, 

 and by preventing waste of the roots, and other expensive substances em- 



