Xliv INTRODUCTION. 



merits repeatedly made, by means of the Spanilh rams lately 

 prefented to this Society by the King, the wool of thofc 

 horned races, with which the Spaniih is moft adapted to mix, 

 has been materially improved by the mixture, without any 

 appearance of declenfion in the quality, by feverai years re- 

 petition of breeding; and that no complaint of injury in the 

 carcafe has yet been made to the Society : — but on the con- 

 trary feverai breeders have given their opinion that the (hape 

 is improved. 'Such are the Society's information, and pre- 

 fent fentiments on the fubjciSt of Jkct-p. 



Of Horned Cattle^ the beft for general ftock, the Society 

 has heard much; has been gratified witli exhibitions of fe- 

 verai lots; and has feen caufe to diftinguilh fome by pecu- 

 niary approbation. But the beft for general Jiock^ in all fi- 

 tuat'ions^ it is not yet prepared to name with full confidence. 

 It feems, hov^ver, not probable that a defideratum in this 

 matter will fo long remain as on the fubjefl of fheep. One 

 material confideration under this head is obvious, i. e. that 

 the covering of the animal is far lefs an object of attention 

 than in the fneep. Thus, the moft common characleriftick 

 diftin£tion is by the horn: accordingly long-horned^ Jbort- 

 hornedj and no-horned, are the terms we hear moft commonly 

 ufed to denote, of late, the different kinds of neat cattle. 

 And the mort common queftion of preference is, whether 

 the long-horned, or the Ihort-horncd, be the bert race? In- 

 determinate enough are thefe defcriptions — but moft farm.ers 

 are very well acquainted with others, which convey more 

 diftindt ideas — as the Lincolnfliire, the Holdernefl'e, the He- 

 reforddiire, the Glamorganftiire, the Pembrokefhire, the 

 Devonfhiie, the Alderney, He. kc. All thefe, and feverai 

 other defcriptions of WeKh, and Northern animals, have 

 their refpecUve advocates for a fuppofed fuperior value in the 



production 



