312 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1794. 



This grass has been observed to a- 

 bound in meadows, that have been 

 often flooded with water, which has 

 previously passed over calcareous 

 earth. Land contiguous to rivers 

 ought always to be in grass, both 

 on account of the advantage of wa- 

 ter to cattle, and the constant be- 

 nefit that grass receives from a 

 running stream. The loss, there- 

 fore sustained by common field land 

 adjoining to rivers must be consi- 

 derable, as the course of crops to 

 which they are subject necessarily 

 excludes grass. In the county of 

 Middlesex there are several hundred 

 acres of common field land thus si- 

 tuated, the rental and produce of 

 which might be doubled by enclo- 

 sure. 



The above observations on Mid- 

 dlesex agriculture, I am persuaded 

 would be of no value to the board, 

 jf there did no( exist a backward- 

 ness, in farmers in general, to sa- 

 tisfy the inquiries of gentlemen, on 

 the subject of agriculture. With 

 my best wishes for your success, in 

 your various and important occupa- 

 tions, I remain. 



Your obliged humble servant, 



Abraham Wilkinson. 



Account of some wild cattle in Nor- 

 '■ thumlerland. From the same. 



THESE are only found in Chil- 

 lingham-park, belonging to 

 the earl of Tankerville, and as it is 

 probable they are the only remains 

 'f the true and genuine breed of 

 that species of cattle, we shall be 

 more particular in our description. 

 Their colour ^s invariably white, 

 muzzle black> the whole of iIjc in- 

 side of the ear, and about one-third 



of the out-side from the tip, down- 

 wards, red ; horns white, with 

 black tips, very fine, and bent up- 

 wards. Some of the bulls have a 

 thin upright mane, about an inch 

 and a half, or two inches long. 

 The weight of the oxen is from 35 

 to 45 ston<;, and the cows from 25 

 to 35 sicnc, the four quarters; 14lb. 

 to the stone. The beef is finely 

 marbled. and of excellent flavour. 



From the nature of their pasture 

 and the frequent agitation they are 

 put into, by the curiosity of stran- 

 gers, it is scarce to be expected 

 they should get very fat ; yet the 

 six years old oxen are generally 

 very good beef j from whence it 

 m:iy be fairly supposed, that in pro- 

 per situations they would feed 

 well. 



At the first appearance of any 

 person they set oli' in full gallop ; 

 and, at the distance of two or three 

 hundred yards, make a wheel reund, 

 and come boldly up again, tossing 

 their heads in a menacrng manner. 

 On a sudden they make a full stop, 

 at the distance of forty ortitty yards, 

 looking wildly at the object of their 

 surprise; but upon the least motion 

 being made, they all again turn 

 round, and gallop off again with 

 equal speed, but not to the same 

 distance ; forming a shorter circle, 

 and ag^in returning with a bolder 

 and mure threatening aspect than 

 before, they approach much nearer, 

 probably within thirty yards, when 

 they make anotlier stand, and again 

 gallop off. This they do several 

 times, shortening theirdistance, and 

 advancing nearer, till they come 

 within a few yards, when most peo- 

 ple think it prudent to leave them, 

 notchusing to provoke them farther, 

 as it is probable that in a few turns 

 more they would make an attack. 



The 



