104 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



and healthy, particularly in the lower districts, the substratum 

 being either gravel or schistus rock. There are many large 

 tracts of old grass land, that have not been ploughed during any 

 one's recollection, and which still maintain their superior fertility ; 

 while the finer pastures are thickly covered with natural white 

 clover, and other valuable grasses. The surface of the ground is 

 irregular, sometimes rising into small globular hills, and at other 

 times into abrupt banks, and thus forming small fertile glens, and 

 producing shelter for the cattle in the winter, and early vegeta- 

 tion in the spring. Ill the low districts there is little frost and 

 snow, but the climate is mild and rather moist; and thus a 

 languid vegetation is supported during the winter, and the pas- 

 tures constantly retain their verdure. 



"The eaives are reared in a manner peculiar to Galloway. 

 From the time they are dropped, they are permitted to suck the 

 mother more or less, as long as she gives milk.* During the 

 first four or five months they are allowed, morning and evening, 

 a liberal supply ; generally more than half the milk of the cow. 

 The dairy-maid takes the milk from the teats on one side, while 

 the calf draws it at the same time, and exclusively, from the 

 other side. When the calf begins to graze a little, the milk is 

 abridged, by allowing the calf to suck only a shorter time, and 

 lie is turned upon the best young grass on the farm. In winter, 

 he is uniformly housed during the night, and fed upon hay, with 

 a few turnips, or potatoes; for the breeder knows that, if he is 



" * Mr. Culley gives a carious account of this : ' The calves, from the time they are 

 dropped, until able to support themselves, are allowed to run with their dams, but 

 are prevented from sucking by means of a small piece of leather, with sharp spikes 

 of iron fixed upon the outside, tied upon the upper part of the calf's nose, which, by 

 pricking the cow every time the calf attempts to suck, prevents her from letting it, 

 until the milk-maid comes, when she takes off the muzzle from the little animal's 

 nose, and while she strips two of the teats, the calf takes care to empty the other 

 two. As soon as the maid has done, she fixes on the instrument again, but it is 

 done in such a manner as not to hinder the calf from feeding upon the grass.' 

 This might have been the practice in Mr. Culley's time, but little or nothing of it is 

 seen now." [Culley wrote in the latter p:irt of the last century. L. P. A.] 



