290 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



Highlanders, as I judge, and they approach them in perfection 

 of form. 



"The short-horn crosses were the most numerous of British 

 cattle the Monday I was there ; Herefords were next, then Dev- 

 ons, one of which was very perfect, except in the twist, (and 

 that was a good point with him,) almost as much so as the 

 Highlanders. They stood near together, and I had, therefore, a 

 good opportunity to compare them. Of the polled, and High- 

 landers, only a few were present. The rest were made up with 

 some good South Devons, or Suffolks, and various colored beasts, 

 not worth particularizing. The Smithfield club show, I fancy, 

 is now the only true one to fairly judge of English and Scotch 

 cattle. They are then all brought together in their perfection.* 



"The calves brought here, were nearly all short-horn crosses, 

 and from two to four months old. The sheep were very fine, 

 mostly long-wooled, and south-down, and their crosses, and 

 incomparably superior to the ragged trumpery called "mutton" 

 common in our American markets. The pigs have changed 

 almost entirely since I was here in 1841. Then they were 

 mostly thin, slab-sided, long-legged, long-eared brutes. Now 

 they are mostly all Neopolitan, Suffolk, Essex black, and Berk- 

 shires. Of the latter, many are of the old original color sandy 

 or reddish yellow, with black spots. All the above varieties 

 were good; some very fine and perfect. I still prefer the Berk- 

 shire, as they have the best, largest, and most meaty hams, the 

 broadest backs, roundest barrels, and best shoulders. In fact, they 

 are the best farmer's swine ever known in England. They can- 

 not be improved. 



"I left London the following "Wednesday, for Liverpool, over 

 two hundred miles. As I noticed the cattle along the way, 

 three-fourths of these were short-horn crosses, the remainder 



* Some of onr cattle cuts show what the different breeds are at the Smithfield club 

 exhibitions.-L. F. A. 



