LIVE STOCK. 313 



( 1. ) The Improved Short Horns. The improved short horns 

 are a singularly beautiful breed of animals, and, it will be admit 

 ted, are the most popular breed in Great Britain. In perfection, 

 they are of large weight, fine-boned, come to maturity early, 

 exhibit great proof upon being killed, and although they are 

 admitted to be great consumers, and require very high feeding, 

 they are considered a very profitable stock for the farmer. They 

 are, it is said, originally of the Teeswater breed, imported from 

 Holland, but greatly improved by selection and crossing. That 

 an individual, in his lifetime, should effect such improvements, as 

 all admit Mr. Colling, the reputed founder of the breed, did, and 

 derive immense profits from his enterprise, is a fact full of en 

 couragement. They are commonly brought to market before 

 three years old, and often at eighteen months. The calves 

 often run with the cow six months, and are frequently fed with 

 artificial food from the time they can be made to take it until 

 they are sent to the butcher. The best of these animals, how 

 ever, have a strong natural tendency to keep fat ; but they are 

 not suited to a short pasture, or a scanty manger. It is not in 

 variable, that animals consume in proportion to their size ; but it 

 can hardly be questioned, that there is ordinarily some relation 

 between the size and the proportion of food required. It will, 

 I think, not be denied that they are great consumers. An intel 

 ligent herdsman, who had been accustomed to the feeding of 

 fattening animals for eighteen years, and, with respect to whose 

 judgment, I know of no private interest to affect it. gave it to 

 me, as his decided experience, that the short horns require a third 

 more food than the Herefords. This judgment must go for 

 what it is worth. 



The high-bred animals are not remarkable for their milking 

 properties. There are exceptions, but most of these animals are 

 inferior in the quantity and quality of the milk ; though there 

 can be no doubt that both quantity and quality will be affected 

 by the kind of feed supplied them. Individuals of rare excel 

 lence, in this respect, may be selected from among them ; but the 

 extraordinary accounts which are sometimes given of whole 

 herds or families, must be received with a degree of distrust. 

 The finest herd of short horns which met my observation 

 though it must be remembered that, if I have seen many, they are 

 VOL. ii. 27 



