8 NOTES ON FIELDS AND CATTLE. 



every case ; the value of the manure was not equal 

 to the difference of the cost and the selling prices, 

 and, strange as it may appear, the greatest loss was 

 sustained when the beasts were fed on oilcake." 

 Finally, the Hereford was established at Woburn; 

 but it does not reach the size there that it does in 

 its " ain countree." The Rev. Mr. Berry, who did so 

 much for them by his taste and pen, proves indis- 

 putably the superiority of the shorthorn. Turner, I 

 have no doubt, could do as much for the Devon ; nor 

 less successfully, if called on, would Macdonald wield 

 his claymore for Argyleshire. In fact, when it comes 

 to this, we are just arriving at the point where the 

 battle of intelligence begins. Herein there is a 

 whole chapter of equations involved : There is the 

 soil to be considered ; the quality of cattle ; the food 

 adopted ; the buying-in price ; the feeder's skill at 

 fence ; the shelter ; the season — in a word, pray 

 what not '( 



A cross of the Devon and shorthorn makes a fine, 

 quick fattening, hardy animal, possessing a beauti- 

 fully marbled stamp of meat ; as also does the cross 

 between the Highland heifer and a shorthorn bull. 

 Of this latter admixture, a number are turned out 

 regularly by Lord Durham at three years old, reach- 

 ing fifty to sixty stones imperial in weight, and 

 fetching from their superior quality the highest 

 market price. The union of the Hereford and Ayr- 

 shire produces also an animal of prime quality. The 

 first cross of the shorthorn and Ayrshire is usually a 

 capital milker, and fattens kindly when dry. Put 

 this cross again to a shorthorn, and you probably 



