The Farm Livestock of the Period. 265 



it kept his beasts (which were carefully groomed daily) any 

 cleaner.^ 



By this time a trade in Scotch cattle had been initiated, and 

 Caledonian beef had penetrated as far south as Romney Marsh. 

 At St. Faith's Fair, also on Bullock's Hill at Norwich, might 

 be seen Lowland Scots, Galloways, and Highland cattle. 

 40,000 black Scots runts were fed every year on the marshes 

 between Norwich, Beccles, and Yarmouth, being fattened on 

 turnips from the lighter lands, and disposed of towards Christ- 

 mas, not only in Norwich and Yarmouth, but in London.^ In 

 fact, Norfolk supplied the Smithfield and Islington fat markets 

 alone with over 20,000 bullocks in 1793.3 



The following list gives the average number of beasts and 

 sheep brought annually to Smithfield from 1732 to 1785 : — 



Oxen for draught purposes were found to perfection in 

 Sussex ; cows for dairying requirements in many parts of 

 Wilts and Cheshire. But if we want to see breeding and 

 management at the height of perfection then reached, we 

 must again visit the Dishley district. Here might be found 

 varieties as widely different as the Longhorned and Devon- 

 shire. Grraziers who were not particular whether they bought 

 Fifeshire Scots, Shropshires, Irish, or "Welsh, could pick them 

 up cheap enough. But if any breeder wanted to buy one out 

 of Bakewell's or Paget's herds, he had to pay a long price for 

 it. Lord Harborough had given £157 for a bull and £89 for 

 a cow, and it is quite certain that neither for love nor money 

 would Bakewell have parted with his famous and noble white 

 specimen. 



On the subject of sheep, opinions, in days prior to Bakewell, 



^ Annals of Agriculture, vol. vi. p. 488. 

 ^ Defoe's Tour through Britain, vol. i. p. 61. 1769. 

 3 Report to Board of Agriculture, sub voc. " Norfolk." 

 "^ Annals of Agriculture, vol. vii. p. 64. 



