INTEODTJCTOEY. 



skinned, light-fleshed cow so often seen and one with two or three 

 crosses of pure blood, there is no difference whatever in this 

 respect. We will not say that the better- bred cow will do better 

 on very poor food, because we believe such not to be the case ; 

 but, if the quality of the food be improved, then the well-bred 

 animal will soon show a marked superiority, and, when store 

 animals are brought to market, the difference in the value 

 between good and bad stock, either barren or in calf, cannot but 

 be of vital importance to the farmer. In the case of poor-bred, 

 barren cows there might be very considerable difficulty in selling 

 them at all, whereas in the other they will command a very good 

 price indeed, a really good cow being often worth almost as much 

 barren as in calf. 



We have endeavoured to explain how it is possible easily and 

 speedily to enhance the value of a herd without being at any 

 great expense. Shorthorn bulls may be bought at a moderately 

 low price as yearlings, or at a more mature age, either at sales 

 or by private contract. At sales the purchaser, unless he have 

 a previous knowledge of the herd, must remain more or less in 

 the dark in regard to their qualities and their probable utility 

 for his purpose. Against this he must set the chance of 

 securing a cheap bargain. Bulls of from four to six years old 

 may often be bought at a butcher's price, and, providing they 

 will get stock, will often answer the dairyman's purpose better 

 than a younger one. For this reason, young animals of fashion- 

 able blood will always command good prices, whereas older 

 ones will be sold cheap. It must not be inferred, because a 

 bull has failed to get show animals from high-bred cows, that 

 he will not answer when used upon rough ones. The better his 

 quality, the more marked his effects. 



The Shorthorn, with its capacity for early development, com- 

 bining, when properly selected and carefully bred, milking and 

 feeding properties, yielding for a given quantity of food a larger 

 return than any other breed, is the animal that seems to offer 

 the greatest advantage to the breeder, and it is not exceeding 

 the truth to say that, when circumstances are suitable. Short- 

 horns will be patronised. The very fact that, originating a 

 century since on the banks of the Tees, in a comparatively 

 small district, they have become distributed through the length 



