THE LONGHOENS, 133 



improvement of the breed dates from 1720. At that time a Sir 

 Thomas Gresley had a choice selection at Drakelow House, near 

 Burton. A blacksmith and farrier of the name of Welby, who 

 resided at Linton, in Derbyshire, on the borders of Leicester- 

 shire, purchased some valuable animals from Drakelow House, 

 and took much pride in improving the stock. After carrying on 

 for a few years with manifest success, a disease broke out and 

 carried off the greater part of the herd. Mr. Webster, of 

 Canley, near Coventry, is the next name of note in Longhorn 

 history. How comparatively unknown now are those who 

 worked for their sort as successfully as Colhns, Mason, Bates, 

 &c., did for the Shorthorns. The latter have become familiar 

 in our mouths as household words, as helping to illustrate the 

 rise and progress of a breed of world-wide celebrity, whereas the 

 pioneers of the Longhorns are known only to the student — sic 

 transit gloria mundi. Mr. Webster also worked upon Sir Thomas 

 Gresley's stock, using bulls from Lancashire and Westmore- 

 land. He bred a celebrated bull named Bloxedge, which pro- 

 duced some remarkable stock. It is unfortunate for posterity 

 that Bakewellwas not large-minded enough to leave us a record 

 of his work. It would be of great interest as well as advantage 

 to know how he set to work to develop the improved Leicesters, 

 as his Longhorns were soon christened and known for many 

 years. We, reasoning by analogy, can only surmise that he 

 went for quality rather than size, and, as in his sheep, strove 

 after correct outlines, fine bone and offal, with great aptitude 

 for feeding. This last quality he paid most attention to, and 

 naturally sacrificed to it other points, more especially hardiness 

 and yield of milk. Bakewell found that feeding properties 

 were to a great extent hereditary and could be perpetuated by 

 close breeding ; he, therefore, preferred improving his stock by 

 selecting animals of the same kind rather than run the risk of 

 crossing. He commenced his cattle breeding with two heifers 

 from Canley, using on them a Westmoreland bull ; and as far 

 as is known he never went further, at first breeding very closely, 

 but as the herd increased he was able to unite more distant 

 aifinities. In a few years his stock became known for rotundity of 

 outline and aptitude to feed. They were -much prized for feeding, 

 but did not fill the pail like the old sort. Twopenny, out of 



