THE UNITED KINGDOM. 169 



cows are kept in the byre during the night, and in a short time after- 

 wards both night and day ; they are then fed on oat straw and turnips; 

 they continue to yield a considerable quantity of milk for some time ; 

 part of the turnip crop is eaten at the end of harvest and beginning of 

 winter to protract the milk, and part is stored up for green food during 

 the winter; after this store is exhausted the " Swedish" turnip and 

 potatoes are used along with any fodder till the grass can support the 

 cows. Chaff, oats, and potatoes are boiled for the cows after calving, 

 and they are generally fed on rye grass during the latter part of the 

 spring. 



Price. The average price for good cows is from $122 to $146. 



The county of Ayrshire is for the most part plain open country, 

 neither hilly nor level, but rising from the shore in a gradual easy ac- 

 clivity till it terminates in mountains on the southeast, and moorish 

 hills on eastern boundaries. No part can be termed level, for the sur- 

 face abounds with numerous swells and roundish hills which facilitate 

 the escape of moisture and promote ventilation. 



Climate. For more than two-thirds of the year the wind blows from 

 the southwest, and the rains are often copious and sometimes of long 

 duration. The temperature is 59 in summer, 37 in winter, and the 

 mean during the year 47. 



Soils. Clay, or argillaceous earth, is the most common. This species 

 is so tenacious that it can only be plowed in a state of moisture, but by 

 application of lime and other manure it is convertibleinto fine rich loam, 

 thousands of acres having been thus treated. Loam of alluvial forma- 

 tion is found in holms on the sides of rivers and other low situations. 

 Tko substratum in the higher parts of the county abound in unmixed 

 granite, while also is found breccia whins-tone, greenstone, and red 

 sandstone. 



EXPORTATION OF BRITISH CATTLE TO THE UNITED STATES. 



All of the breeds here treated are said to have greatly improved in 

 the United States, where the conditions of climate and soil have been 

 favorable. 



The be*t animals to import are the pure breeds, and choice should bo 

 made according to the needs and fancy of the importer and the circum- 

 stances oi the climate, &c., of his grazing lands. 



For dairy purposes, having regard to cost of keeping, the preference 

 seems to le for the Alderney, Ayrshire, and Welsh, while the Short- 

 horn and Red-Polled excel both for milk and beef producing qualities. 

 As a general farm stock the Devon, Hereford, Polled, Aberdeen or 

 Angus, and Sussex are pre-eminently admired for beauty, size, and flesh- 

 making qualities. 



As to tie best methods, best routes, and cost of transportation, Mr. 

 Be la Penelle writes as follows : 



Tho loss tlrough mortality, an important item, I have found can be overcome by 

 profiting by the experience of practical shippers. My experience, which has extended 

 ovor many years, has proved that personal and practical attention is amply repaid 

 from the facl that the loss of cattle shipped by me has not exceeded 1 per cent. Many 

 shippers find, therefore, difficulty to obtain marine insurance, and the rates rule high 

 from the fact of their not attending and insisting upon the details of properly stall- 

 ing cattle onboard steamers, cheapness in this particular being false economy. 



As to the r0nte, some are shipped from London, Southampton, Bristol Channel, Liver- 

 pool, and Glasgow, but I would give the preference to Liverpool, as I consider it offers 

 gn-at or facilities for shipping than any other port. Tho freight per head is from $25 

 to $35, according to destination, but I ship sometimes at a much lower rate when thero 

 is a largo nunber of animals to ship, and I reckon the cost of food en route for pedigree 

 stock to be about 36 cents per day. 



