960 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



form approaclies to that of a circle, or of an ellipsis, whose eccentricity is not great ; the 

 whole forming, not a round or barrel like carcase, as some have expressed it, for this would 

 leave a deficiency both in the upper and lower part of the ribs ; the hips globular, wide 

 across, and on a level with the back itself; the hindquarters, that is, from the hips to 

 the extremity of the rump, long and straight; the rump points fat, and coming well up 

 lothe tail ; the twist wide, and the seam in the middle of it so well filled, that the 

 whole may very nearly form a plane, perpendicular to the line of the back ; the lower 

 part of the thigh small ; the tail broad and fat towards the top, but the lower part thin ; 

 the legs straight, clean, and fine boned ; and when the animal is in high condition, the 

 skin of a rich and silky appearance. These appear to be the most material points for 

 the formation of true symmetry in cattle : there are others of a minor consideration, 

 which will readily be suggested by attention and experience." 



6 137. The criteria of an ox well adapted to labor differ from the above only in requir- 

 ing long and strong legs, and broad hardy feet and hoofs. 



6138. The criteria of a beautiful cow, according to Wilkinson, may be thus ex- 

 pressed. 



She's long in her face, she's fine in her horn. 



She'll quickly get fat, without cake or corn, "^ 



She's clear in her jaws, and full in her chine, 



She's heavy in flank, and wide in her loin. 



She's broad in her ribs, and long in her rump, 

 A straight and flat back, with never a hump ; 

 She's wide in her hips, and calm in her eyes. 

 She's fine in her shoulders, and thin in her thighs. 



She's light in her neck, and small in her tail. 

 She's wide in her breast, and good at the pail. 

 She's fine in her bone, and silky of skin. 

 She's a Grazier's without, and a Butcher's within. 



6139. Culleys marks of a good cow are these : wide horns, a thin head and neck, dewlap 

 large, full breast, broad back, large deep belly ; the udder capacious, but not too fleshy ; 

 the milk- veins prominent, and the bag tending far behind ; teats long and large, buttocks 

 broad and fleshy, tail long and pliable, legs proportionable to the size of the carcase, and 

 the joints short. To these outward marks may be added a gentle disposition, a temper 

 free from any vicious tricks, and perfectly manageable on every occasion. On the 

 other hand, a cow with a thick head and a short neck, prominent backbone, slender 

 chest, belly tucked up, small udder or a fleshy bag, short teats, and thin buttocks, is to 

 be avoided as totally unfit for the purposes either of the dairy-man, the suckler, or the 

 grazier. The most valuable cows are those which are bred in Yorkshire, Staffordshire, 

 and upon the strong lands in other parts of England, and in Ayrshire in Scotland. 



6140. The ciiteria of excellence in cattle os derived from color, is of no importance, 

 and all that can be said is, that white and red cattle are less hardy than the black 

 haired. 



6141. The criteria of age in cattle is derived from the teeth and horns. At the end 

 of about ten years they shed their first four teeth, which are replaced by others, larger, 

 but not ISO white ; and before five years all the incisive teeth are renewed. These teeth 

 are at first equal, long, and pretty white ; but as the animals advance in years, they wear 

 down, become unequal, and black. These animals likewise shed their horns at tlie end 

 of three years ; and they are replaced by olJher horns, which, like the second teeth, con- 

 tinue. The manner of the growth of these horns is not uniform, nor the shooting of 

 them equal. The first year, that is, the fourth year of the animal's age, two small 

 pointed horns make their appearance, neatly formed, smooth, and towards the head ter- 

 minated by a kind of button. The following year this button moves from the head, 

 being impelled by a horny cylinder, which lengthening in the same manner, is also ter- 

 minated by another button, and so on : for the horns continue growing as long as the 

 animal lives. These buttons become annular joints or rings, which are easily distin- 

 guished in the horn, and by which the age of the creature may be easily known ; count- 

 ing three years for the point of the horn, and one for each of the joints or rings. The 

 cow continues useful for more than twenty years, but the bull looses his vigor much 

 sooner. It is common with dealers to obliterate these rings, by shaving the horns, in 

 order to conceal the age of the beast. 



6142. The terms applied to different ages are as follow. A young castrated male, 

 after the first yea;-, is called a stot, stirk, or steer ; at five years old an ox. A female, 

 after the first year, is called an heifer, or quey ; at five years old, a cow. And afterwards, 

 a castrated female is called a spayed heifer or cow. Certain of the Welsh and Scots 

 cattle, of rather a coarse and sturdy kind, are denominated runts. Bullock is the gene- 

 ral term for any full-grown cattle, male or female, fat or lean. 



3143. Tlie natural duration of life with the bull and cow may be stated at upwards of 

 twenty years, to nearly the end of which the latter is useful with her milk, but the former 

 usually loses his vigor, consequently his use, many years sooner. 



