1132 



STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part IV. 



the MenaS; and although numbers of the weaker sort are 

 sometimes swept down by the force of the current for some 

 miles, yet losses seldom or never hajipen. A chain bridge is 

 now erecting across this strait. 



The characteristics of a choice Angleseaox, must agree in most 

 points with those of a lioman one, as described by Columella . 

 coal-black color, with white appendages ; remarkably broad 

 ribs ; high and wide hips ; deep chest ; large dewlap ; flat 



ftice; and long horns, turning upwards. Bakewell thought, 

 that in some points they were nearer his idea of perfection in 

 shape, than any other he ever saw ; his own improved breed 

 excepted. Some farmers aspiring at a select stock, by having 

 their he-calves gelt under their dams, their horns become of a 

 yellower color, longer, and finer than common ; and, upon the 

 whole, nearer the present idea of symmetry. The average 

 weight of their quarters, when fat, at three or four years old, 

 is from eight to eleven score pounds. 



The promontory of Lleyn and Evionydd, in Caernarvonshire, 

 having the same kind of undulated surface, though not al- 

 together so good a soil as Anglesea, has likewise a breed of 

 cattle similar in several of thpir characteristics. 



The cattle in the remaining part of Caernarvonshire, and in 

 the whole of the county of IVleirionydd, some few select stocks 

 excepted, seem to be diminutives ot the above breeds of Angle- 

 sea, Lleyn, and Evionydd; having nothing to recommend 

 them, save their extreme hardiness, and consequent cheapness 

 of rearing. The highlands of the counties of Denbigh and 

 Montgomery abouna with the same puny race. In the vales, 

 and in the county of Flint, the cattle are of a superior kind, 

 larger, and of all varieties of colors. The natives of the sea- 

 coast from Abergelen' to Holywell, and thence along the Dee 

 towards Cheshire, are reckoned very quick feeders. 



Neither good butter nor cheese cire made in North Wales by 

 ordinary farmers. 



Sheep. The largest of the native breeds, is that of Anglesea ; 

 they nave white legs and faces, and are generally without 

 horns. 



The second kind of sheep in North Wales, is that peculiar to 

 the mountains. They have generally white faces and legs ; 

 some have horns, and others none. The smaller sort of them 

 weigh from seven to nine pounds per quarter; and give wool 

 from three quarter of a pound, to one pound and a half. 



The third kind is peculiar to the Kerry hills in Montgo- 

 meryshire ; being, perhaps, the only species in North Wales, 

 which produce perfect wool : that of every other Welsh 

 hreed bemg more or less mixed with coarse long hairs, called 

 hv the manufacturers kemps, making the articles in which they 

 appear, of much less value. The characteristics of this breed 

 are, large woolly cheeks, white bunchy foreheads, white legs 

 covered with wool ; no horns, and a broad beaver-like tail. 

 They are very hardy, and comparatively tame ; being not so 

 much disposed to ramljle as most other wild sheep. In shape, 

 however, they are far short of compact symmetry ; and were 

 this defect improved by the care and attention of the farmers, 

 the breed would be worthy of being universally adopted 

 throughout the principality. They weigh, when fat, from ten 

 to fourteen pounds per quarter. The average of wool, includ- 

 ing the whole flock, is ten stone, of fifteen pounds each, from 

 every 100 sheep. 



The fourth kind is the black faced, and fine wooUed sheep, 

 bred on the Long Mountain, near Welsh Pool ; and on other 



hills, on the borders of England, in a line from thence to 

 Wrexham. 



The flavor of the mutton of the sheep feeding upon the 

 Llanymyneich and Porthywaen lime-rocks, is reckoned very 

 delicious, by the nice palated pupils of the epicurean school : 

 and their wool is as fine as any in England ; that of the Rye- 

 land breed, perhaps, excepted. A person in travelling through 

 the country, may observe several other kinds of sheep ; being 

 crosses from some or other of the above four distinct breeds : 

 but they are in general the offspring of chance and instinct, 

 without being directed by any choice or system. 



The Merinos with their different crosses; the Leicester, 

 Downs, and others, bred by amateurs. 



Horses. In Anglesea, for want of fences, the horses, as well 

 as the sheep, are commonly fettered. Were colts of the best 

 shaped breed in existence, thus fettered as soon as they are 

 weaned from their dams, and the practice used from generation 

 to generation, their natural gait and shape must necesiarily l)e 

 changed, at length, into awkwardness and deformity. Few 

 English stallions have as yet been introduced into the island ; 

 and those that have, do not appear to have done much towards 

 improving the native breed. 



In the county of Meirionydd, and the hilly parts of Mont- 

 gomeryshire, great numbers of ponies, commonly called mer- 

 lins, are reared. They are exceedingly hardy, having, during 

 winter as well as summer, only the range of the hills; from 

 whence they are never brought down until they are three years 

 old, and fit for sale. What has tended to, and will in time 

 destroy the shape and good qualities of this hardy race, is, 

 that in the propagation of their species they are Itft entirely to 

 chance and instinct. 



They are d;iven from the hilLs to fairs, like flocks of wild 

 sheej); and the place of sale exhibits, in some degree, an am- 

 phitheatre, where manhood and ponyhood strive for the vic- 

 tory. When a chapman has fixed upon his choice at a distance, 

 the wrestler, being generally the seller's servant, rushes into 

 the midst of the herd, and seizes the selected animal ; which, 

 never before touched by human hand, struggles with all its 

 might to extricate itself; and in some particular situations, 

 both have tumbled topsy-turvy from the summit of a steep 

 hill down into a river beneath; the biped still continuing his 

 grasp, and the quadruped disdaining tamely to submit. 



Another breed, somewhat larger than these, and probably 

 raised bv a series of crossing between the English and the na- 

 tives, are hardy, handsome, and exceedingly active. Some of 

 them are too small for the team ; but for the road, under mo- 

 derate weight, they have no rivals. " They will ascend and de- 

 scend our mountainous staircases" with the greatest agility ; 

 and without giving their riders, who have more fool-hardiness 

 than humanity, the trouble of alighting. The larger kind of 

 them is exceedingly well adapted for the team, on small or steep 

 mountainous farms ; where the great strength and sluggishness 

 of the heavy kind of horses would be egregiously misapplied. 



