66 DETERIORATED CONDITION OF 



legs, and others short ones — some strong loins, 

 and others weak ones. 



Thus, most of the Scotch cattle being in a 

 state little removed from one of nature, dis- 

 play, when of the same race, a striking unifor- 

 mity of shape. This, however, is not the cha- 

 racteristic of cattle kept on rich pasturage and 

 housed during the winter months, as in our 

 dairy counties. 



The Welsh cattle are inferior to the Scotch, 

 but are well fitted for districts where the pas- 

 turage is poor. 



The Devons and Herefords are supposed to 

 be indigenous. The oxen of these races ar- 

 rive at a considerable size, and are active in 

 the yoke. The Hereford oxen are larger than 

 the Devon, but are equally active in the yoke. 

 These are probably the two best breeds of 

 cattle in the world for the purposes of working 

 in the yoke, and yielding a large supply of 

 excellent food. 



How then does it happen, that without re- 

 curring to fresh blood, or to a cross, the oxen 

 of these two races arrive at a large size, while 

 continuing hardy, and active in the yoke ? 

 The solution of these apparently incompatible 



