IS 



THE farmers' cabinet. 



VOL. I. 



hind, as represented in Fig's 2 and 3 ; and 

 we have straigiit parallel lines from the sides 

 of the shoulders along the utmost points of 

 the ribs to the sides of the hind quarters ; and 

 we have these lines connecif d at their ends 

 by others of shorter and equal length, across 

 the end of the rump and the top of the shoul- 

 der, thus constituting the rectangular form of 

 the ox when viewed from above down upon 

 the back, as represented by Fig. 4. We have 

 in this manner, the form of the short-horn ox 

 and heifer in perfect accordance with the dia- 

 grams of the rule. 



Further, I should be inclined to assert, al- 

 though I have not directed my attention to 

 the fact sufficiently to be able to prove the 

 assertion from examples, that the cross of a 

 full fed symmetrical short-horn ox, included 

 within the rectangle, is in length double its 

 depth, and its depth equal to its breadth. 

 Hence, Fig's. 2 and 3 are squares, and Fig's. 

 1 and 4 each two similar squares, placed in 

 juxtaposition. The short-horn bull deviates 

 from the rule in a rising of the neck, a de- 

 pendence under the brisket, and a fullness of 

 the neck vein ; the cow only a little from the 

 ox or heifer, in a thinness in the buttocks; and 

 besides this, when aged, in an enlargement 

 of the belly, and mostly, though not always, 

 in a hoUowness in the loins. The form, 

 therefore, of the short-horn breed is perfect 

 according to the rule. 



In its points that for quantity and well laid 

 on beef, the short-horn ox is quite full in every 

 valuable part, such as along the back, inclu- 

 ding the fore ribs, the sirloins and rumps, in 

 the runners, flanks, buttocks, and twist, and 

 in the neck and brisket as inferior parts. In 

 regard to quality of beef, the fat bears a due 

 and even preponderating proportion to the 

 lean, the fibres of which are fine and well 

 mixed, and even marbled with fat, and abund- 

 ently juicy. The fine, thin, clean bone of the 

 legs and head, with the soft mellow touch of 

 the skin, and the benign aspect of the eye, in- 

 dicate in a remarkable degree, the disposition 

 to fatten ; while the uniform colors of the 

 skin, red or white, or both, commixed in va- 

 rious degrees — bare, cream-colored skin on 

 the nose and around the eyes, and fine taper- 

 ing white or lifrht-colored horns — mark dis- 

 tinctly the purity of the blood. The points 

 of blood and quality, and quantity of beef, 

 apply equally to the bull, the cow, and the 

 heifer, as to the ox. Combining all these 

 properties of points and form, we shall find 

 that the shcrt-liorn breed illustrates, in a very 

 satisfactory manner, the application of the 

 general rule which has been explained. On 

 account of its valuable properties, this breed 

 demands further illustration. 



The external appearance of the short-horn 

 breed is irresistibly attractive. The exqui- 



sitely symmetrical form of the body in every 

 position, bedecked with a skin of the richest 

 hues of red and the richest white, approach- 

 ing to cream, on both colours, so arranged or 

 commixed as to form abeautiful fleck on deli- 

 cate roan, and possessed of the mellowest 

 touch — supported on small clean limbs, 

 showing, like those of the race-horse and the 

 grey-hound, the union of strength with fine- 

 ness ; and ornamented with a small lengthy 

 tapering head, neatly set on a broad firm deep 

 neck, and furnished with a small muzzle, 

 wide nostrils, prominent" mildly beaming'' 

 eyes, thin large veiny ears, set near the crown 

 of the head, and protected in front with semi- 

 circularly bent, white or brownish colored 

 short, (hence the name,) smooth, pointed 

 horns ; — all these several parts combine to 

 form a symmetrical harmony, which has nev- 

 er been surpassed in beauty and sweetness by 

 any other species of the domesticated ox. 



Enthusiastic as this language may be con- 

 sidered when applied to the exteral beauty 

 of cattle, it is not more so than the beauty of 

 cattle is entitled to ; for when it is considered 

 that symmetry of form generally accompanies 

 mellowness of touch in the skin, and that both 

 constitute the true iudex to a disposition to 

 fatten, the most useful property ofall^ beauty 

 of external appearance is too valuable a crite- 

 rion to be overlooked. Fortunately, indeed, 

 beauty cannot be overlooked in cattle : for 

 even were it useless, it is so irresistibly en- 

 gaging, that the judgment of a stoic would 

 be biassed in its favor. To my taste, nothing 

 can be so attractive a spectacle ofthekindas 

 a show of fine bred short-horns in high con 

 dition." 



No nation deserves as much praise as tie 

 English for its endeavors to improve the 

 breeds of all our domestic animals, and the 

 great success which has resulted from their 

 exertion, is truly a noble, and m?y almost be 

 assigned as their exclusive reward. With 

 them the dog, the horse, the sheep and the 

 ox, have attained a singular degree of perfec- 

 tion. All our fine breeds of the latter ani- 

 mal have been derived from that country. — 

 We will subjoin a short description of the 

 various improved English breeds. 



1. The long horned or Lancaster breed. — 

 This breed has long horns, thick hide, short 

 hoofs, large and much depth of the fore quar- 

 ter. Not remarkable for quantity ol milk, but 

 its milk yields a great deal of cream. Vari- 

 ously colored, but generally has a white 

 streak along the spine. The improved Lei- 

 cester is a variety of this breed. 



2d. The short horned. These include the 

 I/o/derncsr, Teeswaier, Yorkshire, Durham, 

 and Northumberland breeds. They are con 



