CATTLE. 151 



exerted by the bull Hubback in originiiting the im- 

 proved Short Horns, and the bull Bloxedge, in the 

 hands of Mr. Webster, was not less famous than the 

 former. This gentleman, Mr. Havel, Mr. Welby, 

 and others, had done much in improving this stock, 

 but their exertions were all outdone by the success 

 of Mr. Bakewell, whose labours in the improvement 

 of the English breeds of cattle and sheep have 

 placed his name in the front rank of British agri- 

 culturists. 



His breeds of these animals were Avell known, both 

 in England and in this country, by tlie names of the 

 Dishley or Leicestershire cattle or sheep, from his 

 residence at Dishley, in Leicestershire. It is to be 

 regretted that we have no full and particular ac- 

 count of the principles that guided Mr. Bakewell in 

 his efforts, since it would seem that, though remark- 

 ably successful himself, his mode of breeding did not 

 render the excellences of his breed of cattle con- 

 stitutional or permanent, as he had scarcely left the 

 stage before the peculiarities of tlie original type be- 

 gan to prevail, and the improved Bakewell stock are 

 now but little known. From the observations of 

 Mr. Marshall, it seems that his greatest aim was 

 beauty of form, under the somewhat mistaken idea 

 that beauty of form and utility are inseparable ; the 

 next was a proper proportion of the parts, so as to 

 reduce the offal to the smallest degree ; and another 

 was to render the texture of the muscular parts fine 

 and of good quality for beef ; while the proper. 5ity 

 to fatten was not overlooked, as, after all. the great 

 value of any breed of cattle is its adaptation to the 

 grazier and the butcher. 



As Mr. Bakewell was nearly the pioneer in the 

 improvement of British stock, he deserves great 

 praise for his judgment in the proper selection of 

 points to be aimed at in breeding ; and, as an acute 

 observer of animals, he had sometimes found theise 

 desired qualities centred in the same individual, and 



