42 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



they produced a stock that soon became remarkable for its beauty and 

 propensity to fatten. 



Of this Canley stock, Mr. Robert Bakewell, of Dishley, Leicestershire, 

 procured some cows, which he crossed with a Northumberland bull, 

 and thus originated that celebrated race well known as the Dishley 

 breed. They were long and fine in the horn, had small heads, clean 

 throats, straight broad backs, wide quarters, and were peculiarly light 

 in their belly and offal. Probably from the effect of domestication and 

 gentle treatment, the} r were remarkably docile. They grew fat on a 

 smaller proportion of food than the parent stock, but gave less milk 

 than some other breeds. The chief improvement effected seemed to 

 have been their aptitude to fatten early on the most valuable points, 

 and in the superior quality of the flesh. 



Notwithstanding the deservedly high reputation, as a breeder, enjoyed 

 by Mr. Bakewell during his life, and that has long attached to his name, 

 the Longhorns have ceased to be general favourites. They are, how- 

 ever, still to be met with, chiefly in Warwickshire and Leicestershire, 

 where they are valued as dairy cattle ; more cheese than butter is 

 usually made from their milk, and some cows will furnish from four 

 to five cwt. of cheese each in a season. In the latter half of the last 

 century this stock degenerated and dwindled away in a marvellous 

 manner, considering its prevalence and value at the commencement of 

 that century. This has been ascribed to the system of close in and in 

 breeding which was pursued by most of the great breeders of long- 

 horned stock ; and many regret it exceedingly. The Durham variety 

 of this breed came to be held in the greatest estimation. 



The modern improvements made in the long-horned cattle, since 

 the first attempts of Bakewell, consisted chiefly in the coarser parts 

 being reduced, and the more valuable ones enlarged. The present 

 breed is finer-boned than formerly ; the back is straight, wide, and well 

 covered with flesh ; the rump is also broad and particularly fleshy on 

 the points, and about the root of the tail. Even when only in store 

 order, the flank is thick and fleshy, and, in every part, the animal 

 handles loose and mellow (see fig. 9). 



The first volume' of the Herd-book was issued in 1878, but during 

 the next twelve years the breed seemed doomed to disappear altogether, 

 and the societies ceased to offer prizes for it. A few breeders, how- 

 ever, remained faithful, and succeeded in saving -this interesting race of 

 cattle from total extinction. In 1898 the Royal Society again recognised 

 them at Birmingham, and in 1900 the second volume of the Herd-book 

 appeared. A new Longhorn Cattle Society was formed, and the tide 

 having turned at last, each year has brought new adherents, till at the . 

 present time there are upwards of 400 animals registered, and these are* 

 scattered widely over the country in about twenty-two herds, while the 

 members of the society numbered thirty-three at a recent date. In 1906 

 very respectable musters appeared at the only two shows open to them, 

 namely, the " Royal " at Derby, and the " Warwickshire " at Nuneaton. 

 Whether the breed will ever again seriously compete with the Shorthorn 

 or other popular varieties may be doubtful, but to have lost it entirely 



