48 



time has a larger herd of pure-bred Durham cattle, than 

 Earl Spencer has at his farm at Wiseton, in Nottingham- 

 shire. The breeders of Durhams in this county are the 

 Marquis of Exeter, the Right Hon. C. Arbuthnot, Sir J. H. 

 Palmer, Bart., Sir Charles Knightley, Bart., Mr. Bagshaw, 

 of Newton, near Kettering ; and John York, Esq., of Thrap- 

 ston. The only Hereford breeder now in the county 1 be- 

 lieve is, Stafford O'Brien, Esq , who, I think, breeds both 

 Durhams and Herefords. The fact is that any in-calved 

 Durham cows or heifers to be parted with are readily sold in 

 any of our fairs and markets, and the Herefords are not. 

 There are four different breeds of cattle in this country that 

 are for different soils, situations, and purposes, superior to 

 any other cattle in the world. The Durhams (or, as they 

 are very commonly called the improved short-horns) and 

 the Herefords, for the best pastures ; the North Devons for 

 the short pasture on warm light soils ; and the Scots for the 

 wild and cold pasturage. These four breeds of cattle will 

 ever remain pure, because it is thought that they cannot be 

 permanently benefitted by crossing with any other breed. 

 The males of these breeds, with judicious crossing, would 

 improve all other breeds. The Durhams would improve 

 the Lincolns and the long-legged, light-fleshed Glamorgans 

 and Monmouths; the Herefords, the Shropshire and Somer- 

 setshire cattle ; the North Devons, the South Wales' beasts ; 

 the West Highland Scots (which, taking the breed alto- 

 gether, are as complete in their shape as any breed), these, 

 or the Argyles, would make a very great improvement in 

 the North Wales and Anglesey cattle. It is surprising to 

 see the very great improvement that has in a very short 

 time been made in the Irish cattle, from the introduction of 

 good English and Scotch bulls. There may now be selected 

 from these droves good fair Durhams ; and of the smaller 

 kind many which when made fat will pass in Smithfield 

 for polled Scots*. 



* One teaspoon ful of rhubarb, half the quantity of ginger, and sixty drops 

 of laudanum, if given in time, will stop the scour in calves. For full-grown 

 beasts it will require double the quantity of laudanum, and treble the 

 quantity of rhubarb and ginger. I have found this answer although there 

 ate perhaps better preparations to be bought. 



