326 THE OX. 



It is a question of economical interest for an extensive, 

 rich, and populous part of the country, whether the breed thus 

 formed, during so many ages, should be preserved and improved 

 on the present basis, or whether it should be abandoned for 

 some other possessed of different properties ? Were the pro- 

 duce of the dairy the sole end of farming in Suffolk, then, 

 perhaps, no better course could be followed than to preserve 

 the breed as it exists, confining attention to the removing of 

 its more obvious defects. But Suffolk is not merely a dairy 

 county, but, like every other in England, employs a large 

 capital in grazing for the butcher ; and. therefore, it does not 

 seem necessary or expedient to confine attention exclusively 

 to a race of ill-formed animals, merely because they possess 

 one property in perfection. This district is capable of rear- 

 ing any of the superior breeds of the Island, and others, 

 therefore, might be produced in it, combining a greater num- 

 ber of useful qualities than the native race. But, looking to 

 the actual state of Suffolk, as a district in which the hus- 

 bandry of the dairy is extensively established, and success- 

 fully pursued, it is rather to be regretted, that a race of cattle 

 so well suited to the uses required, should have been so much 

 neglected : for it is to be observed, that the forming of a good 

 dairy breed is greatly more difficult than the procuring of 

 one adapted to the purposes of the grazier. But the breed 

 has been long decreasing in numbers and purity, and it is 

 probable that it will ultimately be merged in races which are 

 made to cross it. The Ayrshire has been introduced to a 

 great extent into the district ; but though the Ayrshire is 

 certainly a superior race to the Suffolk, for a combination of 

 useful qualities, it is greatly to be doubted if it is equal to it 

 in the power of yielding a large quantity of milk on indiffer- 

 ent food. * 



Attempts have been made to improve the Polled Suffolk 

 breed, for the purpose of rendering it suitable to the grazier 

 as well as to the dairy. Mr Reeve of Weighton, near Wells, 

 began a system of improvement of this kind more than fifty 

 years ago. He adopted the practice of careful selection. 



