AGRICULTURE. 



there is a breed of cattle particularly 

 adapted to work, and such situations do 

 occur, the employment of the ox may 

 probably be most beneficial. And when 

 a farm is of so great extent, that a con- 

 siderable number of beasts may be annu- 

 ally bought at a small expense, and no 

 inconvenience may be incurred by turning 

 out those to fatten which are ill qualified 

 for labour, the same preference may be 

 wisely made. Bulls ure on some accounts 

 to be preferred to oxen, being- procured 

 at a cheaper rate, and more active and 

 persevering in labour. In other cases than 

 those just mentioned, the question will be 

 decided differently. The activity of the 

 horse is extremely superior to that of 

 oxen, and it is more applicable to differ- 

 ent species of employment. Its hoof is 

 Jess susceptible of injury,; and, with re- 

 spect to well managed farms, in which 

 dispatch is more required than absolute 

 strength in the operation of ploughing, 

 the quickness with which the horse com- 

 pletes the business, in comparison with 

 the ox, will, it may be presumed, at length 

 generally diffuse that preference of the 

 one to the other, which is obviously in- 

 creasing every day. Yorkshire is the most 

 distinguished part of England for the 

 breed of horses, particularly for the sad- 

 dle, and the black cart horse of the mid- 

 dle counties has been long celebrated. 

 In the north of England, a very valuable 

 breed from Lanarkshire in Scotland has 

 lately been encouraged, of extreme acti- 

 vity, though not fit for particularly heavy 

 draught, passing over a vast surface of 

 land in a short time, and highly useful, 

 therefore, not only in ploughing, but in 

 the general work of a farm. The Nor- 

 folk management of horses, as instru- 

 ments of agriculture, is considered by 

 many as the cheapest that can be practis- 

 ed. In the winter months their sole 

 rack meat is barley straw. In the most 

 busy season a bushel of corn is thought 

 an ample allowance, and the chaff of oats, 

 which is far preferable to that of barley, 

 is universally mixed with it. They are 

 in summer kept out all night, and their 

 feed is generally clover only. A great 

 saving in the maintenance of horses has 

 been obtained by the substitution of 

 roots for grain. Turnips and potatoes 

 have been given them in a raw state, in 

 which case, if hard labour is required of 

 them, some corn in addition may be ex- 

 pedient. If these roots are boiled, how- 

 ever, the corn may without injury be dis- 

 pensed with. Carrots are better for horses 

 than potatoes, and both are thought e-x- 



tremely serviceable in preventing various 

 disorders to which they are subject, par- 

 ticularly the grease. Carrots are deemed 

 an effectual cure for what is denominated 

 thick wind in horses ; and to broken wind- 

 ed ones, are of admirable use in palliat- 

 ing the complaint. 



The practice of soiling horses, instead 

 of turning them to grass in summer, is 

 by many experienced men thought by 

 far the superior method. The produce 

 thus managed goes three times as far as 

 if consumed in the field. The injury 

 done by feeding pastures with horses in- 

 stead of sheep or oxen, an injury very 

 material and obvious, is avoided ; and 

 the dunghill, which, in all situations at a 

 distance from towns and cities, is an in- 

 valuable object, especially if plentiful 

 littering be allowed, is sufficiently bene- 

 fited to compensate for this expense of 

 their keeping. 



Black cattle intended for feeding, should 

 be chosen for their being short-legged, 

 which quality is almost uniformly con- 

 nected with a general good make. 

 Straightness of back is another important 

 recommendation, and the more perfectly 

 straight they are, while at the same time 

 they are very broad and flat on the loins, 

 the more readily experienced judges will 

 decide on their worth. Smallness of 

 dewlap, and the barrel form of carcase, 

 both in the fore and hind quarters, are 

 also justly insisted upon as points of ex- 

 cellence. A curled hide is indicative of a 

 thriving beast, and worthy of observa- 

 tion in the choice of these animals. A 

 still more favourable symptom is a soft- 

 ness or sleekness of skin. Indeed, the 

 nice touch of the hand is requisite in the 

 judge of cattle, perhaps nearly as much 

 as the keen observation of the eye. Oxen 

 that have been worked are more valuable 

 to graziers than others, as not only fat- 

 tening with greater rapidity, but furnish- 

 ing more excellent beef. After working- 

 till the age of fourteen years, which is 

 within two of the usual extent of their 

 natural life, they have often supplied 

 most tender and admirable meat. 



It is a consideration of great importance 

 to the grazier, that he should 1 always' 

 secure such a stock of winter food for 

 his cattle as will maintain them during 

 that season, reserving them for the spring- 

 market, which is always superior to that 

 of autumn. From the beginning of 

 March to that of June, the change of 

 prices will be completely in his favour ; 

 and in order to avail himself of this, he 

 must so arrange his affairs, as to pro- 



