THE' UNITED KINGDOM. 71 



can keep three Bed-Polled cattle where only two Shorthorns would find 

 sufficient food, and having kept both breeds at the same time and on 

 the same farm he bases his opinion on experience. 



The constitution of the Eed Polls is very hardy. Fat steers from two 

 and one-half to three years old weigh 60 stone, and upwards (840 pounds), 

 when fed in the ordinary way on roots, hay, and cake. This is the dead 

 weight of ordinary fat stock; and such as are "ripened" for the Christ- 

 mas shows have weighed 1,164 pounds (see page 7 of inclosed pam- 

 phlet). 



The meat of the Bed-Polled cattle is excellent, and has a larger -pro- 

 portion of lean when compared with some other breeds. 



Mr. Taylor, in referring to the several particulars given in the above 

 pamphlet, accepts them as correct statements, and I may add that the 

 writer is well recognized as a competent critic of the Bed-Polled cattle, 

 and is the editor of its Herd-Book. 



The popularity of this breed has rapidly increased in its own district 

 and abroad, so much so that breeders are restricting their sales in order 

 to obtain sufficient numbers at home. 



The Lofft>8uffQlk Eed Polls.-r-ThQ herd of Bed Polls belonging to Mr. 

 Lofft of Troston, near Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, is of great repute, 

 and gave its owner the confidence to challenge the breeders of Scotch 

 Black Polls to show a group of five animals in competition with five 

 Bed Polls. However, the comparison has not yet been publicly made, 

 and the five " Doddies" shown by Mr. McCombie at Paris, in 1878, are 

 still recognized as the best group ever exhibited. The farm of Mr. 

 Lofft is 40 to 70 feet above sea level, and the range of temperature in 

 1883 was 48.6 degrees, the rainfall 26.19 inches. The soil is a mixed 

 drift, very unequally distributed on a chalky subsoil, or drift clay, sand, 

 and gravel. Old meadows, varying greatly in different seasons from the 

 natural pasturage, and artificial pasturage of clover, sainfoin, and rye 

 grass is made, principally for horse and cattle keep. Mr. Lofft has also 

 used largely gorse for horses and cattle, and gives his stock in small 

 quantities chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, prickly comfrey, &c. 



The cow stock are taken in at night as soon as white frosts begin to 

 appear in autumn, and are tied up in a large and lofty barn, but during 

 the day are turned out to graze, or for air and exercise only, in a large 

 yard, according to circumstances. In summer, from May to October, 

 they are fed on the pastures continuously, sometimes helped with cheap 

 or abundant food like cabbage, turnips, swedes, or two to three pounds 

 of cake. The winter feeding is swedes, turnips, cabbages, cake, barley, 

 or other meal, malt grains, and hay or straw chaff. Mr. Lofft is breed- 

 ing three sorts of Bed Polls ; first, large growthy beef-makers ; second, 

 middle-sized general-purpose animals, milk and beef 5 third, a small size 

 for milk only. 



Heifers commence to breed from fourteen months, and line-breeding 

 is approved by Mr. Lofft, except when special objection exists. The 

 difference in weights are as follows : Large size : Bull, 1 ton to 1 ton 7 cwt. ; 

 cow, 15 cwt. to 17 cwt. ; steer, 12 cwt. to 13 cwt., 2 years old. Middle 

 size : Bull, 18 cwt. to 1 ton; cow, 13 cwt. to 14 cwt.; steer, 10 cwt. to 

 12 cwt., 2 years old. 



Mr. Lofft looks to form a small dairy Bed-Poll tribe of less size than 

 either the Kerry or Breton stock, but has only bred with these aims for 

 a couple of years. The remarks of Mr. Lofft on milking qualities in cows 

 deserve attention. 



The origin of the Bed Polls is a debatable point, and therefore it is 

 important that Mr. Lofft distinctly states " the root of the race is the 



