THE UNITED KINGDOM. 195 



They are reared upon thin, rocky, inferior land, in a most severe cli- 

 mate, especially in winter and spring, and their ready response to liberal 

 treatment commends them to all who are engaged in agricultural pur- 

 suits. Notwithstanding their climate, the ordinary breeder affords no 

 shelter beyond about three of the severe months, but nature has provided 

 them with a thick, black waterproof of long, thick-set, silky hair, and 

 strong mellow hides to protect the model carcass, and to fit them for the 

 hardships they may have to endure in their native homes, while their 

 more favored rivals, the Aberdeens, are often only exposed for a corres- 

 ponding period in the summer. This practice has been established 

 many years and is found to succeed well in Aberdeenshire, and all ad- 

 joining counties where artificial food can be abundantly produced. The 

 winter food consists chiefly of straw and turnips on farms where they 

 can be profitably produced. 



It is fully believed that the Galloway can gain a year in maturity, 

 give a third more milk, and a proportionate increase in beef under more 

 favorable circumstances. The price at which selected animals can be 

 purchased : Heifers, at two and three years old, from 25 to 35. Much 

 larger prices are realized in many cases where fashion overrules judg- 

 ment. By careful cultivation the general milking properties can be 

 restored, and I have the authority of the principal of a large butter fac- 

 tory to state that the Galloway p rod uces the richest milk of any other 

 breed that contributes to the dairy, and is very regular in quantity 

 which supports the remark that their robust constitution defies all ordi- 

 nary disease ; therefore few drawbacks are experienced. 



The beef is spoken of in the sixteenth century as being right delicious 

 and tender, which properties it retains in a high degree to the present 

 day. The English graziers found out their good feeding properties soon 

 after the union of the two crowns, and for upwards of one hundred and 

 fifty years the trade has been extensive and is now brisker than ever. 



The once-prevailing practice of spaying the heifers has been discon- 

 tinued, and the heifers are now retained for breeding purposes to meet 

 the growing demand, and give a more favorable opportunity of improv- 

 ing the breed by selection. 



The Galloway cattle possess all the character and resemblance which 

 constitutes a breed, yet they vary much in size and form according to 

 the treatment they receive and the fertility of their ranges. Not sup- 

 plying young growing stock with sufficient nutritious food, when bone 

 and muscle are forming, is an erroneous practice, which many breeders 

 have followed, when at the same time convinced of their error. These 

 animals answer admirably to liberal treatment, and therefore must be 

 adapted for countries where food is plentiful. I have always received 

 highly satisfactory accounts of the progress made by them in foreign 

 countries. 



At the Smithfield show (London), the Scotch Follies are all classed 

 together as one breed. The weights under the head of Aberdeens is a 

 little more than the Galloway. 



Pounds. 



Average dead weight of a matured ox ordinarily fed for market 700 



Milk: . 



Annual average weight -- > ' o> 



To 1 pound of butter ^~ 



To 1 pound of cheese y 



Soil. Loam, clay and sandy. 



Climate. Mean temperature 49.2. 



Color. All black. One of the oldest British breeds. 



