THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 47 



this the Holstein or Dutch breed ; and Mr. Culley attributes 

 to this race the origin of our Holderness or Yorkshire short- 

 horns. This ancient short-horned race may, in fact, be 

 traced from Jutland and Holstein, along the western portions 

 of Europe, through the Netherlands, to the borders of France. 

 At all times the cows have been noted for the quantity of 

 milk yielded, and also for an aptitude to fatten, thus exhibit- 

 ing qualities upon which the breeder, aiming at improvement, 

 might work with a certainty of success. 



With respect to Spain and Portugal, vast herds of cattle, in 

 a semi-wild state, feed in the extensive forests and mountain 

 regions. They are found in the great forests of Alemtejo 

 (Portugal), and in the mountain region of the Sierra Nevada 

 (extending over the southern part of Spain south of the Gua- 

 dalquiver), including the Sierra de Aguaderas, the Sierra de 

 Estancias, the Montes de Granada, &c., covering nearly 

 12,000 square miles. Besides these fierce, wild, or rather 

 feral, cattle, there are tame breeds of large size, and numerous 

 in the higher mountain districts ; but in the plains and table- 

 lands they are of small stature. We cannot learn that much 

 attention is paid to the improvement of horned cattle either 

 in Spain or Portugal. Oxen are used for labour in the cart 

 or wagon, and also for carrying luggage, but the flesh is not 

 in esteem ; there are, indeed, graziers and cowherds in the 

 hills, but more attention is paid to the goat, of which both 

 the flesh and the milk are used extensively. In no part of 

 Europe are goats so numerous as in Spain. 



It is from the herds of cattle which wander uncontrolled by 

 man, that the bulls destined for the amphitheatre are taken. 



From this glimpse of the various races of cattle, or rather 

 the principal races of cattle on the continent, as far as any- 

 thing very definite is known respecting them (and this, we 

 confess, is very little), let us turn our attention to the races 

 which prevail witliin the British Islands. 



In no part of the world has so much capital and so much 

 skill been expended in the improvement of horned cattle, as 

 in Great Britain. We speak of recent times ; for formerly it 

 was not so : our agriculture was bad, our farming operations 

 conducted on no principles, and our management of cattle 

 was in accordance with the rest. Setting aside the now com- 

 mon culinary herbs of the garden, we knew nothing of the 

 various plants, lucern, sainfoin, clover, and others, termed 

 artificial grasses. Nor was the cultivation of turnips, or 

 mangel-wurzel, and similar vegetables, in extensive operation. 



