THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 97 



the neck, however, is thicker, and the shoulder heavier ; the 

 stature also is inferior, and the limbs shorter. The Kerry 

 cow is a serviceable beast ; it yields, in proportion to its size, 

 a fair quantity of excellent milk ; and, when dried, it quickly 

 fattens, even upon inferior fare. In Connaught a larger and 

 improved breed is found, still, however, presenting the same 

 characters. 



It must here be observed, that in many places, and espe- 

 cially where agricultural improvements have been carried 

 on, the cattle have been crossed with various breeds from 

 England and Scotland, insomuch that the original characters 

 are either altogether lost, or considerably modified. This 

 observation applies equally to the middle-horned races and to 

 the old heavy long-horns. Durham short-horns, Herefords, 

 North Devons, and Ayrshire cattle have been introduced by 

 zealous cultivators, giving rise to valuable mixed breeds. 

 These improvements are, of course, undertaken exclusively 

 by landed proprietors, or large farmers : the small farmer, 

 who keeps a few cows only, or the peasant, who keeps one, 

 are content with the old breeds. Yet however slowly, and 

 however checked by circumstances, the march of improve- 

 ment, once begun, will, it is to be trusted, continue to ad- 

 vance, and spread its benefits universally. 



Little cheese is made in Ireland ; but vast quantities of 

 butter are exported, not only to England but to other parts 

 of Europe. In the dairy counties, viz. Carlow, Cork, Kerry, 

 Leitrim, Sligo, Waterford, and others, the principal object is 

 the acquisition of good milch cattle ; and, as milkers, some 

 of the old breeds are excellent. Irrespective of butter, 

 however, Ireland has a most important trade in cattle ; 

 besides supplying an immense quantity of beef to the navy 

 and merchants' vessels, vast numbers, both of live cattle and 

 slaughtered carcasses, are imported into England. We have 

 no means now of correctly ascertaining the extent of this 

 traffic ; but formerly, while the law placed the traffic on the 

 footing of a coasting trade, the official data were astonishing. 

 In 1812, 79,285 head of oxen and cows, of the estimated 

 value -of 439,128 were imported into England, constituting 

 the eighth part of the beef consumed. In 1824 the number 

 of cattle amounted only to 62,393, and, in 1825, to 63,524. 



Within the last twenty years the facilities of transporting 

 both cattle, carcasses, and salted meat, by means of steam- 

 vessels, have been rapidly increased ; consequently, cceteris 



H 



