66] A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



floods as before, and should therefore be grazed ; that on the out- 

 side the embankments and drains may be mown or watered at 

 option ; also in floods wholly, or partially, by trunks and paddles 

 laid in the embankments, and over the drains. Every work of this 

 kind, where different interests are concerned, must of course be left 

 to a commissioner, to award to each his due share of expence, 

 as well as benefit ; and the distribution of waters for floating 

 should be duly attended to, particularly from the collateral streams, 

 and each one ought to be at liberty at all times, injuring none other, 

 to take in water through the embankment in floods for the purpose 

 of soaking or floating his land when required. 



LIVE STOCK. The principal profitable stock of the Staffordshire 

 fanner consists of, 1. horned cattle ; 2. sheep ; 3. horses; 4. hogs ; 

 to which may be added, 5. rabbits ; 6. poultry; 7. pigeons; 8. bees. 



Horned Cattle. Those of this county are generally of the long- 

 horned breed, but with a few of other varieties ; differing in value 

 and quality in proportion to the attention of the breeder, and his 

 resources for keeping. It was a maxim of the old farmers that " all 

 breed is put in at the mouth/' but it is now established upon the 

 principles of Bakewell, that the soft handling beast, with a sound 

 constitution, well proportioned and light in offal, is inclined to fatten, 

 and will thrive better in any reasonable keeping* than a coarse beast 

 with thick hide and large bone. That blood and breed will shew 

 itself, has been proved by well-bred beasts paying double for their 

 krep to what others have done. The cattle stock of the county 

 hath been for some years improving ; but as it is not in the power of 

 the lower order of farmers to pay the prices for prime stock, it 

 would be a good plan if gentlemen would procure for the use of their 

 tenants the best bulls, rams, stallions, and boars, which might be 

 thrown upon a plan to indemnify expences, and would facilitate 

 the improvement of the stock of the smaller farmers. 



The great object in the produce from horned cattle being first, 

 milk, and second, beef, the uniting of these two products in the 

 greatest quantity from the least food or quantity of land, is the 

 ultimatum of breed. It has been observed that cows with the best 

 disposition to fatten give the least milk and soonest go off their 

 milking, but this has been contradicted by others, who say that 

 cows of a good sort that are good milkers, will, on being dried, 

 make themselves fat in less time than a loose, open, ill-made beast ; 

 that bad milkers often occur in the unimproved breed ; but that a 

 well-bred beast being a bad milker, is sooner marked for it. A good 



