400 



Farming of Lincolnshire. 



says a Wold farmer, being essential to the successful manage- 

 ment of chalk farms, and particularly needful for turnips— the 

 mother of all crops." 



In the northern portions of the county the cattle are chiefly 

 obtained from Yorkshire, great numbers being annually brought 

 over the Humber : Irish and Scotch beasts are also scattered 

 throughout many districts. Breeding, however, is carried on in 

 almost every locality ; and the breeders in the north-eastern divi- 

 sion of the county have certainly " achieved greatness" by their 

 care and judgment in the selection of animals, and the rearing of 

 young stock. Two subjects here present themselves, opening 

 out into a wide field for remark ; but as the Society has not made 

 them topics for especial consideration, a word or two will suffice. 

 With regard to the feeding of calves, and their after-manage- 

 ment, different methods are pursued just as opinion dictates or 

 experience teaches ; some farmers rearing them by hand by means 

 of milk, porridge, corn, cake, and hay, whilst others (probably 

 the most superior breeders) allow the calves to suck their mothers 

 during the day, and shut them in warm boxes at night. 



The only sort bred in this county are short-horns, and the 

 usual appellation of "Lincolnshire Short-horns" is truly appli- 

 cable to the majority of animals, inasmuch as they partake 

 largely of the old Lincoln breed, possessing the quality of the 

 Durham short-horns, and retaining the size and majestic propor- 

 tions, without the clumsiness, of the "old Lincolnshire ox." It is 

 owing to this combination that the proportion of lean flesh, com- 

 pared with fat, is greater in this breed than probably in any other, 

 whilst the weight to which individual oxen have attained has per- 

 haps never been exceeded. In fact, Lincolnshire is justly re- 

 nowned for having triumphantly accomplished the grand difficulty 

 in breeding, both with its cattle and sheep ; it has united size 

 with constitution and quality in such a degree as to retain the 

 merits of each. 



In the great north-eastern breeding district a portion of the 

 cattle are remotely descended from the old Lincoln breed, but 

 crossed for many years with good short-horn bulls, and the pro- 

 duce comprises many excellent beasts which, without being too 

 pampered and tender, are capable of being converted into beef in 

 a more reasonable time than those which have been bred from the 

 deep-milkers and others not possessing very fattening propen- 

 sities. They may be generally described as Improved short- 

 horns," but a considerable portion are perfectly pure in blood, 

 and of high celebrity as first-class animals. Indeed more beau- 

 tiful specimens can scarcely be found than among iiie j,>ure short- 

 horned herds of North Lincolnshire. The fine animals of 



