AgricuUiu c of NortJiuniherland. 



433 



Northumberland. The excellence of a fat sheep does not consist 

 in extreme fatness, but being full in his loin and fine points, such 

 as neck, ribs, legs, &c. The half-bred are the most fashionable, 

 and most liked by the butchers having the best retail trade. In 

 summer they command a higher price by \d. per lb. The Cheviot 

 sheep fed oil* turnips from January to May, if good, will certainly 

 command as good a price in the market as the half-bred, as the 

 weather is then cold enough to admit of the mutton being kept 

 until tender; besides, the loin looks so black in sunny weather, 

 that it is not to be compared to that of the half- bred sheep. It 

 is therefore the waiter's decided opinion^ where the situation is 

 suitable, that the half-bred sheep are the finest, and most profit- 

 able to the farmer, especially for feeding off grass. They are also 

 longer in their shapes and quarters than the Leicester sheep, which 

 advantage they derive from the Cheviots. This confirms the 

 writer in his opinion, that after coming to a certain age they would 

 get heavier sheep. For full feeding and early maturity there are 

 no sheep equal to the Leicester, but the mutton is not so good in 

 quality, and without flavour ; consequently, it does not bring so high 

 a price ; and what still contributes to make the half-bred the more 

 valuable is, that their wool is worth from l^cl. to 2d. per lb. more. 



3. On Grazing Farms with Turnips. — It will be perceived 

 that, in the previous article, the writer has anticipated his subject, 

 as far as sheep are concerned : nothing now remains but to de- 

 scribe the system followed in grazing and feeding cattle. 



The quality of the land, of course, decides the kind of stock 

 purchased for it. We feed, upon all land that will graze fat, 

 from a Durham ox to a Kyloe heifer. If the land be of first-rate 

 quality, of course the Durham ox is preferred, as he will gror/ 

 more than any other description of stock fed in Northumberland, 

 and possesses a greater aptitude to fatten. In selecting feeding- 

 stock, it should always be kept in mind to choose such as are 

 likely to grow in size, and at the same time have a disposition to 

 feed ; which two important qualities the Durham ox seems to 

 possess to a greater extent than any other breed, and is therefore 

 most profitable to the farmer on good land. Heifers of this breed 

 will graze upon land of an inferior quality from that required by 

 oxen : they also feed faster, though they do not grow so fast. 

 Next to the Durhams, the most profitable stock fed in the county 

 is the Argyleshire heifer. An ox or stot of this breed requires as 

 good land as the Durhams to feed on; and sometimes they wdll 

 make as much profit, as they are highly prized by the butchers 

 who have a good retail trade, on account of their cutting out so 

 well in their fine points, and having so little coarse beef about 

 them. They are generally one, and sometimes two vears older 

 than the Durhams, when put up to feed, and, of course, do not 



