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Agriculture of Northumberland. 



grow so well as the latter; which induces the writer to give them 

 the preference to the Argyleshire cattle. The Durhams feed 

 best at three years old, and the Argyles at four. A heifer of this 

 breed will feed on much inferior land to that required by a Dur- 

 ham heifer : while the latter requires land worth 305. per acre, 

 the former will do well on land from 125. to 20^. per acre. One 

 other striking difference between the two breeds is, that the Ar- 

 gyles swell more out, but do not grow so much as the Durhams. 

 There is, however, no class of stock sells better than the Argyles 

 between September and Christmas, if between 34 and 40 stones 

 weight. The grazing of this class of stock has much increased 

 within the last few years in Northumberland ; and, now that 

 travelling is so easy, most of the extensive farmers attend the 

 large Scotch trysts in the autumn, where they purchase heifers to 

 graze on their inferior grass-land, which they suit better than any 

 other description. Ths black-polled Angus-shire cattle have 

 also lately been introduced into Northumberland. They are the 

 principal breed of cattle in Fife, Perth, and Forfar, where stall- 

 feeding is adopted, for which purpose they are preferred by the 

 farmers in that district. Where attention has been paid to the 

 breed, these are found to be excellent cattle, and have been 

 brought to great perfection by Mr. Watson of Keillor, and some 

 others. Of all the plans for fattening cattle, there seems to be 

 none which possesses so many advantages as stall-feeding. Eco- 

 nomy and variety in food, together with perfect cleanliness, can 

 be secured by this means alone. The collection and saving of 

 the liquid manure can be managed with ease and certainty, in 

 vain to be expected in open folds. Although considerable atten- 

 tion has been directed to it lately, the writer is not aware that it 

 has been adopted in Northumberland except for milk cows. 

 When such expensive food as linseed, peas-meal, and crushed 

 corn are used, unless the cattle are stall-fed, there is great waste. 

 /Although these articles named may seem too expensive for cattle, 

 yet the improvement which always follows a variety of food, as 

 well as the increased value of the manure (particularly with lin- 

 seed cake), is found to remunerate the farmer, as the cattle fatten 

 more than when confined to one diet, such as turnips. And if 

 food is thus judiciously given, a less loeight of nourishment toill 

 produce the same results as to weight of beef The Irish cattle are 

 found to do very well on land of similar value to that required by 

 the Argyle heifer, though much inferior in feeding qualities to the 

 latter. The breed has been much improved by a judicious cross 

 with the Durhams. They are most suitable for wintering in an 

 open fold, when poor keep only can be procured, and do not 

 answer so well as the Argyles, which do not require better land 

 to feed on. 



