-250 



Farming of Cumberland. 



the darker colours existed in former ages, such as blacks, browns, 

 reds, duns, &c., as these are still found in a domesticated state. 



Within livino: memory, the cattle in Bevvcastle, Stapleton, 

 Kirkandrews, Alston, and the neighbouring parishes, were of the 

 long-horned breed, and chiefly of dark colours, such as blacks, 

 browns, and dark reds (the last colour most prevalent), with the 

 distinctive white backs ; and these were reputed to have resulted 

 from the intermixture of the Scotch and English breeds, occa- 

 sioned by the forays and reprisals of border warfare ; and accord- 

 ingly, advancing from Scotland (the present great district of black 

 cattle) in a south-westerly direction, the colours appear gradually 

 to have been of lighter shades, till at the other extreme of the 

 county (Whicham, Millom, &c.) the whitest of the long-horns 

 have been prevalent. Few of the long-horns have been without 

 more or less of the darker colours, and the rich-looking, dark, 

 velvety, chocolate-coloured sides have been the cherished colour ; 

 but all, or nearly all, have exhibited the characteristic strip of 

 white along the back ; and these may be considered as the pe- 

 culiar breed of this county, so long as the county had a breed of 

 its own. 



In all recent times there have been varieties in certain districts, 

 kept tolerably pure for a length of time ; and these have brought 

 themselves into notice by peculiar qualities or colours. For in- 

 stance, the Lyzick breed, which emanated from the Hall of that 

 name, at the western foot of Skiddaw : they were truly a beautiful 

 race, with fine spreading horns, and nearly pure white, except 

 the ears and muzzle, which were dark brown, and a few small 

 dark spots on the sides and legs. When seen in herds, their 

 lively figure and lofry carriage rendered them probably as orna- 

 mental a kind of cattle as England produced at the time ; but 

 their indifferent milking qualities hastened their extinction. 



The Lamplugh cattle, usually termed " Lamplugh hokeys," 

 were another race peculiar to the neighbourhood from whence 

 their name was derived. About the commencement of the pre- 

 sent century they were especial favourites, from their hardiness, 

 quietness, and excellent grazing qualities ; and they were also 

 average milkers. This breed stood low on the leg, and though 

 exhibiting many features which are now objected to — such as thick 

 joints and heavy hides,* with abundance of dewlap and " neck 

 leather," some with heavy horns, and mostly of clumsy appear- 

 ance — were always, when of pure blood, quiet, reasonably quick 

 feeders, and first-rate butchers' cattle. Their colours were dark 

 red or brown, and some black. All had white faces and legs, and 



* Many of the cows' hides weighed from 7 to 8 or even 9 stones at the slaughter, 

 and were greatly prized for making leather of a strength and firmness such as 

 cannot now be found or made. 



