14 
Relative Profits to the Farmer from 
keep, greater risks, and far greater labour, anxiety, and skill, requisite for suc- 
cessful horse-breeding. Such, at least, is the opinion of 
John Wilson. 
3. TiPTEEE Hall, Essex. 
The question whether we should breed or purchase our live-stock is dependent 
on a variety of conditions, such as : — a proper knowledge of live-stock manage- 
ment ; the quality of the soil, and description of its productions ; the climate ; 
and shelter. In Essex and in Sulfolk it is a common practice for a farmer 
to breed sufficient colts to keep up the necessary horse-power. Pigs are also 
very generally bred on the farms in some districts. Sheep are bred to sell as 
lean stock. In this case the land becomes less capable of producing abundant 
corn-crops, unless much cake or imported food and manures are used. 
My own practice is to breed my sheep ; crossing Hampshire Down or 
Suffolk Down ewes (with dark faces), and a Cotswold or Lincoln well-bred 
ram — the latter I prefer. The lambs thus bred are well fed from their early 
age, the ewes also always having rape-cake. By keeping the lambs in a 
growing and fattening condition they are usually sold fat at 12 months old 
at prices varying from 60s. to 73s. each, according to market-price. I con- 
sider that fat stock makes fat crops ; lean stock, lean crops. 
My experience is that animals bred on a farm thrive better than when 
imported. Lean animals cannot, for some time, stand good high feeding. 
They are also more subject to disease and loss than those bred on the farm, 
and well fed and cared for from their youth. I never could do well with 
purchased sheep. Of course, when we purchase, the prices may be very cheap 
or very dear, according to weather and supply of natural food. 
I never breed from crosses, but have pure blood on each side. My ewes 
are kept for several years, and then fattened under cover in sheds. Although 
I have only 6 acres of natural pasture, I generally keep about 80 ewes, and 
get 120 lambs on this farm of 175 acres, landlords' measure. Both our sheep 
and lambs are always folded within iron hurdles on wheels, the ewes following 
the lambs. The fold is removed every twelve hours. A variety of food is 
prepared and carried to the sheep and lambs daily, in addition to that on 
which the fold is made. Thus the land and the sheep are both in fattening 
condition. 
. About three weeks or a month before parturition the ewes have a run in a 
small pasture, but are enclosed in yard and shed at night when cold. 
In breeding stock, as in every other business, the difference between good 
and bad management regulates the profit or loss. I used, before the cattle- 
plague, to wean, rear, and fatten 30 calves annually, buying them from the 
breeders at about 3 weeks old. Now I purchase them from farmei-s at 9 
to 12 months old. In my case breeding, fattening, and corn-growing, go on 
concurrently. 
I do not pay fancy prices for stock, I am a great believer in the advantages 
of good and suitable food, and under cover-shelter during the six cold months, 
with long nights and short days. I do not consider much area of jiermanent 
pasture necessary for breeding stock, jnovided we so intermix our various 
feeding-stuffs, and artificial green and root-crops, as to suit the. growth and 
condition of the animals. We should endeavour to imitate nature, which,- in 
good permanent pastures, supplies a great variety of plants, having different 
and peculiar properties, and periods of ripening. In fact, good grass hay illus- 
trates practically my meaning : for it is an admirable admixture, and accept- 
able to live-stock. Wc can imitate this, to a great extent, by varieties of 
other food. 
