20 
Relative Profits to the Farmer from 
There are undoubtedly some lands, even whole counties, that would seem, 
from the prevailing practice, to be better adapted for sheep- than cattle; but, 
in my experience, more rent can be made out of land of fair quality from 
grazing and feeding cattle than sheep. Ireland is not suitable, from its climate, 
to sheep-husbandry, but it is remarkably adapted to the production of cattle. 
A friend of mine, who farmed extensively in a neighbouring county and was 
an excellent manager of cattle-stock, but reared very few, leased a farm in the- 
south of Scotland some years ago, and continued his practice of cattle-manage- 
ment, which had been quite successful here ; but experience has led him to 
draw more into sheei>-stock. The only reason he gives for it is, that cattle do- 
not graze so satisfactorily with them as with us, and that for grazing purposes- 
he prefers sheep. I have also known an extensive farmer in Forfarshire who 
abandoned sheep and took to cattle, on the plea that both stocks could not be 
managed to advantage. His acreage was about 800. 
For agricultural purposes the medium-sized Clydesdale horse is best suited. 
Of cattle, well-bred Shorthorns or polled Angus, or good crosses with these 
breeds, are our most profitable sorts. Of sheep, the Border Leicester, or half- 
bred, for grazing and feeding purposes on arable lands, rank first. In some 
parts the Shropshire Downs have been introduced with success. 
William Smith. 
9. EiBSTON Hall, Wethekby, Yoekshibb. 
In this neighbourhood there is no doubt that many, indeed, the majority, of 
the farmers have given up breeding cattle, and now buy in Irish stock, which 
they fatten. The usual practice is to buy lean cattle in October, wintes 
them and sell fat from the pastures during the following summer. IBullocks 
are generally preferred, because geld cows and heifers very frequently turn 
out to be in-calf. Of late years the quality of these bullocks has wonderfully 
improved, many of them being full of Shorthorn blood, and all of them crosses. 
They are hardy, and quick feeders, and suit the climate and quality of our 
grass land, which is scarcely good enough to feed off big Shorthorn bullocks 
without the assistance of cake. In many cases the bullocks get nothing but 
straw and tiu-nips during the winter, it being a common practice to pull about 
a third of the swede crop for them ; but of late years, since the introduction 
of cotton-cake, they are often treated to a portion of cake in winter, and 
it is becoming more usual to see also the cake-troughs in the pastures, much 
to the advantage of the stock and the land. The farmer who has capital 
considers that he turns over his money quicker, and insures a speedier, return 
by this system, than by keeping on his farm a breeding-stock ; and I fear that 
some who are short of capital are accommodated by the dealers, who make a 
profit at both ends with the cattle, and, as I am informed, not unfrequently 
have a lien upon the stock while it is being fed by the farmer. 
At one time this class of stock suffered seriously from pleuro-pneumonia, 
and I can remember two lots of cattle in diflerent years nearly all falling 
victims. At present the stock is generally healthy, except from the epidemic 
of foot-and-mouth disease, which seems to give little anxiety to the grazier, 
unless it attacks the beasts which are nearly ready for the butcher, about 
August or September, when, as in the present year, they may be thrown back 
for finishing in winter. 
"When I look at the price of butler in the present day, and compare it with 
the samj article twenty years ago, I am rather surprised that more attention 
is not paid to this branch of agriculture. In 1852, I was farming, and my 
butter ranged from 8(/. to Is. Zd. jier lb. of 16 ozs. In 18C5, when I gave up my 
