Breeding, Rearing, and Feeding Horses, Cattle, and Sheep. 33 
along with occasional good ones many useless animals will be bred which will 
not pay for their keep. Hunters will not, on the average, pay for breeding. It 
is of no use trying to breed and rear them on poor land ; and on good land 
cattle or sheep will pay much more, make a much quicker return, and with 
much less expense and risk. Hunters cannot be sold, on an average, under 
45 years old, and need breaking and expensive care. 
1 have known several farmers give up breeding horses, and very m:iny, 
who formerly bred a few, have given it up ; indeed, very few now breed unless 
they have an old mare that is not worth selling, and which they do not like to 
kill. For many years I bred more hunters than any one in the Borders, except 
Mr. Caldcr, in Berwickshire ; yet, although I have sold many individual 
animals for high jjrices, I am well aware they never paid me nearly so well as 
cattle or sheep would have done. Indeed, they generally proved a loss ; and but 
for the pleasure of having such animals to look at, educate, and ride, I should 
not advise any one to breed them. 
I never knew of any farmer giving up breeding cattle or sheep in favour of 
horses. 
When rough grass, only fit for cattle, has been drained and fined by lime, &c., 
sheep are found to be more suitable and profitable. Shorthorns are found to be 
faster growers and more easily fattened than any other breed of cattle. Sheep 
are bred and fed, according to the land and climate ; on low and good land none 
grow and fatten so fast as the Leicester; on higher lands and more exposed, 
half-bred Leicester and Cheviot sheep are more hardy and thrive better, although 
a little slower in fattening. 
On the higher hills Cheviot ewes pay best, and are much used to breed half- 
bred lambs with Leicester rams, which are generally sold to supply pasture 
and turnip farms down the country, and to south-country farmers. 
The best sort of horse for the farm that I have ever seen is a cross between 
the improved Clydesdale horse and the old Northumberland mares, descended 
from the tribes known as CuUeys, Bakewells, and Vardys. They have more 
strength, greater activity, and quickness of stsp than any other. 
G. A. Grey. 
19. Hawkhill, Alnwick, Northumberland. 
It is my opinion that more cattle and sheep might be bred than are at 
present. Not so horses, which to breed and rear are the most expensive, most 
exhaustive, and most luicertain stock a farmer can have ; and even at the 
present high price of individual good ones, rearing them does not pay. Colts, 
to be properly matured, should be well fed from their birth, not only with the 
best of pasturage, but with artificial food. This feeding, together with what 
they cost at birth, through risk and sacrifice of dam, sire-fee, &c., amounts to. 
more than the average price which they bring in market. 
Under ordinary circumstances — that is, where there is little or no proper 
accommodation for breeding and rearing cattle — it would be found cheaper to 
purchase than to rear. them. Under the general mode of rearing by hand thej'- 
are so liable to ailments — " scour" when calves, and " quarter-ill" or "black- 
leg" when yearlings, which carry off in many places a large 23crcentage of 
them — that the purchase-system is found to be best. Yet there is no doubt 
that if cattle could be well reared from their birth, it would be very advisable 
to breed them, and in no manner can the}' be so satisfactorily brought up till 
8 or 10 months old as by allowing them to suckle their dams. Where there 
is convenience for so doing, a regular stock of Shorthorn or polled Galloway 
heifers, 2 years old, should be bought in direct from the pastures or folds 
every spring, and put to a Shorthorn bull. They should calve the following 
VOL. XII. — S, S. D 
