Breeding, Rearing, and Feeding Horses, Cattle, and Sheep. 37 
lessens the danger of catcliing disease, and gives the occupier of land a regular 
«nd interesting employment during a greater part of the year. The onlj' 
description of fand which would warrant the purchasing of cattle for feeding is 
where the rent is very high per acre, and where the greatest amount of in- 
come is derived from the produce disposed of in a raw or unmanufactured 
«tate. 
My experience and observation lead me to the conclusion that in the south 
. of Scotland and north of England a mixed stock of cattle and sheep is the 
safest and most profitable ; but were I to distinguish between the two, I 
venture to say sheep would pay best. The rainfall in the district referred to 
is moderate, and sheep thrive better than cattle in a dry climate. 
The description of agricultural horses best suited for our part of the 
country is the Clydesdale. Personally I prefer a cross-breed between a Clydes- 
dale sire and a dam with a little breeding. Cheviot sheep are best suited 
for the Border Hills. By far the largest proportion of the arable land in the 
south of Scotland is best adapted for the breeding and feeding of what are 
called Half-bred or Leicester-Cheviots, that is to say, across between a 
Leicester tup and a Cheviot ewe. The cattle most suitable for the district 
are those by a pure-bred Shorthorn bull and good strong dams of almost any 
breed. As a rule, for agricultural purposes generally, cross-breeds of cattle 
and sheep are best adapted for the district, being more robust in consti- 
tution, and when fat the carcases command a higher price per pound than 
pure breeds. 
William Eiddell. 
22. BiDDENHAM, BEDFORD. 
I think a large number of British farmers might, with great advantage to 
themselves, breed more cart or agricultural horses, cattle, and sheep, especially 
•cattle, and particularly those farmers occupying what are termed mixed 
farms. On all such holdings it must answer to keep a few well-bred cows. 
Some of the best managers I know, not only wean the calves, the produce of 
•their own cows, but purchase others from those who keep cows to supply 
milk either to the London or local markets. These men have always animals 
to sell either as beef or stores. Great as the improvement is in the use of 
Tvell-bred bulls, there is yet room for much more. It is highly desirable that 
in all our milk, butter, and cheese-making districts good bulls should be 
introduced. The Birmingham spring bull sales during the last few years have 
been the means of introducing large numbers of well-bred bulls into the 
midland counties, thus conferring immense benefits, not only upon the breeder, 
but upon the country at large. It appears to me that these sales might be 
advantageously extended to other districts in England. 
On light-land farms, when much work has to be done in the spring and 
early summer months, the breeding of horses is found inconvenient ; but even 
on these farms of late years, in consequence of the high price of horses, 
breeding has been introduced to a small extent. On heavy-land farms, with a 
good proportion of grass land, the breeding of agricultural horses can with 
greater advantage be carried out, and profitably too. Where these horses are 
bred, namely, the midland and fen districts, foals have made this season over 
40?. each, and two-year-old colts over lOOL There is no class of animal that 
will pay better than this. 
On all the fine grazing lands of the country, where rents are high, it would 
not answer to breed cattle. The grazier could not afford to keep animals so 
long on the farm; besides, where breeding is carried out, at least successfully, 
it is necessary to have a supply of straw and roots. Also on farms that are 
