38 
Relative Profits to the Farmer from 
almost exclusively? arable, where cattle could not be kept in the summer, 
breeding could not be carried out, therefore it is preferable to buy stores. As- 
is the case to a larger extent in this and adjoining counties, cattle are pur- 
chased in the autumn ; they are either made o£f fat, or sold to the graziers in 
the spring. 
On farms where a large extent of roots is grown, a larger number of sheep 
can be wintered than could be advantageously bred, such farms not affording 
much summer food. 
Agricultural horses do pay to breed, there being but little risk. A man, 
however, may breed half-a-dozen nags, and, perhaps, find only one good for 
anything. They must be very exceptional circumstances indeed that would 
make the breeding of horses (even agricultural to any great extent) more 
profitable than that of cattle and sheep. My " experience " would lead me 
to say that in a very large majority of the farms of this county sheep are 
more profitable than cattle, for this reason, the herbage and climate are more 
adapted to them. Even on a great deal of the second-rate grass land, a better 
return is found to be made with sheep. A farmer finds that a good clip "of 
wool comes in very handy. On mixed farms (arable and grass) both cattle 
and sheep can be advantageously kept. 
The Leicestershire and Lincolnshire horses are almost exclusively used ia 
this county. They are either bred or bought at tvi'o years old, and are 
worked until seven or eight years old, and then find a ready sale for the 
London or provincial markets. 
Shorthorns are almost the only cattle bred in the county. A larger 
number are bred than formerly, and these, too, of improved quality. A few 
Hereford steers find their way into the county, their great docility making 
them fixvourites as yard beasts. They are also thought to fatten more readily 
on our second-rate grass lands, but as they put on more fat in proportion to 
the lean meat they are not sought after by our local butchers, but generally 
find their way to London, where a better market awaits them. Shorthorns 
are gradually extending themselves, and will doubtless exclude other breeds 
in tliis county. They make a greater return in much less time ; and having 
more lean meat, they are more eagerly bought up by the butchei's. 
Thirty years ago the great majority of the flocks of this county were of the 
Leicester or Long-woolled breeds. Crossing was, however, introduced, the 
result proving satisfactory. Such flocks are now the exception. Earns of the 
Oxfordshire breed are now extensively used ; and in the early spring months, 
sheep at about thirteen or fourteen months old, of most superior size and 
quality, are disposed of at our Bedford fat-cattle markets. Cotswold and other 
long-woolled rams are used, but not to the same extent as formerlj\ The 
fashion being more for a black face and leg. Thus it appears the Oxfordshircs 
are "best suited for our own part of the country:" at all events^, sheep 
possessing dark faces and legs with a good fleece of wool are rapidly extending, 
themselves. 
Charles Howard. 
23, Dalgan Park, Shrule, Headford. M.vyo. 
1 am of opinion that British farmers, and especially farmers in the province 
of Conr.aught, in Ireland, could and should, for their own profit and advantage, 
breed more horses, cattle, and sheep, than tlicy do. But I should say that, 
like all rules, there are exceptional cases. For instance, if a farm bo purely 
a tillage one, the farmer must necessarily be short of p;xsturage, consequently 
it will be more to his advantage, or at least to his convenience, to purchase his- 
supply of horses, though (with convenient farmstead accommodation) I believe 
