Breeding, Rearing, and Feeding Horses, Cattle, and Sheep. 53 
The breeding of hacks, hunters, «&c., has never proved profitable here, but 
the breeding of agricultural horses has at all times paid ; and under the excep- 
tional high prices at present would do so fully as well as, if not better than cattle. 
Whether sheep or cattle are the more profitable depends greatly on the 
district of country and the nature of the soil they are fed on. Many of the 
farmers here are keeping sheep in considerable numbers who kept none a few 
years ago. This can be accounted for in several ways ; but I think the 
principal reason is the high price of labour, for the farmer now finds it more 
profitable to let some of his thin dry land remain in grass, and keep sheep on 
it, than to cultivate it. 
The principal breed of cattle here is a cross between the Shorthorn bull 
and the Aberdeen, or cross cow, but principally from the latter. I breed from 
the Hereford bull and cross cow, and have done so for the past ten years, 
getting most of my bulls from Her Majesty's stock at Windsor ; and I think 
by introducing the Hereford blood I have improved the constitution, get as 
early maturity, and as much weight. I consider these crosses, whether from 
Shorthorns or Herefords, the most profitable to the farmer, and therefore the 
piost suitable for the country. Clydesdale horses arc by far best suited, not 
only for this district, but for the United Kingdom, botli as regards activity 
and durability. Half-bred sheep from the Leicester ram and the Cheviot 
ewe are the general stock bred in this quarter : but I breed Shropshire Downs, 
and from the short experience I have had, I find them answer very well, and 
I have no doubt a finer breed of sheep will soon become general. 
E. COPLAKD. 
38. CUSHNIE, KiNCARDINESHIBE, N.B. 
Farmers could breed more stock, but not to the utmost extent of their 
requirements. 
Young horses are destructive to wooden and wire fencing, and there is no 
material for stone dykes in this part of the country ; nor do thorns ever 
become complete fences. When horses were cheaper than they are now, 
many farmers gave up breeding, finding it cheaper to buy than to breed, and 
it takes a considerable time to induce any considerable number of farmers again 
to take to breeding. Young horses are also expensive to rear. The mare, 
if a good one, is in the first instance cosily; many are barren, and a 
breeding-mare is of little value for work during the time she is in-foal and 
in-milk ; the young Clydesdale progeny is of no use on the farm till three 
years old, and will not stand for an ordinary horse till four, or perhaps five, 
years old. 
Scotland is eminently a cattle-feeding country, more than a breeding. The 
milder climate of Ireland enables Irish farmers to breed calves, and to keep 
them in early youth cheaper than can be done in Scotland. In Ireland cattle 
can be kept on the open pastures for nearly nine months in the year ; in Scot- 
land not more than four, and in winter they must be entirely housed and kept 
on expensive food. 
Irish cattle, if of good sorts, will generally pay more to the Scotch feeder 
than cattle bred on the farm, if the cost of the first purchase of a herd of cows 
and bull, with their annual keep, be taken into account Sheep cannot 
be bred profitably on small holdings, but are increasing on larger farms. 
A tenant-farmer paying a smart rent — as almost every farmer does — 
must have quick returns. Both sheep and cattle yield earlier returns, and 
])erhaps, on the average, greater than horses. Horses on any farm can only 
be bred profitably to a limited extent. 
