Breediruf, Rearing, and Feeding, Horses, Cattle, and Sheep. 65 
prices ; although the cost of rearing would be less on farms having a good 
ontrun and shelter than where the extent under <rrass is limited. On carse 
lands, or when the soil and climate are favourable for almost continuous 
cropping, and when that system is practised, stock must be bought to con- 
sume the winter food of the farm if not otherwise disposed of ; but when there 
are two-fifths to one-half or more under grass, breeding all the stock you 
can fatten is the most profitable, owing to the high price that has now to be 
paid for good young stock, as well as the difiSculty of getting them. 
On arable farms suitable for cattle, I would buy sheep to graze, rather 
than breed them ; breeding sheep and fattening them can only be carried 
out profitably on a large scale, each class of stock having to to be kept 
separate, which would be expensive and troublesome on a small farm. T 
do not know that the breediog of horses would be more or less profitable 
than cattle or sheep, but more money would be made by having all the three 
classes on the same farm than from either singly. 
On rich pasture or first-class grass land cattle will pay better than sheep ; 
while on exposed or steep land of indifferent quality sheep will pay best. 
The Clydesdale horse is well suited for any agricultural district ; while as 
to cattle, I do not think that any of our pure breeds will come so early to 
maturity, or give a better return in meat for the amount of food they con- 
sume, than a first cross out of a polled or a Highland cow, and after a 
Shorthorn bull. It, of all others, is the true rent-payer. Every subsequent 
cross leaves more weeds, although, with proper selection, you get fewer as you 
go on. 
Of sheep, half-breds are the best. For quality of mutton, Grey-faces 
(Crosses) may be superior. 
A. F. Leslie. 
54. BuBTON Fields, Stamfobd Bridge, Yorkshire. 
I think the British farmer could with profit breed more cattle than at pre- 
sent. With regard to horses and sheep much depends ujjon the situation of 
the farm and the nature of the land. Rich grass will not pay to be eaten up 
by young horses and sheep. At any rate, in most cases, it will pay better 
eaten by cattle. 
If a farmer has a portion of second-rate grass land, he can with profit breed" 
a few horses ; but he must not begin to breed from unsound animals, or else 
he gets worthless ones, and they eat him up. 
Home people take the trouble to breed as many cattle as can be fed on the 
farm, and I think it is a very good plan and pays well, while there is less risk 
of diseases of all sorts. Others, on good land, buy cattle and feed them out, 
aud by so doing get a quicker return, but often bring disease, which reduces the 
profit. I think almost every farmer can breed a certain quantity of sheep with 
profit. 
Horses we must have ; but breeding sheep and cattle pays better. There is 
less risk, and quicker returns are obtained. 
I think a good, wide, short-legged horse, with substance, and not too 
much hair on his legs, 16 hands high, with good action, suits best ; and I 
think every farmer ought to have a nice, wide, bav, coaching mare to work in 
the farm and breed, so as to keep this class of harness-horses in England. 
The foreigners purchase many of the best bay mares from Yorkshire. 
Shorthorns are the best of the cattle breeds. I^icesters, with as much sub- 
stance and quality as possible, stand highesli among sheep. 
f',,'\J. John Kirbt. 
VOL. XII. — S. S. 
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