Breeding, Rearing, and Feeding, Horses, Cattle, and Sheep, 67 
or so profitably reared. The best soil on which to rear farm or any kind 
of horses profitably is one which is light in texture, dry, and possessing 
a fair share of grazing-ground of a rough but grassy nature. 
Wherever, as a rule, the farm or soil is unsuitable for grazing it is unsuit- 
able for breeding and rearing. Hence it is found almost to a certainty that 
the greatest numbers of cattle are produced where the land is found suitable for 
pasturing and dairying, and the fewest where the soil will not naturally grow 
grass. 
Sheep cannot be bred and reared profitably on heavy iindrained land, or on 
any kind of soil which is wet and in want of drainage. On all light land 
and dry farms sheep do well ; and on such farms, in my opinion, the most 
natural method is to rear a sufficiency for the farm. Under the reverse con- 
ditions it becomes a necessity to purchase sheep for fattening purposes. 
Under no circumstances that I am aware of is the breeding and rearing of 
agricultural or any kind of horse more profitable to the farmer than the breed- 
ing and feeding of cattle and sheep. 
In my opinion cattle- and sheep-breeders, always supposing that the busi- 
ness is understood and the right breeds cultivated, have fewer risks to 
■encounter — less expensive feeding being required, — and the money-value of 
the animals can be sooner and more certainly realised than by breeding horses. 
I have known of very many instances where men in the habit of breeding 
horses to "a moderate extent have got disgusted with all the extra trouble 
■entailed by it ; and in breeding hunters, hacks, &c., especially disgusted with 
the improper characters of trainers and grooms ; and have in consequence 
abandoned horse- for cattle- and sheep-breeding. 
I have never known of a farmer giving up cattle- and sheep-breeding for 
horse-breeding, unless under very peculiar circumstances, more connected with 
taste than with profit. In some instances in Ireland I have known farmers 
give over keeping sheep from the difficulty there often is of getting them pro- 
perly herded and taken care of. In some instances, too, where the land, from 
good management, has become too rich for the successful rearing of lambs, I 
have known cattle substituted. 
At present the breeding of half-bred horses (that is an animal between the 
cart-mare and the thoroughbred sire) pays best in Ireland, and if bred big 
enough make the best horses for the farm. Shorthorns or theu- crosses, and 
Leicester and Lincoln sheep, and their crosses, if properly fed and managed, 
are the most suitable for this part of Ireland. For the United Kingdom, for 
farm work, I should say the Clydesdale horse is generally the most suitable. 
With regard to cattle and sheep, soil and climate must be taken into account, 
and different breeds kept to suit different circumstances. 
Thomas Eobektson, 
57. Ellingham, Chathill, Nobthumbebland. 
With the exception of cart-horses at their present price, I do not think 
' farmers could breed more stock with profit. Young or lean stock are quite as 
cheap relatively as fat stock are. 
On good land, worth upwards of 40s. per acre, breeding horses will not pay- 
not even cart-horses. On rough grass land, or half moor and half grass, that 
is, where the rough grass runs into patches of heather here and there, breedino- 
cart-horses will pay well. In no case will breeding hacks and blood-horses 
pay- 
Under no circumstances will breeding horses pay better than other kinds of 
stock ; agricultural horses, at their present price, excepted, that is, on rou<^h 
F 2 
