Farming of Dorsetshire. 
419 
course is wheat, barley, clover, roots ; a tliird, wheat, beans, 
vetches, and red clover ; the vetciies followed by swedes, wliich are 
drawn for stall-feedinj;, and the situation of the clover reversed 
every third year. This rotation is very suitable for lands that 
are too tenacious for growing barley of good quality, and is 
practised with slight variations by some of the best farmers in 
the vale. Another course is wheat, barley, grass, wheat, vetches 
or stubble, turnips. A fifth, wheat, rape, wheat, clover ; and 
a sixtii — 
1. Oats and stubble turnips j V'etches. 
2. Mangold ITurnijjs and swedes. 
3. ()at%or barley. 
4. Wheat. 
These are some of the rotations of the vale, but a large pro- 
portion is managed without the slightest regard to anything like 
regularity or a proper succession of crops. 
The breed of the cattle* kept in the vale may be much im- 
proved in purity, and the same remark applies to the dairy dis- 
tricts. The true Dorset cow is a long - horn, white-backed, 
with short dark stripes over the body, and is considered by 
breeders as true to the county as the Devon is to the locality 
whose name it bears. Tlie breed of pigs is noted for a great 
tendency to fatten, and Mr. John Coate, of Hammoon, has so 
much improved them, that his specimens have for some years 
taken the gold medal or other prizes at Smithfield Cattle Show. 
The animal is very compact, wide across the shoulders and over 
the loins, deep in the back, heavy in the chop, short in the 
muzzle, fine skinned, of a uniform black colour, and with an 
amazing tendency to fatten. A 20 weeks' old pig will graze 
7 score, and on the average they reach 20 score at 12 jnonths' age : 
thev have been grazed to 29 score within the 12 months. The 
* The cattle bred in this county should be somewhat regarded ; for although 
there are uot many herds of any pure breed, there are several choice herds of 
Devon, Hereford, AyTshire, and Alderney cattle, which may and do afford valu- 
able animals to breeders elsewhere for a change of blood. The generality of the 
herds are, I must admit, of mixed breed of some kind nsefuUy crossed perhaps 
for the dair}-, but, as I believe, not so wisely crossed perhaps when the whole of 
the purposes for which cattle are reared are considered. The old Dorset cow can 
scai-cely be found pure, but often may be seen in some of her features in the 
form of progeny whose sire has been either Devon, Hereford, or short-horn ; for 
hulls of all breeds are used, as fancy may have suggested or opportunity may 
have permitted ; and a.s in breeding horses, so in breeding cattle, the Dorset 
farmer is too much accustomed to accept the service of the cheapest and nearest 
horse or bull without regard to the probable defects that cannot fail to appear in 
such ill-assorted nuptials. On this head I consider great improvements may be 
made iu Dorsetshire, as I believe the best bred animal pays best when all 
purposes are considered. In part of Dorsetshire, Devons prosper ; in other parts 
Herefords are better suited to the fai-ms ; and in some parts the short-horns will 
find lands good enough to promote the growth of their larger frames. — Portman. 
