36 
Agriculture of Berkshire. 
at the date of Mavor's Report such seems to have been the pre- 
vailing breed. The horses are generally driven three in a plough 
in the winter months, and two in the summer, on the light soils ; 
but, on the heaviest, lour are sometimes used. One acre per team 
is considered a fair day's work when fallowing or ploughing ley- 
ground, and 1\ acre of tilled land ; they generally work 8 hours, 
from 7 o'clock to 3. Some, whose farmsteads are central, rest, 
them an hour in the middle of the day, and work an hour later ; 
but this does not answer when the fields are far from home. 
Neat Cattle. 
From the small proportion of grass-land it will naturally be 
inferred that neither dairies nor grazing form a very prominent 
feature in the county ; but as the principal part of the grass-land 
is in the Vale district, it calls for a special notice. Here dairies 
for the most part prevail, the management of which is such as 
has been often described. Most farmers rear a few calves, but 
generally they are sold at about 10 days old ; the cow-calves being 
bought hy the dealers to send back into the districts from whence 
they obtain the heifers in calf : in some instances the same calves 
are repurchased when rising three years old, when, as it is termed, 
they are down for calving. The cattle are mostly of the short- 
horn or rather Durham breed, without regard to pedigree ; but 
there are more pure-bred bulls used than formerly ; several of the 
landed proprietors keeping first-rate short-horn bulls, of which 
they allow their tenants and neighbours the use : consequently a 
very visible improvement is taking place in the quality of the 
cow stock. Some oxen and steers are kept for eating the poor 
grass in the summer and for feeding and making manure in the 
winter. 
In the upland district, dairies and grazing form quite a 
subordinate feature. At Mr. W. Champion's of Calcot, near 
Reading, however, a good breed of short-horns may be seen. On 
those farms which have a considerable proportion of pasture some 
short-horn cows are often kept ; where there is but little, two or 
three Jersey cows, or a cross between Jersey and short-horn, 
suffice for supplying the family with milk and butter. Some of 
this cross produce large quantities of butter : I have been told of 
one which last year gave 400 lbs., besides fattening her calf. A 
few teams of oxen are worked (mostly of the Devon breed) on 
those soils which are suited to their hoofs, but they are not much 
in favour or in very extensive use. 
Pigs. 
Berkshire has ever been celebrated for its breed of pigs, and 
most justly so, where proper attention has been paid to their 
