122 
Farming of Yorkshire. 
difference in shod avrang-omont. The introduction of steamed 
food is dependent on the same principles which regulate the 
entire economy of the whole farm. The skill of the intelligent 
farmer is never shown with more effect than when thus exerted in 
adjusting his operations in husbandry to the ever-varying changes 
of climate, and applying the lessons of science to the selection of 
implements, manures, and crops best adapted to maintain the 
fertility of the soil, and develop its resources. The fluctuations 
in prices and manure must be met by corresponding changes in 
consumption. A dogged pursuit of one system of cultivation, 
though not bad in itself, must ever be attended with serious 
drawbacks from changes of season and of circumstance. In 
no respect is the growing intelligence of the age more clearly 
indicated in contrast with the habits of our ancestors than in the 
exercise of this discretion in modifying our practice. By this 
standard our use of steamed food must be ■ estimated, its value 
being contingent on a like good result being attained by the 
substitution of less costly materials. 
Sheep. — Our principal breeds of sheep are the Mountain, 
Cheviot, Barnshire, and Leicester, with a variety of crosses from 
these and the Southdown, which vary in different parts of the 
county, as will be hereafter specified. The higher ranges of 
hills in the West and North Ridings are grazed by mountain 
sheep ; a cross between the Cheviot and Leicester is found on 
the high-lands, which are draughted off to the lower districts, 
and find their chief market at York. The reputation of the 
county for its breed of sheep is well sustained at the Royal 
Agricultural and other shows. 
' A greater weight of mutton and wool being the desideratum, 
efforts are constantly made to obtain them by crossing and using 
heavier rams ; in this respect, however, our gain is probably not 
so much in weight as in numbers. There is a larger number of 
breeders, and these again keep larger flocks of ewes ; thus the 
markets are more freely supplied, not only with sheep, but also 
Avith lambs, the demand for which in the West Riding markets 
is very extensive, both from the increased population and the 
greater demand for meat consequent on a flourishing state of 
trade. 
We have before us some statistics of the leading markets, 
showing the increase in the consumption of beef, mutton, and 
corn since the year 1848, but they are so conflicting and doubt- 
ful that we set them aside as useless for determining the native 
produce, no sufficiently distinct account being kept of foreign, 
Scotch, and Irish importations, whilst recent changes in the 
Leeds and Wakefield markets tend further to confuse the ac- 
count. The farmers (especially on the Wolds) prefer the 
