Report on the Agriculture of Sweden and Norway. 203^ 
proved, on the contrary, that year by year animals more worthy of the prizes 
come to the exhibition, naturally because the interest in better breeding is 
awakened, and people now can afford to feed better, the prices within the 
last twenty years having nearly doubled. The price of good animals varies 
now from 51. lis. to Gl. 13s. 6d., and some few remarkable animals have been 
oven sold for 11?. 2s. 3d. and upwards. 
" The time as well as the place for the exhibition are judiciously choseu ; 
in the middle of September the cattle return from the mountain-pastures, and 
those of most districts must pass by Siljord. Therefore thousands of animals 
pass through this place ; some are driven past, but most of them stop at the 
place of exhibition ; partly in order that some of them may be shown, but 
chiefly in order to sell. There is thus opportunity to make purchases in a short 
time, and, if requisite, of animals which are perfectly alike in shape and colour.* 
" The greatest defect in the Thelemark breed is that the value of the 
animal to the butcher is very small. When a cow has to be slaughtered on 
account of age or accident the value of the meat is very little. The bulls are 
small and insignificant, and when put on good food become sluggish and un- 
serviceable ; so that it would seldom pay to purchase them for breeding. Ayr- 
shire bulls have therefore been used successfully for crossing, and the mixed 
progeny has turned out extremely well. The cross does not gain anything 
in milking qualities, but usually retains the mother's structure with the greater 
fulness of body which distinguishes the AjTshire breed, giving it a much 
higher value for the butcher. In Thelemark no mixture of strange blood is 
considered judicious, and therefore the prizes are only given for the pure 
breed ; but for the agricultural districts the cross is to be recommended. 
" While the Ayrshire breed, as well in Sweden as in Norway, has of late 
years fallen into discredit on account of its liability to tubercular disease, no 
symptom of such disease has hitherto, so far as we know, been observed in 
the mixed progeny. Such halfblood beasts have, at the lloyal farm at 
Ladegaardsoen, attained a weight of 1100 lbs., and have been sold for 111. 5s. 
to the butcher ; while old Thelemark cows seldom fetch more than 51. 12s. 6c?. 
to 6?. 15s. As an instance of young Thelemark beasts having also had a fair 
value to the butcher, we may mention in May this year a five-year-old cow, 
weighing 850 lbs., and a three-year-old bull, .veighing 990 lbs., were sold for 
export to England at 1?. 2s. 96?. per cwt. live weight." 
In further elucidation of the characters and appearance of this 
breed I give overleaf a woodcut copy of a photograph of two of 
the prize cows at the last Gothenburg Agricultural Show, which 
were afterwards purchased by the King. Their diminutive size 
is well indicated by the stature and attitude of the servant. 
It may be added that the export to Great Britain of animals 
of this breed is not likely to become extensive, as the expenses, 
which amount to between 21. and 3/. per head, bear too large a 
proportion to their gross value, while the risk incurred by the 
voyage from Christiania to the ports of England and Scotland 
is so great that dealers express no inclination to increase the 
prices hitherto offered (see p. 219). 
* The exhibition was held in 1874 on Monday, 18th September. The road to 
Siljord is best via Skicn, whence a steam-vessel plies through a pretty canal 
with locks up to the lake Nordsjo, from the upper end of which the traveller can 
post the same day to the exhibition. Thelemark is widely known for its natural 
beauties, and on that account is visited by a great many travellers every year. 
