62 
Agriculture of the Islands of 
year, for they become extremely wild and troublesome : tbey 
may be purchased at this age for 10/. or 12/. ; some of the best 
yearlings are frequently sold as high as 16 sovereigns: an 
ordinary one-year-old bull can be bought for 8 sovereigns. Very 
few oxen are fattened : the island is supplied with beef from 
France. A law exists in Jersey, by which the entry of all 
foreign bulls and cows is prohibited ; this was passed by the 
States of the island a long time since, in order that the island 
breed should maintain its purity, which it has done hitherto, 
and no doubt will continue to do for a long time to come, if we 
judge from the tenacity with which every native adheres to it. 
The horses used on farms do not form any distinct breed ; 
some are imported from France, others from England, and some 
are bred in the island ; the farmer generally selects for his 
purpose a small compact animal calculated for all work. In 
former times there did exist in Jersey a small breed of horse, 
Avhich was extremely hardy ; its colour was black, and until 
lately it was to be found pure, but now it has given way to 
animals of better symmetry. The horses are tethered in the same 
way as cows, and being accustomed to it by degrees get quite 
reconciled to their narrow limits. Their food in winter consists 
of hay, straw, oats, and carrots — it would be difficult to say 
■what proportion of each ; the animals that fortunately fall into 
good hands are well taken care of, but there are many that are 
comparatively ill provided for. 
The pig commonly found in the Jersey farm is a large white 
animal, no doubt of French extraction, but greatly ameliorated 
by crossings which have taken place with English breeds. Sows 
generally litter in the spring and in the fall of the year — the first 
litter about March. It oung pigs are sold when six weeks old 
at \0s. to 15s. each. When young, pigs are fed on sour milk 
and cabbage-leaves ; to this is added bran or pollard : wlien 
they have attained a certain age small potatoes, cow-kale, and 
mangold-leaves are given them, with anv other green food 
which may be grown. When the period of fattening commences 
parsnips are given them, — they eat these raw lor some time 
with their milk, &c. ; then, for six weeks or so before killing, the 
parsnips are steamed, and barley or oatmeal is added. A pig 
tlius treated will, when killed at ten months old, weigh generally 
about eight or nine scores. The meat is cut up and salted, and 
becomes the staple food of the country people. 
Tlie breeding of sheep is not attended to ; a few arc kept in 
some of the principal farms, but they are considered more orna- 
mental than profitable. The Jersey farmer pays the greatest 
attention to his cows, which bring him a better return than any 
other stock in his possession. The dairy itself is usually a small 
