316 
A^gricultiire of Norfolk. 
heaviest of their cart-marcs with small blood-horses, uniting good 
bone and sinew with compactness of shape, thej might have made 
a real improvement. 
CATTLE. 
The cattle called " Norfolks," or " Home-Breds," seldom pos- 
sess any characteristics of thriving stock. They are generally of a 
dark red colour, without horns ; have narrow backs, thin thighs, 
and are of stunted growth. There may be some decent animals 
among them, but few will venture to say anything in their favour 
as a breed, except that the cows generally give a good quantity of 
milk. There are many, especially in the southern parts of the 
county, which are evidently the produce of crosses between these 
and the polled Suffolks ; but they have no qualities to compete 
successfully with the Short-Horns, Scots, Devons, Ayrshires, 
and Herefords : although in a few instances of crosses with these 
breeds the produce is better than I should have expected. For 
winter-feeding on turnips, linseed-cake, &c., the Short-Horns seem 
to have the most general preference at present. The same may be 
said of Ayrshires for the dairy ; and Devons are almost the only 
kind used for draught, on account of their quicker step and greater 
activity. A large proportion of the Devons are very beautiful 
animals. Probably there are as few bad ones of that breed as of 
any other whatever ; and (which is of great importance) they are 
well adapted to the particular situation, bearing in mind on what 
they have to be fed, as well as their being so suitable for the Lon- 
don market.* Good Scots are also in very high estimation for the 
latter reasons ; but farmers say, that it is much better to have a 
good animal of its kind, than to take at random from any parti- 
cular breed. Herefords are not so common in this county as 
* Mr. Marsham of Stratton Strawless and Mr. Overman of Weasenham 
keep Ayrshire cows. They occasionally cross with the Durham or short- 
horned bull for feeding-stock, but keep up their pure breed of Ayrshire for 
the dairy. Each feeds his male animals when little more than two years 
old, as paying better at that age than they would if kept later. They are 
then also more suitable for the London market. 
One gentleman says — " For this situation I think our present breed of 
cattle, the pure North Devon, cannot be improved upon. They are 
extremely healthy and hardy ; they maintain their condition on bare pas- 
tures in a dry summer better than almost any other breed. They will 
come, if required, to early maturity, and, when slaughtered, 1 believe there 
is no meat to surpass that of the North Devon in quality. I am now 
speaking with reference to the dry sandy soils of West Norfolk , in the 
rich grazing pastures of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and Wai- 
wicksliire I should prefer the Duiham or Hereford. In the mountains of 
Cardiganshire and Radnorshire I found the Ayrshire and Kyloe cattle 
answer remarkably well, and, although the experiment was not tried, I feel 
sure no high-bred animal could have borne the cold and hardship." 
