52 
On  the  Climate  of  the  British  Islands 
found  in  quantity  on  the  hips  and  dewlaps,  as  in  the  wilder  sheep 
of  Wales.  There  is  here  that  adaptation  which  is  everywhere 
observed  in  this  species  of  animals,  to  the  physical  conditions  of 
the  country  in  which  they  are  naturalised.  The  ridge  of  hair 
along  the  spine,  and  on  the  haunches  and  breast,  causes  the 
moisture  to  fall  off,  and  is  a provision  against  the  wetness  of  the 
boggy  soil.”* 
From  these  facts  it  is  obvious  that  as  we  have  in  these  islands 
great  variations  in  the  climate  of  different  districts,  the  law  of 
nature  which  governs  the  distribution  of  our  stock  cannot  be 
departed  from  with  impunity. 
The  animals  of  the  vales  have  been  brought  to  a high  state 
of  perfection  in  the  improved  short-horn,  and  in  the  new  Leicester 
sheep.  The  mountain  breeds  should  now  receive  equal  attention, 
especially  as  they  constitute  a source  of  supply  for  grazing  the 
rich  lowland  pastures.  This  cannot  be  done  by  crosses  with 
lowland  cattle,  as  it  would  destroy  that  hardihood  of  constitution, 
and  adaptation  to  climate,  which  the  mountain  races  now  possess. 
The  breeds  must  be  kept  distinct,  and  improved  independent  of 
foreign  blood.  In  some  instances  it  would  be  desirable  to  intro- 
duce another  race,  having  the  requisite  qualifications  for  the 
climate.  The  thick-hided  wire-haired  beasts  should  be  aban- 
doned, for  those  which  have  a finer  skin  covered  with  a warm 
shaggy  hair,  one  of  the  best  qualities  of  a mountain  breed,  and 
which  is  well  developed  in  the  Pembroke,  and  West  Highland  cattle. 
The  sheep  of  the  Cheviot  hills  have  hardy  constitutions  and 
quiet  habits ; on  the  Scotch  hills  they  have  been  introduced 
with  great  success,  and  as  a mountain  breed  are  in  high  estima- 
tion. The  sheep  of  Wales,  and  of  the  Kerry  and  Wicklow 
mountains,  might  at  least  in  part  be  replaced  by  this  improved 
breed  with  great  advantage. 
113.  How  far  it  is  desirable  to  adopt  the  regular  four-course 
arable  system  on  the  western  sides  of  England  and  Ireland , the 
same  being  naturally  fitted  for  the  spontaneous  growth  of  grass. — 
The  old  system  of  cropping  in  the  south-west  of  England 
was  to  take  two  corn  crops  in  succession,  and  to  lay  the  land  in 
grass  for  three  years.  There  was  little  feeding,  the  cattle  being 
driven  to  the  rich  eastern  pastures.  Of  late  a turnip  crop  has 
been  introduced  to  some  extent  between  the  white  crops,  and  the 
more  advanced  farmers  grow  rape  and  eat  off  with  sheep  as  a 
preparation  for  wheat : still  the  “ three  years  out  ” is  considered 
indispensable. 
In  Lancashire,  after  two  crops  of  corn  and  green  crops,  the 
land  is  kept  in  seeds  and  grass  two  or  three  years  ; and  in 
* Low  on  the  Domesticated  Animals,  ed.  1845,  p.  73. 
