682 
On  the  Farming  of  Somerset. 
Such  at  least  appears  to  be  the  actual  practice  of  farmers  who 
look  for  their  return  to  the  butcher  or  grazier  rather  than  to  the 
sale  of  bulls  and  breeding  heifers,  and  this  view  of  the  matter 
tends  to  reconcile  the  conflicting  statements  of  practical  men. 
The  following  is  the  opinion  of  one  of  the  most  successful 
breeders  and  graziers  near  Taunton:  — 
“ Especial  attention  should  be  paid  to  quality,  evenness  of  flesh  and 
points,  with  a sound  constitution,  regardless  of  size  ; though  I prefer  middle- 
sized  animals,  as  most  approved  at.  market.  I consider  the  consumption  of 
food  is  generally  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  animal ; and  with  respect 
to  rearing,  such  food  and  shelter  should  be  provided  as  are  calculated  to 
promote  early  maturity.” 
There  is  no  way  in  which  landowners,  especially  in  the  west  of 
Somerset  and  North  Devon,  can  more  effectually  promote  their 
own  and  their  tenants’  interest  than  by  going  to  a little  expense  to 
improve  the  quality  of  the  breed  in  their  own  neighbourhood. 
It  may  become  the  chief  source  of  profit  to  the  hill -farmer  to 
breed  steers  and  heifers,  and  to  the  arable-farmer  to  fatten  them, 
and  the  more  widely  good  animals  are  diffused  the  better  chance 
there  is  of  the  breed  not  going  down  again. 
The  mongrel  character  of  the  Marsh  dairy-cow,  and  her  good 
qualities  as  a milker,  will  be  noticed ; there  are  some  good  long- 
horn dairies  near  Frome,  especially  one  belonging  to  Mr.  Coles 
of  Rodden.  Mr.  Blandford  also,  near  Taunton,  has  some  cows 
of  this  breed,  but  he  does  not  intend  to  keep  them ; he  has  also 
some  Ayrshires.  A herd  of  Ilerefordsis  kept  by  Mr.  Cradock,  of 
Lyppiat,  not  far  from  Frome,  scarcely  to  be  surpassed  by  any  in 
their  native  county,  but  they  are  too  high-bred  to  be  favourites  in 
the  dairy.  Mr.  Feever,  of  Stoney  Littleton,  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful with  the  same  breed  ; there  is  also  a fine  herd  of  Here- 
fords  near  Bridgewater,  belonging  to  Mr.  Culvervvell.  Several 
attempts  have  been  made  to  introduce  short-horns,  but,  with  the 
exception  of  one  fine  herd  belonging  to  Mr.  Risdon,  near  Dunster, 
they  find  little  favour  in  the  west  of  the  county.  In  the  east  Mr. 
Miles  and  others  keep  them  for  feeding  purposes,  and  some  dairy- 
farmers,  who  have  good  buildings,  approve  of  them ; but  they 
must  live  at  a better  table  and  have  better  lodgings  than  most 
tenants  can  offer  them  at  present. 
Sheep. — It  has  hitherto  been  considered  that  there  could  not 
be  a better  sheep  for  the  purpose  of  the  farmers  of  the  rich  lands 
than  the  improved  Bampton  crossed  with  Leicester ; the  supply 
of  rams  has  been  drawn  chiefly  from  the  Wippells  and  other 
ram-breeders  near  Exeter.  The  Dorset  breed  of  sheep  (a  horned 
breed,  larger  than  the  Porlock)  has  of  late  years  been  gaining 
ground,  having  proved  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Danger,  Mr.  Combe, 
Mr.  Culverwell,  and  others,  to  be  capable  of  very  high  feeding 
qualities  as  well  as  of  producing  early  lambs,  for  which  it  has  long 
