Robert Bakewell. 
27 
a large proportion of white, as compared with the characteristic 
Longhorn colours and marking on the sides, may account for the 
use of the term. The same writer records a remark of Bake- 
well’s that “the only way to be sure of good offspring is to 
have good cows as well as good bulls.” He mentions also a 
heifer, sold at Mr. Pearce’s sale for 80 guineas, as being valued 
when driven through Leicester at 8 guineas by a party of farmers 
in the street. 
John Lawrence gives, as seeming to accord as nearly as 
possible with Bakewell’s ideas, the following general descrip- 
tion of the Dishley Longhorns. Bound, tight, cylindrical 
carcass ; wide in the hips, but very little prominence in the 
huckle-bones ; straight back, well filled behind shoulder ; neck 
long and fine, without any superfluous skin or dewlap ; horns 
long, taper downwards, and of a deep yellowish colour ; head 
fine and smooth. The barrel form, gradually tapering towards 
the ends, was the model, as in sheep. Another authority says 
that his Longhorns, like his sheep, were remarkable for the 
fineness of their bone, and for their flesh. Marshall describes 
a rich mellow touch when lean, firm when fat. 
Youatt, taking Marshall’s remarks upon the principles of 
breeding as no doubt faithfully representing Bakewell’s views, 
although Marshall, with commendable delicacy towards Mr. 
Bakewell, introduces them with the explanation that he does 
not intend to deal out Mr. Bakewell’s private opinions nor to 
attempt to recite his particular practice, draws from them the 
inference that Mr. Bakewell kept four principal points steadily 
in view : (1) breed; (2) utility of form ; (3) quality of flesh ; 
(4) propensity to fatten, the three latter depending upon the 
first, and really comprised within it. Marshall’s words are cer- 
tainly suggestive of inspiration from Dishley ; and this impres- 
sion of the source of their substance is confirmed by the remarks 
of those other writers who, like Marshall, had frequent access to 
the same source of knowledge. Utility of form included fine- 
ness of bone, light offal, and the greatest weight in the best 
parts. Propensity to fatten, at first favourable, when excessive 
became unfavourable to the production of the best quality of flesh. 
One of the uses to which Bakewell turned his three-year-old 
heifers was an example of his prevailing notion of economy 
throughout his business, whether in the form of an animal, the 
feeding of stock, the use of straw, the saving of labour, or any 
other way in which the most could be got out of the least. His 
heifers, in later years, were made to do the draught-work pre- 
viously done by oxen. They lived on straw, and as soon as 
ready for breeding were put into the team, bringing their first 
