Knowledge of the JYdiural'Sciences. 347 
some inclining to a redish brown and white. The muzzle is 
generally dark, though we often find them with yellow or flesh 
colojed noses. Their limbs are short and small; head small and 
rather short; horns fine and a little depressed at base, and turning 
in and up at the extremity. They are generally light in the fore- 
quarter, but deep and heavy behind; body large and compact; 
udders of fair size and good form; teats rather small; milk veins 
prominent. They possess a strong, hardy constitution, and seem 
to stand the vicissitudes of our climate much better than other 
foreign breeds. The bulls as well as cows are docile, and gentle. 
" The fattening properties," says Mr. Youatt, " of the Ayrshire 
cattle, we believe to be a little exaggerated. They will feed 
kindly and profitably, and their meat will be good. They will 
fatten on farms and in districts where others could not be made 
to thrive at all. They unite, perhaps, to a greater degree than 
any other breed, the supposed incompatible properties of yielding 
a great deal of milk and beef." Their fat is mingled with the 
flesh rather than separated in the form of tallow; yet this would 
give a more beautiful appearance to the meat, and should en- 
hance the price to the consumer." 
ON ACQUIRING A KNOWLEDGE OF THE NATURAL 
SCIENCES. 
BY J. H. FENNELL. 
Numerous facts on record unite to convince me that agricul- 
turists would find it very advantageous to habituate themselves to 
making minute examinations of little objects and incidents in 
nature which occur at every step, but are too often disregarded. 
It is desirable that agriculturists should not only read books on 
natur.il history, but that they should closely observe with their 
own eyes every thing in the fields, orchards and gardens, that 
they may glean some useful hints from Nature's own volume. 
In the cultivation of plants, it has been found best to proceed 
on such scientific principles as a correct knowledge of their struc- 
ture and functions will suggest. The system of the rotation of 
crops by which the produce of our land has been quadrupled, and 
the acclimation of plants by hybridiration or engrafting, by which 
means the fruit and flowers of more southern regions are recon- 
ciled to our climate, are only two out of many examples w^hich 
