JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 431 
as well as that of many eminent cattle breeders, that examples in 
pure breeding in cattle are more frequently met with, and of 
greater perfection, than in sheep. For instance, the Devon and 
Hereford cattle have descended through many generations in un¬ 
broken lines, and owe in a great measure the perfection which 
they have attained to careful selection by men of great eminence 
in cattle-breeding, who have given much attention, and in some 
cases made it the unceasing object and pleasure of their lives, to 
rear, improve, and possess them in all their native purity. The 
Shorthorns—although considerably of more modern origin, and 
brought into their present form by a series of successful crosses— 
have yet been preserved pure with even more care than the other 
breeds we have mentioned. The magnificent frame and great 
feeding properties of the Hereford, the quality of beef and rich¬ 
ness of cream as well as working capacity of the Devons, are 
well known and generally appreciated ; and with all these quali¬ 
ties they are quite unable to resist successfully the encroachments 
of the Shorthorns, whose early maturity and property of laying 
on both flesh and fat, accompanied by deep milking capacities, 
are so much esteemed that they outnumber both the other breeds 
combined. As, however, it is found in practice that the leading 
purpose for which a breed of cattle is kept is generally well 
defined, or ought to be, whether for the purpose of the dairy or 
for feeding and fatting upon the lines of early maturity, or for 
working purposes, and as each of these purposes can be well 
attained by keeping a pure breed, and maintained by judicious 
selection, there is certainly not the same temptation or induce¬ 
ment to enter uDon a course of crossing, which is often experienced 
and prevails in sheep-farming, in order to insure specific advan¬ 
tages which cannot otherwise be obtained. 
Before entering upon a series of illustrations of successful cross¬ 
ing of cattle for different objects we must observe that there is a 
direct pecuniary advantage in judiciously cross-breeding, and that 
increased size, a disposition to fatten, and early maturity are 
thereby induced. Whilst this may be the result for the most part 
by the very fact of crossing, yet it is principally due to the 
superior influence of the male over the size and external appear¬ 
ance of the offspring, so that it is desirable for the purpose of the 
butcher that the male should be of a larger frame than the female, 
and should excel in those peculiarities we are desirous of repro¬ 
ducing. We must, however, repeat it as an exceptional truth, 
that though as a rule the male parent influences mostly the size 
and external form, and the female parent the constitution, general 
health, and vital powers, including the milking capacity, yet the 
opposite result will occasionally occur. 
Having been for many years eugaged in the breeding of cattle 
of various descriptions for various purposes, as well as in the pur¬ 
chase of a large number for fattening purposes, we trust that 
some of our observations and remarks may be of use to some of 
those engaged in cattle breeding and feeding, and our experience 
has led us to observe both what will pay the breeder and be most 
sought for by the purchaser who intends to fatten. We have 
generally found that a preference has been given to animals 
which are cross-bred, and it is our intention to illustrate this by 
practical results. 
(To be continued.) 
wore; on the home farm. 
Horse Labour. —We are still employing the horses on the fallows 
for roots, pushing forward the work on the land intended for Swedes. 
These have been drilled for some few days in the northern and north- 
midland districts ; yet it is customary in the southern and south¬ 
eastern counties to defer the sowing of Swedish Turnips until the 
first week in June, from the 8th to the 12th of that month being con¬ 
sidered about the best time, except in case of roots required for early 
cattle feeding, in which case we find it a good plan to grow them in 
admixture with the Mangold crop, so that they may each be raised 
and stored away at the same time, or the Swedes used for feeding the 
cattle in the boxes or dairy cows in the stalls in case of a milk-selling 
dairy, and by growing them amongst the Mangold crop they become 
ripe and fit for use at the earliest period. In growing the Swedes by 
themselves for the main crop, if the land is likely to require much 
interculture in consequence of couch or weeds, we drill them at 2 feet 
apart on the flat, but on the stetch or ridge at 27 inches. In the 
event, however, of the land being clean, and there being only the 
ordinary infant weeds to he destroyed, we drill them at 22 inches 
between the rows. This has been found the best distance for yielding 
a full crop, for we have known it tes ed by the competition for prizes 
in a farmers’ club for many years. After the catch crops, such as 
Rye, Trifolium, &c., are cleared off, whether by sheep-feeding or 
mowing for use as green fodder, the sooner the land, if intended for 
Turnips, Rape, or Kale, is ploughed and sown the better ; but to be 
the more sure of a good seed bed the qnicker the land is worked after 
ploughing the better the results will be—in fact, the work should if 
possible be done simultaneously, so that all the land ploughed each 
day should he reduced to a fine surface and seeded before the day’s 
work is finished. This plan will not only insure the retention of 
moisture in dry weather, but also will place the land in the best 
state to receive rain. At the time of ploughing after green crops 
removed, when it is done as fast as the crop is cleared, the land will 
always work more freely than when allowed to remain and become 
sun-baked. Strictly speaking, in the majority of seasons the root 
crops grown after green crops depend entirely for their successful 
growth upon the manner of tilling and sowing, as above stated. 
Hand Labour will now be required in various ways, for the mowing 
season is near, and everything in connection with the haying period 
—such as implements and machinery—should be looked out and pre¬ 
pared for work after being thoroughly examined and repaired if 
necessary, in order that nothing may interfere with the work at the 
busy period. Cutting the grass early is of great importance as to 
the feeding value of hay, although it depends of course upon the 
making as well as the weather during the hay harvest. The advan¬ 
tages of cutting grass for hay whilst young and growing are very 
great, particularly hay for feeding sheep and lambs. We hold that 
by early cutting 1 cwt. of hay often contains as much nutritious 
matter as Hcwt. of hay when the grass remains to become old before 
mowing. This is a matter of great importance, because, as small 
animals can only eat a limited quantity, it should contain the greatest 
possible amount of nutrition. As showing that the system of making 
hay is of much consequence we will refer to an instance which we 
find in our memorandum book relating to the hay season of 1802. 
Our earliest crop of Trefoil, Clover, and Italian Ryegrass in that year 
was cut for hay on the 19th of May, and carted to the rick in first- 
rate condition on the 26th. Although the weather was difficult the 
first few days it proved fine from the 24th to the 26th; we were 
therefore enabled to get up the hay within six days after cutting. 
This could not have been done except by tedding and constant 
moving, as rain came on the 27th ; and herein lies the advantage of 
the hay-making machine. Many farmers used to object to their use 
in the making of field hay, saying that too much of the Clover leaf 
was lost by tbe process, and it was considered best to allow the hay 
to remain in swathe, being turned over occasionally until dry and fit 
for stacking. This, however, is bad policy in our changeable climate, 
because it takes several days longer in making and adds greatly to 
the risk of damage by rain. We therefore advocate that the plan of 
making pasture hay should be applied to that of field hay also ; for 
although hand labour sufficient could not be obtained, yet by the aid 
of tedding machines and horse rakes any amount of work can be 
done in a short time. We consider the hay is better made, with less 
risk of weather, with less loss of the Clover leaf ; for being constantly 
moved it dries more regularly, the leaf not becoming so brittle and 
crisp as when allowed to remain in swathe and long exposure to the 
sun. 
Live Stock .—Fodder crops have been very deficient this year, and 
this, together with the late growth of the field grasses, has caused 
and will continue to make green food scarce for both sheep and 
cattle. Much more cake and other feeding stuffs will therefore be 
required ; but we must caution the home farmer in the management 
of stock, as we do not consider the manure arising from cake-feeding 
to be so valuable in the summer as when fed in winter months. 
Hedge and border grass should be continued for feeding young stock 
in the boxes, or dairy cows in the stalls if their produce is sold as 
milk, or in case of suckling calves for veal. In those cases where 
the Mangold crop is exhausted we cut up Clover or Italian Ryegrass 
for horses and also for cattle in the boxes. If the first cutting 
should be rather light there is some advantage by the second being 
likely to prove better, and the fodder supply being more regularly 
kept up. The breeding sows in the yards never do better than when 
fed on green fodder with a little Maize or Peas given in the troughs 
twice daily. 
VARIETIES. 
British Bee-keepers’ Association. —The Association will hold 
their seventh great Exhibition of bees and their produce, hives, 
and bee furniture, and honey fair, at the Royal Horticultural So¬ 
ciety’s Gardens, South Kensington, in connection with the Society’s 
Flower Show, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 
July 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, and Monday, August 1st, 1881, 
when prizes will be offered for stocks of Ligurian, Cyprian, or any 
other foreign bees ; for hives and supers of various kinds, honey, and 
comb foundation. Classes are provided for cottagers, and foreign 
and colonial exhibitors. A counter will be appropriated to the exhi¬ 
bition and sale of honey in the comb and in glass jars, beeswax, 
and small apiarian appliances, and in this department goods may be 
purchased and delivered at all times during the Show. There will 
also be a driving competition, the prizes being awarded to the com¬ 
petitors who shall in the neatest, quickest, and most complete 
manner drive out the bees from a straw skep, capture and exhibit 
the queen. The system of open driving will be adopted ; the receiv¬ 
ing hive to be inclined at such an angle as shall permit the passage 
of the bees to be viewed by the spectators. Exhibitors must remit 
