220 
LIVE STOCK, ETC., IN TASMANIA. 
crossed with an original, coarse. Long-horned variety, betraying 
Indian lineage or connexion, and derived probably from New 
South Wales, in the very earliest times of the colony. The 
Durham is the favourite breed, but it carries a frame and 
carcase too large for the natural pastures, save in exceptional 
localities, and it is too delicate in constitution ; the Ayrshire 
maintains in the colony its high reputation as a milch cow; 
but the Devon is by far the best adapted in frame, consti¬ 
tution, and kindly feeding properties, for the natural pastures 
of the island, and it is decidedly a comely animal. The kyloe, 
or West Highland breed, promises to yield a cross extremely 
well-suited for the wild, warm, and humid feeding-grounds 
to the westward. The number of horned cattle in the island 
in 1859, appears by Government tables, to have been 79,9-50. 
Pigs arc extensively cultivated bv farmers of every degree. 
In the early times of the colony a few were allowed to run 
wild in the bush, where they lived chiefly on fern roots; they 
have long since been extirpated. The number in the colony, 
as per statistical return for 1859, was 32,008.” 
i( The turnip crop is quite as hazardous in Tasmania as in 
England, but of far less critical importance to the farmer, 
live-stock being by no means so dependent on housing and 
artificial food there as they are in England during the winter 
season. Mangold-wurtzel and carrots are both well suited 
to many Tasmanian soils, but are not much grown. 
English grasses are cultivated rather extensively for hay, 
and yield a fair return. As provender for horses it is always 
in demand for domestic consumption, and for the Melbourne 
market. The price in Hobart Town in December, I 860 , was 
£4 and £6 per ton. 
Butter and cheese were exported in the year 1859 to the 
value of <£13,877. The dairy is rising in estimation among 
farmers as a source of profit; and the butter and cheese of 
Tasmania has acquired a high character in the neighbouring 
colonies. The last quotations at Hobart Town (23rd January) 
give for fresh butter Is. 3d. to Is. 6d., and for cheese Is. 6d. 
to Is. 9 d.” 
Wool, which in the early times of the colony was per¬ 
mitted, it is said, to rot in heaps on the premises of the 
settlers, and which from its coarse and low character at the 
time scarcely deserved a better fate, has been so highly im¬ 
proved in later times, and increased in quantity so immensely, 
as to have long occupied the place of the principal export and 
mainstay of the colony. This important end has been at¬ 
tained through repeated and long continued crosses with the 
sheep (both ewes and rams), selected from the finest Merinos 
