Arrraatmt r Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from University of British Columbia Library http://www.archive.org/details/cattledairyfarmiOOunit UxVITED STATES CONSULAR REPORTS. CATTLE AND DAIRY FAEMIKG. P^KT I. TTAi^inXOTON: GOVERNMENT PK IN TING OFFICE. 1887. CONTENTS. Page. Secretary's Letter 3_40 AFRICA. Cape Colony (Consul Siler, Capo Town; CG9, G70 Mauritius (Consul Prentis, Port Louis) C73 Morocco (Consul Mathews, Tangieis) 672 Seyclu-Ues (Consul Musse y, Mah6) 673, 674 Sierra Leone (Consul Lewis, Sierra Leone) 671 Zanzibar (Consul Cheney) 672 AMERICA. 2forth America: Dominion of Canada : Ontario : Canadian cattle companiea in the United States (Consul Parker, of Sherbrooke) . . 537, 538 Cattle most suitable for Cauadian farmers (Commercial Agent Robbins, Ottawa).. 538-540 Cattle aud dairy faimiug iu Ontario (Consul Pace, Port Saruia) 540-54U Cattle of Ontario (Consul Howard, Toronto) 547-55C Cattle in Eastern Ontario (Consul Hazleton, Hamilton) 550-559 Cattle and cattle products in Southwestern Ontario (Commercial Agent Euffington) 559-564 Cattle in Prescott (Consul Slaght) 564-560 Cheese-dairying in Hastings County (Consul Prince, Belleville) 560-568 Cattle in Carlton County (Commercial A gent Robbins, Ottawa) 568, 5G9 Cattle in the Simcoe district (Commercial Agent James, Simcoe) 570 Quebec : Cattle-raising in Quebec (Consul Parker, Sherbrooke) 571-574 Cattle in Gaspe Basin (Consul Holt) 574 Prince Edward Island : Cattle in (Consul "Worden, Charlottetown) 574, 575 Mexico : Cattle-breeding in Northern Mexico (Consul-General Sutton, Matamoros) 576-585 Cattle-raising in the State of Chihuahua (Consul Scott, Chihuahua) 585-587 Cattle in the State of Nuevo Leon (Consul Campbell, Monterey) 587-589 Stock-raising in the State of Nuevo Leon (Consul Campbell, Monterey) 589-592 Cattle-raising in the State of Tamaulipas (Consul Smith, Nuevo Leon).. 592-594 The breeding cattle of Northern Mexico (Vice-Consul Prigden, Piedras Negras).. 591 Cattle-raising in Sonora (Consul Willard, Guaymas) 595 Cattle in Lower California (Consul Viosca, La Paz) 590 ■Central America : Cattle-raising in Honduras 597-602 South America : Argentine Republic: Cattle industry of (Consul Baker, Buenos Ayres) 003-621 Brazil : Cattle in (Consul-General Andrews, liio do Janeiro) 630-632 Colombia (United States of) : Cattle on the plains of Bogota ( Vice-Consnl Boshell, Bogota) 633 Ecuador : Cattle-breeding and products of cattle in (Consul Beach, Guayaquil) 634,635 Peru : Cattle in (Consul Lapoint, Chiclayo) 630 Uruguay : Cattle and cattle-breeding in (Charg6 dAfifaires Bacon, Montevideo) 622-629 Venezuela: Cattle interest in (Consul Bird, LaGuayra) 637,638 Cattle supply of Maracaibo (Consul Plumacher) 638 iii rV CONTENTS. West Indies. ^''S®' Cattlo in Bermuda (Consul Allen, Bermuda) 63S Cattle in San Domingo (Consul Simpson, Puerto Plata) , 639, 640 Cattle and cattle products in Saint Thomas (Consul Smith) 640,041 ASIA. Ceylon : Cattle of (Consul Morey,Colombo» 655-659 American f». Danish and French butter in (Consul Morey. Colombo) 677 China: Cattle in the Tang-tse-Kianj; Valley (Consul Shepard, Hankow) 664-668 Cattle in Southern China (Consul Seymour, Canton) 668 Japan : Cattle in (Consul Jones. Nagasaki) 663 Java : Buffalo cattle of (Consul Hatfield, Batavia) ... 661,662 MaJaysia and Siam : "Water buffalo of (Consul Studer, Singapore) 660,661 Philippine Islands : Cattle in (Commercial Agent Voigt, Manila) 673 SjTia : Cattle in (Consul Robeson, Beirut) 652-654 AUSTRALASIA. New Zealand : Cattle o'f (Consul Griffin, Auckland) 642-650 Tasmania: Cattle in (Consul Webster, Hobart) 650 Victoria : Cattle in (Consul-General Spencer. Melbourne) 651 EUROPE. Cattle-breeding in Europe and in the United States (Consul Tanner, of Verviers and Liegel. . . 41-56 Scientific dairy instmments (James Long, Hetchin, England) 685, 688 Cream-separating machines (James Long, Hetchin, England) 688-091 Feeding on the soiling system (.James Long, Hetchin, England) 701-703 Belgium : Cattle in (Consul Steuart, Antwerp) 359,360 Bri-eds of cattle in (Consul AVilson, Brussels) 36J-305 Cattle and cattle-breeding in (Consul Tanner, Verviers and Liege) 36G-370 Belgian and Dutch niilcb cows (Consul Wilson, Ghent) 370-383 Belgian process for preserving meat and vegetables frosh (Dr. Closset's) 099-701 Farming in Belgium (M. Fran9oi8 Flechet) 705-708 Denmark : Danish cattle (Consul Ryder, Copenhagen) 490-492 Angeln cattle (Consu'l Ryder) '. 492-495 Butter export of Denmark (Consul Ryder) 495-408 Union dairies in Denmark (Cousiil Ryder) 498-501 France : Cattle breeds of France and their products (Consul Williams, Rouen) 240-2C5 Division of land and cattle-breeding in France (Vice-Consul Martin, Marseilles) 2C6-272 Cattle-raising in tho southwest of Franco (Consul Roosevelt, Bordeaux) 272-281 Normandy cattle (Consul Gl./er, Havre* 282-285 Cattle products in the district of tho Marno (Consul Frisbie, Rheims) 285 Cattle In tho district of Nice (Vice-Consul Vial, Nice) 286 French live stork (Official Catalogue of Paris Exhibition) 724-729 French cattle (from the Field newspaper) 729-734 French sheep (H. Kains- Jackson) 777 Germany : Breeds ofcattlo in Germany (Consul-General Vogeler, Frankfort-on-the-Maln) 389-397 Cattle In Germany (Consul Schoenle, Barmen) 397-403 Cattle breeds of Germany (Comiu.icial Agent Warner, Dusseldorf) 404-408 Cattle in PniHsIa (Consiil-Geneial Brewer, Berlin) 408-413 Cattlciu Oldenburg, Jeverland, and E.-istFric.sland (Consul Wilson, of Bremen) 413-425 Cattle In Saxony (Consul Mason, Dresden) 426-431 Silesian cattle (Consul Ditbmar, Breslan) 431-438 CONTENTS. V Germany — Continued. Pasre Cattle of Thuringia (Consul Mosher, Sonneberg) 438-J42 Toigtlaud cattle (Consul Ballock, Annaberg) 442,443 Cattle-breeding iu Wurteniberg (Consul Callin, Stuttgart) 444-464 Cattle breeds of Baden (Consul Ballow. Kohl) 464-472 Cattle products in Baden (Consul Smith, Mannheim) 473-475 Bavarian cattle (Consul Harper, ilnnich). 47,5-4«0 Cattle in the Duchy of Brunswick (Consul Fox, Brunswick) 480-482 Harz cattle for the Unitod States (Consul Fox, Brunswick) 482.483 Cattle in the Grand Duchy of Ilesse-Darrastadt (Commercial Agent Smith, Mayence) . 483-487 Cattle in the Rhino province (Consul Spackman, Cologne) 487-489 Live stock in Bavaria, census of (Consul Harper, Munich) 709 Dair>- association laws of Wurtemberg (Consul Catlin, Stuttgart) 691-694 "VTurtemburg cattle laws (Consul Catlin, Stuttgart) 743-752 Domestic animals of Bavaria (Consul Harper, Munich) 753 754 Holland : Dutch cattle (Consul Eckstein, Amsterdam) ^ 502-514 Cattle of Holland (Consul Winter, Rotterdam) 515-518 Hungary : Meat and dairy cattle in (Consul Sterne, Budapesth) ^^ 527-536 Italy : Cattle and dairying in Lom hardy (Consul Crain, Milan) 324-329 Buffalo cattle of Terra di Lavoro (Consul liaughwout, Naples) 326-329 Cattle in Piedmont ( Vice-Consul Dezeyk, Turin) 329, 330 Cattle in Tuscany (Consul "Welsh, Florence) 330-334 White cattle of Tuscany (Consul Crosby, Florence) 334, 335 Cattle in Yenetia (Consul Noyes, Venice) 335-358 Cheese and butter making in Italy (Consul Grain, Milan) 677-682 Malta : Cattle in (Consul Worthington) 303 Russia : Cattle-breeding in Russia (Consul-General Stanton, Saint Petersburg) 519-523 Cattle in the Baltic provinces (Consular Agent Bomboldt, Riga) 524 Cattle of Finland (Acting Consul Donner, Helsingfors) 525 Polisli cattle (Consul Rawicz, Warsaw) 525, 526 Spain: Cattle in Andalnsia (Consul Oppenbeim, Cadiz) 384-387 Cattle in Catalonia (Consul Schench, Barcelona) 387 Cattle in Galicia (Consul Carricarte, Corunna) 388 Switzerland : Swiss cattle (Consul Mason, Basle) 287-297 Statistics of brown Schwitzer cattle (Consul Byers, Zurich) 298-303 Swiss cattle and dairy products (Consul Beauchamp, St. Galle) 303-320 Cattle in the district of Geneva (Consul Adams, Geneva) 321-323 Manufacture of Swiss cheese (Consul Adams, Geneva) 682-685 United Kingdom : Cattle breeds of the United Kingdom (Consul-General Morritt, London) 57-78 Cattle breeds of the United Kingdom (James Long, Hetchin, England) 78-156 Select breeds of British cattle (Consul Packard, Liverpool) 156-172 Hereford cattle (Consul Lathrop, Bristol) 172-180 Herefordshire and Hereford cattle (John Ker.sley Fowler, Prebendal Farm, Aylesbury).. - 811-188 British breeds of cattle (Joseph Lay Faulkner, veterinary surgeon. South Milford) 188-205 Jersey cattle (Consular Agent Renouf, Jersey) 205-207 Cattle in Cornwall (Consul Fox, Plymouth) 207 Cattle in Scotland (Consul Wells, Dundee) 208-217 Scotch breeding cattle for the United States (Consul Leonard, Leith) 217-224 Cattle in Ireland (Consul Piatt, Cork) 224-228 Butter industry of Ireland (Consul Piatt, Cork) 229-231 Butter trade of Cork (T.J. Clanchy, Cork) 231-235 Butter industry of Ireland (evidence of William J. Lane, of Cork, before committee of Hou.se of Commons) 235-239 A Wiltshire diary record (James Long, Hetchin, England) - 691 Transport of cattle (James Long) 09-* British cattle markets (Consul Ryder, Copenhagen) 696-699 Mixeil food for cattle (James Long, Hetchin, England) 703, 704 Sandringham, Prince of Wales's herd (Edmund Beck, agent) 710 VI CONTENTS. Tnited Kingclora— Continued. Page. Cattle ill the Weald iPlKont (W. Morland, Kent) 711 Cattle and sheep in Bucks (John Tread well, IJucks) Vll Pinre breeders of British cattle (Sir B. T. Braudreth Gibba) 712-715 Milk yield of sixty British cows (Consul-General Merritt, London) 715, 716 Position of Knplish dairy farming in 1883 (Gilbert Murray) 716-720 Milkinj: trials at the Loudon Dairy Show (Consul-General Merritt, London) 720-722 Central Chamber of Agriculture 722' Daily increase in weight of various British breeds of cattle (Consul-General Merritt, London) 723 British prize cattle (Consul-General Merritt, London) 735-74:2 Breeds of sheep in the United Kin;:dom (Consul-General Merritt, London) 755-760 Breeds of pifTs in the Fniicd Kiu{:dom (Consul-General Merritt, London) 7C0-762 Cotswold sheep (H. T. Elwes, Cheltenham, England) 762,763 Long-wool Lincolns (John W. Mackindor, Mere Hall, Lincoln) 7G3 Southdown sheep — history, breeding, and management (Ilcnry "Wood, Merton, Thetford) . . . 763-772 Southdown sheip and Cambridgeshire farming (from the Field newspaper) 773-777 ■Weights of sheep at Islington (Mark Lane Express) 778-782 Sheep and mutton in 1883 (Live-stock Journal) 782-788 Sheep portraits (Consul-General Merritt, London) 788, 789 Berkshire pigs (Joseph Saunders and Alfred Ash worth) 789" Yorkshire pigs (Sanders Spencer) 789,790 Black Suffolk pigs (J. A. Smith, Ipswich) 790 ILLUSTRATIONS. liRITISH CATTLK. Description.* Page. 109 ]57 740 740 740 110 110 ICl 161 101 174 174 174 174 740 740 9o 98 98 98 157 157 213 212 213 738 738 738 738 738 738 738 738 738 738 738 738 738 738 738 738 7.-18 738 738 738 738 738 738 738 738 738 C4 G5 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 o25 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 333 340 341 342 1. DEVONS. 9 Cow, Pretty Face... 24 Bull 25 Cow 343 Cow, Phlox 344 Bull, Sweet ^yillianl 345 Cow, Temptress 8th 2. HEREFORDS. 10 Heifer, Leonora; head only; tilate 350 is a full portrait of this animal 11 Os 28 29 30 40 41 42 43 349 350 Ball. Fiaberman. Owned by the Earl of Coventry Bull! Owned by Mr. J. H. Yeonians, Stretton Court, Hereford. Cow. Owned by Mr. J. H. Yeomans, Stretton Court, Hereford. Bull, Komeo Ox. A celebrated prize animal Cow, Golden Treasure Cow, Giantes-s Bull. Tbouiihtful Heifer, Leonora 3. SHORTHORNS. Ox. Owned by Mr. Bait. First in his class at Islington Heifer, Lady Wildeyes 15th. Owned by Lord Fitzbardinge Cow, Lady Wellesley 2nd. Owned by Mr. Hawstome Cow, cross-breed, dairy^ Bull. Owned by Mrs. Hutchinson, Catterick, Yorkshire Cow. Owned by Mrs, Hutchinson, Catterick, Yorkshire. (This cow is erroneously desijrnated " lievon" in portrait) — Bull, Foscoe, white. Gained first prize at the Highland Society Show, and second prize at the Royal Agricultura' Show, England. Owned by Lord Strathallan, Auchtorardei, Perthshire, Scotland Cow, Kusa Bonhenr. winner of first prizes at agricultural shows in Scotland and Eng- land. Owned by Lord Strathallan. Perthshire, Scotland Bull. A prize animal, owned in Scotland Bull. Duke of Uuderley Cow. Lady Violet Heifer, Lady Violet Bull, Anchor Bull, Telemachus Cow, Lady Carew 3rd Cow, Victoria. "ow. Maiden Heifer, Gaiety 6th Heifer, Stauwick Rose Cow, April Rose Bull, Duke of Howl .John '^ow. Baroness Oxford 3rd Bull, l)ukc of Leinster Cow, Matchless 5th , Cow, Generous Bull, Acropolis Bull, Ninth Duke of Tregunter. Cow, Duchess 119th Cow, Honest J' Cow.Beauty No. 22 Cow, Beauty No. 35 Cow, Red Cherrj- — Cow, Innocence 2nd of Naseby . '.'ow. May Durliess 15th Bull, Sir Simeon * Particnlar.s relating to each animal, when omitted from the text, are given under this head. Where no particulars are given (either under this head or in the text) none were received from the consuls. YIII ILLUSTRATIONS. PlAto No. Description. 4. LONGHORNS. Bull, Darewpll. Owned by Mr. R. Hall. 3 I Cow, head of ,• v;,"." v;"' v; 4 I Stcrs. First nt Islington. Owned by Sir John Crewe. 347 I Bull, Prince Victor MS ■ Cow, Calke I 5. RED POLLS. Group. Bull, Pavvson 3d; cow, Silent Lafly ; cow, Dolly Bull. Ownexl bv lion. J. J. Colman, Canow House, Norwich. Cow. Owned by Hon. J. J. Colman, Carrow House, Norwich. Cow. Owned by Hon. J. J. Colman, Carrow House; Norwich. 6. SISSE.I. 12 Cow. First prize at Tunbridj^j Wells. Owned by Messrs. J. & H. Hessman. 13 Heifer. Second prize at Tunbridge Wells. Owned by Mr. J. S. Hodson 26 Bull. Owned bv Mr. John Plumer, Horsham, Sussex 27- Cow. Owned by Mr. John Plumer, Horsham, Sussex 351 Heifer. A representative animal 352 ' Heifer. A representative animal 7." POLLED A.XGUS. 50 Bull, Englishman. Owned by Mr. S. Stephenson, Baliol College Farm, Long Benton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Cow, Pride of Aberdeen, atfouryears of age. Owned by Mr. Stephenson, al.so Bull! Owned by Mr. Clement Stevens, Saudyford Villa, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Cow. Owned bv Mr. Clement Stevens, Sandyford Villa, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Bull, Prince of the Realm yearling. Fa vonia • Heifi-r, Favorite Bull, Prince of the Realm, at fourteen months Groun of heifers, Kinochtry breed Bull, Young Hero ; bred by Mr. Hannav, of Gavenwood. Won first prizes at Turriff and Biinf Shows ; second priz'oat the Highland Society Show ; plate at Turriif, &,c. Brought $1,340 at public sale in 1883. Heifer, Pride of Aberdeen (plate 19 shows the matured animal). Winner of prizes as calf, yearling, and two-year old. Bred by Mr. Hanuay, Gavenwood. Calf. Prospera Princess. Owned by Mr. Hanuay Heifer, Benefit. Won first prize at Huntly, in 1883. Calf of the celebrated prize cow Blackbird, of Coratchy, which was sold for $2,100. Heifer calf, Vignette. First prize at Banf in lb83. Owned by Mr. Hannay, Gavenwood. Boll calf, Allegro. Bred by Mr. Hannay. Owned by Mr. Geddes, Blaerinore, 1883. Sired bv Young Hero. Heifer. Bred and owned by Mr. Ferguson, of Kinochtry, Scotland Bull, The Shaw. First prizes at Highland Show and Royal Northern Show at Aber- di-en. Bred and o^-ned by Mr. Ferguson, of Kinochtry. Bull, Sir Maurice Cow, Juno Sybil 2d of TiUyfonr 8. POLLED GALLOWAYS. Boll. Prize winner at the Highland Society Shows. Cow. Prize winner at the Highland Society Shows. Bull, Harden Cow, Clara .' Heifer. Lalla Itookh I ». HIGHLANDERS. 61 I West Highland Bull. Frwl prize at the Highland Agricultural Society Show. Owned I by the Earl of Seafield, Castle Grant, Grantown. 62 ! West Highland bull. Two-year old. Prizewinner 72 West Highlanil bull. Duke' of Atliole's herd 73 I West Highland cow. Duko of A thole's herd ; 10. ATRSniRES. ^6 ' Bull. First prize winner. Owned by Mr. Bartlemore 17 Cow. No. 01 nt Islington. Owned by Mr. Drew 59 I Bull. First prize winner at the Highland Agricultural Society Show. Owned by Mr. I Parker, Nether Broondands, Ayrshire. 90 I Cows, CallyhiU and Mat.-. Owm'd bv the Dowager Duchca.^ of Athole, Dunkeld. Con- sidered very fine S])ecimen8 of theljreed. 353 Cow, Jano 354 ' Cow. (Representative dairy cow) [[ Page. 94 94 94 740 740 88 162 162 162 114 114 160 160 740 740 139 339 164 164 21U 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 223 223 223 224 224 224 224 224 1-'12 212 224 224 134 134 212 ILLUSTRATIONS. IX Desoription. 11. JERSEYS. Cow. (A representative animal) BnlL Owned by Mr. E. J. Arnold, Sammcrland House, Jersey Cow. Owned by Mr. E. J. Arnold, Summerland House, Jersey Heifer and calves. Prize winners Cow, Velveteen Cow, Alice Cow, Longuevillo Belle Cow, Coomassee Cow, Luna Cow, Lady Emily Foley 2d 12. GUERNSEYS. Cow, Valentine 3d Bull, Squire of Vauxbelets Cow. First in her class at Reading Cow, Elegante 13. WELSH CATTLE. Ox. First in its class at Agricultural Hall. Owned by Major Piatt Yearlings. Owned by Mr. Bowdtn Ox. Owned l)v Major Piatt, of Bangor Cow. Owned "by Major Piatt, of Bangor Yearling bull and heifer 14. RERBY CATTLE. Boll. From the Knight ol Kerry's herd 15. 8UFF0LKS. Cow, Wild Rose rREXCH CATTLE. 1. FLEMISH AND CROSSES. Cow Cow BnU BuU Ox Cow Ox. Durham-Flemish . 2. NORMANDY AND CROSSES. Cow Bull Ox Ox. Prize Dnrham-Switz-Cotentino., Ox. Prize Durham-Switz-Normandy. Cow Milch cow. Norman-Cotentine Cow. Dnrham-Xorman 3. BRITTANY BREED. 87 Bull Ox 88 89 BuU Cow Cow Bull Ox 4. PARTHENAISE BREED. 90 91 5. CHAROLAISE BREED. •>? •)T fM Prize Ox. BuU Prize Beef '' * * 95 Durham-Charolaise .. 96 «. LIMOISINE BREED. P7 121 cattle 248 248 248 248 248 248 248 278 ILLUSTRATIONS. Xo. , Dbsoription. 7. MANCELLE RBEEU. 08 ' Cow W Ox. Durhaiu-Mancello 100 I Ox. Prize, Uurham-Mancelle. S. COMTOISE BREED. 101 I Cow 102 A prize OS. 103 Bull 0. FEHELINE BUEED. 11. BALERS BREED. 104 Bull 105 Cow and calf. 12. GARONNAISE BREED. 106 117 io- ns 108 i::o 100 114 112 Bull Bull 13. BAZADAIS. Ball Bull. 14. LANDAISE BREED. Bull. Kacing aDimal. Bull 13. GASCON BREED. Ball 1«. BARETON BREED. Boll Cow. 17. BEARNAISE BREED. 18. ALGERIAN BREED. Cow. 19. MISCELLANEOUS. 113 I Cow. Gevaudan breed. 119 Cow. BordelaiBe breed 123 i Cow. Holland breed 20. BREED NOT DESIGNATED. 301 3u2 30.1 304 :n)j 300 307 •JOfl 3U9 310 311 31-2 313 ;il4 315 31C French French French French French French French Frcnf'b French French French French French French P'reuch French bull cow bull bull cow buU ox . cow bull cow bull bull. SWISS CATTLE. 12G 127 12R 129 1. SPOTTED (SIMMEXTOAL) BREED. Bern'-Be bull Sitnmcnthal cow Black (spotted) Frtiburg bull .....'."...... Black (spotted) Freiburg cow ILLUSTRATIONS. XI Plate I Xo. Description. | Page. 2. BROWN 6CHWTTZER BREED. I 130 I Bnll 202 131 I Cow I 29'> 133 Prize cow -. 292 134 Prize cow, tme type 292 135 Prize heifer, true type 292 13C Heifer, trne tj-pi ." "" 292 137 Heifer, true type 292 138 Heifer, fair typo 292 139 Cow, variation from true type 292 140 Bull, true type 292 ITAIjTAK CATTIiE. 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 Cow of Swiss breed, in Lombardy. Prize Kail, Jupiter. Piedmontese breed. Prize Bull, Pertinace. Piedmontese breed. Prize Bull, Xapoli. Pu^iliese breed. Prize Bull, Gbinassi. Pugliese breed. Prize Bull, Ti'^ro. Freiburg-Frnilana breed. Prize Ball, Maestro. Mantua breed. Prize Cow. Mantova. Swiss breed. Prize Heil'er, An versa. Dutch breed. Prize Ox, Fansta. Pugliese breed. Prize Cows, ilinerva and Chloe. Brittany breed. Prize. Buffalo d'ltalia A Piedmont bull A Piedmont cow A Piedmont cow A Piedmont mountain bull A Piedmont mountain heifer Bull, Adam 2d. Chianina breed 324 32G 320 320 320 326 320 326 320 326 820 328 330 330 ?.M 330 330 334 BELGIAN CATTLE. 159 ' Belgian cow. Dutch breed. 160 Flemish cow 102 Belgian cow 1C3 I A herd of Belgian cows 367 367 372 373 SPAJSTSH CATTLE. [The pictures of these Galician oxen were taken at Corunna as the animals were being shipped to England.] 168 Galician ox ; white; four years; price, $91 ... 169 Galician OX; yellow; live years; price, $87.50. 170 ' Galician ox ; yellow ; five years ; price, $80.70 171 - Galician OX; brown; six years; price, $83.75.. 388 388 888 GERMAN CATTLE. 1. NECKAR BREED. 172 Cow. Bed, with white face and white lower legs , 391 2. 8IMHEMHALER. | 173 Cow. Red, with white star on forebeail ! 391 188 Cow 404 3. II.MB»1:RG BREED. 174 Cow. Yellow ' 391 4 TRIESDORF* BREED. I 175 Cow. Spotted, red and white 392 * Erroneously printed Friesdorf on page 392. ±il ILLUSTRifrOKS. DesciMption. 5. ALB BREED. 176 ! Cow. Red, with white belly and lower legs 6. SCHWAB HALL BREED. Cow. Dark red to brown ; white face 7. DUTCH BREED. Cow. Black and white ; white forehead . Cow S. MOMAFUNEB BREED. Cow. Black-browD, white stripe along the back Cow 9. MIESItACHER BREED. Cow. "White, with red-yellow spots 10. PINZGAUER BREED. Cow. Red, with white stripe from shoulder to rump 11. ALLGAUER BREED. Cow. Yellow-brown. Cow 12. SCHWITZER BREED. Cow. Dark brown ; Black doe-Month 13. TOIGHTLAND BREED. 214 Cow. Color, chestnut brown ; yellow tail tuft. 212 Headofa Voifihtlandbull 213 Head of aVoightland cow 14. ANGELN BREED. 184 I Cow. Color, red-brown. 197 1 Prize bull, Thomas 198 Prize cow 15. FODOLISCHE BREED. Cow. Color yellow ; long horns ; uriginally from Southern Russia ; meat cattle. 16. MlRZTHALER BREED. Cow. Color, gray ; link between the Stepi)e and Mountain breed < 17. OLAN BREED. Bull IS. OLDE.VBURG AND EAST FRISIAN BREED. WiltermarBb prize bull, Xeptune Wiltennarsh prize row, Loanda Oldenburg prize bull, bud.judinger 3d '.'. Olden l)ur:; iiri/.c cnw, Allniuth Oldenburg-liiidiadingir prize bull 01deul)ur^ prize bfillr, Ivi st von Oldenburg Kant I-'risiaii prize bull. Amor; 3 years Eaat Fri.iiaii cow; a celebrated milker !!..."!!!!.'."! Ea«t Frisian tow ; Sic-u'liudc, seven years old ; a good milker. £,Mt Frisian bull. Owned iiy the Crown Prince / 215 Cow. 216 Cow. •-•17 Cow. 218 Bull. 219 Hall. 220 Year 221 Ball. 222 Cow. 223 Cow. I'J. MESSKIBCn (BADEN) BREED. Front view Side view .Side view Front view Side view Yearling heifer. Side view 20. n.4IlZ BREED. Five years old. Owned by Mr. Slalil, of Altenau, on the Harz bix years old. Owned by Mi. Cronla CATTLE HOUSES. ^J^*^ Deccription. Page. Plan of model stock buil(lin supi)lii's, and thi'ir nature, isdrawn from Iho United States; the best means for incrciisini;' th(i exports to eacli country fntm tlic United States. In regard to that part of the general subje(;t under consideration which deals with the breeds of cattle, their feeding, housing, ami hand- 3 4 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. linjr, the best breeds lor iiuporlatiou into the United States and the best manner of importation liither, and the various other jmints con- nected therewith, and which from their nature, being altooether mat- ters of detail, are incapable of being compressed into such statistical eomi>actness as wouUl reiuler them avaihible or useful in a short intro- •hu'tory h'tter, those interested are referred to the several reports, which "are both exhaustive and valuable, being prepared in many in- stances by recognized authors and exi)erts, or from information directly sui»i)lied by such. That portion of the subject, however, which deals witli Ibreign meat and dairy-])ro(luce markets, our ])resent share in sup- ])lying the same, and the best means for the enlargement of our trade therein, being more susceptible of prolitable statistical analyses than cattle-breeding, the following tigurcs are submitted, in the interest of our rxi)orters of cattle and cattle products. LIVE-CATTLE TRADE. It would seem as if the cattle, meat, and dairy producers of the world — that ])ortion, at least, which prosecutes advanced agriculture — look to the r>ritish n)arkets for the consumption of 1 heir surjdus products. Out- side of our oleomaigarine trade with Holland, and a com])aratively small export of salted beef, tallow, butter, and cheese to Canada, the West Indies, «S:c., our trade in cattle and cattle ])ro(lucls is with the United Kingdom, as the following statement will show: Slatrmciit showing ilic csportu of cattle and cattle products from the Unilid States during the year 1884. Description. To tho United Kingdom. To .ill other countries. Total. $17, .330, ono 11, 5 10,. 309 2,54l>, 122 •2, or.s, ;i^i;! 00, 02S 1, 870, riu 10, r.OH, 5'JO 2,941,008 209, 020 20.'!, 008 $r)I8,889 470,902 G:il,045 ],M;!, W)2 7, 7;!0 1,874,4:10 1,1.'"m, 187 :,8r,2,3«7 4, 033, 342 45, 321 $17, S3.'-., 493 11 9K7 331 3, 173 707 S'lltfd iH-i'f 3, 2i)-.', 27.'') 07 TM < »t liir litcC IJiittcr 3, 7r.O 771 Chi'C.HO Jl<-c'f fallow 11,003,713 4 793 375 4 84'' 302 248 3"9 Total 49, 2.'51, 411 12,333,705 CI 1585 17G In the column of exports "to all other countries" are ])rndncts ex- jmrtetl to Canada to the value of 8li,(i.')r», 418, a large ])ortion of which wa.s' re-exported to Knghind, and oleomargarine to llolhind, which also found its way as "btitt(!r" to the I'.ritish markets, as will apiiear further on, to the value of -s 1,11*7, SiiT. This would I'cduce the ex|)orts to all othei' <-onnfries at least >!5,()0(>,(MH), and increa.s(> those to the United Kingdom by that amount. Our exports during the year may therelbre beset down as follows: To the United Kingdom", $54,25O*,()0() ; to all otiier connlrics in i:uroi»e, !^;3,2()(),()()(): to all countries outside of l<:urope, Ji'l,10.S,17(i. It, will thus be seen that stati.stics showing the comlitioiis which ])re- vail in the liriti.sli markets, and the means which must be taken to hold and enlarge, our interests tlierein, cover, for all praetieal pur[)o.se.s, our commercial relations with the outside world, as far as our exports of cat lie and cattle iM-odu(;t.s sire cojicciimmI. TIku)! her countries of ICuroiie e.s.say t«» supply tlieir own wants in tl)is regard, and mainly siicciced in HO doing, having a small sur|)lus for export besides. It should, how- ever, bo borne in mind that many of those countries are relatively no CATTLE AM) DAIIJY FAIIMINCJ. 5 n'oluT in cattloaiKl cattle products tliaii tlic rnitcd Xin.udoiu, l»iit their coiisiiini)tion of meat food is very limited, while the British people are a meat-eatiii,u' jieople: indeed, they may be looked upon as the only meateatiii.u- people in !']urope, for the ;j:eneral populations of the other countries repird meat as a luxury, to be enjoyed si)arin;;ly on rare oc- casions. The same may be iicnerally asserted, though in a more modified de- .^ree, in re^uai'd to the. general consumption «)f butter and clieese. Ih'uce, while tile other countries of lairope oiler limited lields for tlu^ consumi»- lion of our cattle products, lields which are, but which slioidd not be, overlooked in our elforts to supply the imperial demands of tln^ United Kinu'dom, we must continue, to look upon the latter as our principal market, ami direct our best eltbrts toward fultillin.u' all the conditions by which it is .uoveriu'd, and continue to iiive the Jhitish people supe- rior pi'oducts, at in-ices which will leave as little cause for dissatisfac- tion and as little room- for successful competition as i)ossible. We have done much to control the supply of tije British market, but we have, in our anxiety to reach voluminous results, ne.nlectc-d many details, to our loss and to the advanta.i>e of those coujitrics whicdi have established tluMuselves in British esteem, and which comniand a successful trade in the ]>iilish market, by extreme care and attention in the i)reitaratioii of their products— in tine, by specially caterini;- to the tastes of the con- sumers. Stafrmciit sJjoiv'ukj the uuinhtv and fulue of caille imporUd iuto Ihe I'liilcd hiiif/dom diirinij Ike iirar ISSI, the coitiiirici wlience imjtortcd, and their value per head, as eompiled from Urilinh ofjirial fitaiifitien. OXEN AND BULLS. Wliciico imported. rnifcil Statos r.rilisli North Aiuerica Urn mil rk I'DrtuK.il (ii'rniany Spain Swt-.Uii nollau.l Norway Cliannc'l Islands Wc.sl Africa Total COWS. CALVES. Holland; Denmark Svfodon ('lianiicl I.slaud.s All othtr Total Number. 1.^9, 213 r.9, 0.54 42, 74G 17, ons 17, :!I0 17,482 12, 426 2, r*l 8UJ Value. $10,120,600 6, 12.1, 000 4,100,160 1,806,240 ^OKL.'iOO ],5W», 220 2('.5, 2«0 ;47, 800 84, 078 21, r.78 170 Valup por head. 300,696 33,100,340 $115 7ft 103 GO !)7 32 104 24 07 14 90 91 97 00 9() 74 97 08 104 72 34 00 100 88 44, 1C7 7,182 4,110 2, 100 1,977 1,123 4)-7 107 $4,218,480 628, 398 394, 032 2'.0, 608 ]9.i.8.'.8 80, 508 .V2, 002 10,084 $9.'-. 51 87 49 00 02 118 .'•i3 99 07 Ilnllanil 77 03 T'niti'd States 100 78 91 24 Total .. 01,314 5, 842, 570 95 29 41,3.54 9,349 3, 371 3r>0 07 $957, 134 180, 024 81,793 25, 432 928 54,497 1,251,911 $23 14 19 90 24 20 71 41 13 85 22 97 G CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Imoim tlio iori'U'oini; slatciiMMit sliowiii,!;- the inii)ort.s of oxen and bulls into tlie ruited Kin/^dom— tliat is, butelier stock— it will be seen that Aiiieiicaii cattle, if we excei)t the C'luiiuiel Islands cattle, which are iin- ])orted lor breediiii;- ])nii)oses, cominaud liii;her prices than the cattle iinportctl from aiiv r)ther country, and avc may assume that the best butcher stock of the world is represented in that market. The cattle im- l)orte(l from Canada, although analojious to American cattle, are valued at more than sl2 jicr head less than our cattle, while those of European countries are valued at from $2r> to $18 per head less than ours, with the exception of rortu<;uese cattle, which only fall short .Sll.o5 per head. This, therefore, bears out sonieof our consuls in their assertions that Anu'rican cattle are the best general cattle in the world. Ilavinj;- the linest cattle ranj^a^s and most favorable climate for cattle-raisin.i;-, the sui)eriority of our cattle, as asserted in the British markets, is surprising' only to tliose who have been in the habit — i)ersons who assume rather than icason — of connectiuir hii,d)-.irra(le cattle with the Old World only. The superiority of our cattle and cattle ranji:es is nowhere better under- stood than by the adviinced and intellijientcattlcmen of Ontario. This is verilied in niany ways, but in no way more emphatically than by the fa»'t that Canadian cattle comi)anies, iu order to keep up to the demands of the r>ritish markets—Canadian cattle fallin,u' far below Americau cat- tle (herein — have been forced to leave (Canadian pastures for thos(i of the Uuitt'il States, as a report upon the subject from tbe consul at Sherbrooke will substantiate. The intelligent and sensible elibrts of those companies for the improvement of their vast herds are worthy of «lccp study on the i)art of our cattlemen. The Ontario Agricultural Commission, in the report of its proceedings published in 1881, refers in complimentary terms to the superiority of American cattk'. Mr. A. J. Thompson, a large shi{)j)er of Canadian cattle to England, testified as follows before the commission : Tlio niiiiiials that toino from Kansas City an* far siiperior to Canadijin <.^rain-l'c(l fattle; tluTo is no comparison between tbom. People liave the idea that tliero is no breeiliiijj anionfj the cattle in the Western States, hut this is a great mistake, torthese rattle are all ])retly well bred. A statement, attached hereto, lias been }»re|)ared which shows the im- |)ortatioiis of cwttle (cows and calves omitted) into the Hinted Kingdom during the eleven years ending with the year 1884. These details em- brace the beginning and d<'velopment of our cattle and fresh -beef trade with that country, and arc of special interest to our cattlemen and packers. This statement goes to show that our exportations of cattle to Eurojjc really began in tlie year 1877 — i)revious exportations being more or less in the nature of experinuMits — and reached their maximum iu 1880; the imjiorts into the Uiiited Kingdom from the United States during that year amounting to Al7,88!>,171, against $1(;,1LM),G{)() during the year isst. The magnitude to which this trade would have grown were it not for adverse legislation — legislation the result of fear lest cattle disease might be introduced into the United Kingdom through the free import of Americiin eiittle— which hampered the landing, and the handling and killing after landing, of the animals, would on'v have been limited by oin- capacity to sui»])ly the demand. The changes wiiich have taken place in the British foreign cattle trade during the decade ending with 1884, and the relative positious of CATTLE AND DAIRY FAK.MING. 7 the coiiiitrii's iVoni wiiit'li tlu' cattle wcMC (irawii at (lie lH';;iiining and end of the docado, are .shown in lliu lolloAvin^j; statonicnt: Statement nhou-iiKj (he number of oxen imporlcd into the Cnitcd Kimjtloni dniinij the iiears lb7r> and 1&S4. [Tbo couutric'S from wiicnco iraportod aro Riven in tlio order of Mieir iiiijiortanco in lSfc'4, tlio fl};urc8 in parentheses sliowinij their relative order in 1875.] Whence imported. United States (10) (lan.ida (9) Denmark (?) rossible to discuss understandiugly the one without taking the other into consideration, the following statistics concerning the fresh-beef importations into the United Kingdom are given: Statement ffhowinfj the qnanfUies and value of thefrcnh herf imported into the United King- dom from the several countriex during the year 1884. Whence importeil. Quantity. Value. Value per pound. Pounds. 90, 904, 128 3, .551. 184 2, 643, 872 711,048 308, 448 104.272 151,648 $10, 724, .579 3.52, 107 320, .531 89, 409 32, 843 17, 593 16, 018 Cents. 11.80 9.92 12.12 12.56 A ustnil;isiii Kninco 10.64 16.88 10.56 Total 98, 375, 200 11,553,080 1L74 This statement shows that we virtually monopolize the trade of the United Kingdom in foreign fresh beef. The imj)orts of fresh beef into the United Kingdom in 1874 amounted to about ^,773,404 pounds, of which 3,630,784 pounds were imported 8 CATTJ.r, AND J)A1KV I'AIJMING. from (Jcniiaiiy, ami only 1L'L',(JS(> jiomimKs iVoin tlic IJiiitod States. Our own ollicial ivtiniis make no spri-ial mcnlion of any oxporlfs of frcsli brt'f lu'lort' tlic year 1ST7, wlion It),'-' !(>,*. )!>() pounds— the wIioU^ i'xi)ort — were shipped to the Tinted Iviufjdoni. Our trade in I'lesh beef has sj>run;rinlo sudden nia;rnitudejiavins; steadily inereased lioni 40,210,990 pounds, valued at 8 1, •■)-"»-, •^>-'>, in 1877, to 1L'0,781,0(>4: pounds, valued at $11,0S7..'>;?1, in 1SS4. The British ollieial ictuins place the fbllowing porpound value upon the imports of fresh beef into the kingdom during the years 1880, 1881, 18SU, 188.'}, and 188 1: Whence imported. Uoiltd Statos ('.-iirul.i ]{||.H^^ (Jcniinnv AuHtrala-tia... France 1880. Cents. 11.27 11.03 13.31 1881. 1682. Cents.-] Cents. II. 4H I IL'. 0(i 12.51 11. yo 1883. Cents. 12.22 12.04 10. M 12.91 12. 06 13.13 1884. Ocnti. 11. PO 12.12 9.92 12. 50 10. C4 10 88 It will be seen that American beef maintained the lead of all countries from which meat is drawn in any quantity. The slight i)rice decrease in 1884 can have no signilicance wlien the inlm^ns(^ rpiantity imported from the United States (90,904,128 pounds) is taken into consideration. Our c(Misular reports «t. few years back repeatedly referred to the l)rejudice existing in Great Britain against Anu'rican beef, while at the same time the Britisli ])ooplc were unknowingly proving the grouiid- lessncss for su(;h prejudice by eating large quantities thereof under the name of prime lOnglish l)eef — a <^rick of the butchers, v.ho had helped to create and maintain the prejudice referred to. The (;onsiils as.s(Mted that this ])rejudice, i)riucipally engendered and sustained by the butchers, wlioseinterests it was feared would be injured by tin* American fresh-beef trade, required for its total dissipation only comprehensive and intelligent action on the i)art of our exporters in placing their meat jtroperly l)efore the British people, who would un- doubteclly consult and conserve their own ijiterests in the j)remises. Central meat depots, with outlying shoi)s in the principal cities of the kingdom, controlled and in point camo nndor my own ob- servation. I mado ini|iiiry of a retail Imtrlicr if li(> sold American meal.s, and Iio re- l>lied with some warmth, "No, sir, I eould not, soil it here." Tho Name afternoon I was conversing: with a .ucntlemaii. and ineidentally mentioned what Hie butcher Iiad told me. Ilt^ langhcd and s;iid, •• 'l"\vo days ai;(> I was coniini^ down street in Manchester, and saw this same butcher drop a paper. I jjickcd it u]), and it was a lon-j bill of American meat, and when ho assured yon he sold no American benf ho forgot that oil his stock that «lav \\a>^ American beei', and American <>)il!/!" This plain statement of a fact illustrates how easy it has heretofore l)ecn for the Hn;ili8h retail dealer to cheat and deceive consumers as to tho beef sold. Tho prejudice against American beef is larf^ely a Ihin.i',- of the )):ist. And now that consumers are learniut; the tricks played upon them by butchers, it would bo a wise plan, in my opinion, for American exporters of beef and mutton to take steps to compel fair d(>alinji, to say tho least, on the part of retail butchers hero. Several ytuirs ajjo shoi)s for the sale of American meats were opened in various cen- ters, but owinsjj to the line and cry raised against them by the retail trade generally, anil also on account of the iirejudiccs with which cousuniers always regard a now source of supplies of food for this country, the ])]an did not prove a success. 13(!side8, the suy)i)ly was. owing to the uncertainty of the new enterprise, irregular— a state of things which no longer exists. I believe the present is a favorable time to repeat the e\])erinuMit under wise and .jiidioions management. Our meats have won their way evervwhere, and there is now no good reason why our ex]>orters sliould not re- ceive at l(!ast '2 cents a i)ound more for their meat at Liverpool, leaving retail butchers here a round iirofit, ami <'iiabling tlu^ consumer to purchas(> the h;iiuo at a leduction from in-esent prices of from '2 to 3 cents per pound. A cheaper supply of good beef would insure an enormous increase in the quantity consumed, so that :,c, 4, 138,625 1, 740, 399 552, 427 275, 019 796, 805 .'")71, 288 6,815,481 450, 567 580, 637 4,383,011 2, 416, 070 4,445,452 2,857,14-t 547, 573 4,473,931 2,811,270 'roUil. 24, 088, 1,016, 2,191, l,47il, 15, 776, 1,434, 1,382, 11,410, 4, 783, 8, 5St, 4, 597, 2, 904, 1,100, 520, 10,820, (5, 597, 954 ted, viz, IGS.l to each ],(MMJof its inhabitants. Among the many conditions wliich prevail and which intlueuce the interests of the several countries, in so far as those interests come into CATTLE AND DAUx'Y FARMING. 1 I coiiHic't with the cattle and cattle i)ro(liM'ts of tlie UnitcMl Slates in lur- ei.un maiki'ts, tiie rolloNvin.^' may be cited : (I) Th«^ pni'imses for wliich the cattle are bird and rcaied — whether lor the dairy or the butcher. (!') The ortiu.t;' cattle countries of Europe are Denmark-, I'ortui^al, Spain, Germany, Holland, Sweden, and llussia. From the arbitrary conditions which surround the industry in these countries, and in viev/ of the unlimited fields for its develoi)ment outside of l-^urope, it does not ap]>ear as if the future held out much promise for cattlc-breetliufj, for export at least, in the Old World. The Uniteelsium, Holland, Austria-Hungary, and IJussia are suthcient unto themselves, with a small surplus for expoit to England. This sur[)lus was as i'ol- lows in ISSt : Cattle. —From Germaiiy, 24,492 head ; from Holland, 3,604 head. Fresh hccf. — Fiom Eussia, ,'J,5.">1,1S4 pounds; from Germany, 711,048 ]M)nnds; from France, 104,272 pounds. This, it will be seen, is a very small surplus for so large a ]>ortion of the Continent, and a ijojiulation of about 2r)().()U0,()00. The other countries of Europe, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Spain, and Portugal, export about 140,000 head of cattle annually. It is to these that Great Britain looks, outside of Ireland, for any regular sup- ply of I']uroi)ean cattle. The total annual wants of the United Kingdom, based upon the as- sumption that its importations cover its wants, may be estimated at '}80,000 head of foreigti cattle, or their equivalent in fresh beef. Tiiis estinuite is based on thefollowingcalculations: h\ 18S4 the importations were 01,;>14 cows, 300,01)0 oxen, 1)8,375,200 pounds of fresh beef, and 54,011 calves. The value of the fresh bet-f, as may be seen on reference to the sta- tistical table heretofore given, is a little overone-third the value of the oxen, and it is therefore assumed that the 1)8,375,200 i)Ounds of fresh beef represented one third the nund)er of oxen im]>orted. The greater iiund)er of the oxen and nearly all the beef being American, gives addi- tional assurance that this estimate is a very close approximation to th<'. real figures. The value of live calves e(puding the value of one ox, this imi)ort is equivalent to 5,000 oxen. The total number of horned cattle, or their equivalent as above, im- ])orted into the United Kingdom from Euroi)ean countries during the year 1884 amounted to about 180,000 head, leaving 300,000 head to be supplied by countries outside of Europe. These were drawn from the following countries, fresh beef being converted into cattle as before: From the United States, 234,700 head: from Canada, 04,031 head; from all other places, 1,209 head. 12 CATTLK AND 1»AIRY FARMING. It iliiis jipiuMis that iiraily onc-lialC of all the fbreii;n fivsh beef cou- .siiiiiihI ill till' I'liitc'd Kin.udoMi is drawn lioiii the ITiiited States. The tbiv-oiiij;(.'stiinat«'s iloiiotiiU'liuU' the iiiijioits ol' meat ''i>reservod otherwise Than by salting," under which desiunatioii eoiisiderableciiian- titiesof "jerked"' or dried beef IVoiii South America, and eanned and smoked beef Iroiii the United States and Australasia, are imported, as witness the lollowinji; statement : Importsinto the riiital Kingdom during the year lbd4 of meat preserved other than by mlling. Whenco iQiportcil. nDit{>4l States AiislralaHia B<*l;:iuiii Urii^IUiij- Canada Argi'nliuc Kcimblio Franco KiiHsia Norway r.t»rniany. llc.lland l!i.i/il All other Total Quantity. Pounds. 20, ()i)8, :>M 14,:!ilO,7'J8 i,4in, I'js 'J, (;i4, i)7(i i,r)(u,:!04 459, 'J84 y If), 382 15;!, 104 ir)8,r.92 i()i,;!Oo 117, GOO ion, r.;!0 ] 0,640 Valiio. $3, 476, 042 1,. '502,007 Or)o, 409 403, 3sr) 175,237 82, 27.') 01,892 30, 100 20, 572 20, .103 20, 052 20, 052 1,040 50,509,880 I 0,780,072 Value per ])(>UU(I. Ccntn. 11.06 10.44 CrT. 70 15.42 11.20 17.89 25. 20 10.71 12.93 21 >. 06 17.07 1.5.73 15.41 11.40 Ilere, as in cattle and fresh beef, the United States largely leads, followed in (juantity by Australasia, Uruguay, Canada, Belgium, &c,, respectively. Assuming that the future wants of Europe will increavse proportionately with the increase of, say, the last tifteen years, and that the increase in its cattle, under the most favorable conditions, cannot be cxpectetl to keep pace with the ex])ected increase of ])oi>ulalion and the constantly increasing ii.se of meat foods among the pcojile — an increase jirincipally tine to the fact that the exports from the United States and other non- European countries are bringing meat foods more and more within the imrchasing i)ower of the general classes — it may serve a practical pur- pose for onr stockmen, packers, and exporters to study the statistics of the countries which in the near future v»ill be likely to com[)ete with American meats in the IVilish markets — nott^nly in the British markets, but in those of neaily every (;ountry in l"]urope, for it is only a matter of detail in tin; perfection of the methods lor flu; preservation of fresh beef, antl its tpiick and regular transportation from distant countries, when the breeding and rearing of cattle for meat puri)0ses Avill be wholly unprolitable, if not practically impossible, in the greater portion of Europe. The latest ollicial returns and estimates of the number of horned cat- tle in tlie principal cattle-rearing countries outside of Europe give the follow in;r results: Countries. "Ignited StiitcH. , IJraJill Ar^entinu IUrazil, it may he said, as a rule, that they are at ])resent oidv valual)le for their hides, horns, tallow, &e., very" larjre numbers not Ix'in.i;' available even for these i)rodiU'ts, owinj; to their distance from the seaboard and the lack of transportation facilities. A strikin^r illus- tration of these conditions is .tiiven by the consul-.^eneral at Jiio de, Janeiro, who reports that, notwithstanding? the 20,000,000 head of catth^ in the Empire, 04,000,000 jKiunds of dried beef were imported into that city (durin,£V the year in which his report was written) from Uruj;nay and the Ar<4entine IJepnblic. The conditions which i)revail in the. Ar- .j;-eutine IJepublii; are not much better than those which i)revail in Iba/.il, Consul Eaker reporting- that, with its 12,000,000 cattle, neither milk, butter, nor cheese is produced in the country, and that the beef is of execrable quality. Cattle in the Argentine lJei>ublic and in Uruguay are bred and slaughtered almost wholly for their hides, the export's of which num- bered 1,010,218 for the Argentine l{ei)ubli(; alone in 1883. With the increasing demand for beef in Europe, it cannot be very long before the waste beef of South America will be more or less util- ized in that direction. The capitalists of Europe, it appears, are already conten)i)lating the import of fresh meats from the Argentine Rei>ublic, for our consul at ^layence, in a report dated. Septend)er 1, 1885, trans- mits the following clipping from a leading German trade journal : FP.KSn-MEAT THADE WITH AnOKXTIXK. Tbe proposal to establish a company to carry ou theimportatiou of fresh meat from Arj;eutine is beinu; taken up in various qnarters. Hamburg is to be the cliief Euro- pean depot, and :!, (100,000 marks (about §700,000) are ])roposcd as the capital. It is contended that there is a great o))euing in Germany for a concern Avliicli will provide cheajt food, and especially tlesh, for tin; ])eople. The La Plata states, and Argentine particularly, are especially eligible for thesupi)ly of stock on a large scale. A liegin- uiugls to be made with mutton. In the Argentine Republic alone the. Ilocks of sheep number bO, 000,000 head. The meat will be brouglit in cold ai)artments, llie ma- chinery for the Argentine refrigerating establishment being obtained in Germany. German refrigerating nnichines have proved their cfliciency. Recently Herr A. Neii- becker, engineer, of Offenbach, made experiments attaining 15-^ of cold, an, wliih'- for the transpoit by ship 1 is snOicient. The consul, in transmitting this " news item," ])ertincntly asks why ourpeo])le cannot sui)idy some of this "chea]) food, especially Hesh, for which there is said to be a great opening in Germany." During the year 1884 we exported over 120,000,000 i)ounds of fresh beef, of which 115,000,000 ])ounds went to the United Kingdom, and not a single ])0und to any other country in Europe. This would seem to imjdy either one or all of three points, viz, that our exporters have, overlooked the German jnarket, that our beef is too dear lor that mar- ket, or that there is no "great opening "in that market for foreign fresh beef. The second \vould seem to be the true ])oint, else why should a syndicate be formed for experimenting in Argentine Ijeef, while Amer- ican beef, beyond the experimental ])hasc, is within easy reach- In regard to Australasia, noted for its valuable breeds of cattle, as well as for its intelligent c;ittlel»reeding, it maybe said to hav«^ passed the experimental stage in its exports of fresh beef to the United King- 14 CATTLi: AND DAIRY FARMiyG. «loin, as tlio exports tlioroto of 308,000 poniids in l.SSl would soom to imi)ly. The imi)oits of lirsli lu'cf iuto tlio Uiiitod Jviuudoin from the IJniU'd States dnrins; the year 1875 were only a little greater tban those for Australasia in ISSl. The lirst imports into the United Kingdom of fresh beef from Russia are reeorded for the year 1883, viz, 2,402,43-5 pounds. For 1884 the im- ])orts anH)unted to 3,351,184 i)ounds. an in<;rease of 880,752 pounds. Tlie initiatory ellort in this ease is British — British eapital and British dir(>ction — and great hopes are entertained of enlarging the trade. It will be noted, in the table showing the imports of fresh beef into the United ivingdom, that the Itnssian product is valued at 0.02 cents and the American at ll.vSO cents ])er pound. The superiority of the Ameri- can beef fully warrants this dilference in price; but it must not be for- gotten that a j)enny i)er ])0und is a matter of considerable moment to the working ami trades chisses of the United Kingdom, and will go far towards glossing over inferiority in quality. This question of cheapness exerts a controlling intluence in every country in Europe, and the country which can supply the cheapest food products can always command an almost unlimited market therein. Our producers, while maintaining the high (piality of their products, must never lose sight of this point. Assuming that in the near future our stockmen and slaughterers will have to <'ontend more or less with Australasia, the Argentine Republic, Russia, &c. — Canada being already an imjjortant competitor— for the beef trade of Europe, the question naturally presents itself, how will such comi)etition atiect nsf With the present magnificeut condition of our vast herds ; their supe- rior (piality as beef-makers; the intelligence which governs and guides every movement from the plains to the seaboard ; our almost ])erfect railway system, which insures quick transport ; the nearness of Europe to our shores, and the unlimited steamship conveyance always available, it does not seem possible that any other country can overmatch us in the European markets. The only drawback to our export trade Avhich can arise is the possibility of our home demands increasing faster than our supply, for the home market is the controlling inliuence. Whatever maybe the results to us and to the other countries which nre])reparing to enter into this trade, the result to the United Kingdom, must be an abundant and cheap supi)ly of beef, for the surplus" ])eef cattle of the world are ever on the move towards London. DAIRY PRODUCTS IN EUROPE. ^ Those portions of tho consular reports which treat of dairy farming in Eurojie seem to cover every point contem[)Iat(!d in the Department cir- cular, and they must prove of great interest and value to our dairy l\irm- ers. Jt would be inq)ossii)le, even were it necessiiry, to condense their various interesting descriptions of Euroj)ean dairy farming, from th.e care of the cattle lo the manufacture of butter and'clieese, and the con- ditions which surround and intluence the industrv, from its inception to the disposal of the i)roducts. The reports to be fully appreciated in this regard must be read in detail, tor the ditferent parts of the subject are d\velt on to minutia, leaving very little for assumptive speculation. J he only iihase of tin; interest which seems to demand any treatment here is, as in (he case of cattle and beef, that which deals with the European butter and cheese markets, our share therein, and how to en- large that share. -*3p^TTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 15 "What was said of the cattli' suri)liis of tlio world (iiidiiiu- a iiiarkot in the United Kingdom is (Mjiudly tiin'. of butter and cheese. The condi- tions which govern that niaiket may therefore be said to govern all other markets; at least this holds good so far as our exports of dairy l)roducts to Europe are concerned. The following statement shows the amount aud value of butter and butterine — for, strange to say, the British customs returns do not distin- guish between butter and oleomargarine — imported into the Unit<'d Jvingdom during the year ISSt: ButUr and hiiitcriiic impori-f. "Whence imported. Quantity. Value. Valne per pound. HolLind Franco Denmark- Ocrniauy Sweden United States Canada Bi-It;iiim Norway Itussia Australasia Italy Channel Islands ... J'ritish East Indies Other countrifcs ... Total Pouiids. 124, 924, 128 57,121,008 .37, r.27, 504 10,177,280 11,404, or4 11,231,472 (i, 208, 044 fi, 740, 272 3. 480, 472 1,484, 5G<) 508, 480 152, 4;i2 100, 464 101,108 17, 584 $24, 285, .575 14,077,539 9,701,052 4, 180, 251 2, 887. 384 2, 179, 982 1, 243, 028 1,348,848 « 10, .504 202, 530 93, 924 30, 562 25, 685 2.5, 14C 3,115 277, 248, 832 60,961,191 Centg. 19.44 24.64 20.01 25. 84 25. 32 19.41 20.02 20.00 17.51 13.04 18.47 23. 92 25. 57 1.5. 60 17.72 21.99 It will be noted that Danish butter leads all foreign butter in price per pound in the British market, being higher than even the celebrated Channel Islands butter. This is a fine tribute to what may be called a national effort in this leading indu.stry of Denmark, for Government and people seem to be united in the determination to combine all the ad- vjinced apj)liances for the manufacture of this product with the utmost care and selection of the stock, cleanliness, and care in handling the milk, cream, and butter, and putting the latter on the British market in the most acceptable (condition. Xext to Denmark, the inoducts of Germany, Sweden, and France stand very high in the British market. The com])aratively low place occupied by the product of Holland should not detract from the noted dairy farmers of that country, it be- ing wliolly ,(>S.''> ]t()unds, against 1(J0,1L'8,();]2 liounds in 1881. In the Conner year the British imports of French but- ter amounted to 1(;,0()(>,()()() pounds more than the importsof Dutch but- ter, while ill 1884 Dutch butter led the French by nearly 44,000,000 16 CATTLE A\D DAIRY FARMING. pnmids. It is, thercfoiv, saio to ussnino tliat I'liU.v 50,000,000 poiiiuls of tlic butter imported into the United Kin.udoni from llollaiul in the year 18S4 was tdeoiiiar^Miiiio or imitation butter. In view of the ])re)udi('e whieh exists in Europe aj^aiiist American l>ro(bu-ts, and the belief which prevails, moreor less, among the several peoples that adulteration and eounterreitinj,^ of food i)roducts are more rife in the I'nited States than in the Old World, the open manufacture of oleomarpirine into imitation butter, the counterfeiting;- of well-known brands, ami the lloodinj;- the Ilritish markets therewith, without excit- iiifj any special wonder, is most siuiiilicant. In some the United States we have laws re.ijuhitinjx the manufacture of oleomargarine, which laws insist that the i»"roduct must be i)lainly branded according to its nature, so that people who so desire can i)urchase and use it understandingly. Tiiat it is permitted to be imjjorted into the United Kingdom nnder the name of butter, and sold as snch, must have a very injurious effect on the legitimate butter trade. Turning to our exports of butter and oleomargarine (for the distinc- tion is clearly made by our customs), we find that during the year 1884 Holland took of our oleomargarine oil o."),173,840 pounds, valued at $4,1L'7,S27, an avenige of 12.44 cents per pound. Our total exports of oleomagarine for the'year amounted to ;3!),;3L>1, 000, valued at $4,842,000, or 18,()!>:J,<;2<;, i)ounds, and $1,()!)1,220 in excess of onr butter expints for the year. Of our exports of oleomargarine not taken by Uolland, 2,S0.i,78;i ])ounds of tiie oil went to Belgium, 1,007,203 pounds of the oil and 421,.'}1() ])ounds of the imitation butter (the oleomargarine ex- j)orts being subdesignati'd imitation butter and the oil by our customs) went to the United Kingdom, and 1,002,300 ])ounds of the imitation but- ter to Canada. There need be little doubt that the greater portion of the export to Holland was converted into "Irish'' and " English •' butter and consumed as such by the British peoi)le. In this connection it is worthy of note that the exports from Holland to the United Kingdom, of which at least one-half was com])osed of this imitation butter, are valued by the Brit- ish (aistonis at a fraction per pound more than the real butter imijorted from the United States. The decrease in the consumption of American butter in the United Kingdom is noteworthy. The imports thereof in 1870 amounted to .■53,231,472 pounds, valued at 80,041,400, against 11,231,472 pouiuls, val- ued at 82,170,082, in 1884. It is more than ]»robable that this decrease was largely due to the increase in our home consumption, prices iii the liome market, es{)eoumls in excess of those of 1880; and the fact that so much inferior butter or sultstitute for butter fintls a growing market therein goe.^ to jirove that cpiality has no further bearing on the trade than value in the British market. The fact that Am<;rican butter is valneroduct, wc can scarcely hope, even if we so desired, to compett! for this trade. The field for high-j^rade butter is, however, open to our dairy people, and there is no jiood reason why they, with more favorable primary condi- tions than (;an i)ossibly exist in any of the hiUropean countries, sIkfuM uot prepare and place upon the IJritish market butter which would stand on a i)ar with the best Danish i)roduct. They should study the reports on Danish dairy farming conceruinj^- this ji'reat industry, and thus learn that the secret of Danish success lies altogether in comply- ing with the laws governing success. If our dairy farmers essay foreign markets at all, they should cater to the tastes ot' those markets, and it will ])ay better, even at the ex])ense of more labor and time, to ex[)ort first-class than inferior butter carelessly made, carelessly packed, and carelessly placed on the n)arkets. The 1i,'J31,47l' pounds of American butter imported into the United Kingdom from the United States dur- ing the year ISS-t at the price received for Daidsh buttei- would have yielded our dairy farmers nearly -SToO,!)*)*) more than was realized there- from. This large sum can be legitimately charged to indilference on the part of our dairy farmers. This is not the real cost of our indilfer- en»;e, however, for had we catered for the Liritish markets, after the manner of the Danish dairy farmers, our exports would have been four- fold what they were in 1884. Thus some idea may be formed of the consequential damages which have resulted from our remissness in this one industry, which, as said before, is surrounded by more favorable con- ditions in the United States than in any other country. In this connection, the attention of our daii-y farmer is directed to a rei)ort on the Irish butter trade, transmitted by the consul at (3ork, A.^ (.'ork is the chief center of the dairy interest of Ireland — the butter being almost \\'holly ujanufactured for the London market — and as Irish butter holds a very high place in English esteem, this report, with its accompanying ])apers, is of special value. A table in this report gives the prices of the finest butter in the Cork market for forty years, viz, 1841 to 1881, IVom whi(;h it appears that (luring the decade ending with 1851 butter averaged 8t shillings ])er hundredweight (1S.2 cents jjcr jmund) ; during the decade ending with 1801,104 shillings per hundred-weight (::i'.() cents per jjound); during the decade ending with 1871, 11(5 shilling per hundredweight (2(5 cents per i)ound); and during the de(;ade ending with 1881, 1:51 shillings pei- hundred-weight (27.0 cents j)er pound); an increase in the forty years of 47 shillings per hundred-weight (10.2 cents per j)ound). In 1881 Danish butter was valued in the English customs at 2(j.2."» cents per ])ound; in the same year, as the re])ort under consideration shows, Irish batter sold in the Cork markets at 28.8 cents per [)ound. The costs and charges incident to export must be added hereto to ar- rive at an estimate of its value in the English marki't. These figures would go to prove that Irish butter brings the highest price of all for- eign butter in the London market. Ono of the indosures in Consul Piatt's report deals at length with "Irish preserved butter," the writer, an expert in this product, claiming for this particular article great keeping qualities. H. Ex. 51 2 18 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Consul Piatt, iu referring to this butter, says : In conne<:tion with tlii^ snl)jicfc of camuHl butter, it may bo \vp11 to diroct the atten- tion of those ill the Ignited States interested hereiu to tbe opportunity whieh I am told exists for a larj^e doveh)))ment of American enterprise with respect to this class of butter. Within seven or eight years, France, Germany, and Denmark have, by tho adojition of the system of packing butter in hermetically sealed cans, each contain- ing 1, 2, :5, 7, 14, or V.'4 pounds of butter, secured the ('utirc or al>ont the entire trade of supplying the ships of the world. I believe that tho American creamery butter is eminiMitiy suitable for this particular branch of the exi)ort butter trade!. If this but- ter were "packed and sealed in cans similar to those exhiliited by Mr. Clanchy, which prestTve tho butter fresh and sweet ibr a long prriod in any ing trade of our country. Whereas, ail vessels going from Europe to America take with them a supply for the double voyage, it would bo quite practicable, if this enterprise were introduced in the United States, to secure the entire trade tor tho American exporters. The United States ought to be ablotocom- pete most successfully with Europe for this trade, inasmuch as all dairy products can bo produced so much cheaper with us than on this side of the Atlantic. For the large passenger steamships the tinest butter is utilized, and also for export to countries where the consuming i)opulation require and can attbrd to pay for it, 8uch as India. Japan, China, Australia, and South America, and countries bordering on the Mediterranean. For merchant shipping and for the poorer classes of the population in the above- named countries, a second and third quality of butter is good enough, and it is for tho inferior qualities that the United States, as would apjiear from jtublished market reports, require a greater outlet than for the products of the best dairies, inasmuch as the American markets are continually glutted with stock of this .sort, chiefly owing to tho inroads which the improved manufacture of l)utterine has made upon the markets hitherto availal)le for the consumption of cln:ap genuine butter. Since merchant vessels use chiefly butter of the third quality, it will be seen that tho markets for large quantities of this class of butter might be found if tho canning sys- tem were adopted for the supply now furnished, for tho most part, by European exporters. From a statement, herewith submitted, showinji our butter exports for eleven years, 1874 to 1SS4, both inclusive, it appears that this ex- port has increased nearly fivefold in quantity duriny; that period. The ])rice per pound was, however, nearly 7 cents greater iu 1S74 tUan in 1884. On turning to the butter import iuto tbe United Kingdom for those two years it is found that the average price per pound in 1874 was 24.24 cents, anil for 1884 (omitting the import from Holland wherein imitation butter predominated) the average price was 24.70 cents per pound. Thus the decline in value in American butter during the eleven years under consideration nutst have been wholly due to deteri- oration in quality. In this (ionnection it should be remembered, how- ever, that our lirst-cla.ss Itiitter finds a.s good a market at home as in any foreign country, and it may be assumed that this fact alone accounts for tlui decline in the pri(;e. of American export butler in 1884, as com- 1 tared with the year J 874. Our export.^ of buttf^r to Enro])e during the eleven years increased nearly ninefold in f(Uiintity, this increase^ being wholly dominated by our exi)orls to the United Kingdom and to (lermany. The export in 1884 of Ameri(!an bntter to l)(Mim;irk and Sweden (121,.";77 and .'J7(),.'>71 i»onn,lG7 pounds in quantity and $1,001,591 in vahie greater than oiu- exports of butter, and at pri(;es only a little more than one-half the latter. THE POEEIGN CHEESE MARKET. Our annual cheese export amounts to over five and one-half times in rpiantity and three times in value our butter export, the ex])ort during tlie year 1884 amounting to 112,809,575 pounds, valued at $11,G0;3,713. The imi)orts of eheese into the United Kingdom, whidi cover the greater portion of the surplus cheese of the several countries, were as follows in 1884: Imports of cheese inio the United Kingdom during the i/ear 1884. Imported from— Quantity. Value. Value per pound. TJnitol States Pounds. 109, 333, "JSO 05, 994, 544 35, 777, 392 3, 030, 050 394, 800 3Cl', 880 315,050 278, 880 189, ('50 93, 850 03, 108 $12, 0,52, 3.53 7,273,301 4, 342, 002 438, 000 40,218 44,717 38,418 30, 340 21, 982 11,255 8, 728 Cents. 11. C24 Holland . 11.021 12. 137 14.443 11,714 12. 323 12. 194 10.883 11.027 11.!I92 Total 15. 400 215, 839, 508 24,307,944 11. 202 Considering the immense quantity of American cheese consumed in the United Ivingdom — 8,000,000 pounds at least of the imports from Canada, above recorded, being American cheese exported by and credited in liriti.sh returns to the Dominion — it may be held that it stands as well in public estimation as the product from any other country, although the specially prepared cheese of some other countries bring higher ])rices in the market. These higher figures, howev^er, except in the case of Holland, cover only small quantities, comparatively. It may well be questioned whether the cheese of any other con utrj', in quality and flavor, is superior to American cheese, but the latter still sulfers, in price at least, for it does not seem to suffer in consumption from that lingering prejudice which regards all American products as in some mysterious manner inferior to the products of the older countries — a ])ieiudice which has operated very unfavorably for our products, but which is being dissipated by the continuous good qualities of the luoducts them selves. It will be seen that we supply the British markets with a little more than one-half their total imports of cheese. Our exports of cheese to the United Kingdom during the year 1884, 102,080,547 pounds, and to Canada. 8,80:5,290 ])ounds — the" greater portion of the latter go- ing to lOngland also— left only 1,879,0.;2 pounds for exi)ort to all other countries. It will thus be seen that our foreign clieese trade may be said to be confined to the. United Kingdom. Of our immense cheese ex- ]>ort during 1884, only ;i little over 3,000 pounds went to all Europe, out- side the United Kin,(H>(> pounds, n aliu'd at over ,"} cents per ])ound more than An»erican cheese, was consumed in the United Jvinj?- tlom in 18S1. ICven Dutch cheese, imported to an amount equal to ouo- third of tlie total imports of tlie United States (o."),777,.".92 pounds), is val- ued at more than 1 cent i)er pound hijiher than American cheese by the British customs. Our cheese manufacturers should study the modes of manufacture in the several countries, especially in France, ITollaud, Switzerland, and Italy, and learn therefrom, if there is anything to bo learned, the secrets of special-cheese makini^-. The reports from those countries will l)e found full and valuable aids to such study. Our cheese manufacturers should never k)se si^ht of the fact that whenever, without any dei)reciation in tlu5 quality, they can export cheese to the I'nited Kingdom at lower prices tlian are obtained at ])resent, the result will be an increase in the consumj)tiou of thisproduct. Indeed, it would be hard (o estimate the increased consumption of Ameiican cheese which would result from a decrease of even a i)enny l)er pound in the United Kingdom. Of course this principle aj)plie8 to all other food sui)plies ecpially as well as to cheese, and it should always be borne in mind and worked up to by our producers and ex- porters without waiting lor competition to reduce the i^rice. CANNED AND SALTED BEEF, BEEF TALLOW, ETC. The foregoing statistics, covering the foreign trade and our i)resent and prospective share therein, in horned cattle, fresh beef, butter, (;heese, and oleomargarine, still leave canned and salted beef, beef tallow, and condensed milk before the subject of cattle and cattle products, in this connection, is exhausted. The details of our trade herein will be found in the tabulated state- ments immediately following this letter, showing our total exports of cattle and cattle products, by countries and continents, for the year 1884. Our ex])orts of canned beef for the year 1884: amounted to $3,173,707, of which the United Kingdom took to the value of $2,542,122, while less than 8300,000 worth went to the remainder of I^urope. Our exports of beef tallow during the year 1884aniounted to 03,091,103 pounds, valued at $4,703,37o. In 1880 our eximrts of tallow amounted to $110,707,027 pounds, valued at 87,089,202. Of course this showing does not go to prove any decrease in this i)roduct during those live years, for it is too apparent that beef tallow in our market must keep pace with the slaughter of cattle, and the latter having increased very largely during the years under review, it follows that the falling olf in our ex'port of the former is wholly due to an increased home consump- tion. This increased consun)i)tion is in the line of oleomargarine man- ufacture, and our exports of the latter, together with our home con- sumption thereof, will fully cover any decrease in the export of beef tallow. Of the total tallow export of 1884, 57,700,979 ])0unds, valued at 84,339,332, went to Europe, of which much more than one-half went to the United Kingdom, France (8,514,000 pounds), Belgium, and Holland following in their respective order. 22 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Our tdtiil r.\i)orls (•fsalti'il bi-rfiii 188t iniioniilcMl to -^'Jj.'JTO,!)!! lunuKls, valueil at ^o/JOl',-!."), olwiiicli ;51,ilO,557 1)()11Im1s, valued at $1*,1 1 ^^''Ji> ^ wont to Kuropo; l),(ir)L',70;> pouiuls, valued at -'r'TdS/Jol, to countries in America; and ;>1;>,L'00 and L'L'7,.'>1)() ]»ounds to Asia and Africa, respect- ively. The United Kingdom took the principal jwrtion of this ])roduct, as of all the other cattle products reviewed, oleomargarine excepted, uo less than LHi,S;)l,030 i)ounds, valued at $2,058,38:5, going thither. Our total exports of cattle and cattle products during the year 1884 were as follows : Designation. Cattilp jinmlier Tresli boef pounds ('iimicil liei f Salted beef poumls Otlier Lett' do.. Butter do Quantity. Ifl0,.'il8 120, 784, 064 '42,379,9 a 641, 163 20, 627, 374 Value. $17,85.';, 495 11.9K7, 331 3,178,767 3, 202, 275 67, 7.'i8 3, 750, 771 Designation. Qaantity. Cheese pounds 112, 869, 575 Beef tallow do.. 63,091,103 OlcoiiKirfrarino do.. 39,322,894 Coudonscd milk Total. Value. , 663, 713 , 793, 375 , 842, 362 '203,008 61, 544, 855 CATTLE-BREEDINGr IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. As remarked at the beginning of this letter, those portions of tho consular reports which deal with the many-sided, and, it may be added, finely-shadetl subject of cattle-breeding in tfie various countries, the cattfe most suitable for export to the United States, the best modes and routes of imports hither, tho various phases of dairy farming, &c., ia'ernc'(l thau tlui wisdom or othorwise of ^eUinj;- what some of our consuls call '• iiuicv-stoek na:a'(l,"'aii(l jtayiiij;- more for a single "blooded" animal than ;i well-stoeked moderate farm is usually \v()rtii,;ind as many of these reports, prinei])ally those whieh treat of the line and noted breeds in the United Kingdom, are undoubtedly ealculated lo ineite the enthusiasm of American cattlemen, a pajx'r from ('onsul TanniM, of Li('\iXe, J>eli;ium, whitdi is, in ]iart, an argument, sui>ported by valual)Ie stiitisties, against, such enthusiasm, and intended to prove that our farmers can, by selection and care, develop ;i race of American cattle ecpnd to any so-called "blooded stock," has been inserted as a prelude to the general icports. kSuch facts as that our cattle are now Ihe best foreign cattle slaughtered for the British market, and the evidence given before the Ontario agricultural comriussion by a leading cattle exporter, that the Western cattle of the United States " are far superior to Canadian grain-fed cattle, there being no comparison between them," sliould be remembered in this connection. Without desiring to advocate or combat the views herein s(^t forth, feeling mcII assured that tlie cattle-breeders of the United States are fully competent to read and digest the matter contained in these re- ports, 1 cannot help feeling that many of the latter are calculated to arouse a certain amount of enthusiasm where oidy the coolest calcula- tion is called for. lu this regard Consul Tanner's i)aper on "Cattle- l)reeding in Europe and in the United States," with its mass of valuable ICuropean o[)inion, methods of feeding, breeding for show and tor sale, principally to American cattlemen, will at least serve to moderate those re[)orts written, or incited, by breeders of "blooded stock," who, natur- ally enough, write lovingly of their favorites, (Jiven that full consideration and calm deliberation which American cattle-breeders and dairy farmers are surely capable of giving to sucli a congenial subject as cattle-breeding and dairy-farmmg, these reports, together with the statistics attached thereto in a supplementary form, contain, it is confidently believed, a mass of information such as has ni'VQT before been compiled and ))ublished in any country, and must prove of great value to the cattlemen and iii eaeli eountry. Fresh beef slat istie.s : (It) Statement Khowin-j; the exports of fresh lieef from the United States front the year H77 (the lirst olHcially recorded year of its export) to and inelnding the year I'^'^A, showing tiii^ (juantity and total value and the value per pound of the exports to each eountry. (4) Statement showing the iin|)orts of fresh beef into the United Kingdom during the eleven years ending with the year \^S\, showing the quantity and total value and tlie value per pound of tiie iiuports from each country. Butter Stat i.sties: (r>) Statement showing the exports of butter iVom the United States during the eleven years I'liding witli the year IS-i I, showing the quantity and value of the exports to each eontineiit ami country therei'.i. (()) Statement showing the imports of butter and oleomargarine into the United Kingdom during the eleven years ending with the year 1H84, showing the quantity and total vahie and value ])cr pound of the imports from each eountry. Cheese statistics: (7) Statement showing the exports of cheese from the United States during the eleven years ending with the year 1884, showing the quantity and value of the exjiorts to each continent and country therein. (8) Statement showing the imports of cheese into the United Kingdom during th(^ eleven years ending with the year 1884, showing the (luautity and total value ;ind the value per p;)und of the iinjiorts from each country, " General statistics: (D) Statenieut showing the exports from the United States of cattle and cattle I)roducts— horned cattle, Iresh beef, canned beef, salted beef, other bci'f, butter, cheese, beef tallow, and oleomargarine— during the year 1884, show- ing the number, quantity, and value of the several products exported to each country. CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 25 CO rl i-l CJ O C 00 o -* o t^ ,-, , 05M wm?j = O vJC C5 O OCJ CI ^ sco'^cotif; o" e m" rj ffl O eg -f M in 00 I-' .^ s •* If^ ■* ?> -M ~ _, -f -w — e>o S CO rrt~-C!3C-5CO-=>r- OO -«-*?500-»ocr oo in I* .-1 05 o I- — CO oidtrTount^ins Co" o in rH cc 00 CO := o ■vs. rH O r- 00 ef CO «?• O 1-5 (M Cl I^ • c o Cinema's TO 00 w a o o TJ o o'crt-"r~''ci" CO ■*00^P1M ■^ o m « rH TT in «■ " <=>-*00 MOO c CI CI O «3 P5 00 m ClOOC^ t-.-l 1^ .-1 -* CM o -n o p? O T».ift CD «•« .-1 O -■ o m CI o o oc LO sssss «- o « !0 — r-1 in 1 I- in in — CO c «e-r-lrtr-IO ~ -■ O — 1 -^ -.11 ^ ,, o in o — m r- m 00 GS -.r in !3 I OO o" ^ O OOM c- in ^"" "^ '~' ! « 111 w I^ S : S c "rt W_,^_ in 1 S'2'^-- i ^ ■B'mi ^iSHI t '-■^ 3-_ c '^ M O C> 00 .-1 .-. o. -< CI CO — -* o*** ini-- o cj 00 -- m I - O CO 00 CI rl 1ft ci -J o in o -< CO CO O ^ 00 » o CI -f in CO m o = O •<)< l- C> r^ r- 0> c» CI es CD CO o o l~ M •

CI O .-1 rl 00 C» CI CO -^ CI CD CI t* CI L^ -^ 1^ 00 CI -1 CD O CI O 00 O C5 I- O C: CD CD r-i C CI m cc o CI in o o o ■* in o uo 00 CD -o m 00 1 — c -- •.T I- r-i I- cs T-">\-* m CD OCO 00 rl 03 CO Ci r-( CD 00 -- CO in CO « CO o in CD CI03 rH O CI C5 O h- '*'!*•- - i § -*- C! — 1^ ij C P — a - r-^ ^- cs 3 't t- * s © t* 26 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. lo - o -S oif^r^ o .H -I f^ •♦ -.a 1 t= 1 « o ■» — o 'i c — ir> OT o •» C« t- « 1.-3 « ^C40 .-1 u i cf jfi-'cr r- 1^ c: cs 1 «" 1-1 •O'.-i -.^ rro o OT 1 1 C» O "» fl o 1- ;c 1-5 CM -r -r Cl aC 1- CO 00 CS 00 O 00 X) OT OC O OOO JU"0 M 00 •«• O O C£> s I-" o"t[",-o c-T— "ot-tot" 1^ oo i-i on (M M .r; ITS «o ir-t M M«or-r- O OT C5 ■»*• -^ 1^ O o tsc'icoi- ts O CO -s — X r-i irs o au 00 00C5.- ■* t^ o O in OS O 3S ••1 Cl ^ -1" ra-f .-3 CrS C« C4 (M lO IS 1.-5 00 a irs 00 -o ■.rmooOTc^ t~0CC<3 W cj e-i o C3 o 00 Ci CO ^ mi-i • -ri^'L-Tin co" c^rj • ii i-< C- CJ -* r.i c-1 oi ci • o t~ 00 « ira ""r~ O -.a 00 ri t^ i.n ■* o = n irt r3ooa • OTOCO 003 no 5D es OCOO • -TCICOI^ 1^* CO CICJ ; >- Cl o i-i t--«o-*i«e'ioocioocoej<£ V) i-ocioooi-rsocr-cioi; o --^ o i~ o TO 00 o ?i o n o |.- 1- •* — r^ 1.-5 e^i •* I t-T QO" ei 00 UD mtaci -I i-i -o m 1- 2) rt o o ^ ji m 05 Cl o • <5e'ii»'Si'^o5S?i5q Cl l« CO cizi't^t-^-«r^o OT 00 O-JOO^OOOOOOO r--l ■«■ r-l rt ,H "^ •d : : o C J ; o c. ' • B o I ,* a o ^ ' 05 ?» * "^ ; n u. 2 c 5= 2 « a = ? tfc :'^i: e o •a H |b5!5u=5.5.^s = fc o o o o-s 2 5 2 □ = = (K;^,a r*- « M 'f^ Pi •/T^i i. OOC3 ••—o-^-o-^ci OtCIC/J •CSCCOOCO't "cc'i-T • .-?cfcrirf co" ■«■ liO O O 00 w tc »-: o I- Cl »-H h- C5 C:^ Ift m C5 ro Cl o O'*' OCJ CD OOl^COI- 00 I- ?S O Cl CO o oo cp ro CO o< 1-" r.-". C5 • -•^ O Cl -rt. i6 r-- O ■<:** fH i-> C I O '^ 00 lO O I- CZ> CO ^ -^ 1^ O lO <— "t< ' O I' CO I CPL'^OO crco" O O O -^ CO L'^ O OOU TP 5D o 00 »-* O Cl cc ^ rH irTi-^to'-r'.^" O CO O O CICI coco lOO TT ■^ 00 O ''i' 00 00 -^ Tf< t-1 t* T-1 CJ O lO I— f-H OC TT« rH L't'-tT CD"co"c r I- O -r CO -^ rH i-HOU O <» Cl ■^ 00 CD Cl Cl X)'^ ro Cl CO o iri CD ■'T lO lio clo'^'Tjr CO ^ t- CD i-O '>2i '^ <^ f^D t-Ti-Tcc'cr ■«* '^ 00 o - lO icj -* CO •: ir; I- Cl I- c cocrcTco"'; -rf O I -'S' r- I CD O t—C I-T c Too"* CO C1I-- Cl Cl 0 CO Cl Cl -^i -f -f Cl -to -*♦■ CO — -* -^ -^ lO CO C1I-- _- CD'TCICirClCJCl'-'CDL- r-' c7 ^ yT ro" 7^ to" c^ co" co" CO (- lO C-. TT •-« -^ l~ ^ -^ CC O Tj« -^ CD CO TT <«• - . ^ - - IK Cl ^ t-1 ,_ CJ ^ t0.O-^OOCD:DOQ0C)CD C5 0 0CO^-"iCl.-<-H001 ;^Ciocci"fl*cocJCioOw'^ cd' irf r^ t -^ f-^ '-J" Cl" c^ 00 c r 1 o" Cl CO 1^ Tt« Tl -?t« I- Cl I- IC CO *^ CD 00 CD O CO «> - . - CO lOM lO'*« u- -f-*JCSGO-fC>QOCOOOMi ciooaoooca-~'i-*'^-^ci OOSOTOl-mOTTft^Ci •-'" c" O" ^ C r ^ O" CT oo' CO o" OC C^l OT O lO O Cl 1--5 CO -^ — " r« IXMOCiCllO^ C4 ciio'd" McfcT roOlOOOONCOOOeO -r o CO OT oo o T CO 00 t-C5Cl-OOO ot" w c~" es cf ■>* 1 -5 irT t>r oococioi-ciinooo O CO — O ■-( Cl C I LO «»■ ... . . !-!■♦ 1-1 1-1 rH ■.J « c; O s g ;:;- ■- '^ £ a i = Ti3-g-3.-5 o o 5 H CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 27 CO O O r-t t^ ! rs cj Ci Ci tf^CiCSOOC'lOC-. — O Oi-Hh-l-h-OO — C-5h~ O O -*• O O ■?! CO CO 1!^ O 0S?0Oi-tC0'O- o !■? 1- o «« cir -* * Ifi s'rs o" cc cc 'C CO SCO m •» o t~ >~00 Cl oc *■» OK « ^ Icr oc - ^ 00 5''» c: la « i:- 1.-5 o w o Rio o ^- . '"i ^ M* .«2 ro 06 CC cc c o 1:^- s'g 1- 00 S^ t- o - ftis as cs — cj a CI .O-^ =ff CO «; cs c. in I 00 ej •«-reri-L- to C c: n 00 C^l CO Sl^Orl o O -..- - t,.vi" o Cl o ■ w _^ o c» ^-r-s 1* t- TO "V a,~ CM «r Sr?'* » o c;f3 •^ o o a> o> • » o .^ -2" cT 00 s?; CJ <^s i •B e ■d o B. H M "t "rt 12 l^ifc H II £ s CJ -* C» Cl I- CO CI ■»* OOO lO o'efci" OC Cl CO OS Ift 00 OAttle and dairy farming. 2d ^ *:?. OC M T X XTl X O 1 p t^r-x — o-rrio ^ ■a T- „-„-_- oT-- - o" KOrrO— .C50U-3 00 B CS = 1.-M- n .- — rt :?o'rIri- -* ►-«o =s (M M T 1 T1 -T O O CO ^ o — 1 rt o « 1-5 e> n 00 o o" GO S "-3 = -O — 1- Jl X . 5 X X -o- o — ^ ^^ **i -- CO cTr-T -t" 00 C5 to to -* : .CM 00 «3S 7^ :o « . t" i = cTii" -* ! ! t; ■ „f sc; s = ry* • . T C5 ft,o i-T I I ^ 1.-5 .oo 00 ; ; J O ocl!"* ou . .O -^ -SCSTT oS S-H" cj" ' • ;- - ,C 2 1-; O O . • T o t-i- O . . U-! o ft^.-fa- ^ oo a .-*o ? ' ■ ? -* v; ^ o o •TO -T O ^ > . 7 00 d S rc'r-r \fi '• • c l~ 00 S -^ CO o o ^^ -^ -a' ^-T ^ 00 00 = ^1 -* • • lo o;3 C5 C5 -^i-i- 1^ • '• e-> d CO Soo n .^ * . Socs o tH7,- n O '.CCS ■* « O i> C5 •OOC ■* GO . C5 »r CO r-^ S cTrr tT • •— r^ o GO S'^' ^ 1-5 .O-T S » -'* CI n in i^orr T> T •^ no CO : :- O => • . £ o ■ -c- o o -r" • . r- ..jT ao BO t- o o — T . ■ — f^o of ■ '• CO '^ • 2? ^, ;~] l."5 ~ o'o" tr ; • |m^' (^ " ; ; o -X ; ; ••^ou 00 . . ■^o -T o ■ • 00 S:i^< o •-< to • • tn n '• '• 1 2 p <^ ^ o a o (3 ; _; £ •c-a :i M o 'a : l ifil H t- p w <)fcHfi 1 11.80 12. 12 9. 12 1>. 5B 2 00 «9 00 o d c •* 12. 22 12.44 10.81 12.91 12.46 10.12 13.19 o 53 : C5 -X Cents. 11.48 12. 51 11.50 o Cents. 11.27 11.03 r-1 :^i _ irs CM • o .S — r-i |ci <3 : CO Cents. 11.11 11.04 d o Cents. 11.77 11.26 '. r:.'6i' l-OC CO o 11.49 12. GO 10.' 66 C to-* il^ to *d •PI- • d c c • > ■ c .5 i: _5 c c H 30 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMINC. rs •* o -« -- ci 00 I- OCM-r — -r H •» 00 5 o •«• t~ r3 1~ w t-i o It ri » CIC4COO otoeoci S — X = r- O" ^ C3 1^ -- t-OO »T 'r n I 1* ■^ t^ 1^ c; Ji CO 00 t^ n C t^ m 00 rt 00 1^ ^ — 1 00 la I- o 1.-3 B oc" — " o" — .-roo" a TO » r^ ro »-» -v 5 l 00 -T c-1 cy M O Cl OO ^ no O.HOO 00 ca I- — lO t-( CJ CO 't]< -^ ?D W "t^ ^^ :a = c = =5 '== ? 5^=t: « 5 tc . g rt -^3 oooffsocicjt^iociif:!!-'— <-^-fr^t— 00 ^ :o -f rt ^^ CI o T ■— oc f't a,' c: >~ lo i-*^ o i::i o r:r i-T ifT r^ o" 00 o ec" CO o" cT H* ro I ^*" ^ o* - o -r o J -■ — - ■ Oi-t ir400-rOJs|r-iir4CO I a l^ t~ l^ oco-*"^'^00'«*'rtt>-omO'M^oc»r5r^ oc^i^ccr^-co^'Oc-i'Tr^rHr-ir'iaoci-v o CJ c: c: o — re I c: lO tc> <>»c-i ^ c " o -M nc c-4 C) re • l»OI--r-HC-:-T-^l-^ ^OOClX/r-l i-ir-l r-l CS "V : c^rt'Mr--c»iftt^'MO»ococoooociTj«o Ci CO 1-iOC O M -^OO O -* r^ «OCiCSO0Q0 - CS^f " ■ — "■ i-i CO CI ift cs '^ r-1 i-t cc ri^ CI t^ oc r* 00 ■ « o o ■» OC CO 00 o " I. V O O cc O I - o — o CO r- — « ro c: I i ' o o CO o lO ci lo o — ": . l-COt-OCiOCOXXXCSO 1-1 t-HCO(MC5r-l r-ir-t i-l-l'COCCrD CO— 'Cl'^CSCOOCC-- COCOMO— 'Ol-CO CO Cli-1 =; OOr-t O — OOOO — C.Cl csi o o >:: L^ 00 CO CI c>J •^jT cT ,— ' cT o -H o" lo" " "" O O CI -^ I »-< C-l 00 CO t- ri o o CI ^ t' rH C 00 W CJ cf cT-^'h-'cP CI ^ cs o 1-* rt CO ^ o CI O CI o o OS I- o d 00 CO^iftOQOOOO O C5 CI LO -f O CO C-l COi-HriTTCJCOCS^^ urT itT w — ' -f~ o" lo" 03»Ci— OOCOCO l--OOOr-*QOr-IOOO> O «-< C* •-* CI 00 CO -^ — Tr-T iCocfoo' CI r-> O O CI CO f-H o5 ,^ .^^r'yt:;^: -^-3 4? rt a^ 2 ^^.•^Tfooo-^ci C5'^CClOC5Ci«-'Ci U, t- O CO cn 05 — int I •;*" irf c r r-^ cT co~ co~ 00 i-« CI 1-1 'V 00 iC CO r- CI h- i^ r- 00 o CI — > t- -* O l~ CI 00 o cT cf c cT CO oo" cs" o - cic- O o CO O CI CI t^tS r-.C ^ CI O O OL OO O O . _ _ OL ao ir^ _ O 00 CO CO '^ OS i-H QOC10COt--lOiHOO T rf CI O^ O I- O C^ rH UO CO CS O rr O ^ r-T t-" cT cT cs* »^ ' rT irj" tO CI O O O OO OO .-I CI m r-i i-'-H-r^i^-'-or^cx) CKMO ^ o o ■^ ro ro c; ci ci 1-1 cc t- o I-. ... c3 j- t-l >-. u. I O ad CATtLE AND t)AiRV PA6M1N0. I ■<* cC t>-" r*" -^ c" ^ — cc" X* *-^ ; O 00 rj t" CM '«?■ TJ .-^ o o ^ S ■»?• ■V I't — *. I'- — M " t O C! t,C « r^ c^ cc -^ o c«J ao o N o c> «c -^ '00 Co"-*"— o"*"— *ao"xr>' • oo" gaO'fl'WCt^ocCTO ■•i-i PQ o" c-i c' i-T s" o" tt" n ts" I — " PI i r- -* -«■ CO o mo -* o ; o « uj -s' 00 -v w c: vj rj 13 ! CS M C: CO .-5 — « 1.1 Oj 00 t» ftlt-"—"-»"cJrt"o" —"•.■;'-)■" eo"r'5"r5o">r;"a"— "ci" cj" P5 <-■ C3 O CC iH ,2 C: CM 00 C^ CI O 71 ^ -^ T -r C CT rn" — •* Ci* 00 *' r-" 'JO* o" -t o" 2»•^JCSl■5f/^ — o« — cc — »-< 5 I'- O O oo ^ O rH 1^ -r •-< Biir;"'-"— "o" .-■:"(-" o"rf(M" .-T ^ lO c^ oi ro — 1- o o -- n ■; I ,g-*u-5 00l-M>-'-*XC:OO a c-Ti.-"—" re"h-'x'o"o""o'— 'cT aOO^IflCIOjOCl — c^rtcc ^ M CM t-i CO m C5 •-" O lO CM Oi -* I-T r-* ci" — " oo" r J »f t-^ rn" Ci i-i O O CI O00'*«CMi'3O-*C» «c"— o"t-r— "( CI — < n» o CM .■^ c •*CCO-*X00OM-»" ,2f-l-^00l-"CMOOO00 S -fir'^c^-r •^"x"o"o" £C50oorcM»-'--'C-;'^ -,ci oi-i«r:t-CMo ^ n ci'cf i-f t-^cTr^*— SM — »» O -H -H -* 00 ci o ">! o o ci ^1 o -* ^O-*"C000-a't-O'3>.-'00 a CO -"— " t"i-;"-i'"o'i-"o"o"oo" 5; CI ^ Ci C5 C; I* O — CO — 2 -< o — o c; i.-: o c 1 o -•■OO-I'OOCI-^OCIOO ^t»ocr3cnoi-- ci ae «t> *• 00 o >.* o 1^ ^ f: cc ~ ■ ~ ■ ^ c: ic o c ^ocM»coou^ooc^o r>r o" • " o' »f^" x" L--^ cT «" :^* cc" oo — OuuOC ^ '-I- 00 o I- — cm = — ; 00 ^ •- 1^ -^ CJ O t~ CJ CI X O -.M lA t> o 00 cT i-.r 00 — " -^ c r -m" -"I** c: « i.i CI c-M* o r7 -r o-*Trc5«reMt-i~ci cT c'ff o"-HC-fci — ■ -CO- •-> CJ T-i CI o a: ce -■> o -- -o eo CI , o — .-:: oc o I- cc C5 ■■: CO CiClCJCS-TJ'CMr-iU-Trt-l.'^ c o' .r: »" o" o" ■«)■" co" — -*" o" ^^ CM c: o lO o >o — *+ ro o O M C5 •- O -"T I- M O r-< CO — oo'ko"— ira't-ii-T )< O O O — — 1 .-1 i(^ o" o c r .-o' o" »o* DC r-^ I-T ci I •i* r- t: CJ .-r o oc ci o i^ «s* — 00 o CI c:> CI CO ci — 00 CI ^ — " oo" CM »"i-r —"■«}." r4 •ee- r1 r-l CDO"10-^00-*CM»CO I- ^ c cc o CO t-- CI r^ o CO CC TT — O c: O CM 05 C5 O «-» : — CI t^ X r^ cc CI I — ' I ' CI 7 I I ~ C3 O : X -^ 1^ L- o Tji «• X rs c; r-i CO » CM oo OOOMt-OOOOOO c o — -■* »r CO i^ o m IT o O CJ 14 00 — CJ o ■<»• X -* o cC 1 -■ CO crT c." — cv" — ' o' i-T c-s" — l-;cCOC0^ = .rt.Ci7 C5 n-cc i-i X .— o o oco — ■— ' «/"CMO"r-."r-IoCl 00 O CJ X -^ "rl* X CO X X C? iocciot>-i-" — oooi-crs »0'*0»-" »CI^ CC CO O I-- I- o ■H^ I o" -- r --t" t^' Ci" oo" -^ Ot-if^cS'^rococoQ X CO CI C5 O »-i X o <©• ....... O CO O CI X CM CM CI X ■* -? -* O C) ■«f C) o o -r l~ l~ lO Ci M- O t- — CI CI r-.r-IXCCC3--I^OC5 = l-. O r-To cTo Iff — cTcr— I.O t- w O CI CI — O ~ CO o I- CM^C^'tf'-^OX CM O CC C: CI O — >-H oo-*cixc5c)r^aoox OOOOOCO — — 0.-ICO 1-t •* O LO ^H CO X -^ t^ o -^ roor.rx"t^"co" Ol~.- o'co"c; O .-lO —.• :«: "^ c; a a 5o 4) CS V hi Wi< CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 33 o I -2 <, .§ -2 "t> f^ ^ eiTji »^- -1 CJ^ - 1 e> 1 . O 00 -Ol O O •!• S TJ. |o ] StsirfciOTjiodo 0 ^ 3 g^""^^"--" ^ iS -H 00 O t- CO O .-1 e» . •* o ■lrt- 1 CO oi 3»-<»! = ri-*-; — e i cj " g M (M e^ ^1 ?a c-i cj c 1 ■ CI miA-^— uO . o ■* 00 1~ o o t- .- 3 CO o iSl(5c3-;•M!«=-:- i ci go C) < Cl o -a- in r: rs M 00 c S CI .00«CCJt)1OOC > o ci Sirfsqc5e:Kit-^cc = 00 gH«I-J(MCOT-l'-(- ' ?J a o « = c; lo ■M o T< ■* . rt c- O O 00 c- C-. »- o £° ■2t-^in«t>:-*cixv-' -h5 gi^evKMcaoirt-i.- 1 CI 3 oso — cs»osooc a> .aDCO« — — li-ll>G CJ i^ i2^^o-*00'O^'^jl^ irf S g«5MWlM^oo dOOO?HOC50COCO»H i-To >-H ~ o-irf oc"e o rt « o o m o o M CM o o r-IOfO O MCa Ww^OCqOOTjiTf O 00 5:3 -rf 00 o o o O CO O CO r- t~ CC OClCSOt*C0t*C3 wo — u;r-*C5 occoo ooesoo CO ;D ITS rl tOCOQOr-l ■*OOQ0 O • OOt- tO l.t — t- O • C CJ CI u; a 1-1 w ■ o -^ eft-" CO* • i-To" t~ t~ 00 C« "* ■<* 00 ■* w CO ococao in CO >-< in t- 1~ 00 Cl CO — t- o 00OC0O'>*C!00O 0»-ICiOtOO — oo oc 00 o -^ ooco oc"-^Ti-" o-o-a-'co" (NOOtO 1— or^ci O CO o-^ o c: oc c: o O — CJ t* o 3 a in CO W05 Ot(< ^ in m CO T** 00 o CO Cl m — CO w o ■* O CO CO CO CO CJ co'^in" C3 m^cTcT CO OTf coin F-( f-i CI OOOOOlHCSOOO OC5C5C3COOCOCO O"SiC!OtSC0t~W oct^ci" ccooo"'* o CO CO CO in CO CO o o E n c£ III s .£ o tl. c S . 3 •|=1-S-S|'3'S-S-i|^ •o^li 1 E«sl^ o e N -^ •= c c; "- ■- s ^p i;c'^c~S c -tJaSre c-i grtcgc-g.-ps.tig^s-tiCpcs-ps Lj 9-3 P »■ '^ St-c«L^aCfc.(_.e3opoSci.Gi. in O-icS^ p.5p O^ C «9 .5 « 3 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 35 1-. c- X T)> — — I -11= Ik- ^' li » II - :5S H i O 36 CATTLE AND DA IKY FARMING. I t5 '^ 5 J S ' •3 1- 2.-o"~ t ff C^ C? CO C5 is 1 CO O CO OS o UO w CO oB C^eo oco §3Sgia ao • O— XTS.CO au CO s R,?3'=^H?" " N §-'=?£ rifj s S ac OJX uD o ft,j.C,»C^^ O fiE:;2^SS *! 5 O O CO o -o- o ft,=i^25-- CJ M O -O O O •* ^ »'".'- 1-. to s S^SS5?[; '*'co coco CS 00 K°o ^^ '^ CI m Is ..gi .^j, in o 00 **'"o"h- CI ^^g a. X ^ — CO ^ CO CI CI 00 " o 00 »H "^ ^ CS to -t o CO S3 l- So -"■*" c t~ "^5 O CO -so •2 tO"- cjto ;; CS §» i-it^ t» CO £•«• irt.»r — to" CO 1 B : ?. ! 1 H ■ s. 3 -f 5 s ^ og'i 9i tz d .tJOf* $4, 342, 002 438, 600 12, 052, 353 7, 273, 301 201.688 CO $4, 007, 556 3.57, 096 13, 102, 560 0, 175, 470 124, 062 CO CI $4, 208, 760 312, 984 13,170,432 .5, 221. 980 162, 206 i CO 00 o CI $3, 630, 420 " 291,690 17,282,160 4, 104, 750 172, 234 25,491,260 22t2o3 L-; o CO r- CO o i $3, 939 260 16, .590 3,727 269 CO I O CI o to • CS io CO CO g CS I O ■* X X • CI o w CO =l-C) o" ' cTcf tft m t-in o CS O 1> CJ X i s' 1 $1,786,614 181,181 1.5,211,800 2, 935, 440 73, 832 23, 188, 807 ■W • O CO TO X , O COI^ O i CS CI CI iri" ' l~tH co' CO ■ CO t~ t~ in . ■* ci 01 CO i ©COI^ OS . O CJ CJ CS ^ — c-co -H icTcTi-o" ^tt . -f. ^H CS CJ UO X 01 lo" • co'co" § i X- 1 cj- CJ $5, 661, 364 'i2.'.586,"428' 3, 285, 360 258, 783 l-» X X s 1 ! CE ■2 ■ • 1 o •* -r" CO 5 §§s CO 1 a Ci -W' -H rH OS ,^ •^ 6 CS CO ci M^ i-i ci CS ;5 C) CS to T(< o m _, O CS 1-1 CJ -H ci Ci 9 CJ r-H COC^ ^ M gr^rHrt •^ 6 rt d Qood "S^ CS '^ ^ S^i o OS dcs'^ o 8"^ r~i 6 1 '"'' ,ej cJ CO ci ci c 1 CJ 1 '^ 1 6 1 CO X to X o 1^ r4 — IT r^j rH 1— * — r-t 6 in = 1--* CO CO to HH X in «6ci CJ ci -^ s 6 ^ CO cox CO ■2J4 CO CO IT CO § ^ 1 u o-2a5i 1 p^ PCW 1 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 37 C4IA CD CO O ooo>n.-in I « e* c-ioe5e5iox o rJiOlOOOOMOO 10 3s -^ b- >J irt CS ^ '<*■ CM ^ --' 'O » t^ I> ^ oooooooooirsirtoi^cico-^iAOsoo »HfHC0CMCaO'*OOO'*C*'^?3Ot-^«-vcot>C5coor^xoi>-o f-i'^t^xoxinorcciX'«*t-oroi.-»03 ?5t>ONi-HXCCt>C^53X>.': OW»i«l> .rT x' rt" cT x~ ccT rH f-T r^ «" !zi 2 -J CI 00 ^^ so 00 C! t~ M o O JO M ^ ton ea t* 30«— =u-5.— Ort o»^ => t~ s^MOoo-^— •i.':oMcdr»^t^oot*<& X totu and prot ta. ■* — 1 -a" s-j o N » c- M n S C*'«J'OU0C*O'V«^- la f m o o o cs o 00 ■« t^J^rlo o 0 cTaT-*" ^ t> ■^ co'to" ^ ^ oo N o "3 ejrs t- .9 > «©■ ■* •* 1 1 00 |iHs ^ OS s UO T}>t~Ci -H ^ CT >. ■^ IM o o ?i o to c* t^ M 00 00 00 iHO CO t- CO CO CO +3 rf" u to" «■« oT Ci o N t- c: coco (5=1=°- '"' o "1 -H N o" 00 O" CO CO ooooo— •ininoOTft* s^ OOt*t^OOOOO*-«OOCOCp'^COt*t* C"! omcqi.-5t-ooomc- e^ Xrt rt CO OOtO OO5-1OQ0 OOOC " - 1 0 --•cc-itsm — -^«u- l> t- soeooo cjooi-irr — t^riai-* -3 ■^t^C^OOOOTrr^ C CO 1-1 CO CO M o cs c-i ;3 ^ N N CO •£ > cf ■« o •ee- 1 ^ ^ « r-- ^ t- c- uT o - ^ N — orirtijooacswo — c-oaoo 1 co F- t~t-t~OM=:X-< — = -H-.C;t-=>00- X ^ a oo.-i-^'^ro-.Tt^-^ff^.— t-oc50cioc ^ rQ 2 t^cTcT-.r -.r CO ^C'fc a x"— "la .-(■"-." cr^jTiM'" if CO rfrr— "o'tsic" 1 -h 1 a C'a r: — ' ^ '^ i^ ».* t* t^ (?tSC5roi.^Ot-5M^ it; -!--<3 CO-HN.- CO d con odcf eo i> 1^ G? CO If J es • o » • lO t- eoo CO -^ o CO fi '.o u-s in M . t^ 00 -< •fl CO C4 ■ ?^ o C£ CO o cono.-coro— ito-a" oo ojir , lO . ■*00 C- CO co-o>ricot^cooo = COOt-T- o a N ■w ir5-*-*'* o i -^" «■ I s 1 ^ «i t- ■ 00 *M ' CO 5 oo ooioxrfao — t-cs t-ococ ' '5 1 o ,2^ . 00 o t* -^r CO C5 =5 o 1--: u- c: -^ o -TO-HC X >s ^S . 00 -s . ...., 5: iazi cor5«—i^=: >--:?) -H Of! OC- X i§ : "fa'cT c - o" c-fco ro"— ""' rri"rt"ci"t.r X-i-O-o'i- l" L"* rOp3 f -* = TJ X ro -T LO lO O -■ CO g 3 f?^-: t" c ■ 00 TiSi o" o . c 1 1— t C^ ift ^ C5 • 7i 00 • ■ »-* c > C' 1 ooocsonC5c*oC5-*m^<'-"^i>t^cr ^ I ■^ t-- o c; Tj ■ ^ w • • ^-a ) c o:=Ti.=-. '-csriT'-xocooocjoino^ , -J 1 CC C5 O t^CC CO . M?£ c- T)0( ) o S ^■^"§23 , ^ 1 ir " a ccTr; i-rirrt^o"x"o CO ooco"crci"^ic''^c 2 i^ io« rioo-*=«'-ieosMCO Mt-t-t- co n CO "3 00 •«• > e^ -H i •se- .2E;g[::g5 ■ o ?1 > a-*- oc OCO-*-*r).Oe>-*e>t»«SOO!SCJOOCOt: •* « ' > o t> CC ^or;in->r — =5«l-o--OK^l0^nQooou■ CO t>. ~ ^ S « ? 1 2 ^ss - t^r- ■r ocJ■«•coI^-^rTr=>c-^■a'X-^"-'^^^e>^■ OSO 5S-ririC=ri»rJ.=t~rtM-*t-S . . or ? -q ^-OXX-^ COrtf-l •-I11.C0C to 1 O" 2 a J i c !T o ; 1 i I 0 ■ : : ', • t> • ;■ > c ?3 .S 3 ^ a M 73 3 0 s c 1 5 C 1 1 c .s H -.J "3 35 3 1^ 1 3 "l l: 7 c U4 1 .a JS H H 40 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. I ■IS I « 1 Cl X r-lO !3 ■<». SI. ^ 5** a SiS:,'^ ^ p.fs^^ l§llg s Grand to catilo nr cattle pr nctfl. r^ o X m TO '^^'* I5IIE: o i u •o ; , o ;g ; ; [g !? «o in Cl 6 •a •g >■ ■«•" M «9 S '2 • • o IfO i ; i i i ; ;0 • 1 o 1 " 00 0 «?:::_:: cT & CO ^ CO a ^ 3 «» s ^ > X CO ' s : : : : : s o o CO* «3 ocoom 1 «0 rt «o Cl . IN ■ 1 c 00 m ^ 3 •a « in « C-1 1 : ; in CO > ; s ^ 1 .Sg?3f2 : • IMM : 2 3 lO 00 ; s 1 o 5 o 00 cf ' ;0>lM •SS o -I o M •/: . o oc « -w . 1 00 a o I -H p-i t- o 1 1> ; in :^" o — 1 o" i 1 ; A OCSMO 1 ti . oc s: -»• 00 . o :5ss :g2 5 g^ ., 1 ^ •* CO 00 :;f"" ttT c" t-T rt s ; f-H (M CO & . ^ ; o Cl « articular quality he is sure to succeed. With similar rules applied iu the breeding of even our scrub cattle, I know whereof I speak when I assert that they will develop qualities, as beef and milk yielders, equal to those possessed bj' the imported stock. CARE OF CATTLE IN EUROPE AND IN THE UNITED STATES. As a whole the European people take more interest in their stock than do the people of the United States, and there are more induce- ments in this regard offered in the former than in the latter. The English hold a dozen agricultural or cattle shows to our one, offering thousands of dollars to our half dollars in premiums, and it is no marvel that the cattle are far superior, that the farmer in England should draw closer to his cattle than does the American farmer to his, treat them kindlier, and give them better dispositions. Stock-raising, by common consent, seems to have fallen to the lot of the farmer, whereas it should be a special calling; for if it is not an in- terest of importance enough for the exercise of special talents, it certainly posseses so many phases that some of them suffer from the divided at- tention which the farmer is compelled to give his other interests. The size and betterment generally of agrain of corn might be much increased if the farmer would make corn a si)ecialt3% and thoroughly understood the subject of corn growing in all its bearings. In having so many in- terests on his hands one or all of them must suffer. It is a well-recognized fact in Belgium, and in Europe generally, where interest of the keenest kind is taken in cattle, that there is nothing so injurious to a cow giving milk as to run her, or excite her in any manner, and yet how frequently are reckless boys, with their dogs and whips, sent to drive the cattle home in the United States. These things, and hundreds of others equally important, never trouble the brains of the xVmerican farmer, because his head is full of other mat- ters connected with his calling. How many farmers in the United States can tell how much hay, or other food, is given to each cow during the year and the cost of the same, and the return therefor in milk, butter, and cheese — in fine, does he know if each cow is paying for her outlay, and if so, how much ? Perhaps a small number could intelligently an- swer tlwese questions. It is entirely different in England and on the Con- tinent. There and here a farmer knows his cows as well as if the.^ were a portion of his family. He balances his accounts regularly and knows, at all times, how much he is losing or gaining by each cow. He can tell you tlKi fooroportion of water present. In natural grass the water present ranges from 70 to 90 per cent. The best grass in ordinary dry seams or dry soil con- tains about 70 per cent., whilst, In rainy seams or damp soils the water is increased to tO per cent. ; and in the produce of irrigated field pastures the water runs as high as 90 per cent, of the weight of the succulent grass. Consequently, it follows that of every 10 pounds of grass from 7 to 9 pounds consist of water, and in the average only one-fifth of the total weight consists of dry feeding material. When the grass is air- dried and becomes hay, the proportion of moisture is reduced to about 16 per cent., so that only one-sixth of hay consists of water, and 1 ton of hay contains the solid, dry, nourishing elements of fully 4 tons of ordinary pasture grass. Turnips contain even a larger average proportion of water, for 90 per cent, of ordinary turnips consist of water; so that in every 10 pounds of turnip there is only 1 pound of dry feeding- stuff. Potatoes contain 75 per cent, of water, being equal to three-fourths of their entire weight. The cereals contain much less water, the average proportion in wheat, oats, &c., being 15 per cent., or less than one-sixth of their whole weight; so that five-sixths consist of dry feeding material. In linseed-cake and other cakes the moist- ure averages 12 per cent., so that one-eighth of the weight only consists of water, and seven-eighths of dry feeding-stuff. Considering, therefore, the question of food thereby in the light of the relative amount of dry solid matter in a given weight of the respective articles consumed by the animal, it follows that to obtain sufiicient dry solid food the animal may partake of 1 pound 2 ounces df feeding-cake; 1 poundS ounces of cereals or air-dried hay; 4 pounds of potatoes; 5 pounds of ordinary dry pasture; 10 pounds of succulent grass from irrigated fields, and 10 pounds of turnips. When the respective qualities of dry feeding materials are considered, the nourishing properties of the natural and artificial feeding-stuffs vary even in a greater ratio than the percentage of moisture. Thus the proportion of flesh-forming or albuminous mat- ters present in ordinary grass and clover averaged 2^ to 3 per cent. ; in hay, 10 to 12 per cent.; in oats, Ki per cent. ; in beans, 20 per cent. ; in potatoes, 2^ per cent. ; in turnips, three-fourths per cent. ; and in linseed and rape cakes, 25 per cent. It fol- lowed, therefore, that in 1 ton of cake there was as much flesh-forming matter as in U tons of oats, or 2i tons of hay, or 8 tons of ordinary pasture, or 11 tons of potatoes, or :5:3 tons of turnips; and an ox or sheep would require to consume these respective quantities of the feeding-stufls in order to obtain a similaramount of flesh-forming or albuminous matter. At the same time, however, it might be remembered that the amylaceous or starch group of compounds, which formed a very large proportion of natural and artificial vegetal^le food, i)layed also an important part in the sustenance of the animal. It was very questionable" how far the richer and flesh-forming foods, such aa feediug-cake.s, could be employed with safetv in the rearing and fattening of stock without large admixture with the less nutritious kinds of food. An excessive quantity of cakfi not ouly led to injurious results in the health of cattle and stock, but dctermuied much waste of nutritious matter, which passed through the animal system with the sole result of enriching the manure. CATTLE AND D>1KY FARMING. 47 I have coiisidered this subject of siillicient imi)uilaij{'c' to iiiako iiuiuir- ies coucerniug- it in Eiii^land. A friend in that country sends mo tlie following newspaper extract, which 1 hope may prove of some value at home: EXPERIMENTS IN FATTENING STEEHS. Professor Brown, experinieutiil superintendent of the Ontario A{;ricultui-al College, writes in his official report on the above subject: In speaking of the weight of a fattiMied steer, and the daily increase it makes, we have to consider l)recd, weight of calf when dropped, food, nianageuient, and age. The nearer birth the greater the daily rate until the calf weight is lost among the tens-of-hnndreds. Thus, a calf weighing TfiO pounds is due about 10 per cent, to its birth weight ; the yearling that weighs 1,000, 7^ per cent. ; the two-year-old scaling 1,500, 5 per cent. ; and the finished, or rather the over-fed, show beast of 2,000 pounds can only record about three and three-fourths of its weight as obtained from the average birth-weight of 75 pounds. Until the animal, therefore, is over 1,000 pounds, we should always remember the effect of this birth-weight ; thereafter it maybe left out of calculation. The example I wish to submit to our breeders and feeders now, is that of a pure white, thoroughbred shorthorn steer, calved 6th May, 1881, bred by Mr. Hudson, of Myrtle, and bought by us from Mr. Hope, of Bow Park. On the 9th of April, when 703 days old,, it weighed 1,710 pounds, which, of course, gives a daily rate of '^.43 pounds; the calf-weight from this would reduce the actual daily increase to '2.33 pounds; something, no doubt, but not enough to interfere when understood in practice. A yearling steer over 1,700 pounds is unquestionably a fine example of what breed, food, and management can do, and if wo do not spoil him he should scale 2,000 pounds when two years and four months old, at the Provincial Exhibition at Guelph, on 25th September. Some interesting experiments were also made for beef and milk with Hereford and Aberdeen poll grade steer calves. On this phase of the Canadian experiments Pro- fessor Brown says : Having now got over the initiatory work of establishing herds, and acclimatizing breeds, we are diverting considerable attention to the making of grades for milk and beef respectively. Our progress in milk experiments is in advance of the other, as evidenced in previous reports, as also is this advance issue. We make no excuse for this. Our past beefing experiments have been with high-graded shorthorns, and the facts, to date, are sufficient to base upon in any comparison with other grades, as we will have to do when time calls ; and what I wish to do is to place on record what our farm has on hand for such a purpose. The same cows, well-graded shorthorns, averaging six years, that have been used to produce the steers, with a thorough-bred shorthorn bull, were selected to mate with the Hereford aud Aberdeen poll bulls. Necessarily, one of the difficulties is to arrange about equal birth-dates, and another is to get bull-calves. Wo have been more fortunate with the latter than the former, as shown by the following list : Hereford grade steers : 9th April, 1882, Huntingdon, No. 184 (ear label) ; 6th Octo- ber, 1882, Heathfield, No. 193 (ear label) ; 28th October, 1882, Hartford, No. 191 (ear label). Aberdeen poll grade steers : 24th June, 1882, Aberdeen, No. 183 ; 27th June, 1882, AbojTie, 179: 2d August, 1882, Abernethy, No. 182. The average Herelbrd steer is, therefore, thirty-four days younger than the Aber- deen poll average, and this must be most carefully noted in all future reporting. On 9th April, 1883, the earliest birth of the lot, when a Hereford was one year old, weights, ages in days, and daily rates were as follows : Description. Weiebt,9th April, 1883. A§e todays. Daily rate ofincrease. Hereford : Pounds. 790 5.52 492 740 750 670 365 185 103 289 286 243 Pounds. 2.16 Heathfield 3.00 Hartford 3.02 Aberdeen poll : 2.56 2.60 2,75 A mean of 2.73 for the Hereford and 2.G4 for the Aberdeen poll. 48 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. FEEDING CATTLE ON TURNIPS. The folltiwiiiLX are the results of an iuterosting experimeut. made by Mr. Robert Loijan, Birkenside, Eailstou, with the view of testiug the comparative merits of sliced and pulpoil tiirnipa as :i feed for cattle : Ou the 11th of October, 1882, three Canadian bullocks, live weit^ht ov,' cwt., ;} quarters, were bought for £04 5 s., or 'Sda. 21(1, per cwt., live weight. On February (>, 1883, the same animals were sold at Haymarket, Edin- burgh, live weight 43 cwt., 14 pounds, for £105, or 48s. 8d. per cwt., live weight. The gain in weight was lOcwt., 1 quarter, 14 pounds; in money, £40 158. These bull- ocks were fed on sliced turnips, of which they consumed 218 pounds per 24 hours. On October 11, 1882, a second lot of three Canadian bullocks, live weight, 31 cwt., 2 quarters, were bought for £61 15s., ov 39s. 2M. per cwt., live weight. On February 6, 1883, these were sold at Ilaymarket, live weight, 39 cwt., 2 quarters, 11 pounds, for • £101, or5l8.,per cwt., live weight, the gain in weight having been 8 cwt., 11 ijounds; in money, £35 58. These bullocks were fed on pulped turnips, of which they con- snmed 162 pounds per twenty-four hours. Lot 1 when slaughtered yielded 60 per cent, on gross live weight ; lot 2 when slaughtered yielded 61 per cent, ou gross live weight. Both lots were valued at the same price per cwt., according to their live weight on October 11. When sold according to live weight those fed ou pulp made 28. 4(7. per cwt. more, and yielded one per cent, more beef. In addition to the weight of turnips given, as above stated, each lot were fed with the same proportion of hay ; those fed ou sliced turnips feeding it, in the ordinary way, from hecks ; those fed on pulped turnips having it cut amongst the turnips. In addition each animal had 9 pounds of mixed cakes and bruised barley. The whole were fed in single boxes. Lot Xo. 1 made lOs. per head more than No. 2. The former, however, consumed 56 pounds more turnips per day than No. 2. The expense of pulping is slightly liigher than slice feeding, but the value, per live weight and yield of beef, according to the same, favors pulp. FOOD OF PREGNANT ANIMALS. The food of jiregnant animals is an important consideration. Creatures in this con- dition should be well fed, aud especially if they have to acccomplish a certain amount of labor or yield milk. The appetite is generally increased, and there is a tendency to fatten. This tcnt'ency should bo somewhat guarded against, as it may prove troublesome, particularly if allowed to proceed to an extreme degree, when it may retard the development of the fcetus, induce abortion, cause difficult parturition, or give rise to serious after cousequeuces. This precaution is more to be observed in the second than the first half of pregnacy, when the food should be plentiful, but not in excess, and flesh more abundant in the animal than fat. The food should also be of good quality, very nutritive, easy of digestion, and not likely to induce constipation. Indigestion should be carefully guarded against, and unaccustomed, hard, damp, bulky, fermentable, moldy, or otherwise hurtfully altered food, should be avoided, as it is likely to prove indigestible, occasion tympanitis, and produce other injurious results. — Fleming's Veterinary Obstetrics. FEEDING OF DAIRY COWS. The honorable secretary of the Munster Dairy School, Cork, writing to a contem- porary, says: There are sixteen cows in milk, calved three and four months. They were getting each daily from 5 to 7 pounds, according to yield, of following mixture: Decorticated cake, bran, and Indian corn meal, with four stone of mangels and hay. The return not proving satisfactory, I proposed the dietary should be as follows: 2 pounds bean meal, 2 ])Ouud8 crushed oats, 3 pounds decorticated cake, 3^ stone man- gels. This feeding was commenced on March 10. On March 23 the cows had to get lan-saved hay (musty). Note the lesult : Date. Total yield Set for per ■week. [ cream. 1 Butter. 1 Date. Total yield per week. Set for cream. Butter. March 3 Quarts. 1,063 1,043 1,135 Quarts. 948 977 976 Pounds. 67 66^ 72 March 24 March 31 Quarts. 1,078 1,107 Quarts. 1,056 1,036 Pounds. 73 G9 March 10 March 17 Percentage of fat by lactobutyrometer : March 9, 2.56; March 29, 2.7. These returns were carefully and accurately kept by Mr. Smith, the superintendent. CATTLE AND DAIKY FAU'MING. 49 ] ATTKNING AMERICAN CATTLE IN KNGLANJ). We see Jrom these e.\tract>s \vli;il iiiiiK)i(;ince is iilhiclicd lo the siil»- jcct or fecdiiiij: in tlie eouiitiy that is .siipiiosid to j)()ssess the best breeds of cattle in the woild, and Iiow thoroniildy this sul)je<-t is under- stood there. 1 snbinit these extracts because exanijiU' is worth nioic than ]>recei)t in ?natters of this kinntion he ^qvesliiscattle, than toteil himthatit fre tiieni and double i)rofits are realized on tlieni, when the American mii;ht have pocketed this by the same attention on his part, and at less exjx'nse, as his lood is cheaper. If 1 had thesjuice 1 mi.nht offer a bnmlred illustrations of this that have come within my own ob- servation. This, however is the most satisfa(;tory one : AN AMEKICAN OX. Ill the first iiiiiK)rt;iti(>u of live stock from Aiiicricii into Ciinlid" was a wliilc Sliort- honi ox, in tlic monlh of July. ITo was transfonod by Ills [lUixhasor lo the iiasliircs of (irauf^o Farm, Mumbles, near Sivansca, at £4.''). Ik-ic with an Enylisli cow for his companion Im ma7 8v. •■h/. — The London Standard. Persuasion, scoldiuij-, and argument are unnecessary to show our {)eo- ])le their folly in their neglect of cattle when we have such examples as this. At a recent exhibition in Paris a Canadian cow was universally admired, and when I inquired to what breed she belonged, the Erench man only shrugged his shoulders and said she (^aine from America as common cattle, and that he had polished her u]). ''What did you do for luM'f lin(|uired. "Well," says he, "I curried and brushed her every morn- ing because she was dirty and rough ; I fed her on tlie best cotton-seed cake, bran and hay, and k(?pt her in the stall all Ihe time. She has borne one calf since 1 have had her. As a milker she is not a success, but the calf will be on exhibition at the fair two years hence, and I am sure will take ai)reinium ; it is the first calf in Erance." The food enumerated h«Mc (indeed, all tbod) is two to one cheaper in the IJnitc^d States than it is in Europe. This must be, since we supj)ly Europe with the articles that they value most as cattle food. With such facts ])la(;ed before our peo- ple, it seems to me they cau see wherein thej'l'ail, and that they ha\<' untold treasures in their home breeds of cattle if they will go to work pro])erly to develoi) them. To Mhat purpose is it that they should come to Europe and i)ay exorbitant ])rices for cattle if they allow them to deteriorate, as the above rei)ort shows they do? KXERCISK von cows. Mr. li. B.Arnold says that (he amount of exercise which an adult cow n<|Mirrs is hut very little, and all she gels heyond what is necessary for her liealth occasions a draft upon her system which must ho machs up l)y extra feed or a loss in her milk product, ori>eihafishotiieifectsmay beai>i)areiit. J-]vi!ry exin'nditur(> of forces, wlndifi' in locomotion or lahor, is made at the expense f)f the food consumed hy Ihe aniiiial cxei-ting the force. There is no evasion of tiiis ruli-, and ho who laco care-takeis »»ver them that are reckless and vicious, within twenty years almost every trace of what is known as line blooded cattle would be eradicated. As proof of this no better illustration could be ottered than we tind in the wild mon^irel Texas herd. These cattle are un(]nes- tionably descendants of the S[)anish stock introduced into IMcxico by the early Spanish settlers towards the year loOO. We know IVom his- tory that Mexico possessed no catt:eor horses, because those ridd Spaniards into Mexico. With u mild climate, forage in abundance, the absence of beasts of prey, and the ne.uiijiencc of njan the^e cattle increased to a marvelous extent, but relapsed into their natural state and lost every trace of Iv ceding that their ancestois had s-o highly possessed. It would not have bt'cn worth while for the Spaniards to im])ort cattle to I\Iexiton,sr., of South Carolina, was one of the tirst to im- port bhtoded cattle into the United States. These were<;o\\s}ind bulls of the Durham race. I think this was about the year ITSJ or f7S;i IJy caieful attention this stock nourished and did exceedingly well. The comnjon cattle of the iscighborhood of Columbia, S. (J., were dashed con- siderably by what was soon known as the "Hampton stock." I do not know the exa<;t subse(|Uont history of this stock, or whether there exists a trace of it now. It would be interesting and valuable to the De])art- ment to get a statement from Senator ilanqjton relating to this subject, as well as to others in the United States wiio are interested in the sub- ject of breed. From such data one could Ibrm an opinion i)erha[)s of how short a time is required for a breed of catth; to lose their remiunKS for the best native breeds, requiring the ex- hibitor to give a full account of the father and mother of the cattle they exhibit, thenu-an temjjerature of the country from which the cattle came, the nature of the subsoil, food, and other things tl.»at would re- (jnire a higher and more thorough knowledge on the part of the farmer c(»ncerninu' his cattle, it w«>uld go far to elevate the standard of home breeds. This is not speculative, it is a certainly, since the same system works so well in Europe. I would re(;ommen(l also to each of our State agricultural departments to i)urchase, say one hundred of the best of our conunou mongrel cattle, breed and care for them by the most ai)])roved methods, and try to solve the problem of how long it re(piires, with care, to make a breed of cattle imre. My reason lor mentioning so great a number to experiment with is this: Out of one hundred cattle experiments could be nuide to develo]) certain qualities, such as those that wouhl give the highest (juautity of milk, lik(^ the Ilolsteins or Shorthorn; and others that would give the best (juality of milk, like the Jersey; those that would give milk for a certain (piality of cheese, like the Fletchet, &c. The results of these tests might be shown at a national or a ])ermanent international exhibi- tion, to be held in some centi-al point, where all tliose who take an in- terest could see the result and benetit by it. From this number of cattle worthless cattlecould be thinned outand the best retained to Itreed from. 1 inclose list of "Agricultural shows''* held in I"]ngland the present year. This does not include the dirl'erent society shows, such as the Shorthoi'u Society, the Jersey, the Carthorse, and hundreositin the Kitli of last, month, and realized the ina^'>ii(i.'<'nt snni of l,:?!).") jrnineas. Pride of Aherdeen Hth was bred by the late Mr. MXl'ondiie, and formed on(> of his famous Parisian uronj) at the Grand International Exhibition. She was juirc based by Mr. Wilken lor :!,<> j;uineas, bntheryearliuf^ danghter realized filO guineas, the highest jiriee, it is said, yet given for aPidled animal. Tlie ])urcliaser of tiielatter wasMr. Walkrr, who was understood to have bought lier fiu- America. While the ('lgi;tns tooptMi in jkm'sod and inspect personally each article and to encomiige it l).v being an exhibitor of the product. This, it seems to me, is setting an excellent exainide to our governors iind others at lioine who hold as high ])ositions in ])nblic esteem and are looked to as much lor examples. Ibit.alas, politics is the all-engrossing topic with most of our governors antl legislators, and anything that is outside of this is insipid to them; and, therefVne, it is lor the people, after all, to correct by i)olitics the evils of ])olitics, and to elect, and re- tain as long as possible when elected, men who will look to their inter- ests and try, by wise legislation, to advance thetn. I have abstained as much as ])ossible, in this dispatch, from theorizing. I have advanced in its stead such methods as have accomplished the results we are in search of abroad. Example is worth more than'i)re- cept; we have the example, and all that remains for us to do is to follow it, to achieve like residts. By adopting these simple methods, within twenty years it wouM a])pear as absurd to us that we ever sent abroad for a bull, cow, sheep, dog, or hog as it does now that we imported the English sparrow. GEORGE C. TANNER, Consul. AqrU-vUiiraJ sliou-fi held in Evf/Jrind during ihe yvar ]S83, exclnswe of special society shows such as Sho7'ilioni. Jarscy, Cart-horse, tfc, slwws. Date of sLow. Nanio of society. "Where Leld. Nature of meeting. May 2G to June 1 . May 28 to Juno 1 . May 30 May 31 Apripultiiral ITall Com- pany, Limitcil. r.atli and Wcstol'Kuf^land and Soiitlnrn Counties. Royal J(>r.s('y Ea.stcrn District of Stir- linfjsbiro. Stirlin"' Agricultural Hall, Islinjitnu. Bridgwater Jersey Falkirk Stirliiifc Horses, iiuplemeuts, and niiscellu- ueoua articles. IIor.ses, cattle, sheep, pigs eheeso, hutt( r, poultry, and iraplciuents. Stock, iiniilenients, Ac. Stock, iiiiph-nionta, dairy produce, and poultry. Do. Kipoii Hereford Stock, poultry, pigeons, dogs, &c. Stock, implements, &,c. Do. Stock, poultry, pigeons, dogs, Aug. 29 Aug. 8 Aug. 7,8 Aujr. 2 Aug. 15 Aug.— Aug.— Aug. 0,7 Aug.— Aug.— Aug. 20 Aug. G Aug. 18 Aug. 20 Aug. 25 Aug. 28, 20, 30, ni Sept 12 Sept- Sept 4 Sept. 4, r. Sept. .-). 0 Sept. 5-7 . . Sept 12 .... Sept 12 Sept r.i . Sept U.. Sept. 14 . . Sept 11 .. Sept 14, i: Sept. 20 . . Sept. — . . Sept. 2C . . Sept. 26 . . Sept. 28 . . Sept. — . . Name of society. Oi-mslcivk, Soutlipoi't, and Kootlo. Lcii'oslorsliiro (ilanmrgaiisliiie lliglihtnit anil Agiicult- •.iral lit' Soot laud. Cainbridiiesliiie and Islo ..fJCly.' P.avn.slcy Cleveland Tyneaido .'. Darlington '\V('st(Mn District of Fife lOa.sl Surrey Driilield and East Killing, ShropsliireandWest Mid- land. Vorksliiro Crook. Norton raruiors' Club. Ciiquotdale Shn)]isliire l!>ir

  • oullrv. Stock, &.C. Stock, implo7uents. loots, (fee. Stock, &c. Do. Stock, iniplements, &<•. Do. Horses. Stock, implements, S-v,. Stock, implements, dogs, iioultry, butter, &c. Stock, &c. Stock, flowers, implement.s, &:t:. Stock, imidemeut.s, roots, (^lieesi', but tei', pouUi'j, horticultural ma- cliinery, &-c. Livostt. — Oct 17 (>ot.-J5 Oct. 30 C.annaitlipnsliiro Noiiliaiii|>tiiiisliiro Alll'lloil .Mi Cliertso V Avi«liii'« luvcrucss Oct.— . Ort — 0- wards and outwards. The head is siikiU and well ])nt on ; the, nmzzh^ is very line. The eye isclear, hriulit, ])n)iniueiit. niid sliows ;i jidod deal of thi^ wliite round it. The chest is very wide in juoportioii (o thcsi/e of the aninuil. Legs are short, small, and very fine in the hone, .-ind tlu; nninial altogether pos.scsscs a very neat and beau- tiful synnnetiy. The Devon of all existin54- cattle breeds can lay claim to be one which iiad the jjreatest reputation for ^razinj^" character a ceiitnry a,q"o, when the Shorthorn, the modern Jlerelbrd, the lied Poll, and others had no exi.stence. This is Avhy that breed always stands first in the catalojines of the Smithlield Clul) and the Bath and West of England Society. The latter was formed in 1777, and the former before the last century closed, when the North Devon was the breed i>ar excellence for small bones, and hi^h quality, just as Dakewell's new Dishley breed was among the sheep tribes. The history of the Devon can be traced back nntil lost in ob.scnrity, and Yonatt no doubt ri;ihtly deems it to be one of the best existing representatives of the original Biitish breed of cattle. In modern times Shorthorns ami llerefords have become more popular with rent-j)aying farmers thronghont the Kingdom, generally because they get the larger size and feed to much greater weiglits. Still they have failed to sup- plant it in different ])art3 of England, comi)rising Devon, their native county, parts of Somerset, Cornwall, Dorset, and Hants. In the two last-mentioned counties, where bites of grass are often short, they are better adapted for dairy herds than the Shorthorn, and ])robably its popularity with rent-paying farmers in the fertile vales of West Somer- set is greatly enhanced by the pos.session of a variety termed the Somer- set Devon, which, although not of quite such liigli (piality as the true North Devon, apjiear to answer the combined i)urpose of dairying and grazing far better. As a dairy animal the Devon has alwjiys been cehs brnted, not so mu(;h for large quantities as for the rich quality of thc! njilk. At the Londoii Dairy Sliow for 188'), a Devon cow belonging to 57 58 CATTLE AND DAlJiY FARMING. Mr. A. C. Skinner, of r.islio])\s Lydiard, gained soeond prize in the milk- ing trials, and it was fonnd that there was a greater proportion of fsolirmed a "dairyman." IJesaidthat the rent paidforhiscowswas£i;>per year, and that his neighbor, who let Sliorthorns, conld obtain no more. iMirther, that when barren, althongh his cows only fed on an average to thirty score i)onnds weight of carcasses,and the canvasses of his neigh bor's Short- horns averaged "thirty-six score ponnds, owing to superior qnality he was usnally enabled to make quite as much money of the lesser weights as his neighbor of the heavier. It has always been claimed that a Devon yields a larger i)roi)ortion of roast meat at the best joints than any other beast, and perhaps there is none yielding a smaller proportion of offal to the carcass. In re- sponding to very early maturity it would scarcely compete with the Short - horn or Hereford. This will be sufliciently seen by investigating the scale of animals exhibited at the Smithfield Club cattle shows. The heaviest in the class under two years old in the display made last De- cember was the one year nine months old steer belonging to the Queen, the live weight of which was 10 cwt., 2 qrs., 10 lbs., whereas the re- serve Hereford of JNIr. J. F. Hal!, only one year, six months, three days old, scaled 12 cwt., 20 lbs. In fa(;t the i)rize winners in the Hereford class averaged nearly 11 cwt. each, but they were older. THE nEREFOKD. The Herefords are remarkably good feeders, laying on flesh abun- dantly in jtroportioii to tiie amount of food consumed, and their ai)titnde to fatten is favored by their general placidity of temper. They come early to maturity, whilst the beef is well mottled or marbled, fat and lean, and is highly prized. The prevailing characteristics are as fol- lows : Wliite facft, throat, cliost, udder, dowlap, uiiiue, lower part of body aiul lopjs, and tip of tail; tlie otlicr parts ofllu! liody nsd ; frf(]uently Ji small red spot on tlic eye, and a round red spot in tlie midst of l.Iie wliite. on the throat. The body is eovcred witli ]on.a;so(t glossy liair, witli a tendeney to enrl. The horns, whieh are beyond the, medium tenj^tli, are taperinj;-, iind liave a yellow or white waxy api»earance, IVeqneTitly dark at the ends. Tliose of tlio bull spring out strai<;htly from a broad Hat fondiead, wliilst those of liio cow or ox usually have a graceful wave with a slight spreading ui)wanl tendency. Tlie eye is full. The chest is expanded, full, and deep, and ])ro,jectiug lirmly ; the ri1»s are well- sprung; tlie back is l)road and legs sliorl, iudic^ative of the hai'diness of constitution ibr which these catth; are esteemed; the bone is small, and the ott'al is light. The Hi'reford crosses with almost any breed, ami imi)arts an aptitude to fatten. The Hereford breed is an old race, which can be traced back at least a hundred years. The best herds may, no doubt, be found in its native county, where the white faces are to be found on almost every farm. Shro]>shire also " swears by them," and they have extended themselves largely into Wales, notably into Glamorgan.shire, and tlie border county of Monmouth. Of late years they have made their way much further afield than fV)rmerly, and their w^ealth of tlesh would no doubt cause them to be more generally i)opuIar if ])ossessed of a hiiilier reputation for daily imrpo.ses. Still the latter faculty can be cultivated, and, strange to say, not only is the cross of a Shorthorn and Hereford a pro- Trii: rxiTED KTN(iDo^r. 50 voibial (loop milker, but liio sliijlitest dash of tlio fbiincr scoins to biiiim" out tlio latont lactial fortiliry oftlio Horofoid. .Mr. E. (;.Tis(bill sonic IVw \ cars since ])iibbslio(l in tlio liiitisb Dairv Farmor Association's Joninal a locord ol tlic milk yields of sixty of liis most famous milkers, and tlio best of tlicm all was a coir called "Old Hereford"' whicli answeied to tlu^ latter (Icscription. Mr. Tisdall siip- ])lics tlio Kciisiiiiiton district at Hie West End of London wirli milk and butter, and kec[)s a larue lieid o!" dairy cows. IJcrelbids liavo always been deemed better for the dairy in DiMser and Soincrs(>t than in their own native county, because jnobably they are more educated to serve that imrpose. The breed has extended into Cornwall, and Mr. Lewis Lloyd has cultivated it in Surrey within six miles of the metropolis. At the last Smithlield show he piiiiod secontlu-rs red anil wliite, and sometimes the white and red are Itlended, jormint^ a I»eantifiil vaiiej;;ation ealled "roan," formerly strawlieriy color. The liead is hand- some, intellij^ent, and tlie expivssion doeile ; the eye is l>rii;!it and fnll : the eais are tiiiii and tine, well covered with hair: the neck issiiort, carrying the liead gracefully. and sjiringiugstraight from the hack, which isalsostr.'tight and l)road andromid. Therilis .•irch roundly from the liackhone: the hijts are well covered and rot very jiromineiit ; the hind (piarteis are hmg and fnll to the tail, which hangs straight and s<|nare from the hody ; the thiglis are fnll aiul deep and hroad ; the legs are short and straight, the nnder line is even ; the shoulders are well laid, oldiqm;, and falling well on the hody, so as to form a round deep chest with a fnll swelling hosom ; the udder is large and soft, coming well fr)rwanl. and the teats hang srpiandy from it. T^ie Itody is well covered with line soft hair, and the hide is mellow, with jtrich appearance indicating th(! excellent quality of the beef. Altogether the animal, owing to tiuM>venness with which it lays on its tlesh, forms nearly a parallelogram; its strong constitution Juakes it ad.aptahle to all soils and climates, and its excellencies are so great that its admirers chum for it the title to be placed as the first of our national breeds. Shorthorns are more jjenerally jiropaj^rated than any other British breed of cattle, although scarcely known beyond the valley of the Tees before the commencement of the present century. Their ori^rinal name was Teesicater or Durham cattle, and they are still known more as Dur- no . CATTLE AND DAIRY IWRMING. Ii;ini tliiiii Sliortlioriis ill in:iny i);irts ol" tlic. OoTitiiieiit. At. oiu^ ]iori()(l tlicro was ail apin-elu'iKsioii tliat rlic Scotch ('liinatc would bo uiisiiitublc lor tln'iii, but tlii.s lias lt in many of the iS('ot(!li lowland districts as llu^ nati\<' jtolled catth'. whetiier Anjiiis or (Jalloway. They also Honrisli almost at the Land's l<'nd in the (iontrary direction, as is sufliciently proved b.\ the s|>lciidid specimens ]\Iessrs. lloskinsooths at Studley Warlaby and Killerby came into re|Mitarion, totiether with tiiat of Thomas Bates at Kirklevin.uton, all in North Yorl, and constitutional vi.ajor. The su(;(;e>^sors of l*rofessor Townelcy's Lancashire herd twenty years ii^o wer«' ciedit- able to that county, and it was close to Lancaster that Mr. liolton had liis famous herd. At the present day the Duke of Devonshire at Holker eclii)ses all otheis so far as the county is (concerned, ami the Bates men i)ay a ])il jifimage from one eml of tlie Kinjidom to the other. The Earl of Latham has a celebrated herd of fashional)le Bates cattle at f)rmskirk. But it is almost impossible to sin.i>le out any quarter of the Kin^'dom where there ai-e not luu'ds of Siiorthorns of hijiii reputation, iVom those of the ICarl of I'.ecrive, ]Mr. S. B. I'^oster, and IMr. Ilandley, in Cumberland and Westmoreland, to those of Lord j'^it/hardiniie, Colonel Kintvscote, and Air. St. floliu vVckers, in (Gloucestershire; frouj Lord I'enrhyns, in yorth Wales, to Mr. Huave such heavy weights as the coires]>ondinji' Hereford class, the heaviest beinj; 1 he one-yeai", ten months and two weeks' old fii'st prize steer of Mr. Fliiuli (ioiiiijic, weij^hinj;- i;> cwt., ."i qrs, 4 ])ouuds. The Shorthorns ex- hibited on that occasion wcmc, however, <;(uieially much heavier than the Ih'refords, Mr. Iicibert Jjcney's third i)rize six-year old cow scaliiii;' 21 cwt., while fiu^ ]<^arl of (.'oveutry's jiiantess ele\en-year-old Herefonl, which had previously won sitveral royal juizes, scalinj^- liO cwt., 3 ijrs., 2 lbs. THE LONGnORNS. The rionj^horn cattle may Ix; described as follows: Tiic lioi-iiH riiily lii-iM- (nil IJMi iiMiim nCtlic lircdd ; tho.y n;ro\v in siuli iv m.-imici' as to bo v«Ty (listiiiclivi^ ; liicy ack Klr;ii;jlit. 'I'ln- IVnialcs arc. very l)road in the bi]is and arc jrood milkers. M.-my of Mic cin'-s-brid niihdi cows in varions jja.rts of Engbind sliow liicy liav.'. a dasli of I.onj;liorn blood in tlii'in. '\'h"V>' arc, however, but few herds of this variety now k<'itt. It crosses well w ilh other br.eds. THE UNITED KINGDOif. . (il TLe Louj^honi breed tleservojs to bo eoiisuleretl next ou account ol' its autiquity, as at the early part of the century nioie Loxfflionis were kept tban probably any other leadiiii; breed ofeiittle, ehieliy because il, was then consiiUMed to be the best dairy breed and was e.\lensi\cly adcipted as such in the M-dland counties. It seems singular that the .uu'at I'.aUewell should have |)ri/cd it so hii;hly,c()nsiderip,i;- that tlie bones are lar.ue and the hides 1 hick of even the bet tersjteci mens. Fordeej) milking- siiorl horns olthe ri.i;ht kind ex- cel them, liut it has been demonstrated of late that Lon.uhorns can be j?reatly improNt-d, a'ld highly uu'ritorious si>ecimens have Itecn broiij^ht to the showyard l»y the Duke of IJuckinj^ham and several other breed- ers, chielly IVom the INIidlaads. The oiij;inaI breed of li()n<;horns ai)peais to have sprunt;- IVoai York- shire, thence to have subsequiMitly receded to Leiceslershiie, Warwick- shire, and JJerbyshire in which <;(nintie.s they fire Jiow most numerous, THE NORFOLK AND SUFFOEK I'OEEED CATTEE. The Ineeders of these cattle have determined ou the I'ollowinj^ charac teristics, which they should possess : Tlio (M)loi- red. Tip of the tail and niijj the inside of the llanlc, or a t-inall white spol^ or mark on tlic under ]);ut of the belly hy the, milk veins shall not he Iielil as dis- qualifyinj^' an animal whose sii'e and oses: however, of late the working of oxen has decreased in a marlvcd degree, and the breeders of Sussex cattle have turned fh<'ir atJention to the inqnovement of the anitnals with gieat su«'i;ess. They resend)lc the Devons in many respects, but arc larger. Formerly they were not, 62 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. as a rule, jira/.ed till al'ter they wore done with for working, bnt now they are got to early maturity and produce f2,ood beef. In I'act, they arc so inueh refined tliat tliey are considered by many to approach very closely to the llereloi-d in wealth for i^razinj;- jjurposes. At i>resent the breed is lestricted very much to the country that gives it name and the two adjoinini;- ones of Kent and Uants. The cows are not .u'ood milkers. They arc very hardy, however, and do well on poor pastures. Like the Devons, they arc all red, but have larixer horns, heads, and bones. Tliere was an adnnrable class of Sussex steers under two years at the late Smithlield show. I\lr. Dnnnett's one year ten months and two weeks second prize one weighed l.'i cwt., 13 qrs., and lio lbs., and one, about a Ibrtnight older, beion-ing to Mr. U. Page, of Walmer, Kent, weighed 13 cwt. and 3 qrs. The heaviest Sussex ox was that of Mr, S. Clarke, not quite three years and ten months old, which scaled 20 cwt. and 1 qr. The third prize cow, however, belonging to Mr. W, Wood, of Crawley, Sussex, weighed 5 pounds over a ton. THE SCOTCH POLLED ANGUS OR ABERDEEN. This breed of cattle is supposed to be descended from what were formerly termed "Angus Doddies," or Aberdeen Hummlies. It islargely represented in Aberdeenshire, Forfarshire, and Kincardineshire, and their leading characteristics may be described as follows: TUeir ciways black, thon<,'h uccasioDiilly siniif" animals bavi) small dnll wliitti spots, and still more raroly soiiui aro red or brindled. Tin', bead is tufted \\itli hair, t bo cars are ratber Ibick and liaiiy, tbe mu/zle is somewbat coarse, tbo legs aro well boued, and of moderate length. (heat imi»rovement has been nuide of late years in this breed by care- ful seknttion, and veiy beautiful animals have been exhibited at both i)reeding and fat-stock shows. They are poor milkers, but are very hardy, docile, large, coming early to mat urity, and good breeders, and the meat is of excellent (piality. In respect of wealth and high (piality combined, for grazing i)urposes they can scarcely 1)0 suri)assed l)y any variety whatever, the Scot(;h graziers appear to ihmk, the only notabie preference on their part being for a cross between them and tlu; Shorthorn. Mr. C. Stevenson's first prize three years eight months old steer at the last Smith tield show scaled til cwt. and 23 lbs. This was by far the heaviest exhibited. Tliero was, however, a great uniformity of weight between 10 cwt. and 19 cwt. THE GALLOWAY BREED. The (i.illuwas lueed is nnn.li older and le all-around tenant farnier's animal. The vet- eran jM('(yoml)ie, who stood liist and foiemost among Scotch graziers, wrote as follows in liis book on the feeding ol' cattle: I bavi- gra/.cil tlu- iinr(^ Alierdeen and Angus, Ibo Aberilecn and Notib (Jonnlry rrosses, tin- iligbland. tlie ( lalloways, and what are termed iiiAngus IbeSonlb Cunn- Iry cattle, the iintcb, and the .Jnt land. 11 storeealtleof tin; AlieitUei: and Angus breeds out «)f our best herds can be s<;cnrud, 1 belit've no other breed will jiay the gra/ier iuuiu ujouey iu tlic north for llie same viiluo of kcej). THE UNITED KINGDOM. 63 Mr. ]\UC()iiil>io coiisidtMod that tlio (lalloways "on jioor land aiv un- rivaled except i>erlia|)sby the small llii^hlaiulers,"' but he did uotdeeiii- tlieui so eavsiiy liuiished as i)ure Aherdeeus or crossbred cattle. The pine Galloway is usually lilatk ; tluM\vr is rat Iht dull and wloepy ; the car i.s tbitk and very liairy; the l>atk i.s straij^lit : tlie Iii-ad is rovcied with u scaii-.s]>Iii'ii- cal knob, tufted witU hair; the leys are short and slrouj"." U1G^LA^'D cattlj:. As the lutme denotes, this breed is native to the West Ili^i;hlauds of Scotland; they were Ibrnunly knowu as North Aisyleshire cattle. The characteristics may be described as follows : Their stature is usually somewhat 8n)all. They ar<' elolhed with a thick skin.huv ing abnudanio oflonu'. flossy, and .sha;xjiy hair, indicatin<;- haitlness of constitution in the highest dej^rce. This thick coat is a protect ion ai^ainst t he atuios|(hcre of winter and from llics in suuniier. Tho color varies, some animals beinji black, others red, dun, yellow, and brindled (red and black). The head is siiort, and lias a profusion of loiiff shaguy and curly hair coming down below the eyes. The muzzle is line, and the uoso slightly tnrncd up. Tho eyes are prominent, and have a quick, piercing glance. Tho horns are wide ajtart, long, cuv.ed, and pointed; the bocly is straight, thick, very deep, compact, and well formed. Tho legs are short and extremely mnscular. They are celebrated for their grazin- jiroperties, the meat beinjr of the liuest quality, and comes down to the very heels. It commands the bi.2;hest prices in the principal l'hi,<;lish markets. For dairy purposes tiiey do not rank so highly, because the milk, though good in (juality, is deficient in quantity. They are extremely hardy, vigorous, (piick, and active, and capable of enduring both the damp anutting them to fat, as they recjuire being gradually accib^tomed to yards or boxes. Of late years much care and attention has been ])aid to improving the breeerties for wliicli Ayisliiiv «;Ut!i' are raiiioiis, ami wliidi ail' ill a artly becanse they suit the sys- tems of farmin.u' ad(»pted mncli blotter than heavier cows, such as Short horns, wouhl do. for the feedinj;- is very much restricted to the arabU' portion of the farm, the laud bein<;- kept down to artiticial grasses two years that dairy cows may be k(>pt. The chief ol)iection against Ayr shires in England is that when the cow has ceased milking- it is worth very little for grazing purposes. JERSEYS AND GUERNSEYS. The sauu'. objection as the foregoing aj)plies in a still greater dej?ree to the Jersey. Still there aie pastures with short twites in the south of England for which Jersey herds are adoj)ted even by tenant tanners. As a fancy animal for noblemen's i)arks, and to adorn the grounds of our country gent ry, Jerseys are very much extending thtnuselves every wheie. Tliey are not only aflluent milkers, but the j)roportiou of cream to milk is large, and the yields of butter realized from some are remark able. A great many good herds are to be iound in Uants, and indeed all ahing the .southwestern coast, also in Essex and the home counties. The Jersey cow is too well known for its neatness of foiin, slender Irame, its deer-like head, and its g^entleness to require further descrii)t ion. The cows of the sister isle, (Juernsey, are celebrated for yielding more Imtter than even Jerseys. They aie also l.irger in size and more hardy, still they seldom yield carcasses to the satislaction of English renting farmers after tlieir milking season is over. 'J'he same i)arts of the King dom where Jerseys are found most numerous patronize the yellow Chan nel Islands breed. The best JMiglish show yard herds of (luernseys are i)!'obabiy IVoiii Hants and JJevon. In propagation the (iuernsey in England simmus naturally to develop into moie grazing ciiaracter, and detract somewhat IVom line \lr. Owen Thonuis, of Anglesey, could claim to have the heavi- est animal in the show witii his nearlv four years old ox, which weighed 22 cwt., 1 (jr., G lbs. The Welsh Cattle ISook, published in 1874, gives the characteristics of this breed most fully. KEKKY CATTLE. TheKerry is the only native Irish breed worthy of nuMition. The cows are good milkers for tlieir size; from the ease with which they are kept in a liujitcd space they arc often calhul the i)ooi- man's cow. They are small, ha.idsome, and very docile; the head is line and small, the eye quick and aniuuited. Frequently the animals do not exceed 10 inches iu height. The i'oregoing succinct and detailed references to the various breeds of cattle lurnish general descriptions that may be unreservedly accepted, the i)rinted notes being those made by the current president of the lloyal Agricultural Society of England. Sir LJrandretli Gibbs, who has had forty yeais' otlicial connection with the Itoyal Society and the Smith- tiehi ('lub, wliilst the written account has been specially compiled for me by ^Ir. Josepli Darby, an author of works on cattle, shcej), and dairy subjects, well known and este<'med in this country. Herewith 1 inclose the various items of information which 1 have ob- tained in response to letters aritish Islands, and Irom personal visits made by myself, esi)ecially in Essex and Norfolk. 1 shall, however, wish to make the following prcliminaiy remarks on the whole subject: SELECTION OF FOREIGN CATTLE FOR THE TNITICD STATES. In reference to the assertion that there arc only ten or eleven breeds Of cattle in the United States, where there is room for at least thirty, and that England possesses twenty breeds and France fifteen breeds and other Euroi)ean countries in like proportion, 1 would observe that whilst doubtless some additional breeds to those at present in the Cniled States may be advantageously intr(jdu(;cd, yet the; cattle now in the United States are selections from the b-est breeds of Europe, where stock- breeders are reducing the number of their l>reeds, so that those best suited for the production of nicatand milk are crowding out the inferior H. Ex. 51 5 G6 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. lnvc'iLs very rapidly. Thus the restriction of breeds to small uuiubers infers the ''survival of the littest," and is indicative rather of ai^ricult- ural i)ro.i,a-ess than the reverse. For the fnturi'. it may be forecast that the Kuropean breeds of cattle, sheej), and pi.ys will notably diminish in nund)ers and corresimndingly imi>rove in value. The i)araj;rai)h referrinj»- to imported breeds producing in their new homes, when suitably located and managed, otispring superior to that prodn<-ed in their original homes can only be accepted with reserve, as. although numerous instances of great breeding successes are established in the records of the United States, thatresult maybe attributed to the fact of the imported cattle and i)igs beitig generally i)icked specimens, selected ior their excellence, whereby their i)rogeny are put out of com- jiarison with the more ordinary stock from which specimens are coDimou- ly seen at the shows of the United Kingdom. J am ad\ised by eminent authorities that however grand may be the American results attained in the case of Jersey cattle &c., yet- it is thought to be advisable to replenish stock by returning to the original homes of the breeds, whilst 1 note also in a report relative to Shorthorns from our consul at Leeds, that buyers are recommended to revisit the Teeswater districts, where the grand old Durham stock, renowned for its size, good constitution, and si)iendid ujilk-bag, exists in large numbers, and fiom which the refined, improved Shorthorn has been carefully bred. So also in respect to French breeds 1 feel assured there is a wide scoi)e for imitortation of superior cattle from their native districts, from Avhich, the best specimens being selected, it may be expected the American con- tinent will soon })roduce a higher j^eneral level of excellence in such new breeds than could be found in France. Besides the Norman, Brit- tany, Flemish, and Oharolaise breeds, there are ) a useful siiiall dictionary volume, by the Itev. Holt Ueever of the several tribes of Shorthorns, 1 also for- ward as a nu)sb successful work (imdosurc 1) a lar^e folio volume on the Cattle of Great Ib-itain, containin.i;- several illustrations and with de- scriptions written by authors selected for their knowledge of the sub- jects; and also a volume (inclosure 5) entitled "The History of rolled Aderdeen or Angus Cattle," by Messrs. James Macdoaald and James Sin(;lair, which is a valimblc and most complete, work, exhaustive of the subject. In the \'olui!K's of the Royal Agricultural Society of I'^nglaiid, since 1810, are found the Prize County Histories of thecountry, iu which are given an account of the geologic il subsoil, the surfa(;e soil, rotatiiai of crops, i)astures, elevation and asjx^ctof tht; land, of breeds of stock and methods of feding and reaiing them. Such histories were written in response to prizes offered by the Koyal Society. The Faruicrs' lI;ind-nook (iuclosun^^ (J) herewith lorwarded contains notes on the Koyal Society, the Smithiield Club, and various other leading so(.'ieties. Here may be observed that the several prize lists of tho great agricultural shows give the natnes and addresses of the chief stock-breeders in the country, although exceptionally some of the most renowned breeders do not exhibit, as their stock enjoys celebrity for its excellence that commands tho highest prices at home and abroad. PRIZE V«. OifDINARY STOCK. In the matter of prize cattle, whether for size, weight, quality of flesh, milk, wool, smallness of olial, &;c., it is well to remember they are always exceptionally chosen animals, reared and fed under f.ivorable cir- cumstances, and are not rei)resentativesof the tot;il number of farmers' stock which is not usually of a pedigree character. For this reason the weight of meat, or the, quantity given of milk, have to be regarded sim- ply as instances of special rather than of general excellence. Still, 1 may make comment that the diilerences between prize results and ordi- nary results are not enough to induce the ordinary iarmer or dairyman to purchase stock at fancy i)rices; and the same argument applies to purchases from abroad. However, when the object is to establish herds or flocks of repute, only pedigree stock should be bought. GEOLOGICAL CHARACTER OF THE BRITISH ISLES. The geological character of the British islands, their insular «;limate, and the small altitude of the land are l)est cdigree Shorthorns, Akierneys, Black Polls, and other cattle, in a manner that ii tenant farmer might protitably follow. Of this 1 had the opportunity of assuring myself by a visit of inspection which 1 made in the middle of the piesent month, devoting several hours to a survey of the farms, their buildings, stock and general char- acter, and being favored with personal ex])lanations from Mr. Beck, and from his son, Mr. Frank Beck, whose minute acquaintance with every agricultural detail was of the greatest advantage to me. The parade of the i)e(ligree stock in the several exercise-yards, and the groups grazing in the oiien pastures formed ii ''royal show" in x)rivate of the most interesting character, being free from the turmoil and crowded surroundings under which stock are commonly seen at agricultural shows. The herds of Shorthorns, at Sandringham, are located upon two dis- tinct farms at Babingley and ;it Wolferton, 2 miles apart. The one herd of the "Bates and Knightly" blood iskei)t separate from the herd of the '"Booth" blood, and admirers of either have thus an easy oppor- tunity of noting the respective i)Oints. • Some years ago the following words were written by a competent critic of Xorfolk farming: It is notliing but a i)laiii truth to s;iy that Norfolk farmers needed a sound lead to follow iu I lie matter of live-slock luauattemcnt, aud tliero is oue to be found at Sand- riu;^bani, thanks to tho uiauagemeut of the Prince of Wales. The bulls of the Wolferton herd include the Admiral, Baron Wolfer- ton, Beauchamp, Denmark, Dereham, Downham, Dunkirk, Fortis, Fra- lernas, (lamester, Marias, Ponsapo, Pluto, Boyston, Samson, and Vis- count. Their ages are from twelve months to six years. Amongst the <;ows are fifteen Diadems, the offsjuing of Mr. Fisher's bull (Fawsley Prince, .■3i,l.";(>, and Diamond, by the Chieftain, 20,1)12). Amongst the Babingley lierd is the bull Babiiigley Duke, 42,(j80, with the best of Mr. Bates's lihjod. Through all the mazes <.'f the AVild Eyes family, dam Blythesome Kyes, sire Marquis of Oxford 2d, 37,0.jr), the bull Duke of Norfolk, calved June K'>, 1880, and bred at Sandnngham, is by the Earl of Beclivc's Duke of Underly od, 38,11)0, and Fuchsia of llilhurst. Considering the size of the farms, their carrying Ji ])edigree herd of abouli 30 bulls and 80 cows, besides numerous store-stock of Devons, lllack Polls, IJighlanders, and dairy cows, they bear witnesses to econ- omy of management and productive capaljilities which are astonishing in an estate; that was "nowhere" twenty-tive years ago, and which has since 1803 been made into a most i)icturesque domain and fertile land, Ev<'n the miles of evergreen trees, mostly Scotch lirs, giving Sandring- ham a moorish ;'.i)pearance, were planted by INIr. Beck, and in the very hot season of 1808, The farm buildings were mostly the old farm structures, merely kept in good reitaii-, and here and there improved by economical additions. The ITNITEP KIXODOM. 09 I saw no costly outlay aiiy\vlu'i(>. iH'itlicr in h.niis, slicds, stablos, or 'fence's at Sandiiiioiit t liirty-throe iiiontlis; bull calves are o-t'iu-rally aflowcd to suck tlieir dams, whilst heifer calves are taken from the cows and reared with only a little milk, as it is considereil that too j;-enerous feediii"; is injnri- ons to the milUinji qnalities. . ,, . .,, MilkiiKj qnalHi(x.—l ciiu f^ive no details as to the annual yield m njilk per cow per annnm, having never kept any record, hut Sir H. H. Ilassey Vivian, Bart., M. P., hastwoeowsof "Stratton" blood that have given overl.OOO . inches; length, 7 feet 7 inches. I have had a heifer increase as much as Cw-J poniuls in twelve months. As to relative live and dead weight, two of my ch;im])ion 8mi(hlleld heifers have been as i'cdlows: Icicle, alive, lit cwt., ',) ixunids ; dead, 1,074 pounds. Wild Flower, alive, 17 cwt.,i2 (piarters, 1> pounds; dead, 1,420 pounds. I do not consider the cows fully nuitured until six years old. Shorlhoni crosses.— Shorthorns are far superior to all othtsr breeds fen- crossing pur- poses, .and it is a notable tact tiiat two or three crosses of good, pure blood npon any inferior nondescript stock will often stamp the progeny as pure-bred Shorthorns, and, for all intents and i)nrposes, they are in no w.iy inferior. The champion shorthorns of siuit htield for many years past have none of them been eligible to the H<>rd-Hook, thongh all by pnre-bred bnlls ; thus illustratiug their efficiency in crossing purposes. RESPONSES FROM VARIOUS QUARTERS. A note from Sir Jobu B. Lawes, ]?art., fiom Eothamsted, Herts, re- fers to the district as one cUietiy devoted to corn growing-, awd baving no special breed of cattle or sbeei>. (Inclosnre 9.) I may liere observe that in recent years iSir John lias laid down many acres of bi.s estate in grass, and tliat in tlie neighborhood a considei'able herd of stock, cattle and sheep, of diverse breeds, is kept, maintaining the s]>ecia] charac-teristic-s of the districts from which they have been changed. a^lomerset I>cvons. — Mv. T. II. Risdon, of Somerset (inclosnre 10), ior- wards a valnable condensation of information as to Somerset Devon cattle: At Washford the mean temperature is 50°. It is as high as 60- in the summer and the winter mean is not below 'M'^. The girth of Mr. Risdou's Devon cows is 7 feet G inches ; of bulls, 7 feet (j to 8 inches, thus couii)eting with Short liorus, except that the latter have greater length. The Jivenige yi(!lro- portion of lean when compared wiih some other breeds. j\Ir. Taylor, in referring to the several i)articalars given in the above pamphlet, accepts them as correct statements, and I may add that the writer is well recognized as a competent critic of the lied-Polled cattle, and is the editor of its Llerd-Pook. Tiie poi)nlarity of this breed has rapidly increased in its own district and abroad, so mncli so that breeders are restricting their sales in order to obtain sufticient numbers iit home. The Lofttiuffolk Bed Polls.— The herd of Red Polls belonging to Mv. Loli't of Troston, near Pnry St. Edmunds, Suffolk, is of great rci>ute, and gave its owner the (;ontidence to challenge the breeders of Scotch Black Polls to show a group of five animals in competition with five Red I'olls. However, the com[)arisou has not yet been ])nblicly made, and the live '• Doddies" shown by Mr. McCombie at l*aris, in 1878, are still recognized as the best group ever exhibited. The farm of JMr. Loff't is 40 to 70 feet above sea level, and the range of temperature in 1883 was 48.G degrees, the rainlall liG.lO inches. The soil is a mixed drift, very unequally distributed on a chalky subsoil, or dril't clay, sand, and gravel. Old meadows, varying greatly in different seasons from the natural pasturage, and artilicial pasturage of clover, sainfoin, and rye grass is made, i)rincipally ibr horse and cattle keep. JNIi-. LoUt has also used largely ryor&e for horses and cattle, and gives his stock in small quantities chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, prickly comfrey, tJcc. The cow stock are taken in at night as soon as white frosts begin to a])pear in autumn, and are tied up in a large and lofty barn, but during the day are turned out to graze, or lor air aiul exercise only, in a large yard, according to circumstances. In summer, from May to Octobei', they are fed on the pastures continuously, sometimes helped with cheap or abundant food like cabbage, turnii)s, swedes, or two to three ])ounds of cake. The winter feeding is swedes, turnips, cabbages, cake, barley, or other meal, malt grains, and hay or straw^ chaff". Mr. Lofft is breed- ing three sorts of Red Polls ; first, large growthy beef-makers ; second, middle-sized general-purpose animals, milk and beef; third, a small size for milk only. Heifers commence to breed from fourteen months, and line-breeding is approved by Mr. Lofft, except when special objection exists. The difference in weights are as follows : Large size: Bull, 1 ton to 1 ton 7cwt. ; cow, 15 cwt. to 17 cwt.; steer, 12 cwt. to 13 cwt., 2 years old. Middh- size: Bull, 18 cwt. to 1 ton; cow, 13 cwt. to 14 cwt.; steer, 10 cwt. to 12 cwt., 2 years old. Mr. Lofft looks to form a small dairy R(m1 Poll tribe of less size tlian either the Kerry or Breton stock, but has only bred with these aims for a couple of years. The remarks of j\rr. Lofft on milking qualities in cows deserve attention. The origin of the Red Polls is a del)atable point, and therefore it is important that Mr. Loff't distinctly states "the root of tlie race is the 72 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. old SnlVolk cow." About tlio time of tlio fust Frencli revolution tlisli Sutlblk was noted for its herds of dun (;o\vs, i)ale yellow, or sliiilitly {^iu- j;er color. This cow, Mr. Loll't believes, is a va'-iety of the old White- rolled cow indi.uenous to the country, and kept, in by.iione times, either tame by the monks or semi-domesticated in noblemen's parks, lie in- tends to get nj) two small herd of these old and very scarce stock, fa- mous for their niilkiuf"" (|ualities, The llerefords. — In reply to my inquiries, Mr. T. Duckham, M. P., who, as tirst editor of the Hereford Herd-Book and rei)resentative and resi- dent in the county, is f>enerally associated wiih its celebrated cattle, gives his authority to the belief that they are "indigenous" (iuclosure V.\). He also refers to the records of Smithfield for comparison of the Hereford bieed with other sorts. 1 may here note that whilst staying at King's Lynn, Norfolk, after my visit to the farms of the Prince of Wales, I ibund the ]nctnre of a, IJere- ford ox on the walls of the hoi el. This animal was exhibited in 1844,- and was bred in Norfolk by i^Ir. Hudson, of Castle- Acre. The weight: was l,iU8 i)Ounds, the carcass weighing 1,740 pounds, and the lat 208 ]>ounds. The dead weight of the world-renowned Durham ox was 2,322 l)ounds. 77(6 MorJand tSussex. — ]\Ir. W. C Morland, of Lamberhurst Court Lodge, Kent, in reference to the Sussex breed of cattle (iuclosure 14), gives their weight at three years — ';ow, 80 to 85 stone ; bull, 100 to 190 stone, the stone being 14i)ounds. In this, asiu other cases, the recorded weights at Smithtield furnish the best comparison between the various breeds. The Sussex stock are notably a heavy, beef-making breed. It is a point to be remend)ered that thecatth^ are housed in winter, not on ac- count of delicacy of constitution, Init because of the wetness and cold- ness of Wealden soil, a geological special clay. The Sussex breed are believed by many stock exhibitors to have been derived fiom the Hevon breed, but foi- a long date they have been na- tive to Sussex, wheix^, they are favorites. The opinion of ^h\ John Treadwell, lJ])per Winchenden, Aylesbury, IJucks, is regarded as second to none in the matter of slock. ]\Ir. Tread- well's leisure is entirely taken u]) by judging at the Royal Society and other shows. This larm of 270 arable and .■>30 of pasture acres is visited by agriculturists from all i)arts. In his report (inclosure 15) he states that his herd of Shorthorn grade luilch cows average 10 i)ints of milk each l)er day. The North J)cronf{. — An unsigned return (iuclosure IG) from North Devon speaks in favor of the JNortli Devon breed of cattle for local breeding and feeding, and gives a very moderate estinnite of weight at maturity — cow, G to 8 cwt. ; bull, 10 to 12 cwt. ; ox, 8 to 10 cwt. — which seems to lit with the appellation given to North Devons, "the little noblemen of the hills." The inclosure herewith sent (No. 17), relating to Smithfield, gives the names of ])rize brerulers ior several years, anh> scour.nc, when' ani- maks worth ."»()(► .ii'uineas each are exi)Osed). whicli had been succes.sl'idly treated and routed. At J)erehani we were on cknecome as grand as his sire. There were also a cou]>le of heifers — Castanet JO and Cas- tanet 11 — bred iiom that capital bull Sir Benedict, 42.")8.S, a splendid white roan. These two Castanets, half sisters and about a year old, are considered v.orth 1,000 guineas the ])air. The bull Felix, rather over two years, was a very handsome and com- plete roan, and goes back to Comet, an illustrious desecn-t. Jving ii'od- erick and, indeed, most ol" I\Ii-. Aylmer's stock, have noticeably Hat oval- shaped horns. Some of the grand old cows we were looking at had produced ten to a dozen calves, selling at from oHO to 100 guineas each. One young bull-calf we saw, under twelve mraiths old, is jiriced at .Tm) guineas. The repute of Mi'. Aylmci's stock is such that for twe ity-five years there has been no occasion to exhibit at shows. Some of the cows, I noted, had twice calved in the twelve months— a good <>vidence of (heir ))rolific nature. In IMr. Aylmer's " workshoji,''" or study, was the framed ccrlifieale awarded him at the Ceiftennial lOxhibition held at Philadelphia in ISTO, where he exhil)ited a ])en of his sheep. DENCIIFIELD STOCK. From the celebrated vale of Aylesbury Mr. Fdw. Dencldield gives some useful details of Buckinghamshire as to its famous regions (in- closure ID). IMaster <;]ay is the geological strata southeast, between the Thames and river Collie. Then tl.'erei.< thechalk formation of the Chiltern Ilills^ and the Tesworth clay fills up the vale of Aylesbury, noted for its pro- ductions both animal and vegetalde. Limestone and oolite occupy the north of the county, and the natural gia>^ses of BnckinghamshiK^ favor the finishing off as well as the rearing of sto(;k. Dairy herds of Short- 74 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. lionis nourish lioro, wliilst llio snminor meadows arc, j^food eiioni^ii to ^M-azc and la t ton bullocks. Yards and stalls are ali'ordcd to house the cattle in wint(M\ uut some of the stock remain out all the year round. The stock thriveon the grasses in summer and jict hay, straw, roots, and artiticial food in winter when needed. The cattle ale bred in the dairy herds and weaned at lir.st on milk or artiticial substitutes. The heifer calves are brouj;iit on to re- plenish the herds, and the younj;- bull calves are either sold as stock bulls, or as oxen aredraftedintoother counties of tillage hmd, to be fed out. i\Ir. Denehflield adds that he finds Shorthorn cattle best for dairyinj:^ purposes, since they come to heavy weight for the butchers when fed out The yield of niilk and butter varies much Avith the seasons, so tbat the last decade of wet years has lowered thcaveragc before established. I may here observe' that some of the A'ery best stock of all kinds, horses, cattle, sheej), and pigs, come outof the county of liucks, and with such good stock the name of Denchtield has beeu associated for many years. COTSWOLD CATTLE. From Colonel Nigel Kingscote, M. P., T may conclude the special ref- erences. In the Shorthorn Herd Book Colonel Kingscote, at the present time as in the past, will be seen to own some highly celebrated stock. His estate, Wotten-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, is 800 feet above sea- level, on the west of t he Cotswold hills. The geological stratum is oolite, andiiere, on a brash loamy surtace soil, the pure-bred Shorthorn cat- tle, the i)ure-bred Sussex Southdown sheep, the pure-bred Suffolk cart- horses, and the pure-bred Berkshire pigs form a higher class stock that I note in evidence of the adaptability of diverse English breeds to a "habitat,'' thus is, in each instance, a change to their original districts, but where they all tloiirish and attain a high degree of excellence. The cattle are housed in winter, in covered yards and oi)en sheds, and fed on hay, .straw, and roots. They reach the weight of 18 cwt. and U])- wards, and are disposed of by private and public sale. WEIGHTS OF THE VARIOUS BREEDS. The comparison of cattle breeds, in the report made by Mr. Faulkner, whose figures are valuable, brings together the following points, as averages in pounds (embra(;ed in Consul Dockery's report) : Live weights, under four years old. Breed. Stoer. Heifer. Cow. ■Welsh 2,408 2, 4K(i 2, :!7."> 2,241 2, 212 2, 002 2, 012 ],!)(!« 8i)0 2,214 2, 127 1, 88;j 1,890 2, 040 1,480 1,984 1,600 2 214 2, :i2() 1 88;i 2, 24.^ 1, 4^C Norfolk I'Dlled 1, 084 1,934 Dead weight, average in pounds. 920 840 800 720 700 POO 720 920 800 Siissfx 8(10 800 I'oIIkI Norfolk 500 THE UNITED KINGDOM Tf) Offjil reckoned 8 pounds to tiie sfoie, except in le.uard to Wclsli, of wliicli the offal is esrirnated J) pounds to tlu' seorc. Ainonust iveords of eNtiaoniinary \vt'i,nbf an- three instances, these beiuj; of a Duiisani ox, a Hereford aniniai, and a Norman, the latter lie- in«i' exhihiteil as tlie '• bcenf j^ras " in Paris. The dead weinht of tlie i)nrhani ox that was exhibited thronf^hont Enshmd, in a former generation, was li,oL'i; i>ounds ; of the Hereford ox, 1.S84, bred in Norfolk, 1,0;>S imunds; antl the Norman bullock, alive, weighed oxer .">() ewt. MILK AND ET'TTER YIELD OF THE VARIOUS BREEDS. The average, weight of miUc thus compares yearly : Breed. Shorthoma Herefords Devnns Polled Aberdi'eus Galloway Polled 24. (.see printed noteK forwarded) , Hialiland.i- Sussex -- Wel.sli Lon^rhorns . Ayr.shireriod. ^Ir. Faulkner's opinion is in agreement with that of most other ex- l>erts wluMi he indi(;at(;s tli<> best beef producing animal as the cr iss bred from the Sitotch Polled cow and Shorthorn bull. Still, of late, this superiority has been (■hallenged by breeders of Hereford and other crosses. TRICES OF THE VARTOT^S BREEDS. Tlie general prices of juMligree animals are closely appraised for cows and lieifers: Shoi-tlioms DcVODS Alierdreiis Snssex Jersey 15 reed. Breed. Ilerpford Galloway Ayrshire Norfolk.. Welsh... Price. 76 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. The prices at which stock was sold daring- the year 1883 at the Bir- raiiijiham Show sale were as follws: iSJiortlionis.— Oui.' bull 200 ornincas and one for 50 p:iiineas; one heifer Itron^hr .H jiuineas, and one of " Factory Girl strain" 82 jjuineas. The jtrices of others soUl rani^'ed between the last two prices named. Sir Ilujih Ayhner's sales of Short horns took place at the Manor House, West Durham, on the odof .May. It was well attended, but prices were not so hi.u'h as many anticipated. Filty-livecows broujiht £3,71)8 18.s.Gr7., averajiinji- £(»'.» l.s-. of/. each. Eighteen bulls sold for £1,038 Cs., or an averajje of £12 13.s. S(J. Tl)e highest price paid was l"or Eastthorp Lady 2d, calved ^lay 14, 1881, 200 guineas. The celebrated bull Sir Simeon was passed, the reserve of i>00 guineas not having been bid. On July 11, at T. llalford's sale of Shorthorns at Castle Hill, Sher- bone, four cows and three bulls brought on an average £745 lO.s. each. The highest ligure, paid by Lord Bective for the Duchess of Leicester, was 1,505 ginneas. Thirty-two cows averaged £185 7^. each, and six bulls averaged £281 18s. Od. each. At Henry Lovatt's sale, July 3, at Low Hill, Wolverhampton, the average obtained was £53 2.s. 2d. The great Halker sale of Shorthorns took place on September C, and showed a large falling off from previous years. Thirty-one cows and heifers averaged £182 each; the bulls averaged £112 each. Twelve Oxford cows and heifers averaged £312 17.s'. Gd. each, and seven bulls of the same family £142 Is. each. Hereford prices. — At Mr. F. Piatt's sales at Barnby IManor, Newark, July 21, one bull calf, four months old, sold to i\[r. C, i\L Culbertson, of the United States, for 100 guineas. Another sold ibr 150 guineas. One cow and calf sold to Mr. Burleigh, of the United States, for 175 guineas; also a heifer to the same purchaser for 90 guineas. One null, Grove III, v\-as sold to Mr. Culbertson for 810 guineas. The average ])rice of cows and cattle was £08 17.s. each, while that of bulls was £107 each. At the sales of Mr. George Pitt, on his farm of Chadnor Court, twenty-one head were sold at an average price of £77 l.v. Or/, each. The highest ]»rice i>aid was for the cow Itosebloom, which was purchased by the Hon. M. H. Co(!hrane, of Canada, for 2G0 guineas. He also took her heifer calf at 47 guineas. Siisficx prices. — At Mr. Thomas Knight's sale in October last the prices obtained weic, perhaps, the highest on record for the breed ; twelve cows brought on an average £42 Gs. each; four two-year old heifers £49 4.S. Gd. each; six yearling steers £23 10.s\ each; vsix weanyer heifers £29 Is. Gd. each; and five weanyer steers £17 12.s'. Gd. each. * Jerseif prices. — For Jersey cattle some very high i)ri(;es have been, l)aid. One bull calf, six weeks old, sold ibr £2,500. The average prices of those shii)ped to the United States during the year (over 800 m number) will exceed £45 each. Prices of Aberdeen hulls.— At 11. C. Auld's sale, on the 13th of De- cember last, twelve cows averaged £114 9s. Gd. each ; eleven two-year- old heifers £I5(» 3.S-. 9r7. each; seven heifer calves £90 7.s-. each j and two five-year-old bulls £53 lis. each. The general average for fifty-one animals was £90 lOv. J'riecs of West JIi(/ltlandcrs.—T\w. Knvl of Dnmnore sold drafts from his sni)erior herd of West Highlanders, in the island of llairis, ;it Li- verness, nin(; bulls (six Ix-ing calves) at an average of £-21 each; also eigbty-foin- cows and heifers at an average of £19 lis. each. The highest 'M-i(;cs paid were 50 guineas for a three-year-old heifer, and two heifers ^i the sann^ age sold at 48 guineas each. THE UNITKI) KINGDOM. 77 COST OF TRA^'s^oKTA'l•I()^• TO Tin; im ikd states. I note the cost ortniiisit :iii;es are the same as for bulls and cows. Under the IJiitish passenjier act steamships cannot carry more than ten head of cattle if more than (il'ly steerage passeniiers arc on board. cattle census of the UKllKO ic iNc;i)o:\i. The proportions of tlie ditferent breeds of cattle, and between the nnmbcrs of stock that are beiiij;- reared and iatteiied lor meat and for the prcidnction of niillv. are partly i:,771. EXFOKTS OF BRITISH CATTLE, The export of cattle from Great Britain ;jnd Jicland to other conn- tries is conliiie my several correspondents for their frank and courteous kindness in giving me full information which, from their great resources and experience, was es[)e(;iallv valual>le. E. A. .AIEKKITT, Coufiul-Gcnvral. United States Consulate-Generai,, London, January 31, 1884. 78 CATTLE AND DAIKV KAlljMIN(i. Iiiclo.sun'i> in Coiisiildciniul Mcrriirs niioit. Notes on Fri'iU'li Stock. Iki'ltort ol' last FriiR-li Show, by K. .larksoii. Holt liecbcr on Sliorl horns. The Cattlt' of (jlioat liiitain. (lilus- tiatf. lietnrn froa: .1. TreadwcU. IG. Ketnrn froui Nortli Devon. 17. Giving names of ])rize breeders. 18. Catalogue of Mr. Aylmer's stock. It). Notes from 15ntkinjfliamshire. ^0. Kt^tnrn from Colonel Kingscote. 21. 'i'able. of milk record. 22. Report on dairy trials. 2I{. 'liable of wcij^lits. 21. Number of selected portraits. [Such portions of tlio above-mentioned inclosnres as are not incorporated in the consul-jieneral's report, and are otherwise of practical value to American agricultur- ists, will be found in the supplement.] CATTLE BREEDS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.* The - to send it to me shortly. In all, the liftcen Ihilish breeds are treated, and the intbrmation given is based ui)t)n that furnished by uearly a hundred of the leadiny; breeders in the country, and whi(;li has been arranged by the writer, who has added nuich which an ex- Tended exi)erience has enabled him to rely upon. It will be noticed that almost every breeder speaks of his own race as the best ; this is natural enthusiasm, and 1 have in some cases been compelled to slightly tone the rather exaggerated praise bestowed upon one breed in opposition to another. Particulars are added witli reference to breeding, feeding, soiling, shipment, and scientific dairy instruments, and centrifugal cream separators,* which will be found very complete, the two last named subjects being especially familiar to the writer, who has investi- gated them in each European dairy country. Drawings or wood cuts are annexed as well of these machines and instruments as of the chief races of cattle. Foreign cattle are little kept in England, and almost all the small herds which had been formed have been dispersed or have degenerated on account of the Government action entirely in^eveuting importation. Dutch cows were at one time very largely used for milk i)roduction while French, Spanish, and German beasts were imported in immense numbers for beef. Now the oidy countries sending live animals in any numbers are Denmark and Sweden and Norway; the first named doing an immense trade last year, leading the United States during the first live months, since when she has started a large company and is build- ing a new fleet of ships for further extending the trade. The Danish cattle come from Aalborg,in Jutland (which i)ort 1 visited last year), to Newcastle and Hull, and are chiefly Jydsk or Jutland, a medium-sized race of moderate quality. A few Swiss cattle are kept in England, the writer having a few years ago formed the largest herd ; the beasts are large, silver-grey in color, slightly too heavy in bone and skin, but very large milkers, good feeders for the butcher,and extremely hardy, living where the majority of other beasts would starve. These beasts are ex- tremelv prohtable and the handsomest of any known race in color, French cattle are not bred in England, but the Siiortliorn i; largely bred in France for crossing upon theCliarolaise,Cotentin,and Nivernais beast, which it much improves, the Government keeping up on<'. i)ure Shorthorn breeding establishment for the ])iirpo>^e. In my inimerous visits among the Fren(;h breeders I have lound their o|union of the Shorthorn to be that it is better than any race they have, and consid- ered to be the best in the woild for crossing. Tliis, h ; in Wales, (;r>I,(M)(T; in .Scotland, 1,0:).~),(H>0 ; in Ireland, t,U!)0,()()(> 5 total, 1(),0!>7,(>()0. Of these there are cows in milk or in calf: In England, l,<;r»(>,()()() ; in Wales, LM)(),0()(;; in Scotland, ;}05,()0<>; in Ireland, 1,401,000: total, ;i,724,000— a decided increase, but consideraldy less than ten years a,tio. Imports 0/ cattle and cattle prod actn into the United Kinijdom. — The imports liave considerably decreased, owing chieliy to th»^ catth'-diseas(i restrictions, and the same cau.se has prevented animals beini>- more Iarj,M'ly bred. Tlie imports were: In LSiw, L'S;;,0{!0 ; in 1S71, lil.S,(>00 ; in l.S7(), 271,000; ii.sinj,nn 18S0 to;;8!>,000, aii(Mallin- in l.NSi' to ;U;3,000. In the year bS.SL', ;}M,000 cattle were brouL;ht into the metropolitan cattle markets, of wlii(;h 50,ll,'0 were forei.mi. The a\eia;^a^ price of beasts in LSSl! was, Ibr inferior, Is-. :V:-d. ])er stone ; second class, U *J^f/.; third class (large, prime), o.v. l},d. ; fourth cla.ss (Scots), S*-. lO.U/. THE UNITED KINGDOM. 81 In 1882, 228,429 cwt. of salt and 463,952 cwt. of fresh or sliohtly salted beef, 201,000 cwt. uueiiumerated, 5(50.000 i)reserved, •Sic, other than salted aud tougues ^vere iin|iorted, ajiainst 251.000 cwt. of salt, 817.000 cwt. of fresh or slightly salted, 178,000 and 575.000 cwt. of unennnierated in 1881; or, in other words, beef to the value of nearly a million sterling- less. The average weight of cattle received from other countries is: Den- mark, 70; France, 103i; Schleswig-IIolstein, 85; Netherlands, 85 ; Nor- way and Sweden, 78; Portugal, 80 A : Spain, 71 ; Canada, 90; the United States, 101. England cannot breed sufficient cattle either for beef or the dairy to meet her requirements, and there is a great market for dairy cows at all times. In the face of existing regulations the best means of sending beef to England is by means of refrigerators, and, where the price Avill i>ay the . marked intluence upon fattening. A large lung, developed by abundant exercise, burns away the heat-producing uiatter and re- tards fattening. On the other haud, a small lung and a small liver, though they render the possessor much more delicate, are favorable to fattening. In animals nature i)rovides in a time of plenty for some of their re(piirements in a time of scarcity. Starch and sugar maintain heat and vitality, but unless there is a supi)ly of the fats and oils the progress will be slow, because the maintenance of the vital principles taxes the latter. All vegetable foods vary with the age of the plants yielding them and the soil they grow upon. Hence the care necessary in selecting seeds for laying down pastures and in cutting and harvest- ing hay and straw. When grass is comparatively young it abounds iu flesh-forming substances and iu sugar. As the plant ripens the sugar becomes changed into starch and the starch into wood fiber. This shows the desirability of cutting all grass crops for hay before they are fully ripened. Cattle fed ui)on over-ripened hay have to consume some 13 or 14 per cent, more of indigestible woody fiber. Value of various feeds — Some exjieriments in feeding with bay alone have shown that in a large ox the store condition n)ay be maintained by giving it about one fiftieth of its own weight ]»er day, or, if working, one-fortieth. A fattening ox, lia\ing nothing else, will consume from one-twentieth to one-twenty-fifih of its live weight, according to the degree of fatness it has attained. Sheep are said to consume about one-thirtieth i)art of their live weight of hay jter day. These figures will show us that when hay commands a good price in the nuirket it is not advisable to use it in any large quantity alone as a meat i)roducer. With hay slightly moldy or much weathered, the i)rocess of steaming chaff, with an admixture of some maize meal, finely ground linseed- cake, or even bran, renders it more palatable and much more nutritious, as it greatly increases its digestibility. New hay is unwholesome and inmitritious as comi)ared with good old hay. Aftermath hay is better adapted for cattle than for horses. Straw is, perhaps, less in tavor than formerly as a cattle food. Ungenial seasons, wet harvest, and blight and mildew iu the crops Lave lessened our dependence upon it, and the high ])rice it has of late years icalized in the market has ])laced it more on a ])ar with hay for feeer for fattening jinrposes every year. As a rule I only sell calves, or young bulls of about two years old. I jn-efer to fattening oil' cows to selling them for breeding or milk- ing purposes. My fat steers are generally sold rather under than over two years of age ; heifers that are rejected for some reason or other, generally have a calf and are fattened oft" at three years. I consider the Red Polls to be a color variation of the old Suffolk cow, which is of a light yellow or pale ginger color, and I fancy it too is a color varhation of the old original AYhite Polled cow kept by the monks, and now in a few instances kept tamo in noblemen's ])ark8. I have the mind to set u]) two small dairies of the.so two vario- lic?; I have already secured some and got the ])rouuse of others. My ])resent herd is comprised of about equal parts of blood from Norfolk and Suffolk stocks. I am in favor of line breeding, unless, ofcour.se, it shows bad results. My idea of breeding three ditlcrent sizes is quite contrary to the usual ideas upon the subject, but for the present I see no reason to regret the course I have taken. As far as I can s(>e, judi- cious selection is more prepotent than either food or climate. The fact that I hope, starting with the same blood and food and other conditions of existence, to produce animals that weigh over I ton, down to animals that only weigh ',i cwt., as I feel quite certain I can, points to the same conclusion. When I first began to breed Red Polls, they had short wire coats, but now they have long silky coats, with soft mel- low .skins. As far as I can see, a first-class milking habit is more difficult to fix in a breed than any other characteristic ; the material may be present, but one cow stores it up and another yields it up to the milkman. Cows that are good milkers often breed heifers that are only the common run, althougli put to good bulls out of good milking strains. As regards the proportion of lean to fat. Red Polls have on the market a good repu- tation, and fetch advanced rates ; some price as much as a shilling per stone more than Shorthorns. My cows are fed on a great variety of food, according to the crops of the year. In summer they are out at grass from May to October; at times they have a bait of cab- bages or turnips on the pastures, with 2 to 3 pounds of cotton cake or linseed ; some- times Incern in the barn, or they may be turned out to clover. In winter they are fed with cake, hay, cabbages, swedes or turnips, or gorse, with a few bushels of meal, just as it may happen. Grains as well as malt dust is good food, but all depends on circumstances — such as home crop or cheapness of artificial food. As for the working i)Owers of the Red Polls, I have never worked them myself, as I am a large hor.se breeder, but they can be worked with a collar. I have seen some working in America, but never in England. iSiuce the al)ove Avas written I have received the following informa- tion from ]\Ir. Gooderliam, tlie well-known breeder of thi.s race, who.se cattle are so famous for their milking qualities. lie states that the annual average yield of milk ]>er cow is about 1,000 gallons, and that 20 pints is the usual quantity required to produce a pound of butfer. He does not manufacture chee.se and is, therefore, unable to give the ■quantity necessary to make the like quantity of that article. The live weight \){ the Ked Polls, he informs us, is from 1,400 i>()unds to 2,000 pounds, at maturity, and that the proportion of meat of a fattened steer, also at maturity, is nearly equal to that of a Scot, His laiul is com- posed mo.stly of heavy clay, and his grasses consist chiefly of old past- ure. The summer food of his Red Polls is 4 pounds of best linseed cake daily, with grass. In winter ho feeds them upon cut hay, turnips, swedes, mangolds, and carrots, or cabbages. In the early part of the winter he prefers feeding them with two bushels of swedes and carrots, and with the like quantity of mangolds in the spring.* • For much of the special information given iu the foregoing report on Red Polls, Wr. Long expresses his obligation to Mr. Euren, editor of the Herd-Book, and to Mr. iLotJt, the famous Sntiblk breeder. 94 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. (2) LoNGHOEN Cattle. The Lon^Miorn cattle, as a distinct breed, became famous first of all in the district of Craven, in Yorkshire, ou whose phosphatic soils they attained a dejzree of inherent vigor and hardiness which their descend- ants have faithfully transmitted through many generations, in various kinds of climates, and on widely-differing soils. Long before the Short- horns became famous outside the Teeswater district, the Longhorus had attained a proud position and a widely-extended popularity. During the greater part of the last century, and in the early years of the pres- ent one, they were at once the pride of wealthy breeders, and, in vary- ing degrees of purity, the practical stock of dairy farmers in the mid- land counties of England. In Ireland they were and still are known, in contradistinction to the modern breeds reared there, as " the old Irish cow 11 Though the Loughorns, less, as well as more, than a hundred years ago were the prevailing cattle of the midland counties, Derbyshire appears to have been then, as it is now, the stronghold of the more famous herds. Sir Thomas Gresley, of Drakelow House, Burton-ou- Trent, appears to have been the first prominent improver of Longhorns, and he took "delight in keeping a dairy of cows similar in color and shape " before the renowned Eobert Bakewell was born. Three-quar- ters of a century ago, Mr. Princep, of Croscall, is said by Parkinson to have had, perhaps, the first dairy of cows in the county where that pre- eminence is defined to mean symmetry, size, and aptness to fat. The same authority tells us that Mr. Princep had 500 guineas offered for a two-year-old bull, and 30 (another account says 50) guineas a cow for the use of his bull to 30 cows; and he was also offered £2,000 for 20 dairy cows. A four-year-old steer of his weighed, when killed, 248 stone of 14 pounds to the stone ; and, in addition, there were 350 pounds of fat, while the hide weighed 177 pounds. The breed, however, had previously become supremely famous under the hands of the greatest of all breeders, Mr. Bakewell, of Dishley, in Leicestershire, whose efforts, eminently success- ful as they were, lay in the direction of combining in the same animal the four great qualities of beauty and utility of form, quality of flesh, and a|)titude to fatten,which, he rightly judged, were not incompatible with each other. But, in attaining these points, he wholly neglected the no less important one of milk, and we cannot but regard this omission as a national misfortune, for numberless other breeders have been taught to sin in the same way. Mr. Lythall, editor of the recently established Longhorn tIerd-Book, makes the startling assertion that to this line of breeding " must be traced the decline of the Longhorns in public favor at the early part of the present century." This is quoted as a warning to the Shortliorn breeders of the present day. Yet the old Longhorns, even many of the highly improved ones, were celebrated for their milkiness, less though for quantity than for qual- ity of milk; but it was Bakewell's one fatal misfortune to destroy this reputation. Youatt says of him: Many years did not pass before bis stock was unrivaled for the roundness of its form, the smallness of its bone, and its aptitude to acquire external fat, while they were small consunierH of food in proportion to their size; but at the same time their (lualitiesasmilkers were very considerably lessened. The <7ra^!er could not too highly vulne the Dishley or new Leicester Longhorn, bnt the dairyman and the Utile farmer clung to the old breed as most useful for their purpose. THE UNITED KINGDOM. 95 It would thus appear that the "unimproved" Loiiyhonis were ^ood milkers, or the dairymen and little farmeris would not have thouuht so much of them. Whilst Bakewell was alive there were iu;u\y lamed herds of Loughorns within an hour of him in the saddle, but in less than forty years after his death there was not an animal of the breed left on the old farm at Dishley, and not a dozen within a circuit of 12 miles from it, so completely did the loss of milkiness disestablish the old breed from the district in which Bakewell had nuule it immortal. Three-quarters of a century ago JMr. Mundy. of Markeatou, was a well- known breeder of Longhorus, and it is relatted that one of his cows, named Thistle, made 17 pounds of butter a week. Mr. Cleaver, of Leam- ington, tells of a brindled cow he knew almost as long a time ago which tilled a 4 gallon milk-])ail up to the brim, and afterwards gave anotlier quart to the milkmaid; and of a two-year-old heifer which was so pro- lilic that in ten years she brought thirteen calves, and was such a milker that all the dairymaids set a world of store by her. Mr. Shaw, of Frad- ley, Old Hall, near Lichfield, says: A Longhoru cow some years ago, on Lord Bagot's estate, near Rngeley, had such an immense ndder that the man when ho sat down to milk her could not reach across it, and had either to milk one side first and then tho other, or two men would be milking the same cow at once ; and ho records his opinion that very few, if any, breeds of cattle excel the old-fashioned Longhorn for milk. And as to its quality he says : Whenever wo have had occasion to change our dairymaids the new ones have in- variably been struck with the superior quality of the milk and cream obtained from our Longhorns. One of them remarked, " Dear me ! what a thickness your cream is ; and the skimmed milk looks as good as the unskimmed did where I last lived ; it does not look at all blue, and the other did." The maid had been previously living where a large herd of Short- horns was kept. Mr. E. H. Chapman, of St. Asaph, remarks that the Longhorns were numerous in some parts of Wiltshire forty or fifty years ago, and they were called the " Spreads," the " Bradles," the " Crumbles," or the " Broads," as the forms of the horns indicated. It is true there is no sort of uniformity either in the length or form of the horns of Long- horn cattle. It was said of them — They were distinguished from the home breeds of other counties by a dispropor- tionate and frequently unbecoming length of horn. In tho old breed this horn fre- quently projected nearly horizontally on either side, but as tho cattle were improved the horn assumed other directions. Ifc hung down so that tho animal could scarcely graze, or it curved so as to threaten to meet before the muzzle and so also to prevent the beast from grazing; or immediately undtr the jaw, and so lock tho lower jaw; or the points presented themselves against tho bones of the nose and face, threaten- ing to perforate them. The color of the Longhorns is sometimes the opposite of ornamental, and a white irregulai- streak commonly runs up the back from the tail to the shoulders. But, as a rule, they are j)icturesque and i)leasiug cattle, the color being most commonly brindle. It cannot be denied that as a breed they possess valuable i)oints. They have, under proper management, earlj- maturity, fatten well on a moderate quantity of food, and their flesh is of good quality; and while some of them are very deep milkers, they are all favorably known for the quality of the milk they give. It is not likely, however, that they will ever reattaiu the position they formerly held, but it may be confidently anticipated that their reputation wilf revive. Indeed, in some localities and with many breeders their reputation can only be said to have declined, if at 96 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. all, in part and temporarily, and it is equally true to say that there are many sijrns of an extended revival of the ancient reputation of this <]uaiut old breed of cattle. Many splendid si)ecimens have been and still are exhibited at the Birminiiliam fat-stock shows, and it is hoped this vrill always be the case, for to Birmingham is due the credit of having stuck to the old breed during a good part of the period when it ■was let'Vout in the cold by most other agricultural shows. The number of Longhorn herds is increasing in the midland counties, and the names of many gentlemen mentioned in the Herd-Book index are an ample guarantee that the old breed will not only not be let die, but that it ■will again be helped on into popularity. Characteristics of the Longhorns. — The characteristics of the breed are noteworthy, for it possesses a character of its own, resembliug, however, the Herefords more than any other breed. The head is finely cut, but long, and tapers ■well towards the muzzle, being moreover well set on- to a thin, shortish neck. The horns are, except in the bulls, long, finie, and tapering, hanging well down by the cheeks and then point forward by the muzzle ; the usual length in the cows and oxen is from 2^ feet to 3 feet, but those of the bulls rarely exceed 18 inches. The shoulders are comparatively line, but well set on, and the legs show good bone. The girth is for such cattle, in comparison with the Shorthorns, small; but the loin is broad and the hips ■^'ide and outstanding. The chine is rarely full except when the animal is fattening, and then it will put on a rare amount of flesh in this part. The thighs are long and fleshy, -with small, clean-cut legs. The hide is of fair thickness, mellow, and soft to the touch. The liesh is of fine quality, the bone plenteous, but not coarse, and the ofi'al small. Regarded as graziers' stock, they possess sterling qualities and must take high rank, their carcasses carrying very heavy loads of beef. They fatten rapidly and easily, and although scarcely coming to maturity so quickly as the Shorthorns they never- theless approach these, their supplauters, very closely, leaving very lit- tle to be desired in this respect. As milkers, one admirer of the breed says : We know them to be excelleut cattle, as witness the fact that the majority of the pnre breed Longhorn herds are kept as dairy cattle. They are free and long milkers, the milk being, as a rule, superior in qualfty to that of Shorthorns. Thi"ir use for crossing purposes is not very extensive, because there are few instances in which their place can advantageously be taken by the Durham, and it seems as if we must be content to use thftm as a i)ure breed. No doubt there is room for them, and we are inclined to the opinion that the judicious intermixture of a little of the Longhorn among one or two breeds would tend to reduce that fineness of character which is becoming dangerously general in some of our best kinds of cattle. With regard, however, to the milking value of the Longhorns as a breed, a great deal cannot, we think, be said, for justly esteemed as it formerly was it has of late been comparatively little bred for this pur- pose, the Shorthorn having taken its position in the dairy in almost the whole of the Longhorn district ; but there are numerous instances of great milking capacity in the breed, and we believe that by a little atten- tion in a judicious crossing and in cultivating the milking power, it could be raised to a very high standard, certainly equal and possibly superior to the Shorthorn. As with .some of the other less cultivated breeds, the Longhorn is not now bred for tlie dairy. There are a few isolated cases in which they are used, but we very much question their absolute purity, and even in these cases the dairies are so small that statistics woiild be of little ralue. It may be generally stated, however, that it is a better cheese- THE UNITED KINGDOM. 97 iniikinji- than a butter-niakiiif? breed, aiul does extremely well upon the rich old pastures of the midland counties of England, which are not greatly exposed to the weather, and which are usually of a stiff loam, with a substratum of clay. The Lonjihorn, which lives to an exceedingly old age, is, moreover, a decidedly large breed, and in the year 1882, at Birmingham, the winning steer, aged 3 years 7 months, weighed 15^ cwt. ; the second prize, 3^ years, weighing 15^ cwt. At the same time the first-prize cow, oi years, weighed over IC "cwt. ; the second prize^ii heifer, aged 4i years, being 15^ cwt. The following year, at the same exhibition, the first-prize steer, 3 years 8 months, scaled 17 cwt., the sec- ond and third being almost as large ; while in the cow class the first prize, 4 years and 10 months old, weighed 13^ cwt., the others being all largei'. The prevailing color of the best exhibition beast is briudle and white or red and white, the former being preferred. As may be expected from the extraordinary length of the horns of these beasts they are seldom used upon the farm for draft purposes, although their docility and great strength otherwise fit them ibr such a purpose; but the farmers jn the district in which they are chietly bred almost to a man prefer horses. Productiveness of the Longltorns. — The system of feeding is generally that adopted with the Shorthorn, cake and roots being the principal part of their diet, and. both suiting them admirably. At the same time there are differences of opinion as to the quantity of turnips given, some breeders prefening a minimum quantity witli a maximum quantity of cake : others again, and it must be confessed without much reason, giving an enormous quantity of roots and a similar quantity of cake or corn. It was the custom in some distiicts not very many years ago to compose the dairy herds of Shorthorns and Halfhorns, the latter of which were, for the most part, a combination of Shorthorn and Long- horn ; but of late years very little of the Longhorn element has been in- troduced among them. Of a herd of 25 to 35 ot these, a cow would give from 3 cwt. to 4 cwt. (the long hundred of 120 pounds) of cheese during the season of about seven mouths, the price being sometimes as low as 50 and as high as 95 shillings per cwt. Of an experiment with C Shorthorns and 6 Longhorns in the June season, it was shown that whilst the majority of pounds of milk was 152 pounds to 135 in favor of the Shorthorn, the cheese curd from the larger quantity was only 14i pounds, as against 19i pounds. Another experiment with 30 Shorthorns against 32 Longhorns showed that the 605 pounds of milk from the former made 60^ pounds of curd and that the 553 pounds from the latter made 69 pounds. The plainest cows are often the best milkers, and the milk from a seven or eight year old is thought to be the richest. In winter they are most frequently kept on barley .straw and pulped turnips, with hay in addition near calving time. The calves, which generally are somewhat dilficult to rear, are usually dropped in March and April, and some of them never suck their mother. They have new milk from the first, which is lessened when the cheese season begins, and gradually they come to oil-cake and linseed boiled in whey or the overnight's milk. As they get older they become heavy fleshed and prove themselves well fitted for the butcher. For the food which the Longhorn consumes it will certainly give as good a return, and generally a better, than other beasts, and as an animal for the adornment of the park or the home pasture of the hall or grange it will be found most suitable. H. Ex. 51 7 98 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. (3) The Shorthorn Cattle. The Durham, or Sbortborn, is not an aucient breed. It cannot lay claim to such antiquity as theLoughorn ; for while the Longhorn seems tohave been the aboriginal cow of Ireland, the Shorthorn is a cow of modern days. " Diversities in appearance, shape, habits, and produce," says a well- known writer on cattle breeds, " have arisen, partly from modern artifi- cial breeding, but chiefly from the jjrolonged and combined influences of soil, climate, pasturage, and general treatment." The centuries that have ela})sed since the dispersion ot the ancient breed of cattle, and their long-continued location in different districts, under such varied condi- tions of climate and pasturage, have produced great changes in the ap- pearance of members of the same race. Especially is this so in the case of the cattle whose liome has always been in the more civilized and more highly cultivated parts of England. Originally of a shy and nervous disposition, spirited and active, of hardy constitution, and with a tend- ency to roam at will, they have, during the course of so many years of intercourse with their owners, lost much of their hardiness and activity, and also much of their nervousD'Css and fear. Rick pasturage, mildness- of climate, protection from the winter storms, the increasing use of grain and artificial foods, and the general improvement in cultivation, has had a most marked effect on the appearance and general characteristics oi the cattle brought within such influences. This is shown in the devel- opment of a surprising bulk of flesh on a much larger frame. The suc- cessive conquerors of Britain — the Eomans, Saxons, Danes, and Nor- mans— it must be remembered,all brought with them cattle from their own countries, and these, becoming domesticated, were mixed and crossed with the above, and were finally lost in the resulting race. The con- quered area provided an improved breed of cattle, while the more re- mote and inaccessible parts of the Kingdom, remaining free, bred the same animal as existed in the early days of British history. About the year 1640 a bull and some cows were brought into Holder- ness (East Yorkshire) from Holland. They had large shoulders, flat sides, coarse necks, thick heads ; their valuable points were small and their coarser points large; yet these cattle were of larger bulk and the cows better milkers than were then known, and on this account they were greatly esteemed and used for crossing with the native cattle. The cross soon showed great and lasting improvement. Holderness is a rich grazing district, and the native cattle found there at that period, were of the best in the land. The new breed thus formed by the admix- ture and crossing of these imported animals soon asserted their superi- ority over all other races. Such was the origin of the Siiorthorn. Another source of the Shorthorn, and in some degree passing the prior claim to being the original, was a race of cattle which from time imme- morial had existed in Durham, in the basin of the Tees, whence they were named the Teeswater. In color and appearance they resemble the breed of the present day; they had a good, mellow touch, and in butcher's parlance "killed well;" were light of offal, had wide carcasses and deep forequarters, and were greatly esteemed by all w^ho were ac- quainted with them. About the same period, or a few years later than their introduction into Holderness, the Dutch cattle were also imported into the valley of the Tees and were crossed there with the native breed, giving rise to the Teeswater Shorthorn, or Durham. At a still later date numerous bulls were imported from the Continent, principally from Hol- land. The native cattle in Yorkshire and Durham were crossed with THE UNITED KINGDOM. 09 theiu, and the new breed so produced received the name of the Short- lioru. It is not necessary to follow the history of the breed further. As it became known it came into popularity and quickly spread and multi- plied. About the year 1754: the brothers Colliiij^s, of Darlin<>ton, entered upon a new departure in the history of this new breed, applying Bake- weir.s principle of selection in the breeding- of the Shorthorn; a step which produced the happiest consequences and the most important re- sults, iujproving- the frame and proportions of the cattle, and largely developing and increasing their milk and fattening properties. For many years they followed this course, and when the herd was dispersed in 1810 the prices realized at its sale were altogether unprecedented. Since then much has been done by many persons to improve the breed. It would be impossible to particularize those who have done such great service, but we may mention the names of Bates (whoso great success must be largely be attributed to his purchases at Collings's sale), and of Booth, the founders of two great families of Shorthorns whose fame is without compare. The points of the Shorihorn. — The color may be entirely red or entirely white, or a mixture, either color predominating, but not in. spots. The fashionable color has varied at different times. Once a creamy white was all the rage; so was all the red, and the flecked roan, but a good Shorthorn cannot be a bad color so long as it is not spotted. The skin around the eye and the bald of the nose should be of a rich cream color, the head rather small in proportion to size, and tapering in shape, with a line muzzle ; a clean, calm, and prominent eye; horns rising near the crown, short, smooth, and white, birt moderately sharp, and of fine quality; the head should be well set on a deep form and broad neck. As to the frame, it should approach as exactly as possible to the shape of a parallelogram, from whatever direction viewed ; the back per- fectly straight and level from the neck, just below the horns, to the top of the tail; the shoulders well back in the body, and the brisket pro- jecting in short rectangular form. The top of the shoulders should be XJerfectly level and the loins wide and level across the hock bones; the hind quarters long and straight, as should the shoulders, forming perpen- dicular and well-marked lines ; the buttocks to the hocks, and the shoulders to the knees full and well developed, but below the bones should be fine and clean and clearly formed ; the twist full and wide ; the flank full and thick, and the tail moderately fine, and not too much covered with hair. The ribs should be inclined to the shape of a barrel, but when the animal is seen along the side, it should appear as if per- fectly straight and level from the shoulder to the buttock. When seen endwise, it should be equally straight and level from the top of the neck to the root of the tail, and also underneath from the brisket along the belly towards the twist. The hair fine and abundant, soft and glossy; the skin mellow and soft to the touch ; the flesh is accumu- lated on the valuable parts, the fat in due proportion to the lean, and the flesh of the slaughered animal is fine in quality, well marbied, and the meat most juicy and tender. In the bull the head is broader and thicker, and the neck is arched and coarser. In the cow the belly is more pendulous ; the thighs slighter, and the loins sometimes hollow. The appearance of the Shorthorn is exceedingly attractive and sym- metrical; its skin is of the richest hue, from the blood red to the pure white or cream or the beautiful delicate roan. Its small clean limbs and handsome apperance have stamped it as the most magnificent breed of cattle we possess. loo CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Valuable properties of the Shorthoni. — The valuable properties of the Sliortlioru as a ujeat producing animal are said to be without rival. It produces the gjreatest quantity of beef, and that of the best quality, and scales the heaviest of any of our herds. It also comes to maturity at a verv early age and shows the most kindly disposition to fattening. As a milk producer, the Shorthorn can claim to be in the front rank, though the general opinion is that it must yield the palm to the Jersey •and the Ayrshire. For many years past, it must be borne in mind, the breeding of Shorthorns has been conducted solely with a view to the production of beef, but formerly this animal was the deepest and. heaviest of any of the milk-producing breeds, and if for a few years it was again bred for the pail, as it is now for the butcher, its superiority as a milker might be regained. As a cheese producer the Shorthorn is ad- mittedly the best. The Shorthorn is to be found everywhere, but its home is in its native place in Yorkshire, and in the eastern counties of England. It is to be found all over England, Scotland, and Ireland, all over America, in Australia and New Zealand. Of all the different breeds of cattle we possess, the Shorthorn has the greatest power of adaptation to varying conditions of life, to changes of soil, of climate, and of pasturage. It thrives nearly as well in the cold, dry northeast of Scotland as in the moist and genial south of Ireland, and is equally at home in the nobleman's park and upon the prairies of Texas. Shorthorn cross-breeds. — But while it is esteemed of great value on account of adaptability to all climates and. soils, it has achieved won- derful results through crossing with other varieties. Crossing with the Shorthorn improves nearly all other breeds by imparting the properties that give value to cattle, viz., size, form, quality, rapidity of growth, early maturity, and aptitude to fatten at an early age. Most es- pecially marked is the improved quality and consequently greater value of the cross between the English Shorthorn and the old Irish cow. The marvelous result is presented in an increase of ten imperial stones' weight of flesh in the animal, in greater size, and in the quality of fattening at least a year earlier than other stock. The enormous im- provement that has been effected and that is still being carried on in the breeding of Irish cattle is within the knowledge of every farmer. This improvement has added no less than twenty-five per cent, to their value at a year old, and is the result of crossing with the Shorthorn during the last and present generations. The Shorthorn is used in Scotland for crossing with the Ayrshire, and it is said that the produce are better milkers than their mothers. It also crosses with the Guernsey with great milking results. It is, however, for the size, the early maturity of growth, and the aptitude to fatten early and quickly that the Shorthorn imparts to other breeds of cattle that is chiefly valuable. Shorthorn steers, or steers of some other breed with a very large admixture of Shorthorn blood, are the favorite cattle for winter and summer feeding in the northern and mid- land counties of England. In some quarters the Shorthorn may not find 80 much favor as it once did, and in certain districts other breeds may be more successfully reared and fed ; but, for general purposes, upon moderately good land, and in an average climate, the Shorthorn, as a race of cattle, is equal to any, while it is surpassed by none. Dis- tributed throughout almost every county of Great Britain and Ireland, pedigree Shorthorns are now to be met with ; there are probably some GOO breeders, possessing about 20,000 cows, and distributing good bulls amongst the breeding herds. But breeders of first-class Shorthorns, THE UNITED KINGDOM. 101 says Mr. Dnn, have of late years beeu very generally looking to beef rather than to milk. Hoic to form ShorfJiorn dairy herds. — Some sensible and far-sighted breeders have seriously demurred to the neglect of the milking proper- ties of the Shorthorns. Mr. Bates was opposed to overfeeding, kept his stock in a very healthy natural state, and some of his best cows were deep milkers. Mr. ^Vhittaker for nearly forty years maintained the dairy superiority of his Shorthorns, which not only reare 1^3. 170, 178, 177. 102, 158, or 25 quart.s a liay for 81 days. tTho average is below II4 for the lot, which is a distinct refutation of the value of the Shorthorn as a liutter cow. ; An averFge of 768, a decidedly disappointins; qnantitv. II A total ot 453i pounds from l'3,7Gl pounds of milk, or about 1.030 gallons of cr<>am and showing an avemcre of butter to Tiiilk of ahont 3.29. and creaTn 43.98. The quantities of skim milk are also shown, and bear a fair proportion to the quantities of new milk used. It appears that the milk was in part sold and partly set for cream and churned. The quantity sold was so large that the cows yielded, per €ow, from this source alone for the seventeen weeks of the trial from XI3 to £18 OS., Xo. 3, the big milker, claiming the latter high figure, which is marvelous even without the sum to her credit for butter anu 104 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. skim milk ; aud if it were possible to collect dairies of such cowsv either one of two things would happen — the compilation of fortunes- the general reduction of foreign dairy imports — perhaps, both. As- suming from the yield shown by No. 3 and the return she made that the milk produced 8d. a gallon, this would be a decidedly good summer price. A new feature in this record is the manure, which appears to have- been well looked after, and very properly so, especially since, as is seen below, the cows had a considerable quantity of cake. The feeding was — Food. Pounds. Value. Bean flonr 196 259 259 19, 180 39 748 £. «. d. 16 4 13 2 ■14 0 Grass 4 19 & Hav 1 7 Straw 19 10 Labor is charged 28s. 3d. per cow, and haulage 9s. lid., making a total of £10 2s. 9<7. per cow ; or, when considering the valuation of each animal — for they were valued both at the beginning and end of the trial — an average of £10 14s. 1^., the real figures running from £9 4hd. in one case to £14 15,9. 2d. in another. Since writing the above we have felt it necessary to again examine Mr. Tough's record, the yield of milk being so surprising. It will be remembered that Lord Braybrooke's cows gave an average of about 2,100 quarts for the year, and yet, as shown above. Lord Warwick's in every case gave more than this for the seventeen weeks. Lord Bray- brooke's, again, averaged 5 quarts to 10 quarts a day for the period in milk (not the year), while Lord Warwick's gave, as shown above, from 17 to 233 tjnarts for the seventeen weeks. With all respect, and we are bound to take Mr. Tough's figures, we consider his record, if not so- elaborate as a matter of figures, yet one infinitely more worthy of a challenge cup than any other, for his herd is a truly marvelous one, and will take our American friends all their time to rival. There are 10 cows averaging 19.77 quarts per day for seventeen en- tire weeks, one actually reaching 23.84 quarts. This cow returned : For milk sold (2,189 quarts) £18 4 10' ButtLT (:j(jf pouuds) 3 9 3^ Skim-milk (081 quarts) 2 8 5 Manure 0 15 & Total return for seventeen weeks 24 17 11 Let US see what has been done in the milking competitions as a guide to the value of this return. At the 1880 trials the highest Jersey or Guernsey yield was 38 pounds 5J ounces ; the highest Shorthorn, 50 pounds 5 ounces ; the highest Dutch and cross-bred,43 pounds 12 ounces, and we think we are right in believing that neither at the 1881 nor the 1882 trials were the highest of these figures exceeded. At all events here are cows winning in milking trials which give less in their flush for a single day than Lord Warwick's best average for 119 days. Facts speak for themselves, aud it appears to us that Lord Warwick's can not only beat any herd of which the public has lately been informed, but that he would stand the greatest posible chance of carrying ofi" the- chief milking trials. THE UNITED KINGDOM. 105 A remarMMe herd of dairy Shorthorns.— Tha following particulars refer to Mr. Hutchiuson's herd, well known as a famous one in York- shire, and it will be the more valuable, inasmuch as he was the wiuner of the royal prize for the best farm in 1883. The farm comprises about 250 acres, of which over 100 are jj^rass. The soil is partly on {gravel, and the rest on strong clay loam, with bowkler stones. This latter is only moderate, and without liberal treatment would not be very productive. The present tenant on succeeding to the farm inherited a small herd of unregistered Shorthorns, which, with one or two purchases and the use of Warhiby and Killerby bulls, has resulted in a collection of cattle that have won more prizes since they have been shown than any other herd of similar dimensions. The most fortunate investment was Gerty, by Vainhope, bought for 42 guineas when in calf to Knight of the Shire. Grerty had 8 heifer calves, twins twice running, and from her descended Gertrude, Gratitude, Grateful, Gratification, Gratulatious, Gratuitous, Gratia, and Glad Tidings. Auorher equally remarkable family are the Lady tribe, which we be- lieve were bred by Mr. Hutchinson's father. Of this sort were Lady Playful and Lady Alicia, winners at Taunton and Birmingham, and Lady Pamela, the champion female at the York meeting in July, 1883, a wonderfully true-grown and heavy-fleshed two-year-old, which was first shown as a yearling at Beading in 1883 in a big class. At the last five Eoyal meetings Mr. Hutchinson has secured five first and three second prizes as well as three champion prizes. This is a record which it would be hard to beat. Lady Pamela is wonderfully thick-fleshed and true-grown, with great ribs and thighs, both upper and under lines per- fect. She has won 21 first prizes and has only twice been beaten. Lady Pamela 2d, own sister, a rich roan calf with great length, is also very promLsiug and likely to make a prize-winner, whilst Lady Gratia de- serves high commendation. Glad Tidings, another of Gerty's descend- ants, a handsome three-year-old, was put second at York to Mr. St. John Acker's Lady Caren 9th, both being very good ones. In the pastures are to be found a lot of lusty cattle of generally uni- form type, the best being a fine old cow, Lady Playful (the winner ot fifty prizes) ; a long level white cow, Gratification ; Lady Gracious, by British Lion out of Lady Grace, by K. 0. B., a handsome red cow with quality and substance; and a fine old wreck, Lady Laura, which had won for her owner £800 in prizes. The bull in service was a two-year- old, bred by Mr. Talbot Crosbie, out of Itiby Marchioness, which was quite a useful animal, with great length and substance. On the farm, in ad- dition to many other animals, were 29 cows, 13 heifers, 10 bull calves, 10 heifer calves, and 1 bull, the whole showing that it was heavily stocked, and indicating also the high condition and large produce ob- tained from the land. Treatment of dairy Shorthorns on a model farm. — Mr. TurnbuU, of Hull, is another winner of a first prize at the Boyal, and, as a very large dairy farmer, occupying as he does more than one farm, and keeping and breeding Shorthorns, we give the following particulars respecting his system. In 1881-'82 no less than 120 acres of Mr. Turnbull's Twyer's Wood Farm had been drained at 2 feet deep, the landlord finding 3-inch pipes, and the tenant leading and putting in the same. Deep draining does not answer on the Uolderness cliy, though a dei)th of from 30 to 30 inches might have been preferred. Over 90 acres luive been limed with 5 tons of raagnesian lime per acre, which has proved of the greatest advantage in securing healthy roots and improving the quality and yield of grain, whereas as compost with road-scrapings the 106 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. effect in improviug the herbage, and especially in developing the clover plants, has been very marked. The laud is generally a strong loam, of a fertile character. The stock on the farm comprised 40 cows and heifers, principally Short- horns, of excellent type and grand milking properties, some cross-bred Ayrshire and Shorthorns, 10 capital two-year-old steers, and a very use- ful two-year-old bull, selected with due regard to the milking properties of the dam. Although the grass is of excellent quality, it is supi^le- meuted with cake. Thus, from May 1 to October 21, the cattle, accord- to age, have from 2^ pounds to 7 pounds of cake daily (two-thirds cotton and one-third linseed cake). They live out day and night, except at milking time (4 a.m. to 6 a. m., and from 2 p. m. to 3.30 p. m.). From July the dairy cattle have a daily allowance of green tares, and in September and October they have cab- bages in addition to cake and grass. The heifers in calf run out on grass both summer and winter, but are housed in a straw yard at night in winter, when they are supplied with from 14 pounds to 21 pounds of hay, according to age and size. Heifers due to calve in the spring are allowed about 2.J pounds of linseed cake daily for two months before calving. From October 21 to April 30 the cows are allowed from 21 pounds to 28 pounds of hay (one-third long and two-thirds chaffed), with pulped roots, the quantity of the latter ranging, according to the size and condition of the animals, from 36 pounds to 84 pounds, the artiti- eiiil food for cows in full milk comprising 3 pounds of linseed cake and 3^ pounds to 7 pounds of crushed oats. Heifers in full milk are fed with about 21 pounds of hay (two-thirds as chaff), with 56 pounds of pulped roots, and 5 pounds of linseed and cotton cake, in equal propor- tions, or a similar weight of linseed cake and crushed oats. Oat straw when well got is substituted for a portion of the hay. Mr. Turnbull considers that 10 pounds of oat straw are equal to 7 pounds of hay. The grass farm of 140 acres at East Park, which Mr. Turnbull holds, is occupied on a lease for five years from Aprii, 1880, and has received very liberal treatment for so short a term, as it includes boning a con- siderable part of the pasture, the liberal application of fold yard manure, both to grazing and mowing lands — 71 acres being devoted to meadow on which was an excellent crop of hay — and the erection of a consider- able length of strong posts and rails, which cost about Is. 6d. a yard fixed. The buildings comprise the larger portion of the hallstables and outhouses, and by judicious alterations have been rendered very convenient for breeding and rearing stock, which is the main business here. The management of young stock is admirable, some details of which we will give. As to the treatment of the calf : It is removed at birth ; new milk is supplied for a month, during which period it is kept warm in pen; next, for three or four weeks, boiled skim-milk is given ; and, to prevent the milk being burnt, the copper vessel is suspended in a eopper of water; then one-third boiled linseed and two-thirds oatmeal, commencing with 1 pound of the mixture daily, are mixed hot with skimmed milk. All this time the calf is taught to eat sweet hay and a little linseed cake, and with each change of food the calves are re- moved to more airy quarters, which also allow of more exercise. In the spring and summer of the first year the calves do not go out; the winter calves are run on grass, and have a capital shed to shelter in at night. The great secret of success is the judicious change of food and quarters, according to the age and strength of the animal, by which steady progress is insured, the cake being continued. The heifers run THE UNITED KINGDOM. 107 out in summer and winter, coming into a well-sbeltered yard at nigbt in winter. Tliey calve down at two years of age, and remain at the farm till tbey reach their i)rime, i. c, coming down witli third calf, •when they are sent to the before-mentioned farm. The stock in August, 1883, consisted of 31 cows and heifers, in milk or about to calve ; 18 yearling heifers, fifteen to twenty-one months old, for calving the fol- lowing spring ; li) winter calves, mixed, eight to ten months old ; 10 Shorthorn calves, three to six months old; 13 Shorthorn calves, under three months ; and 1 yearling bull. The winter's average yield of milk was, at the first-mentioned farm, where the animals iu most profit are kept, about 9 quarts, and at the latter about 7 quarts, giving an average of 8 quarts. In summer the result was higher, viz 11 quarts and 10 quarts respectively, giving an average of lOi quarts. Assuming that the average is 9 quarts a day for nine mouths iu the year, we have, at 10 pence a gallon, a gross re- turn per cow of over £25, which for the liberal mode of feeding pays well. East Park is well sheltered b3' i)lautations, clumps of trees, and fine spreading timber. Letting out coics to laborers. — One other branch of Mr. Turnbull's en- terprise must be noted, which has been pursued since 187G, and this is the letting out of cows to laborers. The exj)eriment was commenced with Kerry cows, of whose valuable dairy properties Mr. Turubull had satisfied himself during a visit to Killarney. These were succeeded by Ayrshires. The rate of hire is regulated by the cost of the cow, one- fourth of the cost being the average rate obtained. The cows are suj)- plied when near calving. The coutracc is for a year, and the money is paid in advance, a plan which insures due care of the cow, as, although the loss of the animal is borne by the owner, the loss of produce falls on the hirer. As an evidence of the care that is taken of the animals, Mr. Turnbull states that, having let out 150 cows iu the seven years of this business, only one cow "was lost in calving, and the first animal let is still in service. The opportunity of getting the calf and the produce on such terms has been largely appreciated. Mr. Turnbull estimates the annual cost of keeping an Ayrshire cow on these conditions as follows : Hire, £5; summer keep, £5 ; winter keep, £8 10s ; total £18 10s. A fairly good cow is considered to yield 2,200 quarts. Taking this at 3c?. per quart, and the calf at 20s., though the present value if by a Short- boru bull would be more than double that sum, the value of i)roduce is £28 10s., leaving a profit of £10, besides the great advantage of skim- milk for the children. After having been continued for three years the experiment was found to give a return of 5 per cent, interest ou the capital invested, after paying all expenses of agency, and allowing for depreciation, fall of price, &c. The hiring commences with heifers about calving time, these being let at from 10s. to 20s. under the ordi- nary price, and frequently retained by the same hirer for some years. (4) The Devon Cattle. The Devon cattle, as we find them now, are very diflferent no doubt to what they were many years ago, but thereis very little question that, even in their latter-day aspect, they exhibit many of the particular feat- ures, and, to a very large extent, much of the form which characterized the members of the aboriginal breed from which they sprung. They have been called into existence to fulfill a i)articular and in some re- spects peculiar purpose, and, as far as it is given to us to judge, they are not to be found wanting. The localities iu which the breed is most 108 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. common, the climate to which it is exposed, and the requirements of the men who profit by it always combine toward a certain end, and in the Devon cattle these influences have worked together with a most satis- factory result. Points of Dcrons. — Devon cattle possess a distinctive type, but several varieties are ])laced under the title, and there is f)robably no breed in which individnals of almost precisely similar general aspe(^ will, when scrutinized and analyzed carefully in their several features, exhibit more marked variations. In size they are medium, although it is much the custom to speak of "the little Devons." True, they do not possess the bulkiness of the Shorthorn or the Hereford ; but, for all that, they are far from being a diminutive breed like the Ayrshires, the Kerries, or the Channel Isles cattle. The general aspect of the DevoQS is graceful, and their appearance seems to betoken a gentleness of mien which their looks do not belie. The head is small but the forehead comparatively broad, tapering off to a neat, clean-cut muzzle. The ears are thin and soft in texture, the eyes bright, and do not exemplify that dreamy look which many breeds have. They should be encircled by a ring of light coloring, almost approaching an orange hue. The nose should be white. The horns are of medium length, gi'aceful, and spread in an outward and upward direction, tapering easily off. In the male this feature is scarcely exemplified to the extent that it is in the female. The outline of the Devon should not exhibit any very marked diver- gence from the shape of the proverbial parallelogram which should be realized in fat beasts. The neck is full but lengthy, and should show a good wedge-like form when regarded end on. The chest is deep and lirominent ; wide, fat loins, and a well-filled rump, where plenty of beef may be piled up, constitute one of its best points as a butcher's beast. The legs are fine, but well set on. The bone of the Devon is small, but the frame is, notwithstanding, comparatively speaking, large. Red is the color of the Devon, although a large number of the cattle in Devon- shire display some white about them. The skin is fine and mottled. Varieties of Devons. — Devon cattle may be grouped under three vari- eties, the North Devons, the South Hams, and the Devon proper, as exemplified in the accompanying illustration. The North Devons are the smaller and finer variety. Their coat is softer and more curly, and their general appear;ince more nearly warrants them being termed "the little Devons" than does either of the other two more distinctive vari- eties. The South Hams cattle — that is the cattle bred upon the fine uplands which lie between Dorset on the southeast, the sea on the south, and Cornwall on the southwest of Dartmoor, which forms the center highland of the county — are fine beasts, coarser in appearance and of bigger bulk than the North Devons. The Devons proper may be said to combine the most notable features of these two varieties. They are found mostly iu the district around Taunton, and in Somersetshire and in Dorset, and are well represented, as a rule, at the Smithfield Club's show, where they are apparently the embodiinent of the standard of excellence for Devons. Besides these, both Exmoorand Dartmoor, the latter particularly, can show a rougher type, smaller in size, and rather coarser in bone and flesh than can the other less exposed parts of the country. Special characteristics. — The merits of the Devon are many. They are as ])rotitable a meat-producing breed as any we have. Given so much food, the percentage of beef returned is as large as can be shown by any other breed. The beef is of prime quality, the offal proportionate, and the bone small. As fatteners they are not to be surpassed in their own o < li- >- h h u a: Q- o o o > Q Z X h- < THE UNITED KINGDOM. 109 couutry, and will go from store to fat beasts quickly on good pasture and a little artificial food. They require no severely expensive nor exten- sive course of fattening. As dairy cows they are more noted for the qual- ity than the quantity of their produce, but it must not be supposed that the latter is small. As a rule, seeing the cream that is got from their nnlk, the quantity is comparatively large. One hears of great Jersey and Ayrshire records, but there is little doubt that were Devon records as persistently and carefully put before tiie public, they would take a high place in the ranks of our dairy breeds. The illustration represents Mr. Farthing's cow Pretty Pace, and gives a very good idea of the Devon in its proper form. The head is not quite what'it should be. The horns project in too straightforward a direc- tion and appear too parallel. But the neck is well shown, and the fine- ness of the fi'ame, with, at the same time, medium, heavy build of but- tock, is also evident. Mr. Perry, of Alder, Lewdown, North Devon, says : I will not confine my remarks to strict data, but rest them rather on general nat- ural laws and principles and broad results, because from the various and varying conditions which must be brought into play to produce the developed animal arising from dift'erent treatments and situations, strict or narrow data are often misleading rather than otherwise. In the first place, I hold that small as well as large sized ani- mals are needed to turn our various cattle foods to the best account for the produc- tion of the best supply of animal food for the people. All producers cannot raise the foods required for the proper development of large-sized animals, uor are large-sized joints of meat suitable to all households. Again, small animals can be brought to perfection on pastures which will only keep large animals in store condition, and when fodder is scarce the small animals will pick their food in sufficient quantities, while the large animals will starve, and, if wanted for the market, the former can, in A few weeks, l)e fattened on concentrated foods before one's eyes, whereas a large animal must have its time. There is this, however, to be said of large-class animals: if their owners can keep them fattening from birth, they must, to have heavy weights at an early age. have growth. My conclusion is that an animal which is right in form, quality, and coustitutiou is a first-class one, whether it be of a large or small size, and it therefore remains lor those who have them to place them in suitable situations for foods and markets. I have often found my small-framed animals make me the most money, and my motto is to have an animal that will swell ratiier than grow into value. From fifty to sixty years ago Shorthorn cattle were introduced info Cornwall by a Mr. Peter, and they spread over a large part of the country, fixing themselves more particularly in the best districts. They also found their way into Devonshire and Somersetshire, where they have had rather an extensive hold, init of late, however, the Devons have been hedging them rather closely into the most fertile spots of the count ry, and mauy who were zealous advocates for them have cither partially or wholly given them up. Herefords a-lso found their way into Cornwall about the same time and were ex- tensively kept in the eastern part of that county by a few other breeders farther west, but they have nearly disappeared from the oast aud are in few hands in the west of the county. They are no favorites with the butcher, having too much rank spine or fat, and killing hollow and deceptive in weights. The North Devons are now enter ing into the strongholds of the above breeds, and becoming the most general breed in the west of England. Their flesh is more marbly aud mixed than the before-men- tioned breeds, aud their meat, as a rule, is of finer texture, more firm, and of superior flavor. They may be divided into two classes, the North Devon and the Somerset Devon. The former is a smaller animal than the latter, more handsome, aud more easily fattened. They are particularly adapted for hilly districts, where they will frisk* about with pleasure, and do well on short pastures, and, with a little indulgence for a few weeks, will be fit for the butcher, nothing in the way of beef selling at a higher price per pound. Animals of this breed that are fit for slaughtering at 5 cwt. may be made 8 cwt. or 9 cwt. with extra feeding. The .Somerset Devon is a larger animal thau the genuine North Devon, and from having been crossed with the latter sometimes grand animals are produced. As a spec- imen ; for example, I may nan>e Kidner's Islington champion i)rizoox. It is certainly important that the North Devon should be preserved, for then crosses may be taken as people wish, but if the pure race is lost it cannot be recalled and a cross-bred ani- mal cannot be depended on to stamp its character on its ofi"spring. The well-bred Devon is not, as a rule, a great milker, but the quality of the milk is rich and a poiiud of butter per day may be considered a good average. Well-bred animals are often 21 Q CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. , • ,1 1 +iwtT fiil IS milkers simply ou account of their value as- kept iu the dairy, tliou-b tbey f.ul as ""^'^f ^^'^'™1 ^} ^^ ^^^^ ^^ n^ilkers they are at l>ree.l..rs. hut tins ^« '>fj' ^^^^ ^^^f ;j^^J^;^'f,^^ stated to be better for the dairy ouce fattened ^u ^his acc^uut mou rus^ ^^^^ ^.^^^^ exceptiou, the whole thau they really are. The Dt% on ^f ^' "'^[^^^^ ^^ the Bristol Channel, including the of the district n<.rth f the f^nx^s «^ DarUiX Devonshire and CornvTall it forest ot Lx.noor, and [ '"\^^^^^^^5er he fac of the Devon cattle again taking pos- holds the principal su ny. I <;^°f ^^^^^j';,'^^.!^^^ Jo be a broader and much more trust- session of th.« strongholds ot ^li^otber bleeds to oe a ^^ ^ small scale, worthy fact as to merit than '^^^ ^f f,"^'"!*;^^^^^^^ at Dartmoor, then the I?r;S;;:rth:rt^he%S^^^^^^^^ ^gam t.l.en n^ the posi- tibn they at iirst held. Mr. Richard Bickle, of Bradstone, says: the same ^^^J^i- .|.^^"/.f J^f^gV Tc^^^^^ three Devons to two Shorthorns, and I L7;Sv"wmrnd tL*"^^^^^^^ climate far better than ^^^^^ lit for^?"o^io loVlf^^^^^ summer nionths I graze up.;ards of 100 beside. nl^e'rnV^^^^^^^ ^ sometimes get a Shorthorn, Hereford, or cross- l.r'pd -Tnimal but I invariably find it does me no good. , ^ , ^. i „„ I have never tested the milking properties of the Devous, but they are not heavy ndlkerlai I rule althou-h the cr?am is of the richest quality and will make more but- Sr ^h mthat from^^^^^^^^^ other breed. We never make cheese in our county as it la not one foi tl eese i"^^ ^ The average weight of my cows with ordinary feeding wouirbe ^loiit 7 cwt. of marketable be%f, steers being about the same at 3 years of ™ I have had some of the latter which weighed as much as 13 cwt. at 4 years old. ^i^^dSlIaS^o^i^S^a lyrr^l, with grey freeston^ ami the ten^at^ is very chan-eable both in summer and winter. We have plenty of ram As the dis- rilt I live in is a grazing district the grasses used are of an ordinary character just for three ye irs ley The Devons in my immediate neighborhood are not used for draught purposesfb t inUic neighboring county of Cornwall I have heard of several being so SS My uncle had oxen in constant work many years ago, and they were consid- ered bet er workers than any other breed. My young stock as a rule are noused about ?he begitn"uS "^ November, but it depends partly on the mildness of the season. Store ones have an'open shed all the winter. Mr. Surridge, another breeder of the Devons, observes: In «peakiu O m ^i^^ THE UNITED KINGDOM. Ill The bull should have a jrood masouline liead, not too long, broad be- tween the eyes, whieh latter should be lar;jc<^ and prominent, but with a uiiUl look about them, denoting- docility and eciuability of temper; the liorns should be of moderate lenrin,irinf; straijrlit from tlie lu-ad. The cow's head should be much the same, but liner, should have a mane, anortant point, should be large and full, showing plenty of width across when you stand behind, and should be well meated to the hocks. The whole carcass should beset square on good short legs standing well ai)art, and be covered with firm flesh of good quality, and a mellow hide of soft but not too fine hair, giving the impression, when you touch it, that it will stretch to any extent ; but the test of " touch " is extremely difficult to explain in words, and it can only be learned by practice. History of the Hereford. — There can be no two opinions on the ques- tion of what Hereford cattle are ; they are most undoubtedly a distinct and i)ure breed of great antiquity. Their early history is like that of many others, rather shrouded in mystery, but it is generally allowed that there has been a breed of cattle, red and mostly with white face and markings, for at least two hundred years in the county of Hereford and tlie neighboring counties. When crossed with other breeds the l^otency of the Hereford blood (pure for centuries) is distinctly proved, as it is an exception for any calves to come any other color than the red with white face. This has come true from Ilereford bulls on black Welch cattle, AjTshire, and Shorthorns ; again, if a. Shorthorn bull is put to a Hereford cow the produce usually follows the dam in color, and cases have been seen where the produce of the Hereford bull with the black cattle come black, but still they have had the correct Here- ford marking as regards the white face and legs. Valuable qualities of the Herefords. — Their milking properties have been so long neglected in the interest of beef, that they are usually not deep milkers, but give very rich milk. In all cases a cow should ])e milked regularly and stripped quite clean. No doubt this has much to do in forming good milking tribes of cattle, by encouraging the milk- giving organs as far as possible. Where calves are allowed to suck in the open field this cannot be attained, and is one great cause of the Herefords not giving so uuu:;h milk as they would under other circum- stances. As beef makers they are quite at the toj) of the market, as market quotations record best Scot and Herefords as being usually quoted together. The calves are usually allowed to run with their dams during the summer, and this gives them a good start, but it is too often lost sight of that they should be kept growing on when weaned, instead of stunted during the winter and following months. The Hereford fairs have long been noted for bringing together the best collection of bullocks in England, and are attended by dealers and grazers from far and wide, as they are iiighly valued in our great graz- ing districts. Breeders of Herefords claim for their favorites that they are among the most hardy of all breeds of cattle, can be fed on less meat, and thrive on coar.se rough food, and thus are particularly adapted for countries 112 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. •svliore it is impossible to take special care of the cattle through bad sea- sons HTid winter nioiitb!». Hpicfords, exoei)t in a few instances, have been bred entirely for beef. One {ireat object of breeders is to have their animals as wide on their chine as i>ossible, so as to carry ;><)od full crops when fat, and no cow will milk deeply unless it is made like a wedge — the lighter neck and forei)art the better. If attention were paid to the Hereford as it has been to the Shorthorn, they could be trained to milk well and deeply, and the richness of the milk is not gainsaid ; but whether they would excel the Shorthorns or become equal to the best of them it is difficult to say, nor do I think it worth while for breeders to try ; at all events so thinks another Hereford man. They stand first and foremost as a beef ])roducing race, and perhaps it is as well they should for the pres- ent take their stand on that, but if any breeders fancy taking up the milk line, they will probably in a great measure succeed. Herefordsjor crossing. — A celebrated breeder of Herefords in England recently addressed the following queries to a gentleman who had tried the cross of a Hereford bull on Shorthorn dairy cows for several years: 1. Of calves got by a Shorthorn bull or by a Hereford bull, -which fatten the quickest and which are the most valuable if sold fat to butcher ? 2. Of heifers got by a Short- horn or Hereford bull, -which do you consider the best for milk, having regard both to quantity and quality, and in quality both as regards cheese and butter? 3. As to the produce generally got by a Shorthorn or Hereford bull, do you find any diifer- ence as to their gain of flesh or ability to thrive both at grass and in yards ; and, if so, state fully your views thereon ? 4. Do you find any difference of size in the prod- uce ; and, if so. which are the largest animals — the Shorthorns or those the result of the cross with the Hereford bulls ? 5. Do you think there is auy difference as to hard- ness or as to liability to disease between the Shorthorns and the animals resulting from the cross with the Hereford bull; and, if so, to which do you give the prefer- ence? G. Does the offspring of the cross with a Hereford bull generally follow the marking of the sire or of the Shorthorn dam ? The following were the replies received: 1. I consider those got by a Hereford bull. 2. Heifers got by a Hereford bull are, I consider, equal to the pure-bred Shorthorn for the production of milk, both as re- gards quantity and quality. 3. My experience tells me that produce got by a Here- ford bull out of a Shorthorn cow feeds quicker both on grass and when put up to feed. 4. Produce obtained by the cross, as mentioned in No. 3 (viz, by a Hereford bull), is the larger of the two. 5. Undoubtedly the produce obtained by using the Hereford bull is the hardier and has my preference. 6. I find that the offspring obtained by the cross with the Hereford bull folloM's the sire in color in five cases out of seven. The writer adds as follows: Having some three years ago bought some Hereford cattle from you, I think you might like to know that they have done remarkably well, though I find it takes a long time to make a name as a Hereford breeder. At the same time that I bought the Herefords from yon I purchased ten Yorkshire dairy cows — Shorthorns — from Mr. Gothorp, near Bedale, in Yorkshire, and after these cows had calved I determined to try a cross of the two breeds, which I did by using the Hereford bull I bought from you on the Shorthorn cows. The result was beyond my expectation. I reared the calves on skim-milk, &c. ; they had a little cake till they were six months old, when they took their luck. At eighteen months old I gave them 4 pounds each per day when grazing (this would be in September). On the 12th October I put them up to feed, giving them 8 pounds of cotton-cake and linseed-cake mixed, and 6 pounds of meal with i)ulp each per day. The week before Christmas I sold two of them, aver- aging £21 lOs. each, and also some Shorthorn bullocks (which I had also bought from Mr. Gothorp). These latter were three months older, and only realized £19 158. per head, though similarly fed. In the second week of January I sold some more of the cross-bred bullocks (they were then twenty-three months old), and they averaged £24 08. 6d. per head, and the remaining Shorthorn bullocks averaged £22 178. per head, being, as the others, three months older. I certainly am of opinion that the bullock obtained by this cross is bitter than the pure-bred Shorthorn for the quick production of beef. I have also some heifers of this cross about to calve, and they carry plenty of flesh, and promise to make equally as good milkers as their dams. I consider the result of the cross satisfactory, especially on this poor, cold clay soil, the grass of which (as you know) will not feed a mouse. THE UNITED KINGDOM. 113 As to tlicii iiiilkin.uiiiialitit's, s;i.vs a tenant taiinoi', nodonht ItrccdtMs liavc nciih'ctcil tlu-ni almost cntiieiV, as it is the usnal custom to rear tlie calvi's on tlic cows, ami beef, not dairy produce, is, as a rule, the end aimed at. This is, however, true in a j^reat decree of other l)re«'t, but from my own experience I believe, by selection, that a grand miliung herd could soon be established. No one will, who has tried the exi>eiiment, agree to the statement that the IJerefords do not cross well with other breeds. The Americans have found it out, and now as serf that they can sell their Ilereford grade steers for more money than those ol other crosses. It may be true that they have not been very ex- tensively tried, but the experiments that have been tried will soon ''get wind''; in fact they have already, and the demand is entirely increasing in conseiiuence. One great i)roof of the Ilereford beluga pure and distinct ra(;e is that, althou.uh crossed with whatever breed may be ti- tude to fatten and in qnality. To mention a few instances: Ei.i,dit Herotord {jrade steers were put up to feed, and sixty Shnrtliorn j^rades were picked out of a six hun- dred lot, and then the Ijest of tlie eight and tlie best of the sixty were killed as a beef test. A lar;ie cattle-breeder used nothinrr but Shorthorn bulls to thn e hundred cows, and could only make some £:! or£4o(' his {rrade yeaHinu bnlls. Tin- same man now, by nsiun Ilereford bulls to the same cows, has sold his yearlinj^ bulls at jCI.'j each. H. Ex. 51 8 114 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. A;;aiii, aiidtlur lariiu'r, wlio used to iiiak<^ Cd each of lii.s jjradti .Sliortlioni heifers, iiiakis .Clt! racli oil Iiis s^rado Hoirfonls at tlu> Namo a«re. Tlio fact thattliese men are no bn-eilinn cntluisiasts, hut practical American heef-jtroducing farmers, goes a Ion"- Avuy to show the turn things are taking in that country. " Wciflht a7u1 rahic of Jlcrcford cattle.— At the laf KINGDOM. 115 accordiiijr to llu> system. .n\'C(lin,L!;. A Sussex heifer last Cliristiiias. \vlii<'h I exhihiteil, iiiKler the aj;e of Ibiir years, showed a \vei:;lil. of 1 IS stone of H poiiiuls to lhl^ st.oiK'' iiiul a steer exhil)ited last year. :\}xcd two years and eh>ven niontlis. weighed I'.X; stone. These were s|)eeially fattened for exliil)itin--, hnt, as a rnh", steers killed nn\s afford, but at all events youn<; beasts should be kept, wanuly lioused. I use for feeding, in addition to what I have r(>lerred to above, a mixture of oil-cako and corn, and a few roots are advisable. As to breeding, this i.s a great secret. Ascertain the weak points of a. cow. and, if ])(>.ssible, (counteract iliem by selecting a bull perfect in the d.'liciencies of the other. I think more depends on the selection of a good bull than anything else, and I do not consider any i>rice too exorbitant for a i)erfect, good colored and conslituled animal. 3Ir. Tago, another large breeder, says: The Sussex cattle, as a rule, arc bad milkers, but capital liesh-makers, and if wi'ointsof the Sussex are as follows: Eye rather prominent; wide acro.ss tlie forehead ; neck medium in length and cleanly made under, with a small dewlaji, the toj) part of which is straight to the head. The nose is rather wide and thin between the nostril and the eye, the tops of the plat(i bonesare iiotoverwide, thesidcs stiaight and without any projection at thi! shoulder i)oint ; the breast is wide and ])roJecting forward; straight fore-legs, bono rather tine, medium inbMigth; back straight be- hind the shoulder-blades and with the Jiollowness which is gen(M"illy seen when the bhuh'S ure wide; body very round, with a stiaight chine; b)-o:ul ribs, «leci and what is generally known as the first touch ; the outside of the thigh is llat, without fullness behind. In breeding, the calf is seldom allowed to take all the milk of the cow, which is taken from it all day. It is allowed to suck two of the teats after the milkuiaid has drawn the other two, getting in addition to this a small fpiantity (»f bran or ground oats, which is 1. 'ft for it in a snuiU trough. At a juoiith old it is usually alloweil to run with her throughout the day, but is taken from her for tin; night. A portion id' the morning's milk is then taken and the calf allowed fe remainder. This is (ho general i)r,:ctice until the calf is weaued. It is then fed upon cut grass, clover, hay, and bran until it is turned out upon the pasture, when the meal feeding is iucieuscfl 11<; CATTLE AND DAIRY l-^AKMING. until tlio folliiwiii;; wiiitcr, when it takes its place anioiiijoMior vcailiipxs in tlie yard and is allowed to liiowse niton tlio various products oi' the farm, getting a certain allowaneo of roots, meal, any this meuns a team of 21 working oxen andadairy ol"'2() cowsniay belcept up. Tims, 8 three years old, 8 four years ohl, 8 live years old. As these arrive in suc- cession at six years old 8 will lie turned off the team, either for sale or grazing on the farm ; when 8 tlireivy ear-old steers will be bi'ought into the team tosu[iply their jtlaces. Exjierimeids have been made to test tlu; advantage's of >()kes or collars, and it has been jiretty conclusively shown that the Sussex yoke is t.lie best system known. In one tiial bet ween (5 beasts yoked and 4 in collars tlusre wei'e but three minutes' differ-' eiice in an acre, v>'hich was well ploughed in 4 hours and 1(» minutes. Stall-feeding is practised in some cases in Sussex, when a manger, water-trouuh, and fodder-rack are provide«l. One gentleman gives his Avorking oximi 2 bushels of chatled oats straw ed wilh black; ears small and of tin orange color witliin ; back straight from the withers to thesettingof thetail ; chest deep, and neiirly on a line with the belly — four i)oints ; hide thin, movable, but not too loose, well covered with soft luiirof good color, two ])oints; barrel-hooped and deep well-ribbed home, haviiig but little space been the ribs and hips ; tail line, lumging 2 inches below the hock — four points ; fore legs straight and line ; thighs full and h)ng, close together when viewed from behind; hind legs short, th(! bones rather line; hocks small, not to cross in walking — two i)oints ; udder full, well up behind; teats large and equally placed, being Avide aiKirt, with veins large and swelling — four points; growth, one i)oint; general appearance two points; perfection lor cows and heifers, thirty- one points. The hull. — The points desirable in the female are generally so with the niale, l)ut nuist, of course, be attended by that 'masculine character which is insej)arable from a strong and vigorous constitution. Even a certain degnje of coarseness is atlmissible, but then it must be so ex- clusively or a mascidiuc descri]>tion as never to be tion) when the sea swept ov(?r tlie pleasant liehls of Hastern Keid and hnried them fonn-er nnder " the Downs," loavinff no trace of what onco liad boon, sav(^ the s]iiftin<5 Goodwin Sauils. The elfectsof tliis disi-nption, so far us .Jersey is concerned, ai'e in every way most interestinj;. Tlie mainhiml of NoiTiiandy lias lost everything bnt the. name ; her too-powerful neinihhor, franco, Inxs robbed her of her iniloi)en(h!nce, her laws, and eviMi her langnage ; and the ancuMit home of onr kin;;s h.as for centnries been a province ofFrance. 15nt for l!iestrii>of silver sea, snch mnsfc have been the fate of .Jersey. As it is, she has snccessfnliy repelleil all attemitls to conqner her, and liasremained faitlifal to her ancient rnh-rs. She is still j;-overned by the very laws which her Dnko\Vil!iam intrcMlnced into England at the Coiuinesi, and her mother tougne is that whicli the Concpieror spake himself. The "Romance de Ron," written by onr Jersey poet Waco, for Henry II, in the twelfth centnry, is still the langnage of onr fanners, though nnintelligil)h) to the Pa- risian of to-day. Jersey has the same forms of jself-govcrnment, tlie same land (enure, the same laws and language, the same manners, customs, and habits that she had 800 years ago. And so with her cattle. The silver streak separating Jersey from the continent converted it into one great farm, witli the sea Ibr its ring fence ; and the same conservative spirit has been effectual in keeping thebreed jnn- ■ from any foreign taint. .Tersey has thus enjoyed for centuries th(^ very hap;ii"st (conditions for jivodne- iug a distinct and excellent breed of cattle, to which must lie added the advantages of her climate, equally free from arctic cold and burning heat, which permits her cat- tle to be outpastured'almost every day in the year and keeps hei fields ])erenn»ally green. These favorable conditions have been i)iU to advantage. The original stock, the Nonnandy breed, has long been (and still is) famous for its butter (pnililies. These have been steadily .and jterseveringly devcdoped by ourfarnu-rs, who have i)er- sistently bred for that single object ; and the, Jersey h:is been luought to its present perfection by simply following out this one id.'a— butter ! Hence it has b(>en the in- variable custom for ages never to use a bull before seeing his dam and being salisiied as to her yield of butter. Unless this ])roved satisfactory, no otiier i)r»int in tlu; bull himself or his dam availed anything ; noliody would use Iiiiu. 'J'his idea still governs the vast majority of our island breeders aud those of Amerie:i, and doubtless still greater triitiu]dis await them in thi; mlihTs of the future;. It is nmch to b(( regretted that of late years some i^nglish brci^dershave taken u|)on themselves to set up a new standard— solid cidor; I hilt is, the alisonce of white uuirk- inijs in the coat— whicu has al)solutely no foundation at all but the oddest eaiiriec*. Itls neither a iieculiaritv of the breed n(U- a sign of i)urity of race, nor of any other cpiality whatever, bad or good ; it is simply a blind alley leading nov.here,. 'J'he sin- gle aii'n and <'ml of onr ellorts has hitln'rio been Initter, and it is I his coiiei-nl r.ation of [he ener"-ies of all our breeders in one direction Ibr so long a period which has lisli((l lads. lie \vlii» fails to avail himself of all wliieh bia neiglihors liavo aecomidisiied in Ideediiiji, by nejjlect lo use the blood that has been thoroughly devcmju'd, on the irround that he "probably now hasasj^ood," willdisastronsly tailin his undertakin-^s. It is simi)ly blind egolism that must inevitably nipot its fate. Tiratinoit ; that l)y an inti-rehauiie of views those methods that are the best may be made certain by a com- ]>arison of tlie experience of dill'erent breeders. 'i'he milk of a very rich Jersey cow is far too rich for her calf. If she has a l.argo llow immediately alter calving, the calf will only take a portion, and that the poor/^st in <|uality, ami be comparatively swfe if left with its dam for two or three days. If tln^ cow is slow in "coming to licr milk," and what the calf gets is above the average* riclmess, it will, in many instances, bo as fatal to the calf as a dose of poison. Every year seores of Jersey calves have "died very mysteritmsly," when tiie truth was, the milk of their respective dams was too rich for them. Wlieu a Jersey cow drops her calf, remove it immediately, if the cow ia iu health. If the cow is nervous, and frets badly, fence the calf oli' in one corner of the box, so that the cow can reach it and comfort herself with it. I'eedinij the ealf. — Give a pint of the milk first taken from its dam every few hours a few times, milking every drop of the remainder from the udderat each time. After- wards feed about two (|uarts of the milk first taken from its dam (as that is much the jiiiorer in (piality) night and morning. In four or live days add a (piart of hot (have .'ill at lU(N') skimmed milk to each feed, increasing the skimmed milk and lessening the whole milk as the calf thrives until all the whole milk is withdrasvn by the twentieth day, if the calf is in vigorous health. Always have the milk fed to the lalf at blood heat. Keep good, bright, clear, sweet rowen, and also good hay, by the calf from nearly the first. Put a fresh cut sod by the calf every few days. If the ealf is costive, give the milk cooler; if too loose, give the milk at as high a temi)cra- tiirc as the calf will take it, and in much smaller quantities. Giv(! one-lhird the (|uantity of IkH milk, and give two raw eggs, broken into its milk, night and morn- ing, or the eggs alone. If the diarrhoea does not readily yield, give a tablespoonful of castor oil and the s.ame of olive oil, with a teasjioonful of paregoric, mixed in a i)int of hot milk. .Sometimes, in desperate cases, a light feed of pure beef tea two or three tunes, or even longer, in i)lace of the milk food, will act favorably. Less food anrl hot, with little or no medicine, is the general rule. Do not resort to medicine tf)o hastily. The eggs rarely fail. Never give any medicine if it can be avoided. Al- w.ays keep on hand the oils and paregoric, and also pulverized chalk and pulverized charcoal. Follow the oils with a teaspoonful of ])ulverized chalk in each feed of milk until the symjdonis disappear, substituting the charcoal occasionally. Calf-Jatiinfi. — If calves are wanted to be always fat and sleek, in a fit condition to sell to the butcher or to persons of no practical experience, who want to see things looking line, and the breeder cares nothing lor the value at the cliurti of the de- veloped animals, feed oil-meal boiled for hotirs in a large quantity of water until the lirpiid is of about the consistency of thin mucilage ; or feed fine corn-meal, or any- thing el.se that will produce fat. If the object of the breeder is to have his young things " till the eye " of tlu; inexperienced, and to sell them to such ])ersoiis for long prier-s when yoinig, always keep them fat and sleek. If the object of the breeder is fh<> honorable one of iiroducing an animal the superior of its ])rogenitors, or at least their ecpial, to sacrifice any prospect of imm(;diato gain to the production of the best ])ractical cow possible at the churn, he will pursue a far different course. Feeding young things for present efiect on the eye of the inexperienced is necessarily fatal to their largest future usefulness. To feed any substance especially calcuIat(Ml to ])ro- tiuee fat to a bidl, or at any time before she comes in milk, to a heiler, will induce the habit of laying on fat, which will continue through all itssubsequenteareer. The younger the animal is wln-n this bad habit of making fiesh and fat begins, the more controlling it will be, and the more likely the animal will bo to transmit that habit to its otVspring. I'dihI, ifc. — Nothing should be feed to bulls more stimulating than good hay, and at times a, few oats, shorts, or both, with coarser food. Plenty of coarse liay, straw, and grass even should be given at times. The digestive organs of a butter bull, esjiecially when young, should be taxed and distended jirecisely as shf>uld those, of a fenialnth September, lb82, averaged per eow^ :5J1 jiounds 2^ ounces. This is an average of a little over (i pounds per week throughout tlu; year. Lieutenant-Colonel Partal gives his average yield of butter per cow per week in 18S1 as 4 i)oiyi(ls 14 ounces, and in 1882 as 5 pounds I'.i ounces, but we a])i>e.nd further ]>;ir(icul;iis from him : Home farm slatement n.s to duirn produce, 1881. Total yii-ld of mill; from 21 cows gallons.. 12, P.8r> ]5utt, 4'.I4 i)ints of milk r=:'JlH pcjumls of butter ) '.\S.\ pints of cream = 1(12 pounds of butter l)ounds.. V.5,352 J»IH-1- l(;-i + 4,972:.= totalbutter yield > ."i,;$;V2 — 21 cows gives jier cow i)er annum ]iounds.. •254-', J Average yield of butt<'.r p(!r cow i)er wec;k do 4-' J Ilomeftirni — statt^nicnt (ix to dairij produce 1882. Total yield of milk from 22 cows gallons.. II?, 82r> ihittei- made pounds., (i, :U)7 (Jrr-am used pints.. 1581 Milk u.sed do.... ;{, 174 Average yield of milk )ier <'ow ])er annum gallons.. (128 '.!, 174 ]>i!its of milk =: I'.H ]iouiids of l)utter ) :'H| ))ints of cre;im =■ 190 ))ounds of butter pf)nnds.. >('), ()9r> VM+ 19(»-|-(i,:!07 -= total butter yield _ S n, ((()."> -I- 22 gives jxr cow ]n'r annum jKtuuds.. •5"4 ",; Average yield of butter jicr cow per week do .>i| THE UNITED KIXODOM. 121 ITo adds : AltliDimli I (Id not Ix'liovo iov oiii> inomor.t tlint tlio bntfer aloiic pnys, yet. witli 1 lui Hkim milk the addition of calvi's and pij^s makes tbo balance at tlicend oftlic yt-aron tbc ri^bt .side. Wo rear a sjood many ralves ot" botli sexes, and bave no dillic ulty in disposinii; of Ibem ; keepinjf also i:{ or 14 sows, and sellini^ their jjroj^cny at tbirtcfii or fonrU'en weeks olil, as stores, i)ay9 well. Tlio jiii^s are kept ont in a tlm'e-ai're l>astnre fnld in open weather and re(inire at nights, when Ibey como in, little bnt skim milk and wasb, wbicb is not expensive. I do not tbink that keeping pigs on f^rass land is half enses jirevent their injuring the p;istnre. This last year I bavo no record worib ]>reserving of my «lairy results, as I lost some of my best cows in Ibo snminer, wbieh lias thrown nw. ont terribly. My sy.stem is of tbc simplest kind. I ba\e the ipianrity of milk nii'asnred every day as brongbt i)i, and a record kejit of tlie qmint ity of bntter made weekly. Tlie reason why 18"^2 is better tbau ls8l in results, is from tb(^ fact tb.at I bad one more cow in the dairy, and I gave ail my cows 4 ponnds of decorticated cott4>n-cake with ebatf and mangel in the winter months when they were kept in, and 1 ponnd each throngh the snmmerniontlis at eacb milking, or, in other words.2iK)nnds .•I day. They bad "J pounds in the winter months, and more in the sunnner months. I shall lioitt^ tills year (if I lose no more cows) to do better than last, as I bave a very nice lot coming in from my young stock. As 1 seldom or never buy, a loss of a fev.- eows alfects me mnch. I bavo V)ongbt, but bavo never found any that please mo as well as tbose I bretMl myself from either imported bulls (every one of which lias tak(Mi a ]>rizo wbeii in my jiossession) or from perfect bulls of my ov.n rearing. I bave no dillienlty in selling either bulls or cows. I3y tliis ni(>ans I know Vi liatM liave got and wbat I am doing to improve my stock. By buying I should not know this in nine cases out often. AmoiiiX the detailed records sent into the British Dairy Farmers' As- sociation for the challen^ne cap, the onl^' one relatiii.q," to Jerseys was Lord Braybrooke's, ^hich is interesting and snfliciently good to be an- nexed, althonjih tlie ;vie]d is certainly not so good as could be found upon many farms where Jerseys are kept by dairy farmers. Dairy record of Lord Brayhroolcc's herd of Jerseys for 1882. ^ Milk. Croam. Butter. a. . ^ p( Mj^ P B «::S O _ 1 "a a Quantity. Averiigo per weok. Percoiit.ige. n <0 28 o c o a (5 "S O B a ^ a O s 1-1 ^ 49 2,295 .5, 991 46 122 15 to 20 =19.5 407 8,1 Hi 5.1 1,847 9 1877 i'ob. 1881 4 38 2,363 6.150 62 101 11. 5 to 21 =14.7 317 »i 84 U 2,015 §10 1877 Apr. 1882 3 26 7.39 1. 07'J 29 98 11. 5 to 19.5=1.5.1 105 4 82 7 044 n 1877 July 4 45 1,923 5,111 42 113 13 to 31 = 20. 3 352 7ii "4 r't 1,.542 12 1878 fob. 3 45 1,01.5 4,199 35 93 14. 5 to 33 =20.0 301 C:i 112 •''i 1,1'8'J 13 1878 Dec. 4 30 1,193 3, 104 39 103 13. 5 to 20 =1.5.0 107 5i 82 7 1,03(1 14 1878 Oct. 4 33 1,176 3, 071 35 93 10. 5 to 24. 5= 17.5 183 r,3 92 0.1 97(1 V> 1875 Oct. 2 m 1,708 4,770 35 95 1.5. 5 to 23. 5= 18.2 280 •'■'i. K'i 0 1,443 IG 1K79 Jan. 1 49 2, 932 7. 438 59 151 10 to 25 =14.3 380 VJ ^'i 7.2 ^2.512 17 i ]K80 Nov. 2 47 1,294 3, 307 27 71 11 to 24. 5 = 1.5. 3 178 3.2 82 7i 1.090 18 1880 Nov. 2 43 ],3.-!0 3. 524 31 81 10 to 19 =]:(.4 102 3j| 74 «i 1,173 ]» 1880 Fob. 1 31 1,124 2, 924 30 94. 12 to 18. 5 = 14. 5 142 44 8 72 901 20 1880 Doc. 44 2, 214 5. 798 .50 131 11 to 24 ^14.6 290 OJ 8.1 71 1,88.) _ 38.310 99, 748 5,371 |32,411 Killcrl Ortobor. 1882. tKill.'d Siptriniior, 1882. *D:er cow for tlio yoar * Avpra;;^ jht cow \)vr wock for tlie entire year *. Averaao jior mw jut woek while iu milk 4 yi-ars and under (! ycar.s: Avera;:e JHT ('i)w for llio yo.ar* Averajii' l^'r I'ow yior week for the entire j-ear*. Averace jiit :o iier <'ow per week while in milk Kntire herd, all a;;e«: Averago i)er cow for the year* Averaijo jier cow per week for the entire year*. Average per cow per week while in milk Milk. Quarts. 781 34 40 ,859 35 4G . 75G .53 54 ,017 38 4G Pounds. 4, 030 89 105 4, 855 93 121 7, 124 137 142 5, 202 101 121 Pounds. 240 3ri3 •■•i 7 283 5i GJ Skim milk. Quarts. 1,513 2!) 34 29 38 2, 303 45 47 1,710 32 39 * In fhe.se calculations consideration is given to the period from the death of No.^. 2, 3, and 5, to the end of Iho year. Average weight of milk per gallon pounds.. IGJ? .\veiage cieam percentage <'o q'"''^.-, I'loportion of hulter to milk (ounces to a gallon) S. 'J71, I'loiiortiou (if hotter to cream (ounces to a quart) l-'i I'liiiiorliiiu of milk to hutter (quarts to a pound) 7. 132 Cnmparalivc. richness of milk at different stages of the same milkiiiff, showiufi IhetpuMt im- pnrfancc. of thorotighhf draininf/ a cou-'s udder. \_In each case the result giren is the mean of nix days'' testing.'] Percentage of cream. Comparison. Cow No.— First i pint. Lasti pint. 33.5 20.2 28. G 30. 0 34.8 40.1 30.0 32. 8 40.0 2.5.3 20. 5 Pail.r. c, the entire yard. First J l)iut. Last J pint. Pail, i. «., the entire yanl. 1 5.8 4.7 4.5 5.4 10.0 8.2 7.1 5 3 3.7 C. 1 5.9 1.5.5 14.4 12.0 18.7 18.4 15.8 15 2 1.5.3 ) 5. r 1.3.8 12. 5 .5.77 5. .57 5.24 0. GO 3.48 4.80 3. 00 0.18 10.81 4.14 4.49 2.C7 2 3 3.00 2.C6 4 ,. .S.46 5 1.84 c 1.92 7 2.14 H 2.8« 9 4.08 10 2.20 11 2.11 Food of cows daring the year 1883, with one or two Irijting e.rcipltons in individual eanes. Jan. 1 to Feb. 10. — J peck bean-meal, 3 pecks grains. J peck malt dust, 2 pecks chatf, 8 pounds hay, 10 pounds carrots j)er day; two to four hours each day on grass. Feb. 20 to Ajir. 2.— The same, with 10 pounds of mangold instead of carrots; three to six hours on gr.iss. Apr. 3 to May 7. — Hay reduced to 4 pounds, other food same; four to fen hours on grass. May 8 to May 21. — J peck bean-meal, 3 pecks grains, J peck malt tlust, 2 pecks chalf, 4 pounds hay, 10 pounds mangold; ten to twenty hours on grass. May 22 to .July 0.— J ]Mck heauuiealj J peck crushed oats, 1 J peck grains, 1 peck chalf, ID jionnds man- gold; twenty hours on grass. July 10 to 20. — J peck bean-meal, J peck crushed oats, 1 peck diall, 1 \ peck grains ; twenty hours on grass. Aug. 21 to Oct. 20. — J pock bean-meal, J peck crn.shed oats, 3 pecks grains, 2 pecks chalf; twcmty hours on grass. Oct. 27 to Nov. 20. — J peck bean-meal, i peck crnshed oats, 3 p<('ks graiiLS, 2 pecks chall, and 4 jiounds hay; eight hours a day on grass. Nov. 21 to Dec. 31. — } peck bean-meal, J peck crashed oats, 1 peck grains, 10 pounds carrots, 7 i)0und8 l"*y> i peck mall dust; two to four hours a day on grass. THE UNITED KINGDOM. 123 Percentage of cream from the milk of the entire herd, for each week in the year 1882. ■Week ending— Percout. Week omling— Percent. Week ciidiuj;— 'Percent Week omling— Perecnt, Jan. 8 . Jan. l.i Jan. 22 .Ian. '-'9 K.-b. r. . Keli. 12 Kel). 1!) l-'eb. 2G Mar. .5 Mar. 12 Mar. Ill Mar. 20 Apr. 2.. 17.73 16.75 10. 17. 12 10. la 15. 90 14. 29 14. r,2 14. 2:1 14.09 10. 10 17.17 10.79 Apr. 0 . . Apr. 10 . Apr. '2\i . Apr.:tO . ilay 7 . . May H . May 21 . May 28 . Jiriio 4.. Juno 11. Jiiuo 18. Juno 2."). July 2.. 14.70 10,18 1.5. 98 15.09 14. c;j 10.33 14. 90 i:i. 80 11.01 i:!. ,s:{ 14. 97 15.80 13.77 July 9 . July 10 July 23 July 30 Aui:. 0 Aug. 13 Aug. 20 Aug. 27 Sept. 3 . Soiit. 10 Sept. 17 Sept. 24 Oct. 1 . . Oct. 8 .. Oct. 15.. Oct. 22 . Oct. 29.. Nov. 5 . . N.)\-. 12. Nov. 19. Nov. 20 Dec. 3 . Dec. 10 . Dec. 17 . Dec. 24 . Dec. 31 . 1.5.7 10. 1 17.2 10.4 1(1.0 17.3 17. 10.9 17. 5 18. 17.3 17. K 17.2 Batter to a gallou of milk, and milk to a pound of bnttor, in comparison witli its cream percentage .is shown by the year's testing. Cream. Per cL 8 8.5.... 9 9.5.... 10 .... 10.5 11 .... 11.5.... 12 .... 12.5... Bnttor to a | gallon of milk Ounces. 4Jto 43 4i 5 !).^ 5i 5J 5i 0 5i fij 6 tit 6i 7 04 n 02 Vi Milk to .a pound of butter. Quarts. 13.i to 14 12 J 13i 114 11 104 lOi 9i 9 8J 84 12i 12 114 11 104 lOi 9J 94 Cream. Per c 13 . 13.5. 14 . 14.5. 15 . 1.5. 5. 10 . 10.5. 17 . Butter to a gallou of milk. (hmces. 7ito8 74 8J _ 84 8 8J 8i 9i 84 9i 83 9| 9 10 94 lOi Milk to a pound of butter. Quarts. 8to8J n 8i 7J 8 CJ 7 04 7 64 7 Ci 7 0 04 Cream. Per ct. 17.5... 18 ... 18.5... 19 ... 19.5.... 20 . . . . 20. 5 ... 21 .... 21.5.... Butter to a gallon of milk. Ounces. 9J to 10.i 10 11 lOi in,| 11 Hi 12 Hi 114 Hi 12 12J 12J 134 Milkl 0 a jxiund of butter. Quar s. 51 l( K\ nj ti.i 54 (i 54 0 5 J .5'* 5^ r. ■'\ 4 J 54 Tlie proportion of butter to cream lias varied (lurin«? 18S2 from KJi to 18.^ ounces to 11 quart. Lord Braybrooke's figures are given as an example of an ortliiiary English iievd, Avhicli, altliongli about tlie oldest in the Jving pfuinds (d" corn meal or cotton cake, 1 buslnd of mangel-wurzel ami h;iy, ami a. run on .a frr.sli pasture for an hour or two in f Ik^ day if the wcatlier should permit, until April or Alay, when they li(^ out, at uiglit. I continue the lueai or cake as long as the cow is milked, and vary theqnaulity aecording to llu^ feed tht;y obl.aiu on the pastnrc. \'2\ CATTLK AND DAIRY FARMING. Tlio yoiuiii HtOL-k have a yard vcitli a Rbcd, and fcod on liay, "witli a i'ow roots or 3 l>onnds of cake per dav throu fjuarts of milk, 29^ IMtunds of butter, i)er day, and 1 cow 112 ([uarts of milk, 11 quarts of ereiini, and 12 jinunds of butter per we"i>k three months after calving. Tlie average yield of butter 1 hrongbont the yi'ar for 17 cows and (i heifers is (j^ pounds per bead. In the height of smimur i:> cowsaveraged 12 pounds each ])er week. 'Ihe weight of a bull or cow when fatted is from 28 to 35 score. The .lerseys are seldom steered, if thel)ull calves are not refpiired for stock they are allowed to suck the dams, and fattened as calves, weighing from (10 to lOOpounds at one to two months old. The meau temperature on the average for It] years worked out as 49^\3S'. In the winter it was 390.99' ; spring, 4()'^. 92' ; summer, .')9^.(;3',;in(l in autunni, r>0 '.78'. During one year there were 242 days on which a southwest wind was prevalent; 72 days with a northeast, and 40 with a northwest wind. Southeast wiiuls are very rare. The island rests on the Wealden, and tlu^ surface comprises (lay, gravel, sand, chalk, freestone, and loam. The downs are chalk, rising from AOO to Hl»0 feet above the level of the sea. The grasses which are chielly cultivated are the several sorts of rye grass, including the Italian. Clovers are broad, Dutch, al- sike, trefoil, cow clover, and trifolium. (8) Guernsey Cattle. This really first-rate breed is anativeof one of the Channel Islands, oil" theeoast of I'ranee, and is largely bred by ;i chissof farmers who hold small quantities of land which they cultivate very hiohly, and, like the Jer.sey i)eople, breed a nuicli larger nnniber per acre than is done in any pair of Engltmd. They are a most docile race, well cared for in sheds ill the winter, and almost invariably tethered in summer on the grass. There is no dill'erence of opinion in England as to the merits ot the Jersey and the Guernsey among those who understand both races, but it mu.st be admitted that the Jersey is a very much greater fav.>rite, although why it is so would be very diiiicult to say if we did not think that color and a more ast breeding is only worth £7 to £8, a Guernsey is usually worth £\r>. " • Tills race is now bred with extreme care, although it has some faults from a butcher's ])oint of view, being bred for milk tilmost tdone, and 1)3" a comparatively small number of breeders. The color is, plainly siicaking, an irregular yellow and white, or, ac(;ording to Ihe slnule, as it is generally called, orange or lemon and v/hite. It is a grand butter- making cow, and will equal the best Jerseys, while it is certainly a deeper milker. We may here mention that the Guernsey breed' is strictly conlined to the island of Guernsey, as the Jersey is to the island of .Jersey, and although the last named was for many years known as the Aldeiiiey, it is so no longer, for the Aldern(\v jieople have at last started a herd book for their own race, which they are determiniMl to ))erfect in the ,s;ime way as the other breeds have been perfected, (riienisey, small as it is, <'X])orts between one and two thousand cows annually, the majority of which <;ome to England, and at the present THE UNITED KINGDOM. ll'f) tiiiK' tlu' (UmuuihI lor rcnlly .u'ood cows is consiiU'inlilx ^icjitt'i- i|i;iii i!m' supply, till' only bivcik'is who brcoil carctnlly lindiiig il at ;ill times dil'- licnlt to ol)t:iiii wliat tlivy want. This breed is one wliich it will pay any biittei-niaker to take up nua perlecf, lor it certainly has, as will be seen Ironi what we have said and what Ave shall show, a far wider scope of usefulness than the Jersey can jmssibly have while it is bred in its present form. For crossiui;- the Guernsey imparts (piality of milk without that loss of (piality of llesh which is <;enerally found in beasts crossed by tlu> Jersey. Tlie butter, like the cream, is always wonderfully lich in color, and Cxtremely deli- cate in llavor, and many cases can be (pioted m which TOO pounds have been reached in the twelve months, alliiouyh these, of course, are ex- ceptional, while, witli re.uard to the quantity of the nnlk, it is j;enerally found that 8 (]uarts is within the mark, sood herds often yielding;- uii averajicof 10 quarts i)er day during' the best months, althou^i,di, as with other cattle, iudividal animals IVeiiuently exceed 1*0 (piarts. Another ^ood feature in the (ruernsey is the fact that it is not oidy a good milker after calving-, but continues to milk well during the wliole season. In form it is generally line and narrow in front, widening until it reaches the hips, which are broad. The udder is large and Hat, the teats long and wide apart, and the escutcheon perhaps more prominently pronounced than in any othei- race. It is generally believed liial one or two Guernsey cows in a herd in which the milk is less rich inq)arts (piality and color to the whole of the butter made. Cheese is not made from this race, except in isolated instances, and then only lor i)rivate use. It does well npon all soils, and we know instances in which its returns arc enormous, although the situation is as bleak and exposed as the Welsh hills. At the same time a chalky or a gravelly soil is pre- ferred. In its native island and in the south of England it does better work tlian in the north, but some of the northern breeders are much pleased with the results they obtain from it, and do not seem to consider it at all inappropriate to their districts. It is never used for draft purposes. Erperience of Guernsey breeders. — Mr. J. de Garis, Rouvets, says : My herd in 1882 consisted of 1 cow, fourteen years of age, calved February, l.s82; 1 tow, ten years old, calved December, 1881; 1 cow, four years old, calved Utarcb, 18S2; 1 cow, saujo age, calved July, 1882; 1 heifer (brst calf), calved May, 1882. I used not less than 4 (juarts of milk daily iu my family. Thef()lk)\viugare the amounts of marketable butter made each month : .January, (i9 pounds; February, 70])Ouud8; March, 9<) pounds; April, 134 pounds; May, IKJ pounds; June, l(/.> pounds; July, 130 pounds; August, 132 pounds; September, 151 ])ounds; October, 112 pounds ; Novem- ber, 77 pounds ; December (partly estimated), 80 pounds ; total, 1,202 jjounds; average l)er cow, 2.^2 j)ounds. Mr. W. Carrington, of King's Mills, says that his cow Le Cheminant produced an average of 16 pounds i)er week for months after calving. Messrs. C. Smith & Son state that three cows owned by them gave the following records : Vesta, born March 1, 1873, calved May 7, 1882, served June 11, 1882, in live days — December 4 to December 8, inclusive— gave (iO^ quarts, an average per , b-i77, calved October 12, 1882, served November 2, 1882, gave in five days, of same date, 74 quarts, an average of l\} (|uarls per day; Vesta Third, born May 1, 1878, calved November 27, 1882, gave in live days, same date, 8.5 quarts, au average of 17 quaits a day. Mrs. White, Eoussaillerie Farm, states that two cows owned by her have given the following quantities of milk during the year in five months: Red cow, six years of age, 2,482 quarts, record commencing July 1 and closing November 30; number of days' record, 153; average per day, IGi^^'s quarts. Brown cow, eiglit yt-'rs of age, 1/J44i quarts; record during the same time, 153 days; aver- age ijer day, 12.6. 126 CA.TTLE AND DAIKY FARMING. Milk record of a Gurrnncy cow. — An I'jiiulisli bioedcr oC tlie Ciiiernsey frivos the follow i 11. u' i»:iiticul;iis with ivgaid to the cow No. 030, in the lioyul (iiienisey Aurieiiltnial Society's lleid-lJooU. !She ealveil on 15th May last, and the record is from July U to 15. The cow was fed on clover only. The amount of butter njade from the week's yield was 15 pounds G ounces : .July 9 .luiV 10 . .riiiV 11 . July 12 .lulV 13 July 14 . July 15 . ToUl Date. Morning. Lbx. oz. 15 8 16 0 14 8 16 0 14 8 15 0 15 8 Xoon. Lbn. oz. 10 8 9 8 12 0 11 0 11 8 10 8 9 8 Night. Lbs. oz. 14 12 15 8 12 8 13 0 12 13 12 8 13 0 Total. Lbs. oz. 40 12 41 0 3!) 0 40 0 38 12 38 0 38 0 275 8 Guernseys in ilie Isle of Wight. — The Kev. W. A. Glynn, of the Isle of \Vij?ht, the well-known English breeder, says : My Oupiiiscys ar«; quite pure, auci I generally carry about oO to 40 head. I com- nicncttl Avitli llie breed twenty years ago. I register daily at each milking the quan- tity ot'niilk each cow gives, the annual average yield being G50 gallons, or, taking a gal- lon as weighing 10^ pounds, 6,82.5 pounds; but some of the cows yield SOO to 900 gallons a year. Two gallons, or 21 pounds, of milk make 1 pound of butter. I never make cheese, nor have I weighed a live carcass, but the average weight without head, skin, and oll'al, is about 740 pounds. The color of the Guernsey is lemon and white, and they arrive at maturity in about three years. The jiroduce of my cows is all sold as milk in the yard to a dairyman at a shilling per gallon. The annual average return is about dC32 10.s, while the cost is £l.'j. They have 4 ]»ounds of decorticated cake daily through the year ; from about May 1, to Christmas they run in the lields, and the rest of the year sleep in the open shed at night, and have 28 pounds of mangel and 12 ]»ounds of hay if fresh, the milk- ers in winter receiving an additional (5 pounds of bran. During .June, July, or Au- gust if the pastures are short they get vetches; from October to Christmas cabbage, and mangels from Christmas to Alay. I have lired with a view to useful and good dairy stock, but last year exhibited with wonderful success the cow "Vesta," which was shown four times. I won the 1st twice ; the IJd, once, and the reserve, Ijesides being once very highly commended. With another, which was also shown four times, I w(»n the 2d three times, and was very highly commended once ; also the "champion milking against 2:5 others once, and the lirst ujilking once. With my Inills 1 have also been very successful iu obtaining honors. I started with the best blood I could get in Guernsey, and I carefully breed for produce in quality and <[uautity. The (jiiality on analysis at the dairy show gave the specilic gravity as l.OolG ; total solids 14.25 ; fat, .').54 ; solids not fat, 8.71 ; percentage of cream by volume, 7..'), and drew special remark from the analyst as be- ing thi^ jiclust Bpecifiieu of milk. I find that the stock raised here arc far more hardy and do far better than when im- ])orted from Gueriisey. I inlinitely ])refer them, and only resort as seldom as I can to fresh blood from Guernsey. I carefully select my breeding stock, and do not force them, but kec]) them in good order. I find no dillicuity iu tinding purchasers, and as I receive many applications, I place theiu iu a book to bo entertained in rotation. Many gentlemen who have acted as jiulges of Channel Lslaiul stock at various sliows come to my herd to purchase. Our soil is a medium loam, ])art]y on gravel and partly on clay, much of which was recently laid down to pasture, but is not good for theino- ductioM of milk. The climate is good, I may say more temperate than in most parts of England, the altitude being from .50 to 150 feet above the sea, near to which we are. Record of a Guernsey herd in Sussex. — Mr. Nevill Wyatt, of Cuckfield, Sussex, who has taken such trouble with the Guernsey Herd-Book, says: I farm 12:5 acres of poor soil, called the Weald of Sussex, and it is the queerest mix- tnro of clay, sand, and gravel, as sometimes in the same lilli, liii( t lio dislaiices lict wcimi (Ik! diiiiiis vjiry. Tlie <(i\v- lioiisc is silu:itc(l on tlic iioilli sid*' of ;i liill, but i^o liijili lliat tlic miii siiincs on it all (lay, ridiii lilt- tiiiH" it rises lill it sets. Tlif lidnc iiiiou Avliicli tln' lanii is is siipiioscd to l><- tlic lucltiest hilt coldest spot lietwcen London and Jjii<;l)toi). As tlie crow Hies, I am al)out Ti iiiili'8 iVoni tlio Bca, and, with a southwest jiale, fioU is olteii driven with it, and the windows thereby aro streaked with the salt. I look on tin- Guernsey as a better animal all iMiiiid than the Jersey. It is hardier, and 1 have only lost- one, and th.at thn'iij;h eaneer, wliieh it had in the heart. The Guernsey irives iiiore milk' and it is erin.illy rieh, and Avheii done Avith sells tor more to the butelier. 1 sold at ojieu market, where Sussex and .Shorthorns are the usual run ofbeast, a live-year-old Guern- sey, which slipped her calfa ibitni^ht before, for £ld.5,s-. Jerstjya iu'thal ease fc^tcb from £.") tojCK. I have sold others at £!.'"> to £18. They do not fatlon ca.sily, but they always cut up far lietter than they look ; in fact, where a Shoithorn looks iat ouUkl'e, a (iuernsey i.v I'at inside. ily eattio are al> housed in a lari^e, woU-venlilated cow-shed from October or No- vember, accordiiij:j to weatJier, till there is a, good bite of i^rass in the spriii<>-. On j^rass they jret jter day each about 1 jiound of decorticated cotton cake. The year- liiijjs run out all winter, but have a shed where they can go to, and in winter-time tliHV get for food oat straw, and i'rom H to 2 pounds of linseed cake and locust beans in ec|ual jiroportions. 'i'lu- cows are fed :5 tinii's a day. In the morning and evening they receive each hay ami straw (oat) (hailed with ]tnlped roots, all steamed, with 1 pound of mid- dlings and I pound of maize meal mixed with it, and in the middle of the day they get hay and straw ehalf with puljxd roots, not steamed. In addition I give them, according to the milk they art; giving, liom 1 to 4 ]iounds of cake a day, y of «lecorti- calcd cake and * linseed, heifers with their liist calf only having linseed. I test the milk from tinieto time, and the average of cream is about 1.") iier cent. ; theloweist, and which only one cow gave, being 1'.} ])er cent., whilst thehighest waslH ])er cent.; but l.'> per cent. I calculate is a lair average. I calve my heifers down at any time from *Jl months. The fault! lind with Guernseysis in their bony and angular rump and short iiesa from hip bones to tail. I am trying to improve this, but lind it ditliciill to get bulls lo i)lease me. In addition, a great many have the tail sticking iij) too high. These things are what make a Guernsey look so thin, and it is hard to coverthese angulari- ties with flesh. I am in hopes, liowever, that 1 shall speedily inii)rove these ])oiiits, as I have a very good bull of my own breeding, and I shall put him to his own daugh- ters and with their ]>rogeny lirced out again. I only once tried a test with regard to butter, and that with not ncarlt/ my best cow. Shehadcalvedfi weeks before, and had just returm-d from a show ;ind was not milking well, but I wanted to make a rough guess at what a Guernsey could do. She made I'j pounds of butter in 7 days from 8'.> (piartsof milk. I have only known of one steer being fattened, but he made a nice beast, and was sold when oj years idd, in the beginning of Decemlier, lUS'.'t. He real- ized £'2'l, and as l)utch(!rs around lierc! are very jirejudiced, and will only look at Sus- sex and Shorthorns, I did not consider it a bad price. The following are particulars of my herd as submitted : jrroduction by quarts.] Name. 9 a o 191 2.'--9 172 262 ;./ a 181 224 ICC 258 300 .377 120 128 129 §350 5. < 183 197 191 29C 386 268 384 250 14 ci 192 179 170 274 353 255 342 382 179 261 65 a a 164 163 128 250 271 268 286 t3fi 117 148 279 11300 3 >-3 87 153 S te 28 o a (B P. o "A c 2 p 277 36P 291 403 H Koseliiid, IfiSl (aged) 229 300 2.'>5 363 "m Quarts. 1,4SI Koscl.ud, ] 882 2, 020 1,376 Tnpsy , a-jed 209 200 250 261 345 :292 128 24K 287 118 222 219 284 214 87 is;) 222 23 77 157 185 183 245 183 51 133 180 206 171 17 52 (dry) 2, 525 2, 064 Simhrain, lidcalf Goldbnd, 2d calf 123 *417 135 ]:)3 81 64 17 12 148 147 2. 000 2.012 Joan, .'(d ( alf Valontino.lst calf 143 144 125 125 8 192 171 140| 148 2, 765 1, 5.'0 Golden Loaf, 1 .-it cat f 1,210 ChanKelinj;. 1st calf 94 143 1.220 Gift lioifcr, ]Ht calf 1?3 124 139 180 247 282 278 1,444 Lailiirs daujthfor, heifer 2021 180 208 180 ill I'ortune, hoifer Mono.heifer 218 2.17 5-1 Cbei-no Pio, hcifor *15 qaarta. tl3 quarts a day. J9 J quarts a 4ay, ,.^ ^lli quarts a day. || 10 quarts a day. 128 CATTLIC AND DAIRY FARMING. Notes on i! uernsnj cattle hij a Gucrnnci) farmer. — Mr. Janu;s James, of (liKTiiscy, another brooder of consi«lerablc notoriety, sends the follow- in<;" remarks upon them : Tlifif c.-ni hv IK) more praotioal (picstioii connccltMl with Iniul tlKiii that which has ivfcri'iicti to the valiir of tlio rohibitions. Thus under no cirenmstaiiees v/hatevcr can there be any admixture of foreign blood, and the farmer can conse((iiently boast of a Itreed of (!attl(! eminently pure and distinct, beautiful in a])pearauee, and surpassed by no other in its distinguishing eliaracteristie. As regai'ds its original habitat, o[(inions dili'er very wididy ; we may, however, reaisonably infer that i1 had its origin in some ])art of the French continent. It is a matter of history that the islands of Jer.sey and Guernsey, as far back as tlio sixth ceutury, were united to the mainland by .'i single )>lank. This lireed of cattle has long l)een famed for its cream and butter producing (piali- ties, and it is also eminently adapted for the slnunbles \vhen, from age or other causes these valuable properties fail to Ix^ i)ro(itable. They are exipiisitely didicate in form, in color varying from light-red to lemon and orange-fawn, f)ecasion.illy black, almost all having a considerable admixture of white. In individual cases it is black, encir- cled with light-colored hair. The most a])provcd points of a Guernsey may be considered to he as follows: Head su;all but long; eye bright, lively, but placid ; horns small and well turned upwards, being tine, yellow, .aud waxy at tlie bases ; cars small and thin, with line thin hair and a de gohlen color inside; nostrils open ; neck long ami slciuler, tapei-ing towards th(! heiul ; shoulders thin; forei|narlers light; liml)s delicate; b;nk straight and broad behind ; tail fine and thin, set on at right-angles with the back ; \\u\c thin and mellow to touch ; carcass deep and well let down ; hindquarters full and largi^ ; udder capacious, broad, and siiuare, well in line with belly and stretching well forward, not lleshy, silky with tine down or hair ; milk veins very large and i)roniinent ; teals large and strutting ontwaids and well apait ; the general ligure eompacit, wedge- shaped ; skin tingiid with a deep oiange-yellow throughout, es])ecia!Iy nuirked inside the pastern joint. Totlu^se essential i)oints niiiy be added those tests .as shown by th(^ Guenon tluiory, and which when properly understood and ai)plied .are most valuable as indicative of niilk-jnodncing yvroperties. The opinion of the GneiTisey farmer is much divided as to wh.at may Ix^ considered the most .approved ])oints of the nnile animal. Some ])refer the bull wjiicli jiossesses many of the ))oints as approved in the female; others, those. of the more jna.sculine tyi)e. .Since the superiority of tin* Guernsey cow for dairy imrposes is ,so generally adnutted, we must not, I tliink, be guided so much in our selection by what m.ay be the approved ]>oints of excellence in the individual animal as by a knowledge of his jiarcntage, and this knowledge beconuis of still more imixat.mce wlien we consider that the male undoubtedly acts the principal paijt in Impressing his character upon the offspring. Of late years there has been a very marked improvement in the cattle throughout the island. The breeder has become more alive to the value of his cattle, and, stinm- lated by a very large and increasing demand both from England and abroad, he has devoted increased care and attention to the breeding and rearing of his stock. When! careful and intelligent breeding has heeii pursued, sele^-ting iitting sires and dams, a very nnirked and increasing excellency has heen stami)ed upon the progeny. I'^arlier maturity, increase of size, a more fully developed lacteal system, and k stronger coi.- stitntion have been the result, and with perseverance in such a course these essen- tials will beconu- iut(!nsified. Two herd-lKjoks have been established, one on the princi]dc of selection ami the . other in the form of a reyi.ster, aduuttiug wUhiu its P^ifjc's till cattle iu the ishuuU THE UNITED KINGDOM 129 Gient (lifiiciilties iiuist be expcrieuccil by breeders anil purehasers whilst these t\M> re;;isters are at variance with oiie another; instead of aflbrding inlbrniation and assistanee, eonfiision and perplexity mnst be eneonntered. As a ^ni(]<' to seleclin:; sires and dams a t:eu'>ral register will meet every reiiuirement ; the breeder will b7- enabled to traee the jiareutaj^e of any animal he may require, and to foiui his own jndj^ment as to its individual merits. Tlie Guernsey bein<;e'ssentially a dairy breed of cattle, it behooves the island farmer to devoto still more attentiou to the actnal yield of milk and butter by flic imlividnal members of his herd. Experiments and trials tendinj^ to elucidate this matter have been meaj^er in the extreme, and it is only in a very few eases that 1 have been able to obtain reliable information upon the subject. On some of the best land in the island a number of animals are still reared which are a discredit to those eonci-rned. At our annual fairs or markets the number of animals exhibiteil for sale are propor- tionately small. The cause why good and desirable stock is scarce is partly to lie attributed to this and partly to the lack of knowledge of good breeding. Too little .-iltention has hitherto been given to the use of good bulls; animals born from indilferent i)arents, and not possessing a single desirable (|uality, have been cou])!ed, very much to the detiiment of the otlspring. A good bull may lie used, bnt the farmer makes the mistake of employing inferior females. Tin; bull being capable of transmitting to his progeny his own peculiar properties, and whatever excellencies he may have inherited from his ancestors becoming marked in it, it will become nec- essary for the breeder who seeks to improve his stock to be carefnl to make a choiee of such animals whosi! jiarents have been endowed with thosi'. characteristic (juali- ties, and which he seeks to intensify in the oll'spring. The form, character, and de- velopment of the lacteal system of the females is no less important, and if it is ho])ed to arrive at. success in breeding one must follow out in ])ractice these ess(uitial prin- ciples of breeding. IJy thus selecting our breeding stock, and l)y a careful and gen- erous system of rearing the olispring, a verj' great and marked improvement in this valuable breed of dairy cattle will be the result. (9) K^RRY Cattle. The animal represeuted iu the accompanying engraviii;.; was, with seven i)icked heifers, selected from the <;elebrated lierd ol" the Knight of Kerry last s])riiig. Like his companions, he is Jet bhick, tlie et)l(>r of the purest strain. His height at shoulder is 3 feet Gi inches ; his girth at same poiut, 5 feet 7 inches. lie carries bulk for his size, with shape and symmetry, and stands a perfect picture, a model bull in miniature, showing all the recognized bovine points in strong development, with some that are peculiar to himself. The (pialities of the Kerry are as follows: (1) head rather snuill, l>alanced, and tai)ering; (2) cheeks clean ; (3) tliroat full and well set; (4) muzzle fine; (5) nostrils high, well placed, ami rather oi>en ; (G) horns well sprung, smooth, rather thick at base, but gently tapering, and tipped with black; (7) ears small, line, and of a pink-orange coKir within; (8) eyes mild and full; (9) neck straight and fine; (10) chest deep and broad; (11) barrel deej) and well hooi)ed; (lli) ril)s well home; (13) back even and straight from withers to top of hip; (14) back straight from top of hijis to setting of tail ; (1.3) tail long and hue; (10) hide of good color, slight, loose, and covered with soft hair; (17) fore leg short afid straight, full above the knee, fine below ; (18) hind- quarters M'ell tilled up; (10) hind legs not too close together and squarely placed ; (L'O) hoofs small; (21) udder well rounded, lull and capacious, in line with belly aiul well up behind ; (22) teats well placed, large, and rather far apart; (23) milk veins very prominent; (21) color, ricli black preferable, although there are some very good animals of other colors. Although of very small size, the cows yield a large quantity of milk, rich in cream ; they fatten fairly easily upon even poor pasture, and are certainly superior to all other breeds for hardiness and the j)ower of subsisting upon the scantiest herbage. 3Ir. Pier(;e Mahony says : I have now a good number, but most of them an; heifers with their first calf. Notwithstanding this, many of them are giving from eight to ten quaitsof milk a day U. Ex. 51 U 130 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. each, but it in iu tbo (luality of tho milk that tbry specially excel. I bavc not, a8 yet tested tbe milk of all, but anion-; tbose tried I baV(! found many to i)er cent, of cre.im, wliile one bas yone as bi per cent. 'J'liis, witb an averaj,'e live weigbt of from si.K to seven cwt., is,I tbink, a satisfactory result. An imi)orted Aldcrney, after lier ioiiitb or liftb calf, on tbe .s.ame pasture, is'only giving seven (juarts of milk, containing 12 i)er cent, of cream. Tlio pure Kerry is a graceful animal, witb finely formed limbs and a grand constitution, capable, I believe, of great development on good land. Mr. Richard Barter, au extensive farmer, breeder, and dairy-owner, says : Having a large dairy, witb a few pure Jerseys, and always 7 or H Kerries tbrough tbe stock, I can bear "testimony to tbt» great value of tbe Kerry as a cow, iu ])roi)or- ti(m to ber size, jind tbe amount aTid (luality of food slie consumes. Her i)oiuts are tbe following: Sbo yields a largo (luantity of ricb milk, is extremely bardy, is easily kept, is, moreover, docile, easily fatted wben doiiti milking, and is moderate in price. I know of no cow wbicli is so suited to families wlier(i only two or three :irc kept, or for ligbt, upland i)astures. I bave a large upland farm entirely stocked witb tbem. Mr. A. J. Kniglit, iu the following fact, supplies, in all likelihood, the reason which led him to from his herd : Last year I bad a Kerry cow given me, sent over from Kerry, wbere sbo had been much admired as a perfect specimen. This cow Vieat two valuable and lately im- ]iorted Guernseys here, jriviug a larger quantity of equally rieb inilk ; and, whereas the (iuernseys looked jtoor and miserable during the winter, the Kerry was always in good condition and bappy. All bad a mixture, iu {.■a[uh\ (luantitie.s, of best oil and cotton cake, at tbe rate of 5 pounds of the mixture to each cow per day. Professor Baldwin, the well-known Irish agriculturist, bears tliis tes- timony : The Kerry is siuall in size, exceedingly hardy, and can subsist on poor and ex])Osed pasture. It often bears a close resemblance in siz(^, shape, and color to the native cattle of Wales and Brittauy. The color preferred is black, with a ridge of white along tlie spine, and a white streak along tbe belly. Cattb; of true Kerry descent are met with of otber colors. Thus, I have seen them brown, black, and white, and black and brown. The horns are line, somewhat long, and turned u]»wards at tbe points. Th(! skin is soft, unctu(ms, and of a lino orange tone, which iis visible about the eyes, tbe ears, and t be nuizzle. The beef is tender, well marbled, and conunands the high- est i»rico in the market. The milk is peculiarly rich and well llavored, and the quan- tity of it yielded, even on hard faro, is so great that tho Kerry has been styled the poor man's cow. Professor Low observes, that in milking properties, the Kerry cow, taking size into account, is equal or superior to any iu tho British Islands. Mr. James llobertson observes : As Youat 1 says, t he Kerry may be truly described as the poor man's cow, living every- where, and tli<^ description is tiioroughly accurate. Tho Kerry will live and thrive in almost any climatci and temperature, on the site or summit of a Kerry Mountain or in the pDor unchained lands of the lowlands. I have nuide no extended ex))eriments and am unaware of any having been nuule, buii my experience of an average Kerry cow is that she will yield on an average 12 (juarts of milk per day, and 10 to 11 ([Uarts i»f milk will jiroilnce 1 jiound of butter. Cheese-making isiilmost unknown in Indiind. Tbe weight of the animitls when fat is from ^0 to 'M> stone, of 8 poumls, and tliey fre(iuently run up to4() stone. My herd is kept on jirimeold iiasture, which has been most Judiciously "laid down," l>ut tlie]>art the Kerry i)lays prominently in the agri- culture (if the country, is that they are bred by small farmers in the Kerry MouJitaius, wbiTe they have a ti-mperature and climatemnch resembling that of the Welsh Mount- ains, and are kejit in and about that district until they an* from two and a half to three years obi, when they are bought u)) in tho local fairs in Kerry, and elsewhere, for tbe riclierlanils of surrounding uistricts ; in fact, tbe ])0))ular ideais that if land is not good ennngli to fatten Shorthorn cattle, it will beoecniiied by Kerries. Considering the utter neglect with which the Kerry have been treated, no method wbat(!ver being followed by their breeding, it is a wonder they are not extinct long agf). They aie very easily kept. Two will consume very little more food than one large Shorthorn, and when crossed with it make both good dairy cows and butidier's beasts. My cb!iui])ion bull, Busaco, who has never been beaten in a show-yard and who obtained ten royal jirizes (flu* on(^ at Kilburn imrludcd), measured (iH inches in girth, ;{() inches in height, and '.'A inches from tail to top of shoulder. Tbe Kerry cat- tle arc extremely hardy, not liable to disease, aio handsome, docile, pretty iu the park THE UNITED KINGDOM. 131 or pathlock, ami excelli-iit, Idittci-uuikcrs. My c;iftlo aiii never housed, ei»\vs in milk i-Mt'pted, ami they seldom jiet anvtliiin? but grass and straw in winter. The poinls of the Kerry are, a small, neat, lively animal, ligjit round irame, narrow rum|is, line bone, lindjs I'atiier loiii;, line small head, keen eye, white npstandlnji horns, withblaek tips. The poimlar color is jet black, but a lew red and brindled ones sometimes ap- pear. We are indebted to Mr. K. O. Priu<;le,late editor of tiie Irish Fanners' Gazette, lor the lollowinj; : The Kerry cow is a neat, li,i,dit-niadc animal, with line and rather loni; limbs, line small head, lively cyo, fine white horn, which in many cases after projeetini;- forward is turned or cocked backward. The rump is narrow, and the thii^h linlit. The fash- ionable color is pure black 1 hroughont, but some arc black ami white, and others red. The skin should have a mellow touch, and be well coated with hair. TheDextng period, and other gentlemen in that part of Ireland have also devoted attent ion to t ho subject, but the reputation of the breed has been considerably enhanced by the in- terest which has been taken in it by various gentlemen residing in other parts of Ire- land, who have taken up the breeding of Kerry cattle, not merely as a fancy, but from the intrinsic merits of the breed as dairy stock. 3Ir. P. Chesnej, in givitig the results of very careful observation dur- in*,' his experience of the Kerry, says: My cows were kept on the same farm and fed on the same pastures as a uumbei- of Ayrshires, Shorthorns, and common cows, the only diflerence in their treatmenr being that the large animals used to receive supplementary allowances of bean-meal, cake, and other dainties which were found at times to bo necessary for them. I do not. speak from menmrj' as to the facts I am giving, having before me a register of 1 ho quantity of milk given by each of my cows, at that time 38 in number, during the DiontliB of one spring and summer, as also of the jjerceutage of cream as tested by t he factometer. I should observe, however, that the milk was only measured and tested one a week. The farm an which the cows were kept, situated in county Cork, consisted of souu) '.iOO acres of by tio means exceptionally good laud, part of it indeeil mountain, and other parts reclaimed bog, laid down in artificial grasses. Of cour.se some iielils were devoted to meadowing, and wo had considerable facilities for investigation, while others produced grain and root crops, more of the latter, however, than tho formei'. One kind of forage found especially useful, particularly for young stock, was French furze, which turned a piece of rough, stony ground into quite a profitable xdace. Up to the time of my going to tho farm it had not been the custom to keeji much cattle there, and the cows, although good ones, were of no particular breed. But as butter fetched a good price, especially when carefully made, and dairying was more l>rotitable iu that locality than other kinds of husbandry, the stock was soon largely increased and Ayrshires and Shorthorns introduced. At one time wo in fact had as many as GO milkers besides a considerable number of calves and heifers. Having a 132 CATTLE AND UAIKY FARMING htroiij; biisiiifiini, liowt'vt'r, contrary to tlio views of oiir ii(;i,t;libors, that tins littlo Murk cows of tlu'adjohrmfj; couiityw'ould provi- (|uito as serviceable and Jiiuch iiioie economical in onr ciivnnistaiicfs tiian the larger breeds, it was resolved to give them a fair trial, ami :is we decided to st:irt with good ones Ave made an expedition to Va- leutia and after inspecting the herd of tbe Knight of Ki^rry, became the owners of several good si)ccimens of his prize-taking stock, lint as these of course fetched somewhat higher prices, we also nnide some purchases from the farmers about, ini)ar- ticular that i>f one littUiheifer which became (jnite a celebrity. It was in autumn tiiat we made our ventun". and onr little favorites liaving been carefully driven honieantion of one of tliose bought from the Knight, which turned out a strip])er, almost all of them being three or four year old heifers, and this their tirst time of calving. Besides these pure Kerries wo also bought 3 half-breds, the result of the cross be- tween the Kerry and the Shorthorn which Mr. Mahouy so strongly coudemns, and I am bound to say that better milkers for their size it would bo diihcult to tind. One of them, moreover, was (piilo a beauty aud chosen on this account by an excellent judge who had some dilliculty in persuading her owner to part with her, amlIbeli(5Ve that a " first cross" between Kerry aud Shorthorn parents, possessing the requisite tpialificatious, produces a very useful animal for a dairy farm, especially if it bo one where the yield of grass is not very heavy, or where there is mountain grazing ; for these cows not only giv(; plcuity of milk up to au advanced age, but fatten nioro read- ily and prtxluct^ a larger amount of meat than the pure Kerry wheuovor it may be necessary to get I hem ready for the butcher. The young Kturies, tliri;e or four year olds, with their first calf, did not (any of them) milk more than ?i qiuirts in the day the first year, but those which wero two years older gave 12 and l;5 quarts, and oven as much as 18 (juarts soou after calving. A four-year-old half-bred, how^ever, gave 10| (luarts. Now, as our best Ayrshires, large, heavy cows, which consumed a great deal more fodder than the Kerries, never gave a greater yield than 1") quarts aud our heaviest milker among the Shorthorns uev(!r quite reached 20 (juarts, even when receiving bean-meal mashes, «fcc., in addi- tion to vetches and grass, I consider that the Kerries are decidedly the most profit- able, pacticularly as they are industrious little creatures, wandering ofi' to find food for thciuselves, and always contriving, if they meet with any fair troatmout, to keep •themselves in ])roi>er condition. A pure bred Kerry, too, with her sleek ebon coat and gracefully-shaped waxy horns, is a very pretty creature, and may almost challenge competition with her beautiful dove-colored sisters of the Pyrenees, though I doubt whether she would willingly suf- fer herself, as they do, to be trained to servile employments, and nuide either to plow and furrow or di'aw a cart of hay. Nor would it, in point of fact, bo at- all profitable to em|doy cows in this nuinuer if wo wanted them to give plenty of milk. Whether in > ears to come, i)easant farmers niay find it economical to use cows in that way is an- other matter. For my part, I believe that jennets, especially in Ireland, are better substitutes for the more expensivo e(]uine animal. As to the cicaui-produciug ([ualities of my cows, I found Shorthorns to give the lowest and connuou cows the high(!st percentage, Kerries and half-bred Kerries being secoufl best, and Ayrshires next to them in this respect. It is needless to alliule to a fact winch every observant j)erson who has to deal with cows will have noticed, that the yield (d'crcani often varies considerably with the same animal from one week to another, and that from no :ii)iir(!cialtle cause, when no difference has been made in the feeding, and there has been nothing, so far as one could see, in the state of the cow luirself to account for it. Of course, too, the creamometer is only a test of the quantity ami not of the ([uality of the cream, and I had no other way of judging of the latter, save by its iipparcnt richness or otherwise, which I used to note down. Taking, then, thes(! notes for what tlu^y nuiy be worth, I liiid that with one excoi)- tion, that of a seven-year-old cow, the cream from my Ayrshires was remarkably l»oor, that of the Short hojns little better, that ()f the Kerries took the next ]dace, and that the eommou cows gave the richest milk of all ; but I am bound to say that the latter were almost all aged, anared with that of the Alder- ney or the .Jersey. I imagine that THE tJNtTED KIN(;nOM. llV.] selection entirely to her remarkable a])iiearnnee. Lnokinfi; out of the window at my hotel one nH)rning I saw a collection of animals which had been bronijht to<;elhor lor the inspection of the tcentlemau, who, it was to he hoped, would he solt en((n)>h to buy np'auythinj^ that was presented to him as a " rale Kerry,'' and singled out from tho j^ronj), and as it seemed iii the act of being purchased, was so queer a specimen, that, running down stairs in alarm, and appearing on the scene of action, 1 began to re- monstrate against the transaction. My protest, however, availed not. Cockle, as she was soon appropriately named from having been bought by the sea-shore, was selected for her oddity, and sent home with the rest, being not nmch to speak of as to body, but the owner of along pair of wide-spreading horns that might almost have graced the head of a Spanish cow. Needless to remark, she was ri'ceived by the cow-herd with little favor, and barely tolerated about the place as "master's fancy." By-and-by heavy trouble coming down npon the occupier of that farm, a, change of residence was resolved njion and most of vhe live stock sold; but a men* nothing being oft'ered for Cockle when she came to the hammer, she was bought in and removed, as I before said, to the north, where, after producing her sec^ond calf, the despised Kerry proved so excellent a milker, giving 20 quarts at hrst, and never, 1 believe, going below 1'2 or 14 until .just running dry — her butter also being very riasture. The more Short- horn l)lood that is introduced the better the cattle must bo cared lor, whereas, if the better care be bestowed on the Kerry breed the results will be more satisfactorj^ for dairy purposes, and ultimately qnito as jjood as regards increased size. The following are the results of some experiments carried out on the British Government's model farm at Kingwilliamstown, and will be read with int^erest. The elevation of the farm is about 800 feet, the pasture fine, the situation ex[)osed, and the climate moist. The experiments were conducted for the purpose of ascertaining the relative value of Galloway, Ayrshire, and Kerry cattle for dairy pui'poses. The conditions, however, were not quite equal, inasmuch as the Kerry and Galloway cattle were heifers witli their first calf, whereas the Ayrshire were with their fourth calf. The cows were all wintered on tho farm, and from the published report it would api>ear rhey had nothing but hay. The quantity consumed by each breed was carefully noted. Each Galloway consumed 214 pounds a day, each Ayrshire 24| pounds a day, and each Kerry, IG^ pounds a day. From this it would seem that the Kerry is easier fed than most breeds of cat- tle, and this assumption is supported by the opinion of those most con- versant with the breed. As regards the relative size of the breeds the report states that the Galloway cattle when fat would make about G cwt.,the Ayrshire .'icwt. to .5.] cwt., and the Kerry 4 cwt. The milk was measured and manipu- lated separately from tlie time of calving to the 17th of Juno, and as regards quantity, with the following result : Each Galloway cow gav<^ average of G| quarts a day; each Ayrshire gave an average of 0 ((uarrs a day; and each Kerry gave an average of 7:[ quarts a day; tho Kerry and Galloway giving these quantities after tlieir first calf, and the Ayrshire after their fourth calf. The same Ayrsliire cows, thrci} years earlier, a,fter having had their first calf, gave only 7.\ quart a. day <'ach ; that is, ouly half pint more tiian the Kerry cows under the same conditions; so 134 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. that if wo take the winter feeding as a fair test of the relative ])ropor- tion of food required bv each breed, tlui ]<:err.Y cattle gave a larger yield of milk for the food consumed than either of the other breeds. It was, how- ever, in the quality of the milk that the Kerry cattle especially excelled. It took 9.J quarts of milk Irom Galloway cows to make 1 pound of butter, 104- quarts of milk from Ayrshire cows to produce 1 pound of butter, and 8^- quarts of milk from the Kerry to make the like quantity. It would be most interesting to obtain an accurate record of the prod- uce of Jersey and Kerrv cows under similar circumstances, but ad- mirers of Kerry cattle coidd hardly expect their favorites to make more than a decent stand against the Jersey cattle, seeing that the latter have been carefnllv selected for their dairy qualities for generations, whereas the pure Kerries have only saved themselves from extinction by their extreme hardiness and power of existing on the poorest moun- tain pasture. It is claimed for the Kerry that it possesses inherent merits of a very high order, and that these merits are apparent in a large percentage of the individuals of the breed. By carefully selecting good annimals, and bi'oedinafroDi them only, there is no doubt that the breed can be raised to great prominence. It will always be specially suited to light lands, but when farther developed, it will be found to give a fair return for better feeding. (10) Ayrshire Cattle. History. — The Ayrshire breed of cattle, a race of dairy stock of rare uniformity of stamp and character, have long been in existence as a breed distinguished from all others. As their name bears, their origin is traceable to the county of Ayr, in Scotland, but the date of the early development of the breed (early it must have been) is uncertain. Mr. Acton, of Strathaven, in his report on the county of Ayr in 1812, refer- ring to the adage — Kyle for a man, Carrick for a coo, Cunningham for butter and clieese, And Galloway for woo, says that it is of unknown antiquity, and certainly much older tlian the l^evolution. Kyle, Carrick, and Cunningham correctly describe the feat- ures of the three divisions of Ayrshire. Cunningham, the northern dis- trict, was remarkable for dairy farming, the stock consisting of the kind long familiarly known as the Ayrshire breed. The parish of Dunlop is the ])rincipal one in the northern district, and Colonel Fullerton, in his report on the county of Ayr, dated November, 17D3, referring to the Ayrshire cattle, says : Tliov wero ori<;iua]ly long known as llio Dunlop breed, cither from the ancient fam- ily in Dunlop Tarish of that name, or the parish itself, in which they were first bronchi to iierfcction, and where still continues a greater attention to milk-cows and dairies Ihan in any other part of Scotland. The antiquity of the breed, dating back many centuries, is thus clearly indicated, and not less the fact, with which its history has from the earliest period been associated, that attention in breeding has always in a peculiar degree been directed to those characteristics which indi- cate the qualities of producing milk. In this manner the distinctive chara(;ters of the race as being the most noted class of dairy cattle has been established. Attention in the end of last century w^as directed to the breed tlirongh the large number of exhibitions which were fornx'd for the purposes of promoting and iujproving the breed. They weie ■tJji; THE TIXITED KIXODOM. l.'^f) the first and at tlic timo, the only native bived of sto<*Ic in Scotland wliicli the National AiiTicnltnral Society usby, (I miles from Glasgow. Color. — The ])r('vailing color is brown and white, spotted, llecked, or mixed with white, but inclining, as a rule, mostly to the brown. Many l)ree Hank ; whole body set on short legs ; long hair; soft, mellow skin ; line bones; whole contour level; body full of substance and symmetry; animal sprightly, witii fine esinitcheon, and showing nobilily and gran- deur of gait; in cows the milk-vessel should be broad betwixt hind legs, well caught up to body, large and level on sole of vessel and ex- teiKJing forwards far on to iM^Ily ; teatswell and i)roi)ortionately i>lan{ed. Mninritjj-asmilLcr.s. — The Ayrshire cowsareat full malnrily i)y produc- ing a calf the mouth in whicli they reach three years of age, but many 130 CATTLE AND DAinv IWinilNO. brooders, liowovor, oliooso to luivo thcii' lioifors in milk a! two yoars of age. In my ox])erionoo this retards tlio jj^rowth and Cull development of the animal, alike in size of carcass and milk-prodiiciii.n' power, biu not to any very great extent unless the heifer is kept too long a-milking. The commercial average value of calving cows, taken all the yearrounil, as sold in markets and at public sales for dairy i)urposes is about £21. Such cows when done with at the dairy fatten well on grain alone and average in live weight 8i cwt. Cows destined for dairy purposes are never highly fed till they are in milk — grass alone in summer, and hay or straw alone in winter. It is considered that they thus develop their milk-vessels and milk properties much better. Maturity as meat-producer a. — Statistics show to what perfection the breed might attain if cultivated for purely fattening purposes. Mr. Lawrence Drew, of JNIerryton, lately exposed and sold a large number of calves, ten months old and then sucking their mothers, at from £18 to £25. I have sold in Paisley by public auction a two-year-old heifer to the butcher at £30. Two oxen of the breed exhibited some years ago by the Duke of Montrose gained the first prize at the national show as the best fat animals. They were aged, respectively, five and a half and four and a half years, and being of uncommon weight were sold to the butcher for £120. Two-year old oxen of the breed fatten well on grass alone, without cake, and average 20 stone. Bulls reach their full .growth at three years, and exhibit in a pre-eminent degree when fed all through these years the weight to which the breed might attain. The average live weight at that ])eriod from my experience is If} cwt,, dead weight 11 (!Wt. At five years of age I had one killed at Y^)rk tiiis year — winner in his class — live weight 10 cwt., dead weighf l.j cwt. The bulk ol bulls in this country are fed off and killed at two years and nine months. They average in dead weight 21 stones. Iloufiiny and handliwj Ayrshires. — The breed is an exce])tioimlly hardy one, so far as climate is concerned, for many, if not the majority, of breeders allow their calves and one-year-old heifers to hiy out all win- ter, merely sheltered by natural ])lantations and receiving one sheaf of straw or hay each i)er day. For my i)art T find they do extieinely well in. this manner and start growing far earlier in the spring than those pam])ered in houses. All exhibitors of the breed contrive, although l)utting the animals under roof, to have them in open and exposed liouses so that they may come out well haired. Bulls of all ages are gen(n-ally kept in loose boxes, ])art of the box only being roofed. Calv- ing and mil(;hc()ws are always kept in well-ventilated byi'es. The breed, as a whole, is an extr/r:ihires. — As I have said, young cattle are never better than when till two and one-half years of age they never see a halter, giving tluun milk foi- tw(> months as calves, tlien grass; in winter, one tnrn per day of hay or straw laid down on a clean bit of ))asture, with ])robably tlu^ addition of some little oil-cake. For show ]>uri>oses I tind the best feeding is, tor both morning and evening, cut bog hay steeped with bran and warm water, with one handfnl of bean meal, and in the middle of the day pulped turnips or oil-cake and bog hay. What we aim at is cold feed- ing. They shouldbe given the very smallestcpiantity of meal andoil-cake, as they in my experience, tend to put on llesh upon the neck, and thereby spoil th(^ first point in the breed, viz, a thin neck. I have a year-old bull THR UNITED KlNCnOM. 137 just now, or rather agod ono year and six months, ITe won eij^hl fust j)rizes hist year, incladinft* the royal, and never saw meal or oil-cake till January, 1884. His rirst show turn out this year will be on 11th A])ril next. Milch cows in summer as a rule receive notliiiig for five months but grass ; but some very few give them a little bean meal at milking time. In winter milch cows require warm feeding; cut hay boiled wiMi turnips and bean meal is the most common. Brccdlnx] Ayrshircs. — The great aim of breeders has been to perfect the race for dairy purposes, and that quite irrespective of size ami substance of body. We have been contriving through many years i)ast to breed milk vessels irrespective of bodies. What we want is a brotid milk ves- sel behind, well caught up to the body, with long reach onto the body and level sole, with teats not over large, well and evenly set on milk vessels, and having' broad points. That is almost all which has been looked at for a long- time, and really breeders have suffered considera()ly. Such animals have not as a rule commercial value. Many now see the folly and are breeding large, substantial bodies irrespective of milk vessel. One consideration has militated against breeders being so generally successful in i)roducing perfective milk vessels in the fact that the ani- nnUs are not in milk till three years of age, till in fact they have i)roved themselves, and then probably the bidl is dead — an animal which might have been of incalculable service to the herd. Few keep their bulls, ex- cept for show purposes, over two years. Above that age breeders con- sider they are rather heavy for the cows and leave calves which are sore on the cows. The bulk prefer stirks to any othei- age for their cows. In my experience this is wrong. The bnll leaves the inqtression, and when one gets a good one keep to him. I had one five years ohl, and as a three-year old he bulled 80 cows and 80 as a two-year old and more as a five-year old, and no man living can say he ever left a bad one. lie was a true strain himself, and hence the results. Ois progeny have been all the leading winners the last few years and will be this year again. We must and will now aim at breeding more for size and sub- stance of body. The Ayr shires as millers. — We are not great statisticians, but the dairy show iuLondon proves that for quantity and quality of milk the Ayrshire beats all breeds. Mr.Ferme, from his Ayrshire dairy in South London, with animals bought in the district of I'aisley, is now almost annually the winner of the lord mayor's cup for the best dairy cow in the show. That prize is tested by quantity and quality. I Imve an average of a cow for two years in succession giving 11,100 pounds of milk i)er year, and of 12 little cows in the five grass months of sum- mer giving 480 pounds of milk per day, I should say that in a fairly good dairy the average pounds of milk ])er year would be 10,000 ])ounds. 1 have tested cows in midsummer and found they gave 12 pounds per week of butter, and a fair average for the year would be 400 i)oun(ls, providing always that good grass in summer is given and good feeding in winter. Near populous places many farmers sell their own milk and butter from the cart. They realize per cow about £21 ])er aninim ; and a bulk of the farmers in the district of Paisley let their cows for the year on lease. The party who takes them on a lease is called a " Bower," and is supplied with grass for the cows in summer and food in winter. lie milks the cow, supplies his own utensils, horseand cart,and ]>ayson an average, jut annum ])er cow £18. As I have, snggested, statistics are scarce, and exact data as to the quantities of milk requireil to make a 1P„S CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. poimd of bnttor and a pound of clieeso have probably not been recorded- My daiiy-wonian, however, tells me that a fair averai,'e ()unds. A cow fattens cpiicker and to a greater degree of i)erfection than any of the rival breeds for the dairy. The soil in Ayrshire, where the breed was brought to per- fection, is of a stiff, clayey nature, exhibiting throughout a. substratum of limestone, coal, or iron-stone. ISTear the coast it is sandy. In Ren- frewshire the soil is variable, some parts being of alight nature with a rocky bottom, and others being like that where the breed was perfected, of a stilV, clayey nature. The grasses chiefly cultivated— nay solely — are i>er«'nnial : rye grass, timothy, and red clover. The Ayrshire cattle have never, like some other breeds, been used for draft i)ur])Oses. They are too beautiful and ])rolitable to be ap- l)lied to such ])urposes. A fact, and a scientitic one, too, is that the milk of the Ayrshire is healthier and sounder than that of any other breed, while it keeps fresh for a longer period and is more easily di gested. Experience of Ayrshire breeders. — Mr. David Allan, M. R, C. V. S., who has had considerable exi)erience among Scotch dairies, says: A good Ayrsliiro cow will give aniiualiy about 7r)0 gallons of milk, wliicli will pvodnco al>out27r> ]i()un(l.s of butti'.r ornfiO potiiids of cii(!(isc.. !t, however, doen not arrives al. iiia- liirity for full milking until live yearn, although three years is reckoned to l>e th<5 age. When at maturity at that age (tiirec years), the live weight of a good heifer is about 1 1 cwt. and the dead weiglit of tlesh about r)| to (> cwt., to which, in the ease of :i luill or ox, add a liftli. The soil is mostly of a light red iimrl on limestone, or sandstfuie. The grasses that are cultivated are chielly rye grass, timotliy, and the dift'crent clovers. I do not know of any Ayrshires being used for the purposes of ral dairy cows by judicious .idmixtnro of the good <]u;ilities of both. For milking and feeding I certainly prefer ii cross by the Shorthorn bull with the Ayrshire cow to the ])uro breedof either, simply because it generally milks eipial to tho Ayrshire ;ind b<'tter than the Shorthorn, and feeds equal to the Shorthorn and better tlian the Ayrshin^. In carrying this out in pr.actic'\ I generally buy Ayrshiie cows jind ])ut them to a, pnro Shorthorn bull, keeping the cross female c.-ilves for my own stock and si^lling tho males in tho feeding districts, where they bring a ))rice erinal to that of any other. By this means I consider I make the nuist out of the good (jualities of botli. (11) Aberdeen or Angus Poll. Mr. Clement Stephenson, well known as a large prize taker, says : Having for many years been engaged in a hirgo veterinary practice, witli special opportunities for forming an opinion on the merits of tho ditierent breeds of cattle from .a professional point of view, and having for tho last eleven ye.ars i>een a farmer and feeder of stock, 1 bclicvo this breed of cattle stands pre-eminently forward both to the farmer and tho butcher as being hardy and healthy, a good inilker, both in f[uautity and ((uality, easily fed, a good beef ijroducer, coming early to maturity, and highly i>rized by butchers. Having devoted considerable attention to feeding cattle, both for market and show purposes, I was often struck with the excellent specimens of the Aberdeen cattle I saw, and I resolved to give them a lK-ial. In the spring of 1877 I bought a young heifer of tho breed in Buchan, Aberdeenshire, and, although only in ordinary condi- tion when purchased, she improved so rapidly that, at Newcastle fat stock sliow, Dci- cember, 1S77, she took first prize in a class forheifersof any age; and. atthc^Smithficld show, 1878, she obtained first in-ize in her class and Avas reserve nu ml )ei' for the Scotch cup. A second heifer, which I bought from the same breeder, took a siunlar ])osili()n in tho Northumberland and Smithfield shows of 1880. In SepTend)er, 1880, I boughr. two yearling Polled steers from Mr. Bruce, Mid Clova, and with one of these siiut out to show on November 14, 1881, when only two years eight mouths and nine days old, weighing 19J cwts., I gained first prize at Norwich; first at Leeds ; second at Bir- mingham, in class for steers not exceeding four years of age; and second at Smilhlicld to Sir W. G. Curaniing's champion ox. With the other steer, I obtained tirst at York and second at Hull. The progress these pure Polls made in weight and t he high ]tiice they sold for, in comparison with specimens of other breeds I was feeding and show- ing, convinced me that they possessed all the good qualities tho lato Mr. McCombie claimed for tho breed. In my tirst season, when I had pedigree Polled cows, I was much struck with their .aptitud(^ to fatten. They were grazing in tho same fields with other well-bred colored cows, all were suckling calves, and while theblacks were fullof llesh and in sjjlendid condition their fellows were so lean that I had to instruct my baililf to give them a, liber.al supply of cake. The more I .see of this breed of cattle the more 1 am con- vinced of their great value. They are, it is well known, a1>lo to live and look well on !i poorer class of land than many other breeds, and yet they repay, in a very marked degree, any attention they may receive either by putting them on good land or giving them extra feeding. TJiero IS another and most valuable advantage these cattle possess, namely, their remarkable freedom from tubercular disease — a disease that has cau.sed great loss and made s.ail havoc in many a herd, and a disease, the importance of which in a nu'dical jioint of view (viz, its commuuicability to man), is now attracting mueh attention. Of course I cannot assert that it has never been known or seen in this breed of cattle ; but this I can s.ay, that .although I have had speci.al opportunities for rescircli, anurgh expressed the opinion that "the highly improved ])ortion of this much famed breed is not surpassed by any other description of cattle, in the equal way in which the fat is mixed and diti'used over every part of the animal, or in yielding to the butcher a greater quantity of prime meat in proportion to the weight of the carcass." In conclusion, I may say that I think it a gn^at mistake to coniiuo them to one coloi — black. They were formerly of many colors besides, such .-is black with brown muzzles and brown streaked backs, red, yellow, and brindled. Long as they have been l>red to black, they still throw reds and yellows, whi(^li are discai-ded as unfash- ionable, while, as every breeder of domestic, aiiimalii kno\^•s, ofF-eolored and mis- marked produce is often the best in other respects. Variety of color is ]>!easing to the eye, and if the ignorant idea that red and yellow Polls show impurity of Idood were gf)t rid of, herds mixed in color would soon bo common and admired. THE UNITED KINGDOM. 141 It is claiinctl, says J;iiuos Maciloiuild, tliut the iiordit rii Pol Is .surpass all other races of cattle ill the production of beef. Ou that point tiieie is, of course, considerable dilVereuce of opiuii)n, for at the present day, wlie.; the beel-|)roducin,!r pi'i)i»crti(!S of our other leading breeds, notably the Shorthorn and Ilerelonl, have been developed to so high a degree, it could not be expected that, with anything like unanimity, any ono breed would be accorded the jtreniier positic that as it may, the i'olled Abtudeen or Angus breed may, perhaps, be said to be inferior to noni' as all-iouiKl lu'el- cattle, and superior to all others in some resi)ects. The brilliant and nnr(|ualed position it has latterly taken, alike in the show yard and market jdace, snlliciently establishes its claim to that description. It may be m)ted that at the I'aris Exhibi- tion in 187d it carried off every single honor for which it was entitled to comixte, in- clinlingthe £100 prize for the best group of b«M'f producing cat tie in the exhibition, and that in British show yards, both as fat stock and breeding, it has attained to a lead- ing position. In a strictly butcher's i)oint of view, it has seldom to y i(dd to any other race of cattle. The superiority over most other breeds, for thobutclu-r's purpose, lies mainly in the excellent quality of beef, and in the high perccntaiio of dead meat to live weight. As a rule, the beef of the northern Polls is verywell niixcMl, and contains a greater proportion of compact, finely-grained llesh, and less soft, coarse, fat than most other kiiid« of beef. Inside, the carcass is usually well lined with lat of the iinest quality, w^hilo in the density and quality of the carcass itself the breed may fairly enoiigli claim the premier position among all our leading breeds of cattle. Some i)laci; the small Devon breed alongside^ if not even before it, in this respect; but with that exception, jirobably, uo other breed in the British isles will, on an average, yield so high a percentage of dead meat to live weight. In butcher's ]>hraseology it "dies" well aud "cuts up" admirably. In all the leading f;it-stock markets in the coun- try the breed is held in high estimation, and generally commands the highest pri('es, in fact, usually a higlier price in coniiiarisou to its size and live weight than any of the other leading breeds. This is especially the case at the great Smithlield Christ- mas market in Loudon, where the plump compact Polls from the north never fail to lind a ready sale at the highest quotations. The Aberdeen Poll is not a milking breed, being especially cultivated for beef, and it has been found impossible to obtain (igures with any degree of accuracy showing the quantity of milk given per cow, or the butter and cheese value of the milk. We cannot indeed hear of a single case in which a more than ordinary dairy is comjxised of this race. With regard to size aud weight for age, a few (igures from the last Sinithfield show will bo found a sufficient guide. The iirst-prizo steer at the ag(i of two years ten months w^eigllcd 10^ cwt., and second-prize at saiiKs age IG cwt. The lii'st-prize steer at three years eight months weighed 21 cwt., and the second, at thre<'. years six months, 18i cwt. The first-prize heifer at two years eight months was 17J cwt. The Birmingham show figures -were as follows: The first-prize I'olled steer at the age of three years eight months weighed 18^ cwt., and the second-i)rize at (he same age 20J cwt. The first-prize heifer, also of the same age, weighed 1G3- cwt., and the second, two years eleven and three-fourths mouths, ISf cwt. This race is perhaps the best of all others for ';rossing with the Shorthorn ; indeed, the most marvelous specimens of cross-breds shown at the London and Birmingliam shows are always of this cross. At the latter place the first prize steer, aged thn^e years seven months, weighed 18 cwt. The first prize steer, aged two years eleven months, was 17^ cwt. ; and the second jn-ize, two years eight months, ITj- cwt. Thu first prize steer at two years five mouths weighed 14^ cwt., and the second at on year eight months gave the marvelous weight of IG-i cwt. At the London show ono of the prize cross-bred steers at twcnity months weighed 115 cwt. The iirst ])nze steer at two and three-quarters years weighelowing and break- ing up new kind. Aberdeenshire was mostly reclaimed by tho '• twal oxen plow," managed by two men, "a plowman and a gausmau," and au old saying illustrates best how farmers thrived in olden times, viz : "Ho that by the plow wad thrive Maun either baud or drive." That is, must either hold the plow or drive the oxen. The system of feeding varies somewhat in different localities, but the following is the most common, viz : From 1st to 10th May to middle of October tho cattle go out on the' grass in inclosed tields, but feeding-cattle are turned into the house a mouth ear ier. From the middle of October to May the cattle in Aberdeen and Baulfshire are generally tied u]) by tho neck. In Moray and Inverness, north of Aberdeen, young cattle are fed in covered courts. Tho feed, in each case, turnips and oat straw only. In some cases young heifers and bulls get from l.V to 2 pounds of linseed cakedaily after weaning till early spring. Tho reason so little is known as to tho milk-producing properties of the race is because tho calves mostly all suckle their dams from tivo to six months, when the cows are allowed to dry off. (12) Shetland Cattle. Perhaps the least-known race of cattle in Great Britain is the Shet- land, which is by no means a largo one, and is almost eutirely in the hcinds of one great nobleman, the Marqnis of Londonderry. We are unable to obtain au illustration of the cattle, but we are iudebted to to Mr. Brydon, the popular steward of the marquis, for the following particulars. He says : I am unable to give statistics as to tho capabilities in tho dairy of the Shetland cattle, but I know that when well fed they are good milkers and that tho milk is rich. We use them chiefly for nursing calves, and wo cannot get cows of any other breed on which they do so well. I can give lots of instances of this, but, at tho mo- iiient, I remember one in particular. Wo had on the farm a little Shetland cow^ which calved about the 1st of .June, and as she seemed to have a lot of milk we procured an- other calf and made her nurse the pair. Both calves were sold by auction wIkmi eleven months old, and the ]iair realized £43, the ijurchaser being a butcher. Of course the cow had cake and mcval during the winter. The first cross from a Shet- land by a Shorthorn bull also makes a very good cow. . Tho native homo of the Shetland cattle is, as might be supposed, the Shetland Isles, which an^ situated between 59° 51' and 60° .^)1' north latitude, and 0° 41' and 1'^ .W west longitude. Tlie rocks aro all primary, gneiss, granite, quartz, and stone slate being tho ])revailing formations, but in some parts tliero is a coarse variety of tho old red sandstmio and conglomeration. A great part of the surface! is covered with jieat, though there are generally green patches close to tho .sea. The hills aro not high, only one in the whole group measuring 1,400 feet. Tho temperature is higher in winter and lower in summer than that of tho Scottish mainland, the mean being stated as 4.0° 5'. Grass grows luxuriantly for a short time iu summer, but in winter and spring, the islands present a bare, barren appearance. The cattle have a hard life of it through, and as calves thej'^ scai'cely get any milk, that being kept for other puri)oses. In spring they are so reduced with poverty that any one not ac(iuaiiited with them could hardly suppose it possible they would come round, and yet a short time on coarse keep makes them look fresh and well. I have seen them thrive well on pasture where otlu-r and liner-bred cattle could not live. As may be rxpected, the treatmenr to which they are subjected stunts their growth, but if well fed when young they become very little less than other breeds. THE UNITHl) KINGDOM. 1-13 (13) Wk.ST riKjlILANDER CATTLE. As :'. milker, iH)ssibly llic West Ilijililander cow lias, not iimcli of a reputation, yet whatever milk slie uives is exeeeiiinjrly rieli, and the men who are reared in a Iliuhland <;leii,oii ijood West Hiuidaml ereaiii and some oatmeal bannoeks, have litth' indeed to comi)lain about. As to its beef, as is well known, it is the best to be found in the London market, and always commands as ready a sale as the best iShorthorns, Herefords, Galloways, or Polled. Thoui^li the West 1 Highlanders thrive better on tln'ir native heath, they do very well in the South, and many of their admirers have displaced the deer from their i)arks and substi- tuted the sliainions of all the noted breeders, together with sonu^ slight history of the most noted herds. Chdrarteristics of West Ilif/Jiland cattle. — The bead shoidd be beauti- fully ])r()porti()ned to the rest of the ainmal; the tine head with a larjje tufl of hair on it; the nostrils i'ull ; the eyes large and licpiid. There should be a proportionate breadth betwixt the jaw-bones behind to the large forehead in front. The horns should be lengthy, and showing what is called blood to the very point; they shouhl come level out of the head, iiu-lining forwards and upwards; m the cow they should rise up with a graceful slope. Some breeders do not care for the horns to rise npwards, being of opinion that the less rise there is the better. I'erfection in a cow's horns is of two kinds, according to taste, but some l)refer them to come out level from the head, with a i>eculiar back-set curve and a wider sweep. In the bull the horn should be decidedly strong, and what is termed sappy. Some are of opinion that when tiie horn droops suddenly from the crown to where the n[)ward curve com- mences it is a sign of weak back. The cow's horns rise sooner from the hea."), fri)in stock i)urchased at Castle Crai^unish and in the island <»f Shnna. The annual sale of the Poltalloch draft affords o])i)()rt unities to breeders who may wish to establish similar herds. At Benmore there is also a fanums herd which was fDrnied in the years 1873 and 1870, by selection from the then famous herd of jNIr. John Stewart, Bochastle, Callender, includiniii; the celebrated bull Don- achadh Ban Xan Oran and the cow Phrisiaj:;' '2m\. The former won the first prize at the Highland Society's Show at r^dinburjih in 1877, and also first i)rize at the great show in Paris. The cow mentioned also won first honors wherever exhibited, and her victories include a first prize at Paris. While at the latter exhibition the famous bull was admired by Rosa Bonheur, who subsequently painted his portrait for Mr. Duncan. The Breadalbane herd which was dispersed in 1862, on the death of the late marquis, was reformed under the late earl in 1871, with pur- chase of some stock at the Urlar sale mentioned, Urlar being* indeed close to Tayraouth Castle. Some of the old Breadalbane cows were also secured by Mr. Dunn, his lordship's manager at Kenmore Mains, also the second prize Iligland and agricultural bull Ossian, bred by the Duke of Athole, Since then the herd has been increased by sev- eral selections from the Bochastle and Poltalloch herds, the present earl taking an interest in it. Amongst other noted herds are those of the Duke of Athole, Lord Dunmore, Mr. Stewart, Duntulm. Mr. Stewart, of Tigh Duin, Killin, is one of an enthusiastic family of breeders who have stuck to the West Highlander for several generations. Indeed the history of the West Highlander is interwoven with that of the family. That the West Highlander has a future before it ma^iy good judges think. Its beef is the richest in the market, and in these days of quan- tity, quality is certainly worthy of consideration. A herd book is being got up for them by Lord Dunmore, and, though its Gaelic may be al- most untranslatable, in the long run it will spread its popularity. The West Highlander, grand as he is, does not yet suit the views of the butcher, and Mr. Dykes admits that although this is the case he is being brought back to his ancient self among Scottish cattle nobility, and is yearly the wonder of the Londoner at the annual Sniithfield exhibitions. Mr. Drummoud Moray, of Blair Drummond, Stirling, a famous ex- hibiter of the race, says: Highland cattle are iiot bred here, but arc bought, in at from eighteen to thirty- months old for the purpose of being fattened, floifer.s at the age of three and a Iialf years will, with ordinary feeding and 4 pounds of cake per day for the last three months, feed up to 5 or 5* cwt. That is the weight of the carcass of beef after being slaughtered and dressed." Oxen of the same age and fed in the; same way, witii a littlo additional cake during the last three or four mouths, will feed up to fully 7 cwt. of beef. These weights can be attained at an earlier p<-riod by giving better lood and commencing the cake earlier, or the weights may be very much increased by keei)ing on the animals for another year, but as a rule it pays best to fatten Highland cattle off the grass when they are' about three and a half years old. Many excellent ani- mals of this breed have been fed here for show purposes, the weight of which when slaughtered came up to 12 or l^^cwt. of beef, but these were generally four and a half years old or a month or two more. The propf)r( Ion of beef to th-* tUe West qimntil.v of milk, vef [rrich ^nnutfrn'*' ."'''■'' «',™ "" «""'*■ and follow them Li foot iu s™u„. er'"'^L'fbre^d afatmu' flU'' """?' animals are used for draft purposes of whi/. Ari IT' .^^ °^ ^^® sold when two years old ' ^ ^""^ breeding are generally (14) Galloway Cattle. liorns. He afBrms that where a i)ure well bred Ganotv.v.^^ .^ «n r? V ?^^^ '"^ ""? ^'"^'^^ ^^ '^^^^tes, except perhaps the West Ili<.I,li, di so peculiarly fitted for exposure to extremes of heat and cold ex ,er e/Z^ed n many parts of the Western States, where a large nuXr of Stl^ave ani L'^ f "'' T'^r'' ^?^ ^'''^ ^« ^'«^ ^ ^^^Pital beef pm lud,^^^^^ Inlltl '^\ *'; ''^'^"''^ ^^^^ "^ ^^'^^"t ^^^r« l^reeders have bee. dS i. in ?nTf ^' ^7^r^ ^'"' quality before the notice of the p^^l hc^ ^W^ur ^^^''? ""^ '^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^""^ '^e refers to the way n ihich n^le a name^?or ?t' ^Tll^f the Polled Angus breed into theVorld anS nf f .n] 1 , \- ^^^^^ ^'entlernan has shown the public the merits Seat' re!;son ' o Views' tl"'' '' "'" ^T'l' ^^'''' ^^"^'^•^-- farmers have ?om in' savs A r i n """"f ?^ ^^/' ^^^^^' ^'^^"- ^^i'^^""»bie in all time bare bJon fnn WL ^?'^' ^"'^ '^ *''""'''^ ^^^ breeders of Galloways SalfL Wf ^^''''^•''' «^^owing the world the superioritv of their animals for beefproducmg purposes. Outsiders, however, are beg i- 148 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. niug to see that the breeil possesses great merits, hence its growing popu- larity. In 1801 ]\Jr. MeCombie won both at Sniithtield and Birmingham with Galloway animals bred by the Uuke of Bueclencli ; and in 1872 ]\Ir. James Cunningham won a prize with a heifer bred by Mr. Biggar, of Chapelton, which had previously taken first prizes in the Highland Society's Shows, and afterwards won the champion prize in the Polled class at Sniithtield. Mr. Gillespie tiiinks the Galloway breeders are greatly indebted to Mr. Jardiue, of Castlemik, for what he has done in recent years towards bringing the breed to the front, and that the cattle had a better name in the world ten or twenty years ago than it at pres- ent has simply because more was done then than now to display their merit. If, adds Mr. Gillespie, the breeders all over the country had taken pains to maintain the prestige of the stock they would now have been . in a much more favorable position, and if now they do their duty to their cattle the money value of the animals will rapidly rise. The Galloway is not a special milking race, and is little used for either butter or cheese making, nor is it used for draft, although a few isolated farmers may be seen with it at the plow. They are an old breed, and were highly valued as long as fifty years ago, Avhen small horns were sometimes seen. Then their average weight was GO to 70 stone, but it is now much increased. The hide is thin and the meat is wonderfully well marbled, and found in the best parts in abundance. They are bred in Scotland almost entirely, but large numbers are brought into England and sold at the fairs to farmers for fattening. The milk, tolerable in quantity for a grazing beast, is decidedly rich, but it is largely the custom to spay heifeVs, and at one time the practice was still more general. The calves are very often allowed to run with the dam, but to have only one-half her milk, the other half going into the house. This is managed by the dairymaid milking two teats twice a day and affixing a spiked muzzle to the calf. The Galloways are grand beasts, and their native home is the wet mountainous district of the southwest of Scotland, and although considered by some people to be similar in character to the Polled Angus, they are much hardier and more vigorous as a race. There is no question that they are not such early maturing beasts as the Angus, the Hereford, or the Shorthorn, although, in truth, they have hitherto received no such help from the breeder as has been bestowed upon those famous races. The Galloway is thicker in its hide than the Angus, and when it is remembered that to withstand exposure and extreme cold this is necessary, it will be understood that for mellowness, and consequently meat production, it would be hardly fair to claim the same quality for the one as for the other. For these cold bleak districts, more especially if they are also wet, the Galloway will at all times beat his more polished rival. The Galloway Poll is not such a very bad feeder. Half a dozen cat- tle were recently sold by live weight to a Liverpool butcher at 9d. per pound of carcass weight, which was assumed to be 53 per cent, of their live weight, ascertained on a weighing-machine immediately before the meal hour. The lot consisted of three two-year old bullocks and an equal number of Shorthorn- Ayrshire crosses of the same age. Four of these animals had been bred on the farm, and the remaining two had been summered and wintered on it. They had been fed in the same manner as the previous lot, and the balance of percentage in the butcher's favor was even higher than in the first lot. From the following figures it will be seen that the Galloways killed decidedly better than the Short- horn Ayrshire crosses. The former showed a higher carcass weight THE UNITED KINGDOM. 149 than was estimated, while iu the case of the-crosses a contrary return was made. The followiug; are the details: Description of animal. Live weight. Estimated carcass ■weight. Actual car- cass weight. Galloway bullock Stone, pounds. 72 6 71 7 75 2 74 0 59 10 60 0 Pounds. 537 530 557 549 443 445 Pounds. 602 5G0 590 506 408 493 Do Gallowav heifer Cross bullock Do Do 3, 061 1 3, 158 Second Eeport on the Galloway Cattle.* The Galloway breeders of England and Scotlandare justifiably jealous of the efiorts which have been made from time to time by rival breeders to depreciate their breeds, or to insinuate that their origin is of recent date. There can be no doubt, however, that the Galloway is one of the oldest of our pure races, and that it has been bred for many genera- tions to a particular type, while it is believed to be beyond doubt that they have contributed iu a marked degree to the formation and improve- ment of some of the other leading British breeds. At all events it is known that they have entered largely in times gone by into the east of England breeds, more especiallv in those districts which are now famous for the lied Polls. During the last century the Galloway was perhaps better known than any other breed, for it has been very frequently described by agricul- tural writers of that period as a symmetrical beast of nigh (juality and considerable beauty, and one which was adapted for early maturity and rapidity in fattening as well as, or perhaps better, than any other breed that was then known. This quality they have maintained to the present day, and it is the more remarkable, inasmuch as the pastures upon which they graze are much inferior to those in other parts of the coun- try where equally famous breeds are bred and fed. At the present time they maintain their position for ra]iid growth and good feeding, and they have for a long period held a leading place iu the London meat markets, where they are not infrequently found at a very early ago, the grain of the flesh being extremely delicate and rich in tiavor as well as finely marl)led with i'at. Whether or not the breed has at any time been crossed with the horned races of England it is difficult to say, and the information is somewhat conflicting, the Galloway breeders entirely dis- believing it, and quoting the apparently absurd results which would have been obtained by the useof liorDccl bulls, although it is forgotten that in crossing horned b jasts with either the Galloway or the Aberdeen it is a fact that almost every animal produced comes without horns. That Galloway breeders have been most skilful in their work as well as in their feeding and management there is no doubt, but we should not like to assert in any dictatorial manner that they, like other breeders, * In lorw.irdiDjj this second report on Galloway cattle, under date of March 15, lesi, Consul Shaw says : I herewith forward with pleasure a supplemental report on the Galloway breed of cattle for insertion in the able and full report which I had the honor to transmit on the I'Jth of February. Mr. Jsuiiim LongjWho lias preparcil the same, thinks this additional data^pecialjy useful. 150 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. liare not now aud then found it beneficial (we speak of the past) to have recourse to other breeds for improvement. There appears to be a tradition that at one time the race was horned, but it is certain, however, that those who have pretended to keep it pure have at all times abolished every trace of horn, and declined to use animals for stock which had this apparent blemish, and one which was considered a certain sign of impurity. It is believed at the present day that there is far less sign of horn even in the most incipient stage in the Galloway race than there is in either the Red Poll or the Angus. It has been stated repeatedly that the Galloway is a more vigorous, lusty, and hardy beast than any other variety, inclusive of the Welsh and the West Highland ; that it exceeds the Welsh in these respects there can be no doubt, but we do not think it is quite so hardy as the West Highland, the coat of which enables it to brave the weather at all sea- sons of the year better than any of our native breeds. Again, the breed has oi'ten been charged with coarseness on account of the thickness of its skin ; but it must be remembered that the breeders, while endeavor- ing to improve the quality of flesh by every means in their power, have studiously retained a certain thickness of skin which they have justly considered to be consistent with their hardiness, so that in reality it is one of the principles of the breeders of the Galloways to combine, as far as possible, quality of flesh with a tolerable thickness of skin, and it is somewhat remarkable that in this they have succeeded; for, excepting in the thinnest skinned beast which is much less hardy, there is no ani- mal more mellow to the touch or full of quality. They also endeavor to retain, as far as it is possible for them to do so, a thick coat with rather long hair, for, although they do not inhabit a district so wiid or so high and bleak as the West Highland breed, that portion of the south of Scotland and north of England is by no means well protected from the weather and the winds even in valleys. In some parts they are placed on the hills, which, as is well known, are bleak and exposed in the extreme, and there they appear to thrive uncommonly well, and to oc- cupy ground from which it is not likely they will be displaced by any other native breed, unless the West Highland should be introduced, which is most unlikely. It has often been remarked by foreign buyers visiting the Galloway district that they could not have believed it possible to maintain, in such great perfection, many of the herds of high-bred Galloways which they have seen, in these cold and elevated regions (sometimes 1,500 feet above the sea), where nothing is found but the famous mountain shee]) of the country, and decidedly miserable fare, for the crops culti- vated are necessarily few and poor. Again, notwithstanding the fact that the winters are most severe, it is frequently the case that the Gal- loway is entirely kept out of doors ; occasionally an open shed is erected for them to shelter themselves when they choose, but as a general rule they have to rely for i)rotection upon that which nature aflbrds, some- times being assisted with a little hay, which is usually carried to them when snow is upon the ground or when the frost is severe. It is stated by Mr. Gillespie that this system is pursued, not because of the expense or trouble, but because the farmers believe that they are able to stand the winter with ease and to grow much better during the following sum- mer than if wintered under cover. Young beasts of from 1| to 2 years old are often sold in the markets at £25 to £30 each, never having been sheltered sincethey were weaned. This vigor is not solely the characteristic of the adult beast, for when a cow calves in the open, in severe weather, the calf itself does not ap' THE UNITED KINGDOM. 151 pear to lose activity or to feel the severity of the weather as might be expected, but is as happy and contented, when thoroughly dry, as if in a warm stable upon plenty of straw. The hardy constitution of the breed enables it (and this is somewhat strange) to withstand the fatigue of long journeys to market towns as well as it withstands the cold of winter ; and when it is found necessary to drive any of tlio beasts to fairs, at distances of from 100 to 200 miles, thoy usually arrive in a much fresher condition than any other animal known to the cattle dealer. It is stated above that Galloway beef is favored in the London market by the butchers ; indeed it may not be known that it is classed as prime Scot, a term so well known to readers of the London newspapers, where the price of meat is quoted. It has repeatedly been proved, not only by the meat salesmen themselves, but by breeders and feeders, that no beast obtains a higher price, not even the Aberdeen, and certainly not the Shorthorn or the Hereford. In fact it is very seldom that meat of any kind, at the Christmas market especially, reaches the quality of the best Galloway. Testimonies without number could easily be obtained, and several have been obtained by the Galloway society and published in their description of the breed, in which butchers in various parts of the country have testified to the quality and value of the meat. The Galloways are generally considered to dress to the extent of 60 per cent, of their live weight, and occasionally an animal is found to exceed this, which, it will be admitted, is exceptionally good. This depends chiefly upon the system of the feeder and on the management of the animals. The following quotation from the description of the Galloway by the editor of the Herd book, will be of some value in arriving at a knowl- edge upon this point : Age. Dead weight. One j'ear three months ... Two years three months . . Three years three months . Fonr years While these may be regarded as an average, far heavier weights have been reached whenever an effort has been made to force forward individ- ual animals. It appears from the catalogues of the Smithfleld Fat Stock Show that in 1883 a pure-bred Galloway steer, at two years ten months three weeks old, weighed 19 cwts. 20 pounds, viz, 2,148 pounds weight when 1,055 days old, which makes an average of 2 pounds daily increrse in live weight. In 1882 a pedigree Galloway steer, two years nine months one week old, weighed 17 cwt.18 pounds, viz, 1,922 pounds weight when 1,004 days old, which shows an average of 1.91 pounds per day of increase. An- other pedigree Galloway at the same show turned the scales at 15cwt. 2 quarters 18 pounds, when two years eight months three weeks old, viz, 1,751 pounds weight when 973 days old, which is equivalent to 1.8 pounds of daily increase. It seems remarkable that at the principal cattle shows in"^ England the Galloway is seldom seen, and this is more particularly the case at the Christmas fat-stock exhibitions. The de- mand being considerable, and as the breeders live at a great distance and do not care for the system of forcing cattle for exhibition, they 152 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. prefer to leave the glories of the prize ring to the other Scotch breeds, such as the Angus and the West Highland. This, perhaps, iu a measure (although it would be impossible to de- tract from the value of the breed), has without doubt contributed to the popularity of the other breeds and to the want of knowledge with re- gard to the Galloway itself. As this breed is so essentially a meat-making one, it will hardly be sup- posed that as a milker it has any especial value, but, like the Devon, although it does not give a large quantity, it gives milk of a marvel- lous quality. Some strains, however, give very much more than others, while there are those which make a most respectable quantity of but- ter in proportion to the milk they give. Speaking of it generally, it is a non-milking breed; hence we have found it entirely impossible to ob- tain any authentic records either of milk, butter, or cheese production, although there are numerous cases iu which owners have estimated the yields of particular cows at from 9 to 12 pounds per week in the middle of the summer season. We believe, however, that just as the Eed Poll of Sutiblk and Norfolk has been by judicious selection con- verted into a milk-producing breed, so by great care in selection and breeding the Galloway could be made, certainlj'^ not the best of milk- ing breeds, but one of considerable value, such as would prove most l^rofitable to those who kept it for the purpose of making either butter or cheese. That the marvelous prepotency of the Galloway breed is an evidence of its purity and ancient character we firmly believe, and, as we re- marked above, just as when mated with horned cows it produces the calf without horns, so does the color of the progeny remain, being either an entire black or a black which is slightly mingled with white or shaded with blue. This fact leads us to make the suggestion that it would be l)ossible to cross the Galloway upon, for instance. Shorthorn cows of su- perior milking quality and yet maintain the chief characteristics of the breed, and as it is admitted, even by the breeders themselves, that it is often difficult to tell a beast which is only half bred from one of pure breed, so is it ai)parent that many of the objections which have been made to Galloways as feeders have arisen from the fact that the observ- ation has not been made from the pure breed, but from the cross-bred itself. The Duke of Buccleuch put his famous Galloway bull Black Prince of Drumlanrig (54G), to two long-horned West Highland cows, carefully selected from one of the oldest and best herds of that noble breed. When the i)roduce of this cross, two heifers, were grazing at the age of about eighteen mouths among a lot of nearly a score of pure-bred pedigree Galloway heifers, half a dozen of the most experienced and best-known breeders of Galloways were asked by the duke's manager to point out the half Galloways among the ])ure ones, and each one of these ex])erienced judges pi(jked out the wrong animals, so closely did the one in every i)articular resemble the other. Galloway bulls have been very extensive^' put to both Shortliorn and Ayrshire cows, and in England esi)ecially it has been a favorite and highly succcssfnl mode of crossing for beef i)ur[)oses to use the Shorthorn bull on the Galloway cow. By either mode symmetrical cattle of very large frames have been produced ; they have proved to be hardy, and their meat is Iree from patchiness, well mixed, and altogether superior. Galloway crosses, wlieu liberally reared and led, mature early and reach very heavy weights. At the Smitlifield fat stock show in 1S8U a cross steer, by a Shorthorn bull out of a Polled Galloway cow, weighed 1,480 pounds \vh"en one •s i^.j&„j-,f '*'*''*''¥|g9(g ii, \ ,0i ;,'^;--' Y^ Q o Z < o -J u 13 o CD s O Z o _1 I- cc ir < Q- u >- Ll X C/5 X _l u ^ < THE UNITED KINGDOM. 153 year and eight mouths okl, showing th<> high average of 2.43 pounds l>eT day of its life. At the same show a Galloway cross, siinihirly bred, weighed 19 cwt. 3 qrs. 20 lbs. wheu three years four mouths old, that is, 2,232 pounds when its age was twelve hundred and seventeen days, which is equivalent to an average of 1.83 pounds daily since it was calved. At Smithfield, in 1883, the only Galloway cross steer exhibited turned the scales at 1,810 pounils when ten hundred and eighteen days old, making an average of 1.78 pounds of daily increase. Characteristics. — The council of the Galloway Cattle Society of Great Britain have drawn up a standard showing the characteristics of the Galloway breed, which are as follows : Color: Black, with a brownish tinge. TTead: Short and wide, witli broad forehead and wide nostrils, withont the sliglitest symptoms of horns or sours ; eye, larij;o and prominent ; car, moderate in length and broad, pointing forwards and upwards, with fringe of long hairs. Neck: Moderate in length, clean and lilliug well into the shoul- ders, the top in a line with the back in a female, and in a male naturally rising with age. Bodtj: Deep, rounded, and symmetrical ; shoulders, hue and straight, moder- ately wide above (coarse shoulder points and sharp or high shoulders are objection- able); breast, full and deep ; back and rump, straight ; ribs, deep and well sprung; loin and sirloin, well tilled; hookboues, not prominent; hindquarters, long, moder- ately wide, and well tilled; tlank, deep and full. Thighs: Broad, straight, and well let down to hock (rounded buttocks are very objectionable) ; legs, short and clean, ■with tine bone ; tail, well set on and moderately thick. Skin: Mellow and moder- ately thick; hair, soft and wavy, with mossy undercoat (wiry or curly hair is very objectionable). (15) Welsh Cattle. Mr. Harvey, editor of the Herd-Book, says : The Black Welsh cattle are natives of the counties of Pembroke, Carmarthen, and Cardigan, and are more generally known as Pembrokeshire Blacks, subdivided into Castlemartin and Dewsland breeds. From Cardiganshire they also extend along the North \Vales coast up to Anglesea, and are then called the North Wales or Anglesea breeds. Whether they were ever indigenous to Radnorshire or Breconshire I am not aware, but as I have an intimate knowledge of both these counties, I can say from long personal observation that they are not now to be found iu either of them. In Glamorganshire they are to be found iu the seigniory of Gower ; but iu the eastern part of the county there is a native breed, which is, however, becoming rapidly sup- planted by Shorthorns and Herefords. The breed of Black cattle is generally supposed to be descended from the Boa pri- migeiiius, and is allied to the wild cattle in Chillingham Park, and also to the Devons. They maybe described as a horned breed, generally of black color, and frequently with white marks on the udders of the cows, also a few white hairs at the eml of the tail. Sometimes a few white hairs are mixed up with the coat, but this is not always hereditary, and only comes out occasionally. A brown-black, approaching a choco- late, is considered a'good color. Occasionally there are some cows striped red and black ; also some quite white, with black ears, muzzle, and feet, but these are becom- ing very rare. The horns shoiild be of a rich yellow ; they are generally tipped with black, and do not come out yellow to the very end like Herefords. There is a differ- ent pitch of horn for bulls aiid cows. A bull's horns shouhi bo low and well sjiread ; the cow's narrower and the pitch more upright. The steers and oxen take more after the bulls. This description applies in a great measure to the Anglesey cattle. These are, however, broader on the back and shorter in the leg, with more hair. The heads are heavier and the horns not so yellow as the Pembrokeshire. A really good animal of the Black breed should approach very closely iu shape to the modern fashionable breeds, and by careful and judicious crossing this has sometimes been attained. The natural characteristics of th(i breed may, however, be described as narrow on the shoulder and chine, slack on the loins, an inclination to bo high on the rump, and flat-sided. They are generally deep in front and light behind. It must not, how- ever, be supposed that everv bullock has all these defects, but some of them are to be found in the generality of the cattle offered at tiie country fairs. Other breeds of cattle with these natural defects may also be found, but care and attention have modi- fied them verv much, and the object'of the Herd-Book is to create such an interest in the Blacks as^iiay render badly shaped cattle as "few and far between " as they are in the Hereford and Shorthorn districts. 154 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Tho special characteristics of the Blacks, whicli make them so valuable, are : Hardi" dood of constitution, aptitude for dairy purposes, aud docility. As regards hardiness of constitution, no one acquainted with the common method of rearing the calves aud their subsequent treatment aud the hardships they undergo can have any doubt on tliat point. Tho great wonder is that respectable-looking cattle can be shown after having been reared in such a manner. During the time when the rinderpest caused such havoc, that fell disease was not known in South Wales, principally from tho great exertions made by the county magistrates and other authorities to prevent the transit of infected animals, but also because the constitutions of the cattle were so good that even on the frontier of infected districts they repelled the disease. When the Blacks were taken into counties where the rind- erpest was prevalent they seldom, if ever, caught the infection. The same immunity also existed when the foot-and-mouth disease was so general. There were certainly some cases supposed to have been caused by the importation of Irish cattle, but upon inquiry it will be found that those herds of cows which consisted of Shorthorns, Ayr- shire, and Guernsey were those that suifered. As to aptitude for dairy purposes, I do uoc trust merely to the report of others, but, having for some years had a dairy of from 18 to 20 cows, I can speak personally of the qualifications of this breed in that respect. Some of these 20 were in every year heifers which had their first calf, and were not so profitablo as older animals. My account book shows the churning as under: Pounds. From September 29,1862, to September 29, 1863 2,896 From September 29, 1863, to September 29, 1864 2,725 From September 29, 1864, to September 29, 1865 2,755 From September 29, 1865, to September 29, 1866 2,450 From September 29, 1866, to September 29, 1867 2,815 The yield of butter was affected by the dry weather in some seasons, as my farm was not well watered. As regards the reduction in quantity after 1863, I reared more calves every year afterward, and as the bull calves were nearly all sold for stock pur- poses they had to be kept well. I also had on an average about 25 cwt. of skim cheese sold every year, and small pigs were fed on the whey and buttermilk, and turned out to grass and sold as "stores," realizing from £23 to £36 per annum protit between buying and selling. My farm was only about 70 acres, and it will thus be seen that there was a large return for the area. I have also heard of places where only 1 or 2 Black cows were kept where the yield of butter was very great, amounting to 14 pounds per cow per week, I have never in my own dairy churned more than 10 to 11 pounds from a fresh-calved cow ; but where 20 cows are grazing on a small area there is no chance of very great individual results. The docility of the breed is remarkable. A stranger may go safely into a herd of cows, but it is not safe to do so where there is a bull, unless accompanied by some person acqiiainted with its habits. I have a very strong feeling that bulls after they are one year old should be always kept in the house, not only avoiding accidents, but enabling the farmer to regulate the times of calving. The cows stand very quietly to be milked in the yard or in tho house, aud with their large, fall eyes and quiet ex- pression look the very picture of docility. There is no doubt but that the Black breed as now leared are not apt to fatten at an early age, but I have seen instances where, when reared like the improved breeds, they have done so. Still I do not wish to assert that at present they are so profitable for stall-feeding, but I maintain that, looking at the soil, the climate, aud the accommodation for them during the winter, they are tho only breed that will pay the farmer's rent. Those who have seen a good Black ox well fed have always acknowledged that there cannot be a handsomer ani- mal. Bntchers will tell you that the quality of the meat is not to be surpassed, and that the internal fat is much in excess of Shorthorns and Herefords of a similar size. Tho usual method of rearing calves is to take the calf away from tho cow after a few days, and then give it nothing but skim-milk. When it is able to eat it is given hay and barley or oatmeal, u])on wliich it thrives fairly. But in the month of May or June the poor animal which has never seen grass, and does not know what it is, is turned ont into a good pasture, and there, before its tender mouth can prop* rly eat, it loses all its calf llesh, and when tho winter comes on it is still lean. My own method was to take away the calf after a few days and give it its own mother's milk for one mouth, then lialf new and half skim for a fortnight, and afterwards skim- milk only with a little dissolved oil-cake mixed with it. Sweet hay and mangeln were given as soon as it was proper, and in the spring cut grasn was gradually introduced, so that the calf, when turned out in June, readily took to it. A little milk and water, with crushed oats and some oil-cake, given all the summer. The first winter, tur- nips, hay, oil-cake, and oats, and then turned ont to grass at one year old, strong, useful yearlings with good constitutions. Afterwards they had no corn or oil cake, but the next winter fed on straw and turnips. THE UNITED KINGDOM. 155 Mr. Griffith Lewis says : I give my calves a mouth's new milk; in fact, let them suck the cow. I tlieu wean them, aud give them, for t;%o mouths, skiui milk-scaldeil, and as soon as they will eat it a little hay aud oats. I then turn the luout in to grass about the lirst week in June, aiul leave theui out till the tirst week iu October, when I briug theiu iu at night into au open shed aud give tliem hay aud nuiugels or swedes. I never rear a calf after the 1st of April, as I lind the milk becomes too rich aud scours them, aud also they are not stroug enough to be turned out the first week in Juue. You can make auy use of this you like. Mr. John Richards sajs : The way I rear my calves is : I leave them three weeks on the cow ; after that they have milk twice a day, aud oats, oil-cake, hay, aud roots till they are four months old ; theu they are turned out on grass, but if they are Christmas calves they are kept in till June. Mr. Eichard Thomas saj's : Have been busy at the hay yesterday and the day before, or I would have answered your letter sooner. My system of rearing calves is to give them uew milk for three weeks, then I give them skim-milk for about three mouths, with hay, luau- gels, aud crushed oats. The calves I rear from November to March are turned out to grass, the oldest ones in May aud the others iu June. About the miiklle of August I give them a drench for the murrain. In October I commence giving them some crushed oats daily. I keep this lot out all the winter iu a dry, sheltered field, aud iu November I begin giving tliem hay twice a day. The calves that are calved after March I keep in till the folhiwing sjjring, in a yard and an open shed. They have the same quantity of uew milk, aud about two months skim-milk, and give them hay, inangels, vetches, and oats. In winter they have swedes, hay, and straw. I give them a drench the same time as the others, and have not lost one calf from the murrain this twelve years. I shall be most happy to give you auy further iuforma- tion should you require it. The Black cattle, which were more conspicuously placed before the public in 1874, when the tirst Herd-Book was published, have improved very much by the exertions of the farmers and by tlie noblemen who are interested in the result. The breed is now recoguized by the Royal Agricultural Society iu its exhibition of stock, and will soon attain the perfection of form aud weight of the most improved breeds. This arises in a measure from the greater care taken with the stock whilst quite young, to which attention was drawn in the first Herd-Book. The question of early malurity has been solved satisfactorily where the Blacks have the same treatment as the Shorthoru and Herefords, and Mr. Harvey says he has seeu cattle killed for the bhtcher's stall at two j'ears old which made admirable beef. The Black cattle tiourish on a variety of soils, the limestone, the red sandstone, and the clay-slate formation making no appreciable difference in the size of the ani- mals. A damp aud moist atmosphere suits them very well indeed, at au average tem- perature of about 52^. I may add that they are very hardy and do well as outlyers, if tolerably well kept; they improve most rapidly when the spring comes on and the early grass begins to grow. I entertain the idea that the Black cattle are the most paying breed uow under a farmer's care. The grasses on the permanent pasture are jirincipally clovers, trefoil, cock-grass, the different fescues, timothy, aud foxtail. The grasses used in farming rotation are red clover, Dutch clover, rye grass, trefoil, and cock-grass. The Earl of Cawdor, who is the principal exhibitor of Black cattle in England, and whose animals generally reach 22 to 23 cwt. at Smith- field, says: Their prevailing color is black, with long thick hair, long yellow horns, body even and well shaped. They are hardy in constitution, strong, docile, useful for labor, when necessary, and subsisting on scanty herbage. Their flesh is of excellent qual- ity, fine grain, well mixed, and the extra fat more inside than immediately under the skin. The milking properti<'s of this breed are on an avisrage extremely good, each cow givingfrom 12 to 14 quarts daily. The quantity, quality, color, and llavor of their but- ter cannot be surpassed. They get to maturity at an early age, but, like every other hreed, that depends entirely upon the feeding. Live weight of bulls, 24 cwt. ; oxen, 22 cwt. ; cows, 18 cwt. The hardiness of the breed renders them suitable as outlyers, and they rapidly gain flesh. There is a very satisfactory improvement noticeable iu the breed of this cattle, and in a few years more they will claim an honorable posi- tion among the varied Ijreeds of Great Britain. The soil here is brownish, light, dry 156 CATTEE AND DAIRY FARMING. loam, of good depth, or a sort of mixed limestone, well adapted for growing excel- lent crops of swedes, mangels, &c., and it will grow heavy crops of oats (bhick bet- ter than white) and barley. The yield of grain is only fair in finding properties. Most sorts of grasses are grown in this neighborhoo(i, but clover is not a certain crop. The climate is damp and changeable, but extremely mild, the spring often late and cold, with a prevailing east wind. The ainuial rainfall of the districts occupied by the Black cattle is about twice the amount of that of Chiswick, and the westerly winds are very stroDg. Mr. George F. Bowdeu says : It requires a hardy race to stand the exposure during the winter to which the Black cattle, without any shelter except the high hedges, are subject, and this quality of hardiness of constitution is possessed by the Blacks. In their coats and general ap- pearance they show the first approach of the genial spring. There is no animal which commands so good a prii-e in the fairs as a bullock that has been wintered out in the lields and shows fair condition and a good coat. To those who wish to be possessed of a good herd of Blacks I would say, avoid all attempts at crossing — such attempts have never yet succeeded — but purchase the best pedigree bull of as good a strain as you can get for the money. As to rearing and feeding for milk, a few years ago I pur- chased some of the best cows to be procured in calf to noted btiUs. I was enabled to have this rare opportunity by being acquainted with several of the best breeders. I have tried Shorthorns, and I have laad the best of cows procurable for milk and feed- ing purposes, but I prefer the long horn Black cow, which gives rich milk, thick cream, and makes beef not to be surpassed, quite equal to Scots, and commands as good a price. They drop better and hardier calves, and I have never, so far, lost a calf. I have had cows calve about November and December, and all times of the year. I keep the cow and calf in for, say, one mouth and then turn them out. They stand the winter wonderfully well, and will do well on hay and chop ; sometimes I use tur- nips and rice meal. I never tie up any only those I milk and finish oft' for the butcher. Some calves I have reared upon their mothers' milk, and I do not know whether this does not pay best in the long run, and is more natural. The calves reared in this way at one year old are as big and have better hair and coats than those reared by hand at two years old. I do not believe in allowing the calf to suck the cow and keeping the calf in the shed, but rather in allowing it to have its freedom with its mother on the grass. It then learns to eat with her, and when they are separated it does not feel so much the loss of the mother's milk and is better prepared to get its own living. Othercalves I rear on skim-milk, calf meal, and a little dissolved oil-cake. I find that new milk for one mouth is the best way to start a calf. After four months I begin to give them cho]), rice-meal, and linseed-cake, and continue this through the winter, all given out of doors. I find also that for feeding ])urpose8 it best answers to buy barren heifers and bullocks turned three years old. If bought at two years old they want summering and wintering in the sheds on turnips, hay, rice meal, Indian meal, and linseed-cake, and then they come out good ones at three years okl and very fit for the butcher. This is my experience, having bought several trucks for myself and others. If it pays the Welsh farmers to keep this class of cattle on i)oor land and poor feed, surely they ought to do something on good land and good feed. JAMES LONG. Hetchin England, 1883-'84. SELECT BREEDS OF BRITISH CATTLE. REPORT BY CONSUL PACKARD, GF LIVERPOOL. INTROPXTCTORY AND EXPLANATORY. I have the honor to acknowledge the receijit of circular dated July 18, 1883, in reference to the bree(ling cattle in tliis country and request- ing me to report ui)on the same. The ditliculty of collecting reliable inform ition has been very great. This consulate being far removed from the agricultural and farming districts has necessitated the writing of a large number of letters to ,.■(1 ' THE UNITED KINGDOM. 157 proraiiieut breeders. In nuiny cases the breeders excused themselves auswering' the questions on account of their vohmiinous nature. For much of the information I have been able to obtain I am j^reatly in- debted to Mr. George de la Perrelle, of Litlierland, near Liverpool, a well- known shipper of select stock for breeding- purposes to Canada and the United States. There are in this country numerous breeds of cattle, but as a number of these are considered of inferior sorts, I have thought it best to report only of such breeds as excel in merit for the dairy or beef-making pur- poses, and at the same time suitable to our climate and soil, such breeds as are usually selected by the buyers who come over here to se- cure those best adapted for exportation to the United States. They are as follows : Shorthorns, Devons, Sussex, Herelords, Ked Polled, Polled Angus or Aberdeen, Welsh, Jerseys, and Ayrshires. THE SnORT-HORN CAl TLE. Some of the best herds of this celebrated breed are to be found in orkshire and the north and northwest counties of England, but more or less all over Great Britain. The following- descriptions of the Short-horn and other breeds herein- after treated are more or less borrowed from eminent English writers on cattle, and suggest strongly the points of excellence which should be considered by the buyer of thoroughbred neat stock. This breed possesses, in an eminent degree, a combination of (pialities, and are rendered attractive to the eye by their splendid frames and beautifully varied colors; they have become objects of public curiosity, and have realized for their breeders enormous sums of money. The following- may be taken as a fair specimen of a Yorkshire cow: A milcli cow, good for the pail as loug as wanted, and then quickly got into mar- ketable condition, shouldhavea long and rather small head; a large-headed cow will seldom fatten or yield milk. The eye should l)c bright, yet with a peculiar i)lacidnes8 and quietness of expression ; the chaps thin and the horns small. The neck sliould not be so thin as that which common opinion gives to this milch cow. The dtiwlap should be small; the breast, if not .so wide as in some that have an unusual dispo- sition to fatten, yet far from being narrow, and it should project before the legs ; the chine to a certain degree fleshy; the girth behind the shoulder should be deeper than is usually found in the Short-horn ; the ribs should spread out wide so as to give as globular a form as possible to the carcass, and each should project farther than the preceding one, to the very loins. She should be well formed across the hips and on to the rump, and with greater length there than the milker generally possesses, or, if a little too short, not heavy. If she stands a little long on the legs it must not be too long. The thighs somewhat thin, withaslight tendency to crookedness; the tail thick in the npper parr, but tapering below, and should have a mellow hide and little, coarse bair. The quantity of milk given by some of these cows is very great, and no un- common thing to yield thirty quarts per day in early summer, but the average; may be estimated at twentj'-two to twenty-four quarts. It is said that this milk does not yield a proportionate quantity of butter, and that although these cows may be valu- able when the sale of milk is the prime object, they will not answer for the dairy. That their milk does not contain the same proportionate quantity of butter as that of the Long-horns, the Scotch cattle or the Devons is probably true, but more than com- pensated by the additional quantity of milk. It also appears that they accumulate flesh and mature more rapidly than any other breed, and, in consequence, take the foremost rank of all neat cattle. The colors are roan, white, red, and white and red. 158 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Animals. Average weight at maturity. Average size at ma- turity. Girth. Height. Cow Owt. 16 to 18 18 to 20 20 to 22 Inches. 90 to 100 90 to 110 90 to 110 Inches. 56 to 60 58 to 64 58 to 64 BuU Ox Age at maturity : Three years. How long bred pure: Supposed to be descended from the white cattle of Great Britain ment ot liicod begim about the year 1780. Annval average pounds of milk: 11,500 pounds. Milk to pounds of butter: 40 pounds to 1 pound butter. Improve- Product. Quantity. Meat Two-thirds of gross weight. 12, 500 Milk -nnn-nAa Labor: Little. Method of AoM«wgr: Tonng stock are housed from November to March, and fat and milch cows are housed at mght from October to May. »v»i vu.yo aio affure"^ ' ^^^ ^ ^^^ morning with hay, roots, and oil-cake and Indian meal, then turned oat on the Breeding : Commence at two and one-half years. Grasses .- Rye-grass and clover. The following are some of the live weights of fatted cattle of this breed : Oxen exceeding 3^ and not exceeding 4 years old: No. 1, 2,029 pounds* No. 2, 2,164 pounds; No. 3, 2,395 pounds; No. 4, 2,510 pounds; No. 5, 2,424 pounds; No. C, 2,149 pounds; No. 7, 2,184 pounds; No. 8, 2,296 pounds. Steers exceeding 2^ and not exceeding 3,\ years old : No. 1, 1,715 pounds • No. 2, 1,883 pounds; No. 3, 1,606 pounds. ' Cows: No. 1, 4 years 2 mouths old, 1,874 pounds; No. 2, 4 years and 2 months, 2,022 pounds; No. 3, 4 years and 9 months, 1,604 pounds ; No. 4, 9 years and 8 months, 2,177 pounds. Decrease: In consequence of the high price of meat a large number of prime 2-year-old heifers are being slaughtered, thus decreasiuff the number of animals. Prices.— Prices of animals of this breed vary very much, and range from $12o to $5,100, according to pedigree. Prices have declined ever since the great sale at New York Mills, Oneida County, New York, in 1873. In order to compare prices which were realized at that sale with those of a recent and important sale of Short-horns in this country at Castle Hill Cerne, it is reported to me that at the former sale 93 cows, heifers, and Tvl?^ realized the average price of $3,764.78 each, and 16 bulls at ftl,J22.bl each, while at the latter sale 32 cows realized $900 each (aver- age), and the 0 bulls averaged $1,372. Seven Dukes and Duchesses averaged $3,625, and 4 Oxfords $1,105. The soil of Yorkshire is for the most' part black and brown. Ibe substratum in some districts is clay, in others rock and gravel. Ihe temperature in summer is 62° and in winter 37°, the mean during the year being 49°. DEVON CATTLE. This breed is found in Devonshire and surrounding comities, and also in Ireland. Little is known respecting its origin further than that in '■^ll' ' /^ THE UNITED KIXGDOM. 159 the earliest records it can be traced as tlie ])eculiar breed of the cotiiity from which it takes its iiaiiie. They bcloii^- to the '•iiiiddle-lKtnied vari- ety," and in the opinion of some are the most suitable for i)ayin;;- fiom au all-round point of view; they are very (luiclc feeders, ancl tlie hi.uh price of the Devon meat shows t\wy are most salable animals — -just equal to the Scot<^h — and that more{)er acre can b(» inade from Dcvons at less cost and care. Those reared in thenortli of the county (Devon- shire) are noted for their rich curly coat, but this they frequently lose ■when taken away from their native home. They, however, bear the chaufje of cli unite and soil well, thrive where many breeds would starve, and rapidly outstrip most others when they have plenty of good past- ures. Tliose in the south of the county, known as the "South Hams breed," from the district from which they are bred, appear to be a mixture of North Devons with the Guernsey and are large framed, coarse-l)oned, good milkers, with hardy constitutions and large offals. According to some the Xorth Devon differs from the South Devon in everything which is necessary to constitute a good aniunil. Each breed, however, has its own i^articular nu-rits, each answering a better purpose than the other according to the climate, soil, situation, ami other circum- stances in which it may be placed. The Devon breed is most valuable for its ai)titude to fatten, delicacy of touch, and the choice quality of its beantiiied, veined, and uuirbled beef, the especial favorite of the butcher (who has a select family trade), for carrying the most beef in the most valuable parts, and for lightness of offal they stand unrivaled, The first herd-book was issued in 1851. Description. — The general form of the Devon is very graceful, and exhibits a refined organization of animal qualities not surpassed by any breed. The head should be small, with a broad indented forehead, tapering considerably toward the nostrils; the nose of a creamy white; the jaws clean and free from flesh ; the eye bright, lively, and promi- nent, encircled by a deep orange-colored ring; the ears thin ; the horns of the female long, spreading, and gracefully turned up, tapering off towards the ends. The horns of the male are thicker set and more slightly curved, or in some instances standing out nearly square, with only a slight inclination upwards. The color of the true Devon is a pure red. Animals. Cow cyt- Ball «}o-- Os do... Average weight at maturity. Age at maturity : Steers, fonr years ; cows for breedins, four to six years. liitw long bred pure : Aboriginal breed ; special attention given to the breed since 1827. In reference to the milk of the Devon cows, Col. J. J. Davy reports (1st November, 1883) : A friend of mine last Aveek tested one day's milking of bis 40 cows, which give 47 fiallons milk, which made (iU pounds of whole milk chi-,ese. His neighbor's 40 cross- bred cows gave 61 gallons of milk, which produced only 5Gi pounds of whole nulk cheese. All the cattle were similarly kept. From this it appears that 40 pure-bred Devons yielded 470 ])0unds milk, which gives 61^ pounds whole milk cheese, while 40 cross-bred 160 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Devons yielded filO pounds of milk, which gives 56.;^ pounds whole milk cheese. Prodact. Meat pouiids. Milk ^o... Cheese (yearly) ao . . . Quantity. 1,232 6,000 350 to 500 Labor: Little. Method of koxtsinti : In pasture. Feeding: Grass, "tiirnip.s, &.C., and cake. Breeding : Coiuraeuce at two years. Orasseg : Rye, clover, &,c. The following- are some of the recorded weights of this breed: Devon steer.s not exceeding 3 years old: No. 1, 1,568 pounds; No. 2, 1,349 pounds; No. 3, 1,294 pounds; No. 4, 1,197 pounds; No. 5, 1,383 pounds; No. 6, 1,285 pounds; No. 7, 1,323 pounds. Devon cows: No. 1,5 years old, 1,211 pounds; No. 2, 5 years and 8 months old, 1,333 pounds ; No. 3, 5 years 1 month, 1,420 pounds. Devon heifers under 4 years old: No. 1, 1,276 pounds; No. 2, 1,153 pounds ; No. 3, 1,284 pounds ; No. 4, 1,019 pounds. The price is various, but moderate when compared with those of other breeds. Tlie surface of North Devon (where this breed is found in the greatest purity) has moorish, mountainous grounds on the east and west, but presents over the most parts a rich display of varied contour, fertility, and beauty. The soils are mainly pure yellow or white clays, and partially clayey loam. The substratum is old red sandstone or Devonian rocks. The temperature in summer is 60°, in winter 39° ; the mean during the year 51°. SUSSEX CATTLE. This breed is to be found principally in the counties of Sussex, Kent, and Surrey. The progress made in recent years by Sussex stock has proved it to be one of the most profitable of breeds. They " make meat " very rap- idly, perhaps more so than any other breed, and their admirers are pleased to state that this was clearly demonstrated in 1878 at the Smith- field Club cattle show. The first herd-book was published in 1860. The color is red. Animals. Average weight at maturity. Cow cwt.; 14 to 17 Bull do... 15 to 20 Ox do... 17 to 20 Age at maturity: Two to four years. Annual average pounds of milk: About 3,000 jjouuds. The annual yield of butter is al)Out 200 pounds. The ])rice varies according to quality. Cows from $88 to $97. The county of Sussex is described as a maritime county. It contains but few hills, none of which obtain 1,000 feet high. o u Q Ct O u. u CE Ul I ''^4^ ''¥a1 THE UNITED lCiNGDO^f. 1^1 Tl.e soil generally compares witl. the uiKlerlvin- rocks, an.] varies from sterile saiul to very St iirioam. " " The substratum is lower -rceusan.l rocl.-s, chalk, ami lower Eocene rocks. The temperature is 03o in summer, ;}8o in winter, and the nu-an Unn- l)erature oO^. HEREFORD CATTLE. This breed takes its name from the countv where thev were first bred, but they are to be found also in the ad joini no- counties. Thev are also ft-razed in most of the -reat -razinfr larms of t he midland counties and there are also breedin- herds in Scotland and Ireland. The Qiieeirs celebrated herd is kept near Windsor, Berkshire. This breed adai.ts itselt easily to the severe climate of the north, as well as the milder climate of the south. In America some are to be found in ranches 0,047 feet above the level ot the sea, and no better proof can be given of the hardiness of the Hereford s. Of this breed the Earl of Coventry says : I have observed Hereford cattle for tweuty years, but I only ooniin<>noed forn.in- a herd umc years ago. Duriu- that, period I have tried theiu alon-sid.' nedi-rroeSlioTt- horus and other breeds ot cattle, and I am so satisfied of the superiorit y oftlu^ I lovo- lord breed l.,r feejlin-x purposes that I liave disi)osed of other sorts. They are a hardy breed, doinjr well out of doors all the year round. Their quality of meat is very su- perior; they have less " rough " meat about them than thcShort-lioru, henee lirst-class butchers prefer them to other sorts, (tilst October, lfc83.) They are a perfectly pare race of cattle and have been brou'dit lo their present excellence by the judicious selection of both male and female animals, and not by the introduction of crosses of other breeds This strictly pure blood gives them the great value they have for im- proving other breeds. Color.— The distinguishing color is red with a white t\ice, chest, and belly, white flank and white tip to the tail ; white on the legs, white mane, and often white line along the back The red with white face is invariable, and the white predominates, more or less, on different ani- mals. There are also gray Herelbrds, but these are no w confined to one or two breeds. The date of the first herd-book is 1S45. Increase.— The demand for exportation principally for the United btates and Canada has increased the stock of the district, owing to more farmers breeding. ... I AveraiTP AuimalH. wei'Tht at maturity Cow. Bnll . Ox.. -cwt. ..do. ..do. 12 to 14 IG to 2U 20 to 22 Age at maturity .- Three vear.s. Bow long bred pure: From a vcrv ronioto period. Annual average pounds of milk: Xino llinusanil live liundrnl i.ounds Mtlk to pounds of butter : Thirty ijounds to 1 i)oiind of liuttrr. H. Ex. 51 11 162 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. A jrood COW has been known to .yield 14 ponnds of butter per week at S-rass ; and also one. -ave oo pounds of milk, yielding 2 J pounds of but- ter per day, but this is of rare occurrence. Product. Meat... Milk... pounds. do... Quantity. 1,770 l», 500 Jyflhor: Littln or noiio. Method 0/ huiisinij : Open yaitls ilunn-j: wintor, wi til a rnti out l)y day ; snuimer out iu rousli pasture. flr^^eif Clovi^r. rye-grass, uuadow, IV.x-tail, aT.d EugliM. natural gras^.-s. The following? is a record of the live weights of the fatted cattle of this breed : Oxen (over 3,1 and not over 4 vt'ars old). Stocrs (over ;gpif,,rj, (not •J^ and not „,.<.,.4^.,,a,9 over .i:l „,,., ^-o. 1 OX (represented in the sketch) is the property of Mr. J. Trice and was the winner of thcElkington challenge cup, which has never been done except by this Hereford: He is the true type with the markings fen- the Hereford. ,. n ^„+„i^ Price —At the recent total dispersion by auction of two ohi estalv lished iierds the average price was just *375, including cows, bulls and suckling calves. At one sale the leading bull sold tor .^4,U0 ; at the other sale 12 twovear-old heifers averaged $(;.)2 each ; tlie higi.est pri(;ed cow was $l,o20. There were 117 animals in one sale and 5)1 in 'tIic soil of Herefordshire is various, from clay to light sandy soil, much of which is of inferior quality. The substratum is principally limestone, (tlay, and gravel. Th<'. temperature at the altitud.' of IdO to ?m feet above sea-level is ill summer (UP; in winter, ;50'^; the mean during the year, LP. UED-POLLED CATTLE. This breed of rattle is found ])rincipally in the counties of :^orfolk and Suffolk, and its historv can lie carried far back into the last ceut- urv JMninerlv there w<'re two varieties, and it is only since the year 1846 that the "amal-amation of the two varieties, previously known as the ^'orlblk Polled and Snliolk Polled, has taken i>lace, and the breed is nt present known as the Sullblk and Norfolk Polled. Mai^y ot the old SnIVolk Polled cattle were much more massive than the Norfolk, ana this characteristic is vet in evidence. They could easily be picked out from a collection bythe comparative coarseness at the head, a white. Tlio extension c.f tho wliito of tlie n.U or u lew inches alon.^: the inside of tho Hank, ov a small wl.ito snot or nuirk<.n tho under iKirt ot the belly by tho milk veins, shall not be held to disiuialifv an animal whose sire and dam form part of an established herd of tho l»roe(l, or answer all other easoutials of tho standard description. /'o/Hi.— There slionld bo no horns, slugs, or abortive horns. The following are the points for a superior animal : Color.— A deep red with udder of the same color, but the tin of the tail may be white, nose not dark or cloudy. Form.- A neat head and throat, a full evo, a tuft or crest of hair shoidd hang over the forehead ; the frontal bones should begin to con- tract a little above the eye and should terminate in a comparatively narrow prominence at the summit of the head. In all other particulars the commonly accepted points of a superior animal are taken as a])ply- ing to Red-Polled cattle. Clean, thin, short legs ; a clean throat with httle dewlap; a springing rib, with large carcass; a large udder, loose and creased when empty; milk veins very large and rising in knotted puffs to the eye, are points in a good Red-Polled cow. Animals. Cow „>. Aqe atmafurifii : Four years. llow long bred pure : Ono bundred vear.s. A imual avfiraije pounds of milk : 11,250 ponnda. Milk to poundg of butter : 35 pounds to 1 pound butter. Average weijjbt at niatiirity. Product. Mnk:::::: ponnds.. ('I,fi,,<,ft ilO... ' ''®'^^® do.... QaantUy. Labor: Little. Method of housincf : Tn pastnre. Feedhtg: Grass, carrots, and beet roots, tnmips and cake. Oreeding : CommeDCo at two years. Ora>ige»: Clover and rye grass ; no tiraothv. 1,072 lI.'.Trf) 336 164 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Weights of Devon cattle.— The following are some of the weights of live cattle of this breed, as recorded by Mr. Eureu: No. Age. Weight. Length from point to shoulder. Total length. Girth. 1 3.'.'.'.'. tv.v:. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Tears. 9 5 SJ G G 3 .3 7 8 3 6 9 ^ 5 Fowidg. 2, 093 1,3-14 1,320 1,436 1,427 1, 281 1,354 1,514 1,650 1, 350 1, 472 1,64 9 1,1! .58 ],:>H7 1,484 Ft. In. 5 2 4 9 4 0 4 11 5 0 Ft. In. 7 10 G 9 Ft. In. 7 10 G 9 . G 4 • C 8 C 7 5 0 5 3 6 8 0 6 4 8 4 7 4 11 G 7 C 9 (i 7 7 1 G 10 Also average daily yield of milk m pounds: No. Date of calving. (.1 o 3 w 0) O o o a o •-5 « o o a <1 CI ;^ o H 1 2 3 Fonrtli calf August 28 50 52J 48 51 47 50 45 49 42J 43 40 411* 47| 42 45 J 40 45 40 44 39 43 33 40 38 42 20 324 35 40 Another test gave a daily average for five months of ol.SO i^ounds; for si.K months, 50.1 pounds; for seven months, 48.7(J pounds. Total from September 1 to March 31, inclusive, 10,341 pounds; to April 30, n,100 pounds. . ,, . . Decrease of .s-^oc/.-,— This has >n a great measure arisen Irom the tact of rinderpest having a few years ago been fatal to a large proportion ot the cattle then in noteworthy herds. Fashion also has had a marked elfcct. Short-horns and Devous were at one time in snch favor that polled cattle were despi.sed and their merits ignored. There is, how- ever, at present a marked i)rogress made in the breed; shortness ot numbers is being in some measure com])ensated for, noblemen and gentlemen now sparing no pains to make the breed a success. Prices are from 8195 upwards, according to pedigree. The soil of Norfolk mav be divided into three classes: Light sands of various qualities, low alluvial clays and loams, and loams of various qualities, chiefly light incumbent on a marly clay. Suffolk is nearly covered by diluvial beds. The surface is gently undulating except along the northwest and some parts of the northeast border, where it subsides into low, marshy levels. The temperature of this i)art of England is G2 degrees in summer, 37 degrees in winter, and tiie mean during the year 49 degrees. The climate is .somewhat colder than that of the southern and Avestera counties. THE Aberdeen oh roi>LEi) Angus oattle. This breed is principallv to be found in the northeastern counties of Scotland, Forfar and Aberdeen being the chief centers, and it has existed ■■U. '-^{y; ' ^^t^^ ■ ^^--. '■- '■" i ^^^. : j'^;;:, - ' wbSW ii^r'-' /-■ .'^^nH I^^S' ■ '■".' --f^' :. .^jhHI^^H pl^^^^H ■ V >'■" m^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Ik ^^iu^hHm^k^ v^^-;^'i^ JH^^^^^^^^^^H MMMHjnK '!<' HiTiiiii liiB ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^1 ^^I^^^^I^^^^^R ?^^^ H^J^^^^^^^H ^^^^^w -*i ^- ^^^^^ ^tB »&- THE UNITED KI^'GDOM. 165 tlierefrom timo iniiiicinorial, l)iit it wasoiily in tiie yv.iv ISOS that soino attention was ^ivt'n to iiM|no\t' it. The lirst herd book came uiit in ISdi', and since (hat time tlie breed has jireatiy improved and has become somewhat I'amoiis lorihe exeeUent (quality ot its beef, which, accordiii>; to seme athniiers, stands pre end- ntMiiIy lorward, lioth to the, lainiei' and bnti-her, ,is bein-i' liardy and healtiiy, i^ood nnlUers both in ipiantityand poun.ls , J>»- -. ?ir,\':ri .\ a rcM s^n^« '.;,!,';;'>;tr U'el;t «l ^Uree „>■ .our year. oW, ami WJK pounds to l,4o(i pounds (.lead weights) are oommou weights. There is no ai)parent scarcity ot stock. „ ' ^f^Xuld dun-colored and red. Characteristic points require that bulls should have white testicles and the cows white udders. Age at maturity, 3i years. -,.:,. -,4 ^t. i,„ii if^fni^^ Live weight (average) at maturity is, cow, 13 to 14 cwt., bull, 15 to 18 cwt aiul the ox 13 to 15 cwt. ■, ,. e -^ The following are the weights of three oxen under i^;"7f,;"« ^y;;!^^;' No. 1, 1,.S70 pounds; No. *J, 1,953 pounds, and No 3, -^» ^8 po uds. The ox 'whose photograph is given herewith ^rf^^„;•t ZlLn^^^^^^ pounds and won the chief prize, " the breed cup" at Smithtield cattle show, lOlh December, 1883. u^ffor^ Milk yield from a good cow is about 4,000 pounds annually ; butter yield is\ibout 300 pouuds annually ; no cheese is made. Price.-The average price for good oxen is from !i^8& to ->J8. The Isle of Aimlesea (where this breed is found pure) is described as being ...lite devoid of mountains or glens, flat in the south and center n T.nlv moderate hills on the north. The climate is mild b^ttoggy, the temperature being 50o in summer, I'jo m ^'''t^;'' ^^f .f'l^.^. S duriiK' the year 50°. The soils are chietiy sandy loam, a stifl uddish eartl.ran.l blackish vegetable mold. The rocks are ^^^'"^J''^"' ^;;;^^^^,\ Silurian, Lower Carboniferous, limestone and shale, granite, Peimiau conglomerate, sandstone, and red marl. THE JERSEY CATTLE. Jersey is iustly celebrated for its breed of cattle, which goes under the name of the ilderney breed. There are about 12,000 cattle on this f6^ THE UNITED KINGDOM. 167 small ishiud, which is only 12 miles lono- by G miles broad, and, what is most remarkable, it exports every yrar above 2,000 head ot eattle. The Jersey cow is si)eeially adapted for the dairy, yieldiuj;- a (piality of milk so rich that no other ean be eoinpared to it. J5ut the specialty is butter, and in this it stands unrivaled lor (piality and i)rolit. Description. — The head should be small, slender, and lenjjthy from the eye to nose; the horns thin and oi)en, not cramped t>r too curly ; the eye full but not too proiuinent; the ear lenj^thy and broad and well fringed with hair; a broad muzzle should be avoided; the neck should be loufj. Hat, and narrow, with a ten(h'ncy to rise at the withers, and breadth behind the arm to allow of a full exi)ausion of the lun^^s, the chest bein<;- rather deep than broad. The llat-sided cow is more esi>e- cially to be chosen as a milker; the hips should be wide, ru«fj;ed, and hi.irh, and the haunches wide and large, drooi)ing toward the tail ; the thigh long and lean from lii[) to hock, tlio veins being prominent and easily felt; the legs slender with Hat bone. and small, Hat feet, the hinder ones having good width between, to attord room for the udder; a long and thin tail is a great point in breeding. This is a general description of the breed, but the Jersey Agricultural Society have a standard of i)oints by whicli they judge an animal. Color. — They are gray-fawn and white, yellow-fawn and white, gray- dun aud white, gray and white, silver-gray dun, cream-color fawn, &c. Aniinals. Average weij;bt ut maturity. Cow cwt.. 8 r.uii .... do... 12 0\- . .. . Itare. Aije at maiurity : Four to five years. i/ow long bred pure : Fivi- biiiiroportioned ; the prevailing color is mottled red and white. Product. Weight. _ Annual average production of milk pounds. Milk to pounds of butter Ao... Milk to pounds of cheese do... A vi-raffe weight at maturity : Cow cwt. Hull do... Ox *lo... 9,000 35 16 Aqe at mafurily : Four to five years. liuwloiig bred pure: One hundred years. Froducf. — A good cow will yield from 9,000 to 10,000 ]»ounds milk. This milk is calculated to return about -50 pounds butter or 500 pounds cheese ])er year. Treatment. — The cows are treated by enterprising farmers as fol- lows: They are kept constantly in the byre (or shed) till the grass has risen to aflbrd them a full bite. JMany ])ut them out every good day through the winter and spring, but they i)oach the ground with their feet and ri]) u]) the young grass as it begins to spring, which, as they have not a full meal, injures the cattle. Whenever the weather becomes dry and hot the cows are fed on cut grass in the byre from 0 iu the morning to (> in the evening and turned out to i)asture the other hours; when rain comes the house feeding is otatoes are boiled foi- the cows after calv in;;, and they are .generally fed on rye grass durin.i;- the latter part of the sprin.u'. Price. — The aveia^e price for i^ood cows is from 81--5 to ^\Ai\. 1'he couiitN ol" Ayrshire is for the most i)art jdain open country, neither hilly nor level, but rising' from the shore in a gradual easy a(;- <'livity till it terminates in mountains on the southeast, and moorish hills on easteiii l)ouiuhuies. No ])art can be termed level, for the sur- face abounds with numerous swells and roundish hills which facilitate the escai)e of moisture and ])romote ventilation. Climate. — For more than two-thirds of the year the wind blows from the southwest, and the rains are ofteu copious and sometimes of long duration. Tiie temi)erature is 59° in summer, 37° in winter, and the mean during the year 47^. *S'o/7.s'. — Clay, ()!• argillaceous earth, is the most common. Thissi)ecies is so tenacious that it can only be ])lowed in a state of moisture, but by application of lime and other manure it is convertible into tine rich loam, thousands of acres having been thus treated. Loam (jf alluvial Ibrma- tion is Ibund in Ixjbns on the sides of rivers aiul other low situations. Tho substiatum in the higher ])arts of the county abound in uiunixed granite, while also is found breccia whinstoue, greeiistoue, and red samlstone. EXPORTATION OF BRITISH CATTLE TO TUE UNITED STATES. All of the breeds here treated are said to have greatly improved in the United States, where the couditions of climate and soil have beeu favorable. The best animals to import are the pure breeds, and choice should be made accoiding to the needs and fancy of the importer and the circum- staiH-es of the climate, &c., of his grazing lands. For dairy jiurposes, having regard to cost of keeping, the ])reference seems to be for the Aldeiiiey, Ayrshire, and Welsh, while the Short- horn and IJed-Polled exc(d both for milk and l)eefi)r(Klucing qualities. As a general iarm stock the Devon, Hereford, I^olled, Aberdeen or Angus, aiul Sussex are ])ie-eminently admired for beauty, size, and llesh- making (jualities. As to the best methods, best routes, and cost of transportation, Mr. De la Ferrelle writes as follows: Tlic loss tliroii<,rli mortality, an imporfant itoin, I liavc fDiiini can bf ovcitouk- l)y ])rofitinj^ by tin- I'-Niinii-uct! (if inactical sliipin-rs. My cxiicrifiicc. wJiicIi liascxtcinlfrl over iiiaiiv years, lias i)rovctl iliat )KT.>()iiai and iiraetical attention is amply repaid Iroui tlio iactlliat \\w loss ofealtlesliippeil l)y me ban not exceeded 1 percent. Many Bbipjters find, llierefore, dillienlty to oblain m.irii.e insurance, and tbe rates rule lii),'li from tlic fact of tlieir not uttendin.;;- ami insisting,' npon tlie details oi jiroperly stall- ing cattle on board sleamers, elieapness in tins j-artiriilar brin;,' lals.- fconomy. As(otbeionte,soTnearcsliinped from London, Sontliampton, ijristol Cliannel, Liver- pool, ai.d (ilas^ow, but 1 v.onld ;,nve tbe pnf'ereneeto Liveri>ool, as I consider it oilers ^'reater I'aeilities Ibi- .-bippin^- Iban any oilier j>ort. Tbe tVei^dit per bi'ad is from .§2.') to§;:jr),accordin-,Mo(bstination, but I sliip sonu^times at amneli lower rate wben tbero is a large iininber of animals to sbip, and I reckon tbe cost of food en ro«/<; for pediyreo stock to be about '.M'> cents i>er day. 170 CA.TTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. WHERE TO PURCHASE BRITISH CATTLE. Tho followinj; may be of interest to intendiii.ir purchasers as showing the places and dates where most of the animals of the reported breeds may l)e seen and purchased : West lli};hland and Scotch cattk^ generally are showu in l;irj;e num- bers at Falkirk trysts (or fairs) second JMonday in 8ei)teml)er and Oc- tober, when from'iiO,000 to 30,000 are shown; at Mnir of Ord fairs, Inverness, and all Scotch fairs; also at Newcastle October fairs ; at Stajjshiiw, in the same county; at Jjroui»h Hill, Westmoreland; at the Norwich markets, and at Barnet fair on the lirst weeic in September, and Wortliamjyton August 26. (lalloways are met with at all the fairs in south and west of Scotland ; at Carlisle, J*enrith, Eosley Hill on Whit Monday, Brough Hill, and Newcastle fairs. Shortlunns: The fairs at Newcasile-ou-Tyne, Durham, Darlington, Yarm in Yorkshire (October 19 and 20), Northallerton, Northampton, Boston in Lincolnshire, Stow-ou-the-Wold, (Jloncestershire are remark- able in their several districts for this breed. Of these Newcastle, Dar- lington, and Yarm are probably the best. Herefords : The best shows of this stock are at the fairs in Hereford- shire in the month of October at the great market in Hereford itself, October 20; at Leominster in March and October 27; at the fairs in ]\Ionmouth and in Boss great numbers of well-bred animals are showu. Among the other fairs those of Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Birming- ham, Gloucester, and Barnet in Hertfordshire, are noteworthy. Devons are shown in their own county at South Molton, Saturday after February 13 : Crediton, Saturday before last Wednesday in April ; Sampford-Peveril, the following Monday ; Exeter, February 10, May 19, July 21, December 8 ; North Molton, third Wednesday in May and last Wednesday in October; at Barnet fair, first week in September; Bough- ton Green, Northampton, June 24, 25, and 20. Sussex cattle are rarely met with out of their own county and its neighborhood (Lewis, May G). Channel Islands: One of the best fairs for this stock (Jerseys) is Southampton, Trinity Monday. Ayrshires are met with in abundance at the fairs in the southwestern counties of Scotland, the principal jjrobably being Ayr (last Friday in April) for (;ows, barren and in calf, and .young cattle. 1 have the honor to transmit herewith tabulated summary of the special points of information called for by the Department's form sent me. STEPHEN B. BACKAliD, Consul. United States Consulate, Liveriwol, January 28, 1885. THE UNITED KINGDOM. 171 Tahuhidd nummarii of the npccial bircds of Ihilitih ailllc nportid hij Coimul Packoid. Js'anio of breed. Shorthorn Devon Sussex Ilereford Ked Polled Anfjns or Aberdeen AVelsh Jersey Ayrshire Annual aver.ige pounds of milk. 11, 500 C, 000 3, 000 9, 500 11,2.')0 9,000 4,000 7,000 9,000 Milk to pounds of batter. Milk to pounds of cheese. Great Britain. Habitat. Yorkshire, &,o Devonshire Sussex, ifcc Hereford, &c Norfolk and Suffolk. Forfarand Aberdeen North "Wales Isle of Jersey Ayrshire Live weight. Cow. Ball. Cwt. 10 to 18 9 14 to 17 12 to 14 12 14 13 to 14 8 12 Os. Owt. Cwt. 18 to 20 ,20 to 22 12 1 11 15 to 20 17 to 20 l(ito20 20 to 22 16 I 14 18 15 to 10 15 to 18 i:itol5 12 I Rare. 16 18 A BO at. ma- turity. Tear*. 3 (*) 2 to 4 .3 4 3 :ti 4 to 5 4to5 * Steers, 4 years ; cows for breeding purposes, 4 to 0 years. Name of breed. Color. How long bred pure. Product. Labor. Meat. Milk. Cheese. Roan, white, red and white, red. Red Since 1780 Since 1827 Little. ..do... Lbs. Jds of gross weight. 1,232 Lbs. 11, 500 6,000 ;i, 000 0,500 11, 250 9,000 4,000 7,000 9,000 Lbs. 350 to 500 do Hereford Red and white Red From a remote period. One hundred years. From a remote period. Little. ..do... ..do... 1,770 1,072 1,456 Red Polled 336 Angus or Aberdeen . Welsli Black Black, and occaaion- ally dun and red. Gray, fawn, and white, and variDus. Mottled led and white . Five hundred years. One hundred years. Little. 750 500 District. Torkshire Devonshire Sussex Ilerofordsli i re Norfolk and Suffolk Forfarshire and Aber- deenshire. North Wales Jei'sey Ayrshire Mean tempera- ture. Summer. AVinter. Soil. Alluvial. Alluvial Alluvial. Loam. Loam . . . Clayey loam Clay. Sandy, &c. Yellow and white clay. StilF loam to Bteiilo sand Clay to light sand Clay.. ..do... Loam Clay. Sand and va- rious. Sandy loam. Sec. 172 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. I'dbulatid summarij of the special breeds of ririliKh cadfc, iv. fonr distinct varieties of the breed dillcriiii;- widely from oiie another in ai)pearance, bnt three have snccnmbed so completely to the "red-with- white" face that a Hereford notthns marked is as'rare as a white crow. The orjo-in of the breed is donbtfnl. The best anthorities consider it aboriginal; others claim its importation from Normandy or l-'landers; others, ajiain, think the climate and conditions of Hereford (Jonnty have made what they have out of an animal that originally inhal*- ited the shire of Devon. Ue its origin what it may, its environment in Hereibrd County and surrounding counties has resulted in oim> of the linest beef-producing breeds of cattle in the worhl, nor is the breed to be des])ised for the dairy under conditions more favorable than are to be obtaiu<'d in its home county. The authentic history of the breed begins about the year 1800. In the yeai- before this occurred the tirst cattle show of tlie celebrated Smitiilield Club, ami a Ileri'lbrd ox was the winner of the lirst ])iize; a more general acknowledgment of merit then than now, because at that t-ime, and indeed up to the year IS,")!, all breeds were shown in competition with each other. This ox was ('» feet 7 inches high, 10 leet 4 inches girth, and weighed 1,07() ])Oun(ls (live weight). I lis success was maintained by the l)reed so well that up to IS.jI the IIer«'fords are m'edited in Smithlield (Jlub records with one hundred and eighty-tive pri;ies for their oxen and steers against one hundred and ninety for all other breeds together, including Shorthorns, Devons, ami Scotch. The record of prizes won by Hereibrd cows and heifers is, however, by no means so good, being twenty two tor them against one hundred and eleven ior all other breeds. Mr. Duckham, in liis interesting and val- uable little work on the breed, comments thus on this disparity between the success of the males and females. He says: This is ('crtaiuly a groat falling niV compared with the oxen and steers, and goes far to ])iove tlie correctucss ot" my reiiiark respecting the study of nature's laws in tlieciil- livation of tlio soil and of the adajjtation of stock to it. Tlio soil of (lu! county of Hereford lieiug neither applicable for dairy or feeding purposes, those who iiavo cul- tivated it for ages made it their study to breed steers and oxen which should, by tlieir snpiMior quality and aptitude to fatteu, command the attention of the distant gra/ier. Herefordshire has r),')0,000 acres. About 1 00,000 acres are utilized nei- ther lor ])asture nor agriculture ; the balance is divided equally, almost, between these two pursuits. The substratum is a light-ied sandstone, and the soil generally is a deep-red heavy loam, sometimes with some clay in it. The surface of the county is liilly, and averages about LMO feet above sea level. There are some small but beaut ifid and fertile valleys. The culture of tree-fruits, notably apples, and of hops is largely pursued. ])amp fogs ])revail at some seasons and help to keep the. grass beautifully green all the year round. Mr. Southall has' kindly furnished me with the following particulars of temperature, rainfall, &c., the results of his own observations at his house in Koss, the sourtliern part of the county: TeiDperatare. AljsohUo mnximnni Absolute uiiiiiniiini. Average maxininin . Averofje minimiini . Mean 1882. 84.1 1».G .57.1 4'.'. 3 4(1.7 1883. "77. 0 fl8.8 M. 9 41.6 49.25 * The tPtnperatnre reached this extremely moderate height only on three or four days in the year. tOn one day only. 174 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. The rainftill amounted iu 1883 to 31.52 inches, hamg 1.34 inches more than the average. There were in this year 197 days on which rain fell. The ideal Hereford is thus described by Mr. Duckham : The face, throat, chest, lower part of the body and lefja, together with the crest or mane, and the tip of the tail, a beautifully clear white; a small red spot ou the eye, •and a rouud red spot on the throat, in the middle of the white, are distinctive marks which have many admirers. The horns are of a yellow or white waxy appearance, frequently darker at the ends; those of the hull should spring out straightly from a broad flat forehead, whilst those of the cows have a waveaud a slight upward tend- ency. The countenance is at once pleasant, cheerful, and open, presenting a placid appearance, denoting a good temper and that quietude of disposition which is so es- sential to the successful grazing of all ruminating animals; yet the eye is full and lively, the head small in comparison to the substance of the body. The muzzle white, and moderately fine thin cheek. The chest deep and full, well covered on the outside with mellow llesh ; kernel full up from shoulder-point to throat ; and so beautifully do the shoulder-blades blend into the body that it is difficult to tell iu a well-fed ani- mal where they are set on. The chine and loin broad; hips long and moderately broad ; legs straight and small. The rump forming a straight line with the back, and at a right angle with the thigh, which should be full of llesh down to the hocks, without exuberance ; twist good, well filled up with flesh even with the thigh. The riV)s should spring well and deep, level with shoulder-point: the Hank fnllj and the whole carcass welland evenly covered with a rich mellow tlesli, distinguishable by yielding with a its pleasing elasticity to the touch. The hide thick, yet mellow, and well covered with soft, glossy hair having a tendency to curl. A jrlance at the cuts presented here will show us immediately how closely the animals whose portraits have been selected to accompany this article answer to this description. The bull, Komeo, is perfect. He was bred by Mr. Carwardine, of Leominster, in Herefordshire, and was sold in 1882 to Messrs. Earl & Stuart, of Lafayette, Ind., where he now is. The ox ])ictured here was bred by Mr. J. Price, of Pembridge in Herefordshire. He won the Elkington Challenge Cup at Birmingham iu 1881, and again in 1882. This prize has never before been won twice by the same animal, and, iu recognition of his great feat, the portrait of this ox is to have the place of honor, the title-page, of volume 14 of the Hereford Herd-Book, just about to be issued. The general rule is to admit to the herd-book only cuts of such animals as take first i)rize at a royal agricultural show. The thirteenth volume, 1 may mention here, contains the names of 199 breeders, of whom 11 are either in the United States or Canada. The fourteenth volume, which is to beissueer rendered them doubly valuable. In these old days when they were put to the yoke, when the demand for meat was not so pressing as now, nor money requiring so rapid a turn -over, they were often kept until six or seven (1 IC tHt: ITNITED KINGDOM. 175 years old; and tlieir llesli devolopod "that beautiful marbled appear- auce caused by tlie a.Iinixtuie of fat and U-au which is so uiuch i)ii/cd l\y epicures." 8uch tiucly ripeucd beef is no louuer pn.cunihk", as the Jieretordis now consulered ready for the market at from L'O to 30 mouths old. Grass with a little oil-caUe is all they need, and their a-ility iu f^razino: and tacility for fattenino- makes the steers much sou'dit a"tter to o-raze in the midland counties for the London market. They are in their prime at three, but will -row up to four, and tiieir liye w^i^dit at maturity is from 1,800 to 2,r)00 pounds. The calves are dropped Gener- ally irom April to duly. Veiirlino- heifers are sehlom i.iit to the bull The calves run on their dams for (5 or 7 months, and are rarely weaned' on oilcake. The ycuino- steers are fed upon <.'rass, and ^M't tuiniiis and cut straw and sonu'times a little oil-cake in winter. I subjoin to this report a table showin.^- the live wei<:hts of all the cattle of all breeds exhibited at the ei^ditv-sixth annual show of the Smithlield Club in December, 1S,S;5, prepared by me from the oHicial cataloo-ue. ]t is ])resented more as a. matter of interest than fxhibited at the society's meeting- at York in duly, 188;} says on this point: " ' Overfeeding; has been ilisappenrintj somewhat in reeent years. There is slill inn nineh of it, however. lie says elsewhere : Preparation for modern show yards is a severe ordeal and only pood eonsfitiUed animals can endnre it. ]t h^adsto many b?eedinj; misliaps and faihires; \t\\t wh me finds I lie sires and dams olso many of the pri/,i-\vinni is themselves in prize-lisl.s, as was tlie case at York, one is forced to tiie eoncliisioii that successful sliowin-^and lireedimr <^(> hand in hand to a considerahlo extent and to a larL,'mm(mlv imaiiiued ; and one is led to helievc tliat hi^di feedin;i is not so detrimenf.il in skillfiil hands to succes.sfnl breedinj; as is ijenerally imagiueil. Uerefords, and only Herefords, are found in Herefordshire, Shrop- shire, Monmouthshire, lladnorshire, Jireconshire, and also in Worces- tershire and jMontgomeryshire. Large numbers are also found in Corn- wall and Ireland, and there are herds of them iu many other counties. They are seldom crossed with the Shorthorn, tiiough I hey are said to blend well when it is done; tln» same statement holds good witli the Ayrshires. Hereford on l>evon has been triol, resulting in a ju'ogeny inferior in some ies])ects, Ilerelbrd on Aldeiiiey is said to produce satisfa(;tory results, im]uoving the cow ef tlie llrst cross as a feeder and not injuring her milk in quantity or quality. A cross with Uut West. Highland Kyloe was a failure, but with Calloway Polls was a great suc- cess. These statements of the results of [Jeicford crosses are. taken from a prize essay for the lioyal Agricultural Society made by the late H. H. Dixon, a notable authority on such matters when alive. 116 OATtLE AND DAIRY FAflMIJ?G. Evidence establishes beyond qnestion that the Hereford when re- moved to almost any climate does not degenerate as a beef producer. The females, too, of the breed are found most satisfactory for the dairy, under different conditions than can be found in their liome countries. Both of these conclusions are contrary to an opinion 1 have heard many exi)ress to the effect that Ilerefords deteriorate away from home. But 1 have observed that while su(;h an oi)inion seems very general, it is maintaitu^d by those without special knowledge of the breed, and I thiidc it an inherited prejudice \vhi(;li a little investigation would dis- ]>rove to the satisfaction o( the holder. -'Old jn'cjudices die hard" is true and trite. In Bedfordshire and Dorset herds have been main- tained for many years, tifty in some cases, and these herds are fully u]) to the standanl of the homebred ones; in every case, that is, in whicli due care lias been taken to get an occasional infusion of fresh blood. In the wet and changeable climate of Cornwall the breed is established largely and maintains its reputation, though Devons and Short-horns are said to deteriorate tliere. In the counties near London, Surrey, Cambridge, and Kent, Herefords have done well; also in Wales and Scotland. They withstand the severe climate of the latter country without seeming dihiculty, and will live where many Short horns cannot. In Ireland they are much esteemed and their number is constantly in- creasing. They maintain in all these places their characteristics of early develo])ment and ra])id and even fattening. Tlie breed seems to stand the heat with the same indifference it does the cold. In Jamaica the progeny of some imported Hereford bulls have proved the most valuable ancl useful stock in the island ; and the lieat of Australia has not affected in the slightest degree the character- istics of the large number of Herefords there. Of their success in the United States 1 shall speak farther on. I have thus far considered the Elerefords mainly as a butcher's breed. I will now speak of their qualifications for the dair^-. In the shire of Dorset, one of tlie crack dairy distri(;ts of England, producing a butter much sought after,* there are many Hereford dairy herds. The owner of the largest of these herds wrote twenty years siiu^e as follows: Oiu'lierdof Herefords have hfieu established nearly thirty years, and so far from tiicir l)eini)d lor milk witli iis, wo hit nearly 100 cows t(» dairy people, and if I ijiiy one of aii.N' other hrct;*! to till nj) the dairy, th(!y always };rnnd)le, aner year, lindinroprietor of this herd and writer of this letter was Mr. James, of Blandford, Dorset. His son writes me under date January 11), 1884, tliat the same system is still pursued and that the Herefords arc as great a success as ever. He says : My late father and myself have Icept and bred Ilerefoids for dairy cows for forty- eijrht years and have always used the b(\st blood we could }jjef. 1 havii won a num- ber of [)rizes for "dairy cows" and " dairj' cows and olfsiiriu!^" against Devons and Short-horns. Mr. James further says : Iu a cold, wet, sour ))laee there is nothinj,^ like the Herefords ; their good coats are a protection in the winter. The butter that is made is a splendid color and taste. * So much appreciated is this Dorset butter, that to my ]iersonal knowledge it is a common ])raeti<;e for retailers iu liristol to call certain line grades of Normandy but- ter Dorset butter. They say it is about the sauie and helps the sale. THE UNITED KINGDOM. 177 There ar»> lots of Tlt-ri-fortl (lairii'8 in this comity. In the year 1>(SI I sohl two hulls to cross Short -horns, anil I know ])artics who have crossed llerefords witli Short-horns anil have come back a<;;ain to the llereionls. Mr. White writes me from Wiltshire as follows: I keep ft dairy of ninety pure bred Hereford cows, which breed has been kept on this farm for the last sixty years, and I have at all times endeavored toiditain the milkiest strain 1 conld, and I think 1 have now a herd of cows more adapted to dairy ])nriiosirs than any other Hereford herd in this country I have made fair trials between the Hereford and Short-horn as to protit, and I give my decided preference to the former. The testimony from these two herds is the most valuable that could possibly be obtained as to the ut it is not so much as milkers that the Tuited* iStates are interested in the breed, but as beef producers; and that in this capac- ity they are indeed largely interested will be proved when 1 say that the extraordinary demand for jiedigree lierefords from the li^nited States in the last few years has so increased the price of these cattle that the Ilereford breeders are looked upon with envy by other breed- ers throughout the kingdom as having " struck a bonanza." That lierefords will repay a large expenditure is undeniable. Their tremen- dous develoinnent of flesh, their activity as feeders, their insensibility to changes of climate, their liardiness, their quiet and ])lacid tempers, are just precisely the qualities needed for the iinpro' ement of our West- ern, Texas, and " Spanish " cattle. Their bulls, too, have a marvelous faculty of impressing their qualities ou their get, and there is many a half-breed Hereford which is absolutely indistinguishable in appearance and quality from a pure bred one, so completely is the influence of the (lam eliminated. Another point. The Ilerelord is si)ecially strong- Just where our Western cattle are weak, viz, in the development of tlie llesh on the back. The back of a well ripened ricneford steer has b(!ea <-oiiii)ared to a table, and the back of a Texas steer to a wedge, ^'olumes could not say more. There were two remarkable sales of lierefords during the past year ; one, the disjiersal of Mr. Pitt's herd at Chadnor Court, ami the other the dispersal of Mr. Turner's herd at Leen. ]\Ir. Pitt estal)lished his herd in 1842 from four celebrated cows of the day. I present a little statement of the amouuts received by Mr. Pitt at this sale. Number of animals. V.iluo. Average. 32 cows with two calves $13,450 00 $»20 00 2.') ralvcs 4, 961 Kt 198 47 7,818 0.-> 051 .50 :t two- vi-iirold heifers 1,113 07 371 22 12 Vfarlinus 3,99.5 87 333 00 7bull8 2,800 00 400 00 Ninety-one animals averaged about {375 each. The average of $651.50 for twelve two-year-old li(;ifers has never be- fore been equalled iu England in any breed. 11. Ex. 51 12 178 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Mr. Tumor's herd has been established for about eighty years, his jjrand father being- the founder. Since ISa-l Mr. Turner has -won with iiidivi(bials of his herd 111 first prizes, GO second prizes, 11 third, besides r)'J s}»ecial ])rizes. ITe received an average of $300 apiece for his animals, Ills cows and calves averaging a little higher. Tin'setwo herds were exceptionally fine and had a wide celebritj'. Many of the animals went to the United States, making, with all others forwarded, a total of 1,800 pedigree Herefords sent to tlie United States jrom Fcbitiary 1, 1883, to February 1, 1884. This includes one lot of ;i(»0 sent to Baltimore in January of this present year. The qnestion naturally comes up now, whether this demand for the Herefords is a fancy or a fashion, likely to die out and let down prices, it is woith consideriir;. I have said that the i)rincipal demand for the Herefords in the United States was as beef makers, but I did not intend at all to intimate that their merits as milkers were overlooked. On the contrary many breeders in the United States are enthusiastic over tliem as a dairy breed and quite a number of wealthy men are forming luTds. Some go so far as to claim that the Hereford is the coming breed, which is going to carry all before it, and that the Short-horn will event nally full before the Middle-horn, just as the Long-horn went down in the past. The high esteem in which the breed is held in the United States and the growing appreciation of its merits which exists iu England jireclude, it seems to me, the possibility of a fall in prices in th(^ near future or in fact for many years. It is even possible that for a time i)rices may go higher than now. A gentleman writes me from Hereford County thus: I am now looking ont for a lot (of pedigree Hereford cattle for America) ; they are more ditKcnlt to get, as the demand has been great and prices are much higher. now TO EXPORT HEREFORDS. By far the larger proportion of theHerefords sent to the United States go via Liveri)ool, though several large herds have been sent by way of r>ristol. I am of the opinion that in many cases better facilities could be obtained via Bristol than are obtained via Liverpool. One reason I have for this o])inion is the fact that several of the steamers j)lying in the lines from Biistol to New York are unusually high between decks, and extremely well lighted and ventilated — an important matter. Another advantage is that cattle can be brought from Hereford in the cars directly alongside of the ship's deck. 'J'he (Ireat Western Railway (J()mi)any quote the following to me as about their average rates for transporting eattlci from the town of Here- ford to Bristol or to Avonmouth docks (a port of Bristol) : Ifalfwngon-loiid consisting of 4 cattle , .|r) 40 Small wagon-l<)alaced at my disposal for a thorough investigation. I have to acknowledge, especially, the kindness, in coun(M'tion with this rejjort, of Thomas Duckham, esq., M. I'.; of S. W. Urwick, esfp, secretary of the Hereford herd-book; of J. Bowen Jones, esq., of Sliro]»shire; of Lord ^loreton, M. P.; of E. C. Clarke, esq., of Bristol; and of X. J. Uine, esq., a.ssistant secretary of the Smitlifiehl Club. LOKIN ANDREWS LATHROP, Consul. United States Consulate, Brifitol, January^ 31, 1884, 180 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. A table prepared hij Consul Lathrop, of Bristol, shoivhtfj the respective weights of the cattle exhibited at the eighty-sixth annual show of the Smithfield Club, December, 188:5. STEERS NOT EXCEEDING TWO YEARS OLD. Herefords. Short- horns. DoTons. Sussex. Red-Polled breed. Scotch Hijihhuid breed. Scotch Polled breed. Croaa-bred cattle. Cwt, qr. lbs. 11 1 10 13 0 12 ■ 14 0 20 12 2 24 13 3 18 12 0 20 Cwt, qr, lbs. 12 0 20 13 1 14 13 3 4 12 2 23 12 2 20 11 1 10 12 0 25 12 0 0 Cwt. qr. P>s. 10 2 10 10 1 14 9 0 10 8 2 0 9 3 23 10 0 20 8 3 20 Ciot. qr. lbs. 12 2 24 13 2 25 11 1 8 12 0 2 12 1 8 12 2 25 13 3 0 Cwt. qr. lbs. Cwt. qr. lbs. Cwt. qr. lbs. Cwt. qr. lbs. 13 2 24 11 2 14 11 3 22 13 0 0 12 3 27 12 0 21 12 1 20 STEERS ABOVE TWO AND NOT EXCEEDING THREE TEARS OLD. 0 24 3 22 16 0 IC 18 2 5 16 3 10 14 1 21 17 1 0 17 2 26 17 3 8 17 1 4 18 0 10 16 2 20 18 o 4 18 3 8 19 0 27 12 3 14 3 13 3 20 15 0 4 19 0 5 18 3 24 14 0 20 18 0 0 16 0 2 12 2 0 12 1 24 14 0 18 16 t 26 16 3 5 ](-. 3 8 17 0 21 16 2 20 17 1 4 13 '> 20 17 1 4 16 0 8 18 0 2i 15 0 15 17 2 6 16 1 4 15 3 26 14 2 10 16 0 24 18 1 10 17 0 16 19 0 20 17 0 10 STEERS ABOVE THREE AND NOT EXCEEDING EOUR YEARS OLD. 17 3 14 18 2 16 19 3 0 19 1 20 18 2 16 17 2 6 17 2 6 15 3 20 14 2 7 14 0 18 17 1 22 13 2 2 20 1 0 18 3 2 15 1 20 17 3 6 15 3 20 15 3 14 18 2 10 17 0 0 21 0 23 19 0 22 17 1 0 19 1 24 19 3 3 20 2 20 HEIFERS NOT EXCEEDING FOUR YEARS OLD. 17 0 W 17 0 26 18 3 27 18 1 5 16 3 12 16 3 20 16 1 10 15 3 18 15 3 20 16 0 14 14 0 13 3 12 1 12 0 13 0 16 3 14 0 14 0 17 3 13 3 14 3 12 1 24 13 3 22 9 2 18 14 1 10 17 2 22 11 1 6 13 1 5 13 3 16 14 0 18 17 3 20 13 3 10 COWS ABOVE FOUR YEARS OLD. 20 3 21 0 0 19 2 12 18 1 8 19 1 18 17 0 8 16 3 14 13 3 12 1 17 1 13 1 13 3 16 0 16 16 2 6 15 3 10 14 0 21 20 0 6 17 2 24 14 3 4 13 0 14 14 0 5 13 2 10 11 3 12 11 1 0 19 3 0 17 2 20 14 2 24 17 3 15 THE UNITED KINGDOM. 181 HEREFORDSHIRE AND HEREFORD CATTLE. REPORT rUKPARKD FOn COXSTL nocRKIiV. OF LFED\ BY MR. .JOHN KERSLFT FOWLER.'' FREHESDAL FAHM. XTLESliURW DESCRIPTION OE HEREFORDSHIRE. In writing: an account of this very valuable and beautiful tribe of cattle, it is necessary to jiive a description of the county which gives its name to the breed, and also of the soil and climate, as well as the •icneral characteristics of the district, as this ])articular breed of cattle is specially adapted to certain localities in Enjiland, and, although 1 will not venture to ailirui that they will not thrive under other climatic and geological circumstances than their own county, from my own per- sonal exi)erience 1 find that they are more adapted for those districts which i)artake more or less of the character of 11 ereford shire. Tills county is situated in the west midland district of England, ad- joining the Welsh counties, and is bounded on the north by Shropshire, on the t^ast by AYorcestershire and (rloucestershire, on the south by Monuiouthshire, and on the west by Kadnorshire and Breconshire. It will, therefore, be seen that it has no sea coast, but the river Wye run- ning through the county gives it communication with the sea, through the Bristol Channel. It is well supplied with railway communication, the .Alidland giving it a direct route to the north, antl the Great AYest- ern to the south and west, and also to the metroi)olis. The city of Hereford itself is, also, connected with the Northwestern line, via Mal- vern and Worcester, thus giving the county every means of supplying the various grazing districts of England with numi)ers of excellent store cattle, as also for the disjiatch of fat animals to the markets of the great metropolis and the teeming populations of the many thriving towns in the north. The soil of the county is varied, the larger portion is a red clay, as also strong loam. Around the town of lioss, where some of the choicest specimens of the breed are found, the soil is a loamy gravel or light loam. The old red sandstone forms also a considerable portion of the county, aiul some of the hills are limestone. The valleys are particu- larly adapted for tiie feeding of cattle, as they are nu)ist anre his day "i)ainful Master Caindon^dt'scriluHr the county as "not willingly content to be accounted sccondshirc for matters of fruitful ness." Yet both writers are silent as to cattle, and Drayton sang of " fair Sutfolk's maids and milk," ot the hogs of Hamp- shire, the calves of Essex, and how Kich Biickinnli;iiii (loth hoar The name of "7>'r«i(/ cnid Jlccf;" yet he says nothing of these attributes of Herefordshiir. Many writers were of oi)inion that the Herefords were descended IVom cattle from Devon and Normandy, which were of a deep reddish l)rown color, and that the white faces Mere an a(;cident from a singular sport of the breeding of a white-laced bull by a noted breeder of the last cen- tury, Mr. Tully,.of Euntington, near Hereford. The story I have heard related as follows: That the cow-man came to him, on his coming out of church one Sunday, and told him that his favorite cow, who was daily expecting to calVejhad produced a bull calf with a white face, and this had never been known before. Kei)ort says the master ordered it at once to be killed, as he dared not let it be known that he had such a stain of blood in his well-known herd: but the man begged him to go and see it, as it was the finest calf he had ever seen. Mr. Tally, when he had seen it, agreed with his man that it was a wonder, and that he would, out of curiosity, rear it. He did so, and he proved to be a very remarkably fine animal, and he used him on all his 'best cows, and his progeny became celebrated for their white faces. Many old chroniclers sav*that the county was noted for its breed of white cattle on the banks of' the Wye as far back as the tenth century, but they had red ears, and it is recorded that Lord Scudamore in, or about the year 1000, in- troduced some red cows, with white faces, from Flanders, and this may have been the reason that the noted Tully bull, after a lapt-:e of moie than a hundred years, might have cropped up, as a sport, from the well- known deep red cattle of the country. It must not be considered that the white face is the only type of the purity of this breed, as the mot- tled face is considered by many breeders as of greater value than the pure white, and I can myself testify that some of the finest cattle 1 ever o-razed, and some of the best 1 ever saw, have been mottled-faced and Tight-brindled; in fact those of the last-named type have shown the greatest aptitude to fatten, on the grass, of any, and many graziers have told me the same. ^, n ■, e ..r it e i Mr Eyton of Eyton Hall, Salop, was the founder of the Hereford Herd-P.ook in 1845, and when he commenced it, he found it necessary to divide the Herefords into lour distinct classes, viz, the mottled-faced, the dark-gray, the light-gray or white, and the red with whitelace. Yet, ;ifter the lapse of only thirty-eight years, people question he i>urity ot the breed, if they have not the characteristics of the well-known white ^'Tlr'' Duckhlim^ays, "the present uniformity of the color is due to the infiuence of the bull," and this is a remarkable corroboration ol my ^ie^s expre-ssed in a paper on " liree.ling, facts and principles," winch Iveaa at a meeting of the Central Farmers' Club, some lew years since, 184 CATTLK AND DAIRY FARMING. wlu'ii I piopomultMl the dictum (wliicli, by the bye, was not new), "that the iiiaU' exercised the external characteristics, aJid the internal organ- ization followed the female," in nearly every class of animal. Long be- fore the commencement of the herd-book the Herefords had made •' a reputation and a name," by being continually successful at tlie iSmith- tield Club annual fat cattle show, from its establishment, in 1790, by Mr. Westear, of Creslow, near Aylesbury, Bucks, and wlio, for twenty years in succession, won the i)reniium prize with a Hereford ox, against 'all kimls of cattle. 1 had not an opportunity of knowing Mr. Westear, as he died before my day, but I had been for many years on intimate terms with his relative iuursuccessor, Mr. Li. Rowland, who gave me many interesting stories of Mr. Westear, and who was, undoubtedly, the first man to bring the Herefords to the front, against all the world. Ire- member Mr. Kowland telling me, whilst standing in the midst of the far famed Creslow (Jreat Ground, and on the spot, marked by a clump of trees, where Mr. AVestcar's lifeless body was found, he having fallen dead from his horse, how the Duke of Bedford, in the latter part of the last century, went down with Mr. Westear to Hereford in his carriage and four ixJsthorses, taking two days for the journey, and stopi>ing one night on the road at the well-known country inn, the Staple Hall, at Witney, and accompanied by Lord Beruers, in another carriage and four, with some ladies and other members of their families, to attend the great fair at Hereford, and where the duke desired Mr. Westear to order dinner for a hundred persons at the principal hotel, and to in- vite all the more celebrated breeders and dealers to meet him. He de- scribed the annoyance of some of the dealers at the noblemen being brought down to see these grand bullocks, which they had only seen in the Creslow pastures, as it had had the effect of raising the price of the cattle in the fair at least £1 per head. After dinner his grace and Lord Berners announced their desire to have from ten to twenty of the best cows that could be found and two bulls, to bring into Bedford- shire, there to establish a herd on their estates. Lord Beruers, who was a breeder of Longhorns, gave up the breed and took to Here- fords. This visit of the Duke of Bedford, with the continued success of the breed in the show yard, at Smithtield, by Mr. Westear, brought them prominently into notice, and firmly established their merits. Sir Brandreth Gibbs, the honorary secretary of the Smithfield Club, in his history of the (tlub, states that at their first show Mr. Westcar's prize ox measured S leet 11 inches long, 0 feet 7 inches high, 10 feet 4 inches girth, and that he was sold for 100 guineas. This animal was bred by Mr. Tally, of Huntington, and weighed 247 stone, dead weight, 8 pounds to the stone, l^^normous as the dimensions of this ox were, they were far exceeded by another Hereford, fed by Mr. (irace, of Putlowes, near Aylesbury, which was 7 feet high, 12 feet 4 inches girth, and weighed 200 stones, of .S])ounds, dead weight. Mr. Duckham mentions that about the years 1812 or LS13 Mr. Potter sold for Mr. Westear at the J\Ietroi)olitan Christmas nuirket fifty Hereford oxen that averaged 50 guineaseach, making 2,500 guineas; and he mentions that Mr. Smythies, of Marlow, Salop, ol)tained the following extract from Mr. Westcar's book for the s:ile of twenty Hereford oxen at different periods from 170!) to 1811, and which I can corroborate, as the same was shown me by Mr. Kowland, when visiting him at Creslow. The list was confined to those which sold for XlOO and upwards ; THE unitj:d kingdom. 185 Date. Dec Dec. Dec. Kov. Nov. Nov. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Nov. 16, 1709 4, ISOO 13, IKdO 'J6, IWl — , li^{.yi 31. l>ii)'J 4,18(C — , 1803 ]!», \f^y.i 111, 1803 :>, ISO 4 4, 18<),-i •-•li, Ibii Oxen sold. 2 oxen to Mr. Chapman 1 ox to M r. Cliai>iHaii 1 ox to Mr. llaniimtou ti iixeu to Messrs. (iiblett & Co 1 ox 1 ox to Mr Cli;ipnian 1! oxcii to Mr. Ilorwooil 1 ox to M ! . ("liaiiuiaii 1 ox to Ml'. Keviiold.s 1 ox lo Mr. (iil)Utt per ground the eye wanders over the far-famed vale of Aylesbnry, the old town, tlie ""^Egelsbireg" of the Saxons, standing in the midst the rich past- ures of Whitcchurch ; Quarrendon, with its ruined chapel of the fifteeuth century ; and Fleet Marston, in which parish is Putlowes, formerly men- tioned as the rival of Creslow as a feeding i)asture, and a rare tract of glass land stretching away for more than 15 miles along the valley of the Thames. !Sir Brandreth Gibbs, in his " History of the Smithfiald Club,-' men- tions an incident of some interest in 1825. There was a sweepstakes between three llerefords belonging to the Duke of Bedford and three Dnrhams belonging to the right honorable Charles Arbuthuot, which was won by the Herefords. ]Mr. Dnckham says that from the establishment of the Smithfleld Club in 171)!) to 1851 all the diflerent breeds and cross-breeds were shown together, but since that time they have been exhibited in distinct classes. And, as far as can be learned, during the time they were shown together the Uereford oxen and steers won 185 prizes ; the Shorthorns, 82 ; the Devons, 44; the Scotch, 43; the Sussex, 1) ; the Longhorns, 4, and the cross-breeds. 8 ; thus showing that the whole of the prizes won by all the other breeds and crosses in the Kingdom were 190, or only 5 in excess of the luimber registered by the Herefords alone. ^Ir. Discau says that during fifty-three years to 1851 the Shorthorns by their females made up considerably to the total of the Herefords, as they numbered 174 i)rizcs to the Herefords 207. It is interesting to know how the Herefords have retained their former renown, by their comparatively youthful prowess at the present day. AVe find that Mr. Heath showed his gray beast at Birmingham, winning first honors, with a girth of 0 feet 7 inches; and his Uereford cow at three years ami ten months measured 0 feet in girth. Mr. Shirley's gold-medal steer at two years and seven months girthed 8 feet 7 inches. And he averred that ui) to seventeen months old he had had only an ordinary calf and stock treatment. It will therefore be seen that the breed is not only not deteriorating but is likely to maintain its jiositiou against all competitors. THE HEREFORDS AS DAIRY CATTLE. Having said so much of the feeding (jualities of these animals, I must now allude to their milking ]>roi)erties. Cenerally they are not con- sidered such good " fill-i)ails" as their rivals the Shorthorns or A ryshires, nor such butter producers as the Channel Islands breeds, yet their butter-making qualities are of a high order. 1 quote from IMr. Dnck- ham, who says Mr. Read, of Elkstone, finds the Herefords retain their general aptitude to fatten, and that in the team they are excellent au(i THE UNITED KINGDOM. 187 that tliev liiive been used fortlairv jnupo.ses for nearly fifty years on the farm, and tliat lie ruises his calvi's by hand after a few days old. Mr. -lames iMapjxJwder, of lilandford, Dorset, says that lleieford dairies are beeominji" very common in thateounty ; that they let nearly one hnndred cows to dairy jH'ophs and that if he buys one of any other breed to till up the number tli<'y always grumble. His system is t(>let the cows at so much jhu" year, tindiufj them in land and making- tlie imy ; the calves beinji' reared by hand with skim nnlk and linseeTl until three ujonths old, and they are then turned out to i)asture. Mr. Olvcr, of Penhallow, Cornwall, says: I re:ir my oiilvos on skiiu milk. It is ^cnorally said IlrrcfoiHl cow.s iiri' bad milUiTs. That is contrary to my (>x)>eritMic<>. My cow Patience, bred by Mr. rooko, ot" More- Ion llonso, liad j^ivon 14 ponnds (tf bnttor in a week, and Blossom, bred by Mr. l>on<;- mcrc, ISiicktoii, Salop, i;ave 'J'icinarts of milk, yielding '2i ponnds of bnttei- per day. From Ireland and Scotland reports show that excellent results have been attained. It is fair to say that my own experience is contrary to theoi)inion that they are better for the dairy than Shorthorns, as when I was judge of (;attle at Hereford, some few years since, there was a niilkinjr competition, ami we had all the competitors in the class very careftdly milked, and both the tirst prizes were obtained by Short-horns of hi()() miles l)etter than any others, 1 have, therefore, shown that the Herefords an^ admirable for foreign countries. Amongst the most noted strains of blood I find from Leopold (1) and Wellington, which bnll wiis sold in 181(5 for £'J8J, that the mottled faces are mostly de- scended, and \'ictory, which wns a iaces the first and second prizes were trinmpliantly carried olf by Short- horns; and as an additional proof of the Shorthorns' 8n])eriorit.v, the Queen's two years and eight months ohl pure Shorthorn heifer ecii])sed all other breeds, ages, weights, and sex, and deservedly carrieil olf the much-coveted champion ])riico at the fat-cattle show held in liOndon December, 188^1 The dairy tests were conducted on the most scientilic. princii>les, and leaveno doubt as to a correct decision having been arrived at. I do not think that the most essential properties of the pure Short- horns are so universally known as they ought to be. Tlie foreign bnyeis, whose tastes have been carefully studied, (lo not, as a rule, make milking l>roperties a sine qua non, but give tlieir favor to attractive appearances, and, above all. long ancestral line, without which in their eyes no ani- mal is v>'orth their notice. Kow, many of our lirst-class breeders have neglected the careful cultivation of dairy productions, and obliterated them altogether in some of the purest and most valuable breeds. These proceeilings have had a damaging" influence on the breed generally. In- stances are not wanting where paper pedigrees have been held as the only virtue to be studied, while nature's bountiful provisions have dis- appeared. Refinement has its limits, and when pushed beyond those limits degeneracy is the result, and the breed is often condemned when a jury would find a true bill against the breeders. Forty years ago some of the highest bred Shorthorns were extraordi- nary dairy cows and possessed great aptitude to fatten when dry, but, though the great demand for showy animals has somewhat interfered with the careful cultivation of these properties, which consequently have been slightly impaired, this only exists when breeders have not ac- counted dairy capabilities of sutiicient interest and importance to occupy their serious attention. Besides, to do so would entail an infusion of new blood, which would incur the disapproval of a cliques of con- noisseurs, who might declare the innovation an unpardonable departure from the well defined paper line and rule system of breeding so exten- sively practiced by some of our pioneers, who, unfortnnately for the cause, have paid too little attention to the dictates of nature. The best all round general purpose cow can be selected from the old Teeswater Shorthorns, which are still to be found in great numbers inhabiting the banks of the river Tees, in the north of Yorkshire. These are the ])arent stock of our most refined breefls of Shorthorns, and still retains the substance, constitution, and udder for which the breed has long been distinguished. From this foundation, with juoper selections, a superior class of animals can be raised and modeled to suit circumstan(;es. The possession of so many worthy properties admirably adapt them for exportntion, and I know of no other breed that I 'can be more confi- dent in recommending to the notice of foreign buyers. The male ani- mals of this breed are most impressive sires, and stamp their own characteristics on the progeny m a marked degree, which is, perhaps, more distinguished abroad than at home. One of our earliest imi)rovers of the Tees water Shorthorns was Charles Collings, who with his brother became a considerable farmer about 1770, but Charles has the credit as an early founder of this breed. 190 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. In the year 1810 his lierd was sold by auction with the following re- sult: £ 8. 17 cows 2,802 9 11 bulla 2,a61 9 7 bull calves under twolve months G97 If) 7 bcilVr calves 942 18 Total G,804 11 Since then a descendant of a calf sold at this sale (Young Duchess) has realized nioie money than the whole herd was sold for. One, two, and three thousand guineas were frequently paid for members of that tribe or family, of which there is a goodly number in England at the present time and which are still held in high estimation. The intluence of a good sire is shown by the following statement : A remarkable animal termed the Duiham ox Avas got by one of the bulls sold at the above sale out of a common cow. The ox was sold for public exhibition, from which circumstance their sprung U]) a great de- sire to possess and imi)rove the Shorthorns in distant quarters. The ox, after being exhibited for several years, was slaughtered after two months illness, which reduced its Hesh considerably, but its dead weight of meat, without tallow or otial, was 2,3L*2 pounds. Many other in- stances of great weignt can be recorded, viz : Pounds. Live vreigbt of steers under four years old 2,212 Live weight of hellers under four years old 2, 049 Live weight of cows 2,352 Average (lead weight : Of matured ox when fed in the ordinary way for market 920 Of heifer when fed in the ordinary way for market 800 Of cow when fed in the ordinary way i'or market 880 Milk : Annual average weight 8, 000 Weight to 1 pound of butter 24 Weight to 1 pound of cheese 10 *9oi/.— Alluvial and light loam in East Riding ; in West Riding, brown clay. Clhiiaie. — Mean temperature, 49^.4. Color. — Red, white, and roan. HEREFORDS. Herefords are an old established breed of high renown, whose fame has gone to the antipodes as possessing many highly meritorious prop- erties, the principalof which is its fattening piopensities and higlujual- ity of beef. A hardy, strong constitution seems to ])ervade the whole family, as no signs of delicacy or degeneracy ever api)eai' in thcHr ranks. These (tharacteristics commend them to the notice of home graziers and breeders abroad. For several years ]>ast there has been a iiish to se- (Mire the best specimens on offer for export, and some hundreds of fine animals have recently been consigned to enterprising breeders across the Atlantic. The chief merit of the Hereford is tlieir beef produc- tions ; they have little pretension to the sui)i)ly of the dairy. The calves, as a rule, run with their mothers, whose parental duties in many cases are heavily taxed, but this defect is occujjying the attention of many breeders, and it can be removed in time by careful selections and proper observance in mating them. They inhabit large tracts of land partially surrounded by the Welsh hills— land which is well calculated to develoj) its true character to full perfection. The breed has long been ascribed the best in the west of England. The uuiform character has become a THE UNITED KINGDOM. 191 strtmi)eIeau temperature, 49'^. 7. Color. — Red, with white lace and white streak down back, and a broader one on the belly. An old established breed, witiiont foreign admixture. DEVONS. The Devon is an old and well-defined breed, and is honored with standing first in the catalooue at the Christmas fat-cattle show in London, where it has been known to obtain the highest honors. They are to be found in the greatest i)urity and perfection in the northern ])art of their county aiul a portion of Somersetshire. They are very compact and graceful in appearance and light of bone. Their uniform, deei)-red color, i)eculiar to the North Devon, goes to prove their freedom from any admixture or foreigri element, \vhi(;h gives them a high standard of jiuiity. The purest bred ones are somewhat wanting in size for general jmr- ]ioscs, and their improvement is slightly imiiedcd by show yard decis- ions, wiiich iire invariably in favor of small, compact animals, which no doubt are admiral)ly adapted for their own locality, where they graze well anounds with extra attention ; but 720 pounds may safely be taken as a fair average for fully-matured Devon steers, although 800 pounds is not unfrequently reached by choice beasts. Cows, when fat, will average 800 ])ounds at six to seven years. Bulls often Aveigh, when very fat, a ton (live weight). A selected dairy of cows will average from 500 to GOO gallons of n)ilk a year, many giving up to 700 gallons, and 300 pounds of butter. These are exceptional cases. A prevailing custom in Devonshire is to let cows to dairymen for the season, £13 each being about the average paid. Founds. Live weight : Four-year old ox, .it Smithfield 8bow, December, 1853 (offal, 8 pouiiroportion of compact, finely-grained llesh, with less coarse fat than many other breeds. Some i)eople will place the ])evons before them. I consider it in no way inferior. Both these breeds with skillful care have greater things to look forward to. Amongst those who are not thoroughly conversant with the Aberdeens an idea exists that they are slow feeders as well as being slow at arriving at maturity. There is little doubt that such was the case. Is'ow, how- ever, it has been so greatly improved in that respect that it matures al- most as soon as some cf the leading breeds, and if well fed from birth the best specimens become ripe at the age of Irom twenty-eight to thirty months. This breed is remarkable for retaining loveliness of form during the fattening process, and in cases of excessive feeding they rarely be- come patchy or disproportioned. Since the rage for young beei" became so strong, many have been fed for the butchers at thirty inonths old, where they have reali7,ed from £25 to £35. Many fully-matured bullocks Avill fetch at the London Christmas market £40 to £48 each. The breed cannot now be distinguislicd I'or its nulkingproi)erties; formerly it was Leld in high estimation for dairy ])urposcs. The main aim of the im- ])rovers has been the develoi)ii!ent of its beef producing «inalities to the deterioration of the liow of milk; and now they are actually deiicient in this respect, but with a little attention their ancient reputation can be restored. A few families are excellent milkers; these are becoming nioi-e highly esteemed than they were a few years ago. This breed, as well as the Galloway, are finding favor with Knglish breeders, and many herds are already forined in England, also in Ireland. In Scotland itself this breed is extending its territory. More than a hundred herds are now established there. Of the Polled Jierd-Book, i)ublished in 1802, six volumes have been issued, and in the last the names of 110 breeders appear. There have now been registered 1,1).'>0 bulls, 5,054 cows and heifers. The herd-book is now conducted by a society formed in 1809, on similar ])rinciples to the Shorthorn Uerd-Iiuok. One of our great im- provers of the breed was Mr. Hugh >Vatson, followed by Mr. McCombie, H. Ex. 51 13 194 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Tillifour, uhosc u'lnaikablc sliow-ynrd actliicvcnieiits, both in fat aiuV breediiiA' stock, have been ir-slniiiu'iital in biiiii;iii,i: their true merits bclbro the ])nbli('. The deservedly hi<;h reputation the AbenU'ens have j^ained is mainly (hie tot he indelatii^abU'exeit ions in (hei)romotion<)fUie breed by that impnlar breeder, wliosejud.uiiient is entitled to the hij^hest resi)ect.' In .Air. McCombie's early days he laid a (inn jbnndation, to which the most noted animals of the i)resent day are closely allied. He purchased the mother of the Prides for the sum of £V2 lO.s. in 1844, and at the dispersicm of his herd, in 1880 30 Prides averajied each over £S() 10.S-. One Pride, the iifth in descent from the £V2 10.s\ animal, realized the handsome sum of £283 10s. At the present in the London markets, the dairy pi-op- erties have become a secondary (;onsideration, and the pole-axe has taken precedeiu;e of the dairy. As beef jtrodncers they rank among the first quotation. At the internaHonal show held at Poissy in 1875, the Scotch Pollies were awarded the highest honor for the best live beef against all breeds, which honors wer(> substantiated when dressed. This breed has been 4U Color. — All red. C7j»ta/e.— Mean temperature, 49°. 5. WEST gIGHLANDER. This wild and fierce looking mountain ranger, with its long, shaggy hair and gracefullv set long horns, is a. general iavorite with every gra- zier in the Kingdom, of which it may be said "it never lost a friend or made an enemy." The great demand and keen competition for these really hardy and picturesque animals for grazing in all i)arts of Eng- land' leaves a very small margin Jbr profit. They are special favorites with manv noblemen, and are selected for the profitable adornment of their parks. Many are slaughtered for the use of the castle or mansion, the beef being of the choicest quality, and they harmonize well with the deer, and are the ornament of the parks through all seasons, as house protection is unknown to them unless on special occasions, where show- yard honors rule the ambition. 1 have seen them in their native homes and again seen the same animals shown in our southern markets before the railways were taken advantage of, fresh and vigorous after a drive of over OOU miles. Their inexhaustible staying powers are specially de- sirable to beef ])roducers in distant countries where railway accommo- dation is not available. They mature at four years old ; they are (]uick graziers, and produce the highest quality of beef. Tliey average be- tween 480 ponnds and 000 pounds dead Aveight, according to keep, &c , but can be brought to nnich greater weight by artificial food and treat- ment. They have been bred in vast numbers in the bleak and romantic isles and highlands of Western Scotland from time immemorial and srill retain their high reputation to the fullest extent for all the above i)rop- erties. The grazier may not realize a very great profit for the ontlay, as the never-failing demand keeps up the price, but profit is very (per- tain as there is always a corresponding demand when fat, and they re- quire very little attention, being grass fed ; and they are free from ail- ments, in their mountain homes they arc of a wild nature, but soon THE UNITED KINGDOM. • 197 yield to (loniostiration, wlion they beoomo very docile on recciviniv kj,,,] treatineiit. They pive rich milk and a fair qnanfity, but from their hiph and ]>rolitable feeding- qualities they are not used in regular dairies, but supply home consumption and cottapers- (cotters). When prepared for our fat shows they scale great weights. Their long coats of hair, for- midable horns, and general wild ap])earancc, render" them very attrac- tive objects and add great interest to the exhibition. These" animals , cross well with the Shorthorn bull as well as the Galloway. The pro- duce, invariably surpassing the dam in weight, arc well formed and often combine in a greater degree the milking and feeding proi)erties. Argyleshirc is the stronghold of Scots. The i)reed is not, however, con- fined to that county, but extends to the rugged heathery hills surround- ing, where scarcely any other kinds of cattle can exist. Live weight : Pomids. Fully matured ox, at Siuitlificld show, December, 1833 (oftal, less than 8 pounds to the score) o^ 090 Cow or heifer at Smithfield show, Dcccmher, 1883 1*480 Dead weight : Fully matured (average) steer when fed for market on grass fiOO Heifers when fed for market on grass fy^o Milk: ^ Aunual average o r>00-3 000 To 1 pound of i)utter l__ ' yo To 1 pound (ff cheese 9 Soil. — Light loam, clay, and granite. Climate. — Mean temperature, 48° 4'. Color.— Red, black, and dun. THE SUSSEX. The Sussex are now ranking among the improved breeds, and possess all the essent^c^l character of the Devons, but resemble more the South than the Xorth Devons, being larger in size and coarser in form. The breed may not have been so strictly kept from foreign admixture of blood, yet it exhibits as great a uniformity of character as any other breed. They exhibit a slightly nervous temperament, and are not very heavy milkers, but are good grazers, and, when fully matured, attain considerable weight. They require four years before they reach full ma- turity. This breed has its warm admirers as well as prejudiced oppo- nents; it may not have obtained that public favor to cause its intro- duction into other parts of the country. This is not from any inferiority of tlie breed, but because the same attention has not been employed in calling forth the properties most generally valued in any breed of cattle. It is not until comparatively a recent date that the promoters of this breed have set to work in good earnest to remove defects and supply symmetry, quality, and early maturity. Those efforts have been wonderfully successful. The show of reds at the royal agricultural meeting, held in York, in July last, far surpassed any former show for quality, refined improvement, and development of important i)arls. Sussex being chiefly arable land, the work was formerly done both by bullocks and heifers, for which work they are admirably adapted, com- bining as they- do weight of body with muscular activity. They are still used in the stiff soils of the weald. From four to eight are worked together, commencing at three years and worked until five or six, when they are fattened for the butcher. The distinctive color is red, but of a less florid shade than the JSTorth Devon. They have long, but not (;oarse horns: the hair and handling is not equal to that of the Devon, but 108 . CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. they feed to greater weights nt equal ages. They arc tolerably good milkers, but arc not eagerly sought after for regular dairies. Their general appearance indicates that if means were used to improve tlicm in the degree to which they arc susceptible, and by judicious attention to the selection of parents to improve the progeny, they are capable of developing into good dairv and beef producers and become valuable for exportation as the foundation for a breed that is likely to be molded to the taste and requirements of future breeders and to soil and climate. ^ Of ionr-yoar old 05. at Smitlificia, 1683 (offal over 8 pounds to tlio score). 2, '241 Woi-ht ()f lir-ifer (yiniUilic-M, IHKi)-- - 1'^^^^ Weight of row, any aj;e ~>24r) Dead uciqht : Fullv matured ox, ordinary, fod for niarkot o4U llcifi-r, fed for market ''-I' Cow, fed for market - 800 Milk: Annual average 4,000 To 1 pound of butter ~4 To 1 pound of cheese - li Soil. — Clay, loam, sandy. Climate. — Mean temperature .")0^. Color. — All red. WELSH CATTLE OR RUNTS. The great improvements that have been made in this breed has brought it into i)rominent notice by graziers. This breed was a me- dium-sized niountain beast, buthas now pushed to the front, and at tlic great Smithfield show held in London has scaled the heaviest weight of any bullock in the hall. The breed possess many of the West lligh- laiiders properties, but lacks the hair and the picturesq^iely tierce ap- jx'arance of those shaggy iuhabiters of the Scotch hills. The Welsh give rich milk, and nre extending their limits, but they are not likely to supersede the fine existing breeds or modify the character of many by admixture. They would answer well for export where hardihood is very essential and refinement not of importance. They are natives of the' Jiilly country, where their food is the rough herbage of the mountain, where the cattle are in a corresponding degree small, but coarse and robust, and somewliat slow at arriving at maturity. in the vale, where better natural and artificial food is identiful, they make a greater size and answer well to treatment. It may have been a surticient length of time distinct and uniform to constitute a well- defined breed," and a good butcher beast, but wanting in style and grandeur. Live v/eifilit: Poumls. Of four-year old ox at Smithfield December, 1SS3 f'j^^ (,'ow or heifer (offal t) pounds to the score) 2,214 Dead weight : Average of fully matured ox, ordinary feedinj.'; 800 Milk: Annual average f?, 000 To 1 ])ound butter ~4 To 1 pound of cheese 1*^ Soil. — Slaty clay. i'linuife. — Mean temperature, 49°.r). Coloi'.— AW black, with strong horns. An old Itreed. The improvement ol' modern date. THE UNITED KINGDOM. 109 TnE LONG HORN. Tbi3 Louglioni ii century n.uo held an eminent i)Osition anion^ onr Britisli breeds of cattle in many of our northern ICnglish counties, and was liberally distributed over Erin's green isle. They have long been on the wane, and their reputation, which had given iJakewell, the orig- inator of thebreed,yearsof anxious stud}', has passed away more rapidly than accpiired; given way to animals possessing earlier maturity, milk- ing and grazing properties iu a greater degree than the on<;e po])iilar Long-horn. Some spirited efforts have been made for years ]>ast by enteri)rising men and ardent admirers of this once-famed breed to restore them to jmblic notice and patronage, and the result is that some splendid indi vidua! specimens are brought forward at our great meetings. The Royal Agricultural Society of England and Christmas shows encourage the breed by ollering prizes for them, and they certainly attract mor(> than an average share of attention from young farmers and sight-seers. The ponderous horns and peculiar and uncommon color, white streak down the back, a broader one ou the belly, with dingy gray or mixed brown and white center pieces, and clothed with water-dog hair, render them very attractive. They give very rich milk, and formerly were good dairy cows. They attain considerable weight when fully matured, which takes at least four years. The beef is very firm and good, but ] lot evenly distributed, and is wrapped in a thick valuable hide. They possess a strong, hardy constitution, and although confined in narrow limits, it is to be hoped those energetic patrons of the old breed may be successlul in their efforts to reinstate them in all their former glories, v.ith such modifications and improvements as will render it worthy of public noti(;e and more extensive patronage. ^fany of Mr. Bakewell's followers succeeded well with the breed by con- tinually hiring bulls from Mr. Bakewell. One of the earliest and most distinguished adherents was Mr. Eowler, near Oxford, whose herd was sold off in the year 1791, when the following prices v.ere realized, viz: Bull, live years old, was sold for £21,") ; bull, two years old, for jC'JL'O.K); bull, one vear old, £210 ; bull, aged, for £215. Four cows realized £215, £27:3, £120, and £195, respectively. Pounds Average dead weight of steer, four years old ftOO Average dead weight of heifer, four years old 7'J() Average dead .af iirht of cow, aged ...« SOU Milk : M ' Aiiuiinl .\TPl(l :!.000 To pound of butter ~' .Inly 4 Oct. 3 Day's niiik. Lbs. 02. 47 CJ 4 IS 8 Percent- Per apo cent, of of siiMs. fat. ^1.m ri. 8.-. 1 1. 'JO 4.71 VI. v: 2. 8;; 14. -jr. .'-.. .'■>4 ll.LM .■.. 14 14. 7r. ,'".. '^8 14.18 5.12 Total aw aril. I'ercentagc. 09.12 OJ. 0.5 yi. .^lO 87.50 81.87 87. 80 70.81 Weiffhts by breeds. — In pursuance of the capabilities of the recx)gnized breeds, I Avill give their liv^e weights when at the highest state of jier- fection which skillful treatment can bring them to, and by which it will be seen that the combined properties of milking and grazing do not exist in all renowned breeds, although the winner of the champion dairy prize on the 3d of October is of the same breed as that which Carrie;! the lirst ])rize in the same hall in December, 1883, as best fat cow in her class, and weighing !i,.'552 ])oun(ls, the heaviest of all female exhibits, and, what is more worthy of remark, another Shoithorn heifer a little over two years old obtained the champion inize against all breeds, w«'iglit, or sex; her live weight being li,040 pounds. THE UNITED KINGUOJil. 203 The followiiij;- table shows the live weig^ht of two of the heaviest ani- iiuils in each (jhiss, but not neeessnrily all prize winners, as in many instances the prizes went to the lighter animals : Breed. i)evoua ? Ilerefords J Shorthorns | Snssex > Ked-Polled | Scotch Polled I Steers (not over 2 years). Cwt. qr. lb. 10 -2 10 10 1 11 14 0 2:; 13 3 IH 11! 3 4 Hi 1 14 13 2 25 13 3 15 1 20 14 1 Steers (not over 3 years). Civt. qr. 14 1 12 1 17 0 IG 1 19 0 18 3 17 3 10 0 17 3 15 1 19 1 18 1 Steers (not over 4 5-ear5.). Civt. 17 17 IK 17 19 19 20 IS 17 14 21 19 qr. lb. 2 G 2 8 2 C 3 14 3 I 20 1 1 3 2 2 4 3 G 0 23 0 22 Heifers under 4 years. Cwt. qr. lb. 1 4 3 12 .•i 37 0 20 1 5 3 12 3 2 3 2G Cow, 4 years. Ctol. qr. lb. 17 1 4 13 3 15 20 3 5 21 19 2 13 20 0 5 IG 2 G 2 22 1 10 Tlishlanders (any age) : 19 cwt. 1 qr. 1 11). ; 17 cwt. 2 qvs. 18 lbs. ; 14 cwt. 5 lbs. ; aad 13 cwt. 2 qrs. 10 lbs. Welsh oxen (any age) : 22 cwt. 1 qr. G lbs., and 19 cwt. 3 qrs. 2 lbs. Special excellences. — After malviug special remarks on the merits and demerits of the various British breeds of cattle which are recognized by the Koyal Agricultural Society of ]']nglan(l and protected by her"> to £50 Herel'ord cow or heilVr, wit h pedigroo ;{.-, 59 Devon cow or heifer, with pedigree , ;5(( 45 Galloway cow or heifer, with pedigree 05 4Q Abenh'Cii cow or heifer, with [)edigree 30 45 Ayi'sliirc cow or lieifer, with pedigree oq ;j5 Sussex cow or hei ler, with pedigree ;;q 40 Norfolli cow or heifer, with pedigree :jO 40 .Jersey cow or hei fer. with pedigree oq ;',q Welsh cow or heifer, with pedigree 00 ^{0 Longhoru cow or heii'er, with pedigree ;50 If noted blood and renowned fame are required, higher prices would have to bo paid; and all breeds have favorite families and lines of blood which do not in all cases arise from any greater excellence they possess. HOVr TO SELECT CATTLE FOE EXrORT. fn selecting animals for export a saving of 20 per cent, can l)e effected by knowing the breeders as well as the breed, and devoting sufficient time for due examination. Limited time and hurried selections is often followed by disappointment to the purchaser, and throws discredit uj)on the breed when landed on foreign shores. I think it quite practicable to purchase half a dozen choice specimens of each breed with authenti- cated iiedigtees, including young bulls to match, and delivered in Xew York free of all charges for the sum of £50 each. Liverpool to Kew York or Portland is the best route. Passage of cattle, including tbod and water, £C> per head ; insurance from 10 to 12 per cent., according to the season of the year and vessel employed. The charge for man to attend upon them is retiulated by the number of cattle shipped. JOSEPH LAY" FAULKNER, M. R. C. V. S. L., Veterinary Surgeon. South Milford, Couts^ty of Y^okk, West Riding^ England^ January 3, 1884. JERSEY CATTLE. REPORT BY COXSULAR AGEaT RENOUF, OF JERSEY. The breed of horned cattle in the island has long been known, and is in many respects remarkable. The im])ortant peculiarities are the small size and delicate frame of the animals, the largeqnantity and richquality of the milk they yield, and the yellowness of the fat, and of the butter made from t he milk. The first result may, no doubt, have been produced by the hal)it of breeding in and in, which has long since been carried to such an extent that each island has its own breed, which may not be mixed on any consideration whatever. Perhaps the same cause com- bined with the practice of tethering, the pampering with various kinds of food, and the climate may be sufficient to account for the other i)ecu- liarities also. Although very small, many of the cows are remarkable 206 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. lor syimnotiy, and they rarely show vicious t(Mni)er. Tiicy liavc ;i tiue curved taper liorn, a slender nose, a line shin, and deer like form. Of the dilferent island l)reeds the Alderuey is the smallest and most deli- cate, and the Jersey is somewhat lari^er, but not very dilferent. The (lUernsey cattle are lar.uer boned, taller, and stouter in all respects, and have a less line coat. The color of the coat is ver^' Aarious, beini;- com- monly red, red and white, jiray and white, or cream (;olored, but tlieic aie in'ood beasts of black, and black and white color, with a din.yy ridge down the back. All the cattle arc yellow round the eyes, auoit. | Name of I)rc(;t for slaughtering purposes, so that the breed is kept pure; f(;w cows are slaughtered at maturity or in condition : if barren tliey do not leed well, and when in milk difljeult to fatten, owing to their great yeld of milk ; tlie average price of hutter is Ls. '.U. per pound. Topography: Altitude, LW feet above sea level ; mean temperature, .'')1^' L)'; maxi- mum, 87^ 7' ; minimum, 21 ' ;5'; soil: loam, clay, sand, and gravel. "The Jersey pound is BJ per ceufc. heavier than the English pound. THE UNITED KlNGUOiM. 207 Subulruliim : Aecordiiij; lolocality, j^niuiti', chiy. and rod ij,i;iv(.'l. C'lilli vatcd ^^rasscs : Timothy and hiceriio in small (luaiititios, aboiiL one-third to two-thirds clover, ryo- [;rass. ^[^■tllo(ls of ltoHs'uiti.—\\\\\ apiioiiitod and warm staldcs Avith f;ood Ktraw litter in winter. In snnuuer tliey arc lel'l in the lields excejjt in bad weather. I'taliii'i. — 1'nMi.i siiriii"? to antnnin they are tethered in the iields lo rye-;j;raiss and ilover; in winter they :nHi led on hay, Inruijis, nian';i'l-wnr/,el, and [larsiiiiis. lluiuUiinj proditcLs. — The milk is kejit in elean dairies, and churniiif;- is done twiee a week; no ihees(! is made when eows are in lull milk ; they are milked tliree times dailv. CATTLE IN CORNWALL. RE rum' Jil' CONSUL FOX, OF VLYMOUTU. Ill aiiswoi' to DepartuR'iit circular, I beg- to .statt; that I employed special a.ueiits, who were coii.sidered most likely to be able to procure iu- lorinatioii as to breeding- cattle, but regret to add that, except in two instauces, they have been altogether unsuccessful in their elforts. Tliey rei)ort that there exists, on the i)art of farmers generally in this district, either a reluctance to allbrd information on the subject, or a want of sufLicient data to enable them to give the desired particulars with such accuracy as would make them desirable. 1 inclose form, which contains particulars obtained from a large breeder, and copy of a letter from a large farmer, who replied to tlic application made to him, not in the form attached to the circular, but by general remarks, in the form of a letter. HOWARD FOX, COHHUI. United States Consulate, Plymouth, July 25, 1884. SPECIAL STATISTICS CONCKIIXIXG CATTLK IX COliXWALL. [Snpplieil by Mr. T. Iloskeii, of Lo.'.rgon.s, noyk>, Cornwall.] lirced: .Shorthorn. Milk: Keoi)s no account of milk, cattle being roared for breeding pnrjiosos, and usually sold at two years old. Dairymen pay attention to milkingqualitios in breeding. Live weight: Atinatnrity: cow, 12 cwt. ; bull, 2'i cwt. Topotjraplnj : Altitude: 200 feet above the level of tho sea. Temperature: nieau, CiU.;"); sunnner, r)().2; wiuter, 41. Soil: 'JV)p soil a saiuly^ loam. Substratum: Sandstone, marl, and clay, with spar. Dexter granite and clay slate. Cultivated firaxacn : Timothy, red and white clover, rye, and cocksfoot. Ifonsiiii/ : Store cattle in o|>eu boxes; turned out every day I'or exercise except in very severe weather. Feeding cattle, in close houses well ventilated. I'cediiiy: Fed ou roots, hay, chatf, and a little meal. Mr. Joel Hoirc, fanner, to Mr. Cock. [Iiiclosiuo in Cousul Fox's rc-poit.l Gahk Lamouuax, Xovcmber^O, IHiSii. 1 have been looking over tlu! i)aper (tabulated form) you sent me, and I am very sorry that I am not able to till it up, as I would take a good bit of trouble for Mr. Fox. I have no idea as to the amount of milk a cow would give in a year. It would de- pend ou the breed and the size of the cow. Jersey or Guernsey would bo tho richest 208 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. milk, ;iu(l the most ami best Imttor, according to Iho milk, but I think u crossbroeil cow wonlil i>ro(liico moio in tlio year, being a larger bullock, and would come to tbo butcher with more weight when linishcd. I can only refer to our own eoiuity. The clinuvte varies so nnudi at, the same alti- tude that we must study onr own particular farms as to what breed wi> ought to keep, and 1 presume it would be the same in America. .Sliovlliorns will not do at all in the north of our county because it is so bleak and cold. 'J'heir bowcds are so lax they be- come thin and poor, but berc in the south, on the best and most sheltered land', they do very -well. But I believe the Devons and llcrefords are the most proiitabhi for feeding jnupo.ses, having less bone and more l)eef in their l)esr cuts, and ))eing more liardy. They can bear the frequent chauges of weather better than the .Shorthorns. They are not so lax in their bowels, and do not reijuire so much nor such good food. I should think the bullocks of Cornwall ])aid the fanners Iroin £0 to £G per head per year, without coru or artilicial food, but of course the milking cows pay more. Thou the cost of labor Avould bo more. I am, «&c., JOEL EOWE. CATTLE IN SCOTLAND. KErORT BY CONSUL WULLS, OF DUNDEE. Ill Kubiiiittin*;- lierewith a "Report 011 breediui;' cattle," I liave to state that 1 have consulted many of the leadiii,!.!: catlle breeders of high ssttiiidiiii;' ill this district, iusiiected several herds, aud i>rocnred all the inforiiiatiou within my reach in relation to the snbject. I have secnrcd ])h()toj;rai)hs of representative animals of the several breeds, aud given a short history of them. The photographs will be found to convey a more ticcurate description of the animals than cuts or lithographs. I tun under obligation to William Smith, esq., of Benholm Castle, Kincar- dineshire, for the information he gave me regarding dead and live weight of stock and kindred matters 5 also to J. W. Barchiy, esq., member of Parliiinient for Forfarshire, Scotland, who is a practical farmer, owning a consideiiible herd of pure Polled Angus cattle on his farm at Auchla- pan, Aberdeenshire, and is chairman of the Arkansas Valley Land and Cattle Com])auy, which has a herd of 25,000 head in Colorado. He has recently visited this ranch and there introduced Polled Angus and Gal- lowtiy bulls. Mr. Barclay is a recognized authority on cattle breeding juid agricultural matters, and accordingly he has favored me with in- formation relative to " the best animals to export to the United States," " the purchasing price of the animals," and " the best means of increasing the exports of meat to this country from the United States." To Thomas I'erguson, esq., of Kinochtry, near Coupar Angus, and others I am par- ti(;nl;irly obligated for valuable information regarding the Polled Angus tind other breeds of cattle within this district. Mr. Ferguson has been ;i contributor to various agricultural papers in Great Britain and America, and has received prizes for reports and essays on agricultural sidijects, and was the first to direct the attention of American sto(;k breeders to the superior merits of the Polled Angus cattle. He has made the breeding of cattle a specialty for tlie last forty-five years, 5uinfto^ h Tbevare more particmliuly distinRuislu-d as beof m-«luccf; ban for belugsuLblc lor Iho dairy, boins- ,>i.ly iahly good as Liilke^ They arc brSd and raised extensively m tbe nortbeast of '^MSLa.y.u.cmberofParbamentiorl.'o^^^^^^^ cattle. T^ bull shown in lithograph Ko. 1 is l^-"ec of^the lU.alm hml l>y S:Sr:^u^a^^"t tie Uighland Society's show at Kel^ju Tso isat^W the first prize at the same society's bho^ ^frin^^ow hi 1S2 besides a number of champion prizes in minor at ^^'^^Sow in l^^.^, oe^i^l^ ^^.^^ ^„^^ fourteen days, he ^^i^d t (^^pSs^^^a^art girth of 8 ieet 5 incl^. SiiK.e he mssed into Mi-. Hanniv's possession he has gamed ;>t|i^^ 1'^ .'^^-gX clmmpion piates. He 'has' been spoken of as one ot the best Polled Angus bulls which has been seen lor years. THE POLLED GALLOWAY BREED. This breed is black and polled like the Angus but in disposition and lamk" wMe tll'c WeS Highland cattle occupy tbc uortbcm Xiighlands "''rdfolTowin.- interesting report on Tolled Galloway cattle ;vas pre pared for mc 1,^ Jhe cot.ncd of the Galloway Society ot Great r.ntan, : POLLED GALLOWAY BREED. Tbi« breed of volle.1 cattle took its ;^--.^--'^:;£;;:"'^::.;;:,Sa iSs onS uow comprises the two ^^^^^^^'^^'-'^'^'^^^!^Ziro, \n S.u.^huul -hhI ... C;.,n.- breed are priucipally kept in ^^'^^"^ ;\/;"y, ! < t^^ of U.e Gallowaya .s l,erhu.d, llic .nost northwesterly ^^ ^ > „Vts n ■ 'V 1. • ■ kkivi.iestock,inwhichtheyweiv.verys.icccs^^tu 1. I ^^^^^j i,,„,ason.est not with crossing Avith other ^^eeds, but ^^ ^^^^^^^ eifecfd dnring of both sexes, and by feeding .and -^^^f ^^ :;.,^ /„^ ^ll, ,,„o-,.t bv the san.e means, ■'^- ^v:. >^i »C% 7 2*t:' '/: m. ^^ > z o c I rn -n m 33 ■^ §: t :■ Si &> s *. THE UNITED KINGDOM. 211 also by attoiition to diet ami general Jiiaiiaj;eiii('iit. Tlu; ({alloway.s as a breed t-iii- uot lay claim to any -snporiority as milkers. Their milk is rich in'onality bi'ifc tbo quantity tliey give is not large. However, tbo milking lacnltv runs in some stnins and individuals ot them arc excellent dairy cows. It is mainlv .is a beer-producin'' breed tba.t G alio vr ay s bavc made a name for themselves. The ()iialitv of (heir beef is similar to that of the Aberdeen, Angus, and West Highland. The Ix'Vfof tlies" three breeds ranks as "prime Scots" in the f>mitblield and other leading iJritisb fat markets realizing there tbe bighest current rates. Its superiority arises from tiie fact thit it is well marbled, tho fat being wellintermingled with tbo lean. In respect of proportion of dead to live weight Galloways kiil nnusuallv well m'l- tured animals of tho breed being estimated by experienced butchers todre^s upwards of GO per cent, of tlicir live weight. Galloways arrive at maturity when from t vvo ( o three years ol ago, according to tho way tbey aro kept when youn,- erate choice. It being found by experience that from their hardy natun- and l.eiuo- inured to exposure they are not only able to stand tho seventies of the climate bn^ that they thrive better and make more progress during the succeediu-- summer' and autumn when wintered in tho open air than under cover. It is a valued characteris- tic of the Galloways that they thrive well when kept upon poor and scantv fare and indeed they have long proved themselves able to stand adverse circumstances, wliet her these arise Irom soil or climate or both. They aro remarkably impressive as a breed which IS no doubt dnc to the length of time— at least nearly two (vnturies-they have been bred from animals of the same type and possessed of th(- same characteris- tics. Aliko in respect of color, absence of horns, and general outline and symmetry their ollspnng Irom cows of other breeds so very closelV resemble the black Galloway foUfi that It is not easy to distinguish a pure from the cross-bred animal. \\ ncn tho Galloway bull is put to horned cows of any breed from 9.') to 100 i.er ceiil of the produce are lound to be black and hornless, and in stamping their offspring- with their qualities otherwise the prepotency of the Galloways is very marked. Galloways bavt; long been in great favor for crossing with other breeds. Lulls oi this breed have been very extensively put to both Short-horns and Ayr- shire cows, and in England especially it bas been a favorite andhighlysucccssful mode ot crossing ior beei purposes to usetho Short-horn bull on tho Galloway cow. IJy either mode symmetrical cattle of large frames afe produced. Tbey are hardy and their meat IS tree from patchiiK.'ss, well mixed and superior. These^Galloway crosses mature early and reach very heavy weights. A Galloway cattle society exists, its two main Objects being (1) to maintain unimpaired the purity of tho breed of cattle known as Galloway cattle, and to promote tho breeding of these cattle, and (2) to collect, verify, preserve, and publish in a Galloway herd-book the pedigrees of tho said cattlo and other ii.seful iiiformatiun regarding them. Tho headquarters of this society are at Dumlncs, Scotland, and it bas published eight issues of the Herd-Book.* Loth ot these animals (No.s. 15 and IG) aro first-prizewinners at tho Highland and Agricultural Society Show of Scotland, and aro tho property of and bred by Mr. James Cunninghamlarbreacb, of Dalbeattie, Scotland. ' ' "^ ^ ^ THE AYBSHIRE AS DAIRY CATTLE. T have been supplied witli the followiug information reffardiuir this breed: The Ayr.shire is emphatically the Scotch dairy breed, and a thor- oiignly thrifty dairy cow, and one tliat will fatten rapidly when dry, ,..ll;^^^^"'^^'^^'*'l^'■'^'V''^^^*^'"'^^"*''"'^'^^™'"Stli«truecha^acteristics of the Gallovvay breed" flnJL T T-M "f P"1;l'Rl-oa for the reason that a similar statement appears in the report irom L- H n i ,; /■ -^5 s J) ^ «) V 'l> % / /? THE UNITED KINGDOM. 213 j)arke(l features than this breotl. Their limbs arc short, but imis- jiilar; chests wide and deep ; ribs well developed and fairly arched ; backs straight; neck and dewlap somewhat coarse in the bull; horns o!' *»reat length, spreading; and tipped ^Yith blade : colors various— briudle, dun, cream, red, and black. They give only a small quantity of milk, and are very slow in arriving- at maturity, not becoming ripe until the age of five or six years. Their beef is of a very superior quality and their bides make the best of leather. SnORTHOENS IN SCOTLAND. Shorthorns, as their name denotes, have short horns, and in color they vary from pure white to a, deep or rich red. The most jiopular color for these animals in Scotland is a mixture of the two, forming a deep or light roan, sometimes called strawberry, flecked, or hazel. Shorthorns are as symmetrical as the Polled Angus, and grow about the same weight. They are hardy and arrive at maturity early ; but, like the Polled Angus, they are principally noted as beef cattle. For the dairy they are not equal to some other breeds in Scotland. The first improvers of Shorthorns were the brothers Charles and Robert Colling, who commenced improving these cattle nearly a century ago; also j\Ir. Bates, Mr. Booth, and others, all in the northern counties of P]ngland. OFFSPKINO OF I^VIPORTED CATTLE. The Departmental circular says : It is further believed tliat tlio imported breeds, when suitably located and managed, produce in their new homes oliispriu}^ superior to that produced by the same breeds in their origiual homes, and that the superiority is more marked in their succeeding than in the lirst generations. For instance, the imported breeds of Shorthorns, Jerseys, and Holsteins are superior in the United States to the same breeds in Europe ; and it is thought that the same result would follow the importation of the Norman, Brittany, Flemish, and Charlcvoi breeds, as well as others not enumerated. To what extent is this result realized in other countries ? In answer to this it has to be stated that, as Scotland does not im- port cattle to any appreciable extent ibr breeding purposes, little ex- perience can be quoted on the point in question. A few Shorthorns have been imported from the United States which were descended from stock originally sent from this country. The breeding Shorthorns imported from the United States by Lord Dunmore and other noblemen were of considerably larger size than animals of the same lineage reared in Britain. The ancestors of Short- horns had been in the United States for several generations and the superiority of their offspring imported to Britain over British-bred stock of the same breed was most marked. This would lead to the in- ference that cattle grow to a larger size in the United States than in Britain, the more especially as the herds of these noblemen who im- ported the cattle from the United States contained many of the largest and best-fed animals of the breed in the country. BEST METHODS OF EXPORTATION TO THE UNITED STATES. Scotland is well supplied with railroads, and the cattle can be put into special trucks and conveyed quickly to Glasgow, Liverpool, or London, where there are facilities of the best order for shipment, and most suitable and convenient accommodafion for animals on board the large Atlantic liners which sail froui these ports. 214 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. BEST ROUTES OE EXPORT, AND COST THEREOF. Per rail to Glasoow, Liveri)Ool, or London, thenc.o per suitable or specially titted up fast steamers to tlie United States. The "throngb IVeijilif' of cattle from most parts of Scotland to the United States is about 82() per head; from the extreme northeast of Scotland, Aberdeen, Banlf, or Peterhead, about $27.50. THE BEST SCOTCH CATTLE TO EXPORT. The most suitable animals to export to the United States depends on the climatic conditions of the States to which they are sent. As beef producers the Polled Angus, Shorthorns, West Highland, and rlie Pobed GaUoway are (ho bcst^ to export from this district. The West Highlander's beef is considered the best, and they are the most hardy, being abU' to stand much exposure and therefore best adapted for cohl and mountainous districts, being able to live on coarse and scanty iood. They are, however, small, and do not arrive at maturity till three or four years old. The Polled Angus rank next for superior beei; and are nearly as hardy as the West Highlanders, and are much larger in size and come to maturity at the age of frouif- twenty-eight to Ihiity-six months. They are principally bred and raised in the northeast ol" Scot- land, and ar(i "believed to be very suitable for the northern part of ihc United States and western ranches. The Shorthorns are very large, and come to maturity at about the same age as Polled Angus, but their beef is of a coarser quality. The Polled Galloway very much resembles the West Highland, al- t hough larger, and comes to nmturity earlier. The Aberdeenshire farm- ers, Ibr beef, prefer a cross between a Shorthorn bull and a Polled x\ugns cow, as crossf^s of this origin arrive quickly at maturity, are of good size, and ])r(uluce beef of tine <]uality. As milkers the Ayrshires are undoubtedly the best to take from rhis country. PURCHASING PRICES OF ANIMALS. Per head. AviM-ao-0 i.un^ I'olkvl A.i^us cattle iSilf'O to .pM) Ulack'rollcil Callovvays • jW' ~v|| Sboilliorns ^'-'J \-' Avrsliires 'J2 ';. W.st lli^lilaud - '•' ''-•' All, "f coiiiso, (lc[ion(ls on (jiiality. \^'ry sui)erior seiu-imens of all of the breeds mentioned have repeat- edly been sold ibr exportation to the United States at considerably higher ])rices than the average given, but to obtain adequate si)ecim('iis of the several breeds in this district the averages mentioned wouhlhaAC to bo given, although sales at less ])rices haveoccasioually been made. For ex])enses ibr attendance and food en route, $C>.25 ibr food (hay and oil cake), and $1.25 per head for attendance— total, $7.50— is consid- ered suflicient. and with a good number of cattle on boanl the total exi)ense would be about $0.25. Some experienced United States traders in thoroughbred cattle are supposed to make $3.25 cover the total charges under this head. CATTLE STATISTICS OF SCOTLAND. The total number of cattle in Scotland for the year 1883 was 1,094,317. The percentage of the several breeds is not known from any statis- tics, but probably the cattle stock ol" this ilistrict is cojnposed of three parts of cross-breeds and one part of the several pure breeds. THE UNITED KINGDOM. 215 Tlic i)ercentage brod for the dairy about 20 ; for the butcher, about SO per cent. Of Into yeaivs stock iu ScotUxud has decreased. Disease imported from tiiiic to time in live stock, causing; farmers to cease from breeding cattle, has to ;i great extent be(Mi the cause of this decrease. Another cause is to be found in tlie improvement of the cattle, mak- ing tiiein ready for the bntciier earlier. And a third cause is the in- crease of i)()pulati()n and wages, and consequent enhanced demand for butcher moat, tvhich for many years has been sold for high prices in the 8('0t(;h and T^nglish markets. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF MEAT AND CATTLE. The stock of cattle in Scotland is not nearly equal to the consumptive demand. The stock as shown is notsufiicieut for home demand, excepting ped- igreed stock, which is exjiorted to the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, and the continent of Europe. Till' fanners who in consequence of imported disease have ceased (iu a measnre), as already mentioned, to breed cattle, mostly get their sup- jjhes of iecding-cattle I'rom Ireland, where a good many are bred and not many fattened. Some cattle from the United States and Canada have also been fat- tened ill Scotland, and there seems to be no reason why this latter trade might not be extended to the advantage of all concerned. But if the Scot(;h farmers bred and fed cattle to the utmost of their ability the siipi)ly of fat cattle would still not be nearly equal to the consumptive demand. The continent of Europe, United States and Canada supply a large proportion of the beef consumed in Scotland and there is every reason to expect that the British demand for beef from these countries will (.'ontiuue to increase. THE NATURE OF THE IMPORT SUPPLIES. From the continent of Europe the beef is mostly in its live state ; from the United States about half the amount dead and the other halt live. A large quantity of tinned or canned meat is also imported from Chicago and elsewhere in the United States. Some cargoes of frozen mutton have come from Australia and New Zealand which appear to have been a sn(;cess. Tiiis trade is likely to increase. IMPORTS FROM THE UNITED STATES. A large number of live cattle, fresh meat in refrigerators, and tinned meat (-omo IVom tiie United States. THE niLST MEANS OF INCREASING THE EXPORTS OP AMERICAN IVIEAT. If the United States Government would take measures to extermi- i ate pleuropneumonia and to suppress any contagious diseases when they appear, the British Government would then admit freely the im- poitatioii (»f fat iiiid store cattle, greatly to the advantage of United Stiites produ(;ers and of Hritish farmers and consumers. The British farmers would jirolit greatly by liaving a supi)ly of good store stock from the western plains, and fat stock would fetch a better price if they could be moved from the ports of landing to inland markets. 216 CATTLE AND DAIRY FAEJIING. TUE BEST MEANS OF INCREASING THE EXrOETS OF AMERICAN DAIRY TRODUCE is to send the best articles properly pjiclcod, quickly and carefully con- veyed, and tliey will then not only command the highest price in this market but tlie demand will also increase. WILLAED B. WELLS, Consul. United States Consulate, JDiindce, February 24, 1884. Sjiecial sialisiks concerninfj the products of the sevei-al breeds of cattle iii Scotland. Name of breed. Annual average iJonnds 'of milk. Milk to 1 pound of butter. Milk to 1 ponnd of cheese. Liv Cow. e weif Bull. Ox. Age at maturity. Weight of meat at maturity. Color. Impioved Polled Augns. ShorthomH 4,060 4,200 fi,000 2, 500 2, .-)00 Lbs.^ 20 2r..i 24 24 Lbs. 10 lOJ 10 10 Lbs. 1, 200 1,300 850 900 1,000 Lbs. 1,750 1,875 1,250 1,350 1,500 Lbs. 1,500 1,000 1,050 1,150 1,300 Yrs. H 4 5 5 Lbs. 1,100 1,150 G30 8.50 000 Black. Eed, white, roan, and brown. West Highland Polled Gallovray... Do. Black. Name of breed. Description. Improved Polled Angus Lonjr, low, deep, wide, even, and cylindrical and pleas- ing to the eve. t Shorthorns I Formed same as Polled I Angus, only larger. I Ayrshire (See description of Ay rsliires in report.) West Highland ! Shaggy-haired, level an d I aquaw! made. Polled Galloway do How long bred pure. 80 j'ears ...do From timoim memorial. ...do 30 years Origin of breed. ITugh Watson first im- prover. Hia coadjutors were Walker, Ferguson, and Bowie. Charles and Robert Col- ling, Mr. Booth, and Mr. Bates. Not known. Native cattle of Scotland. Eov. J. Gillespie, Mouser- wald, first improver. Name of breed. Methods of housing. Focdinf Improved Polled Angus Housed in Novem- ber, December, January, 1'' c h - ruary, March, and April. Pastuicd during remaining months. Shorthorns Housed similar to the Polled Angus. Ayrshire West Highland. Polled Galloway. Housed longer than other breeds. i Seldom housed. do Pasture grass in summer, turnips and straw in winter; occa- sionally oil-cake added. fJra-ss, hay, tur- nips, and o i 1- cake. Grass, hay. tur- nips, and Ticultiirist .".n <(li torial on the subject which gives so fully and clearly the information desired as to breeds of cattle peculiar to Scotland that [ adopt it as part of my rei)ort and give it below without any material addition : EDITORIAL FROM THE NORTH BRITISH AGRICULTURIST. It is difficult to answer the queries of the circular definitely or accurately. There is a lack of data, but approximations can and will bo given. At once it may be conceded that with dairying in tho forefront there is only one breed native of Scotland which can bo a great object to tho American. That, of coxirse, is the beautiful Ayrshire, whoso milking properties aro second to those of no ctherraco when properly developed, andwhosefatteningqualitics, whendry, are aston- ishing. In the full flow of milk a cow cannot get fat ; but when an Ayrshire becomes yeald she is not difficult to fatten. This cannot be said with so much force of Mio rival dairy breeds. An Ayrshire .steer is a kindly feeder, and becomes good beef, if woU kept thronghont, at thirty to thirty-six monthn, with a live weight of from 1,000 to 1,20'!' pounds. Tho breed, however, being in such a jironounced manner a dairy one, the number of pure Ayrshire oxen is not large ; nor does the breed claim to ranlc high as beef-makers, though meat of pretty good quality is easily produced by Ayr- shires even after they have served their time at tho pail. Records of milking tests with Ayrshires should satisfy Americans that, keeping in view their tendency to lay on flesh when dry, there is no breed preferable to it where dairying is tho main object, and few, if any, so good. The average annual yield of milk per cow of tho Ayrshire breed is fully 600 gallons. Of course, somo animals produce far more than that, but otliers aro less. The return 218 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. of butter per cow aiiinially lias been cstiinarcd at about 250 pounds, and of cheese rather overfiOO iioiinds. With tlio Tolled Aberdccn-Anjiiis, the Polled Galloway, and the West Highland breeds there have not been any reliable or exhaustive niilkinjjj tests. Those brccdsaro reared ehielly for becf-niakinjr i)ur])0ses; but many animals, especially of the Polled description, are line milkers. The tlin^e l>reeds excel iu respect of the richness of their milk, but eotnparative analyses on this [)oint are wantiufj. The Aberdeen-Angus, taken as a whole, cannot claim to be more than fair milkers. A lew cows in almost every large herd, in yield of milk, make a decent approach to an Ayrshire — producing between TjOO and (JOO gallons per annum. A considerable number, however, notably when^ the animals have been fed hard, as heifers, would not reach more tlnin half that (piantity. In these circumstances, it is doubtful if the average would be i|uite 400 gallons ])ov cow annually. r>ut when you come to the production of beef this breetl stands S(!eond to non(\ Indeed, if early maturity is combined with the ((uality of the meat, it is probably not loo much to say that the Aberdeen-Angus has no etjual as a butcher's beast among tho jiuro breeds iu this or any country. They "die" remarkably well ; that is to say, they accumulate a con- siderable quantity of fat and tallow internally. Then the weal! h and texture of llesh are superb. The weight at maturity varies a good deal. Picked bulls or oxen fattened hard for exhibition scale occasionally as much as 2,700 ]iounds, and wo luive seen females of the breed exceed 2,000 pounds. A good average live weight for cows of the breed, as they go to the butcher, is from 1,200 to 1,400 pounds. Bulls generally range from l,()tM) to 1,800 pounds. Oxen not intended lor competition in the show-yard, but lib erally fed throughout, will go to the butcher at the age of thirty to tliirty-six moni lis weighing from 1,.^)00 to 1,700 jiounds. The great value of the Aberdeen-Angus in a country like America is its ])otency in crossing with tlu^ rougher native breeds. It lends liesh and quality to the lanky, somewhat shar[)-topped, ordinary ranch variety. The Galloway, like the Northern Polled, is a very old breed. It lias not the credit of maturing quite so early as the other polled breed, at least it sc^ldom gets the chance. Il is as large in frame as the Aberdeen-Angus, but, as a rule, it is n.ot fattened to such an I'xtent; consequently, the recorded weights are rather less for the Galloway. The dairying ])roi)erties of the Galloway are not high, though many cows of the breed are really good at the pail, and the quality of the milk is excellent. An American critic recently said that the Galloway beat the Aberdeen-Angus in the production of oxtail soup. That may be, but the l)reed has greater merits than ihat. It is exceptionally hardy, carries a great quantity of very lino 'flesh, and is admirably adapted for a wet climate and high exposed country. Galloways have never been so well protected from cold in winter nor quite so generously fed as the Aberdeen-Angus have long been and are. Galloways are so hardy and so nnich accustomed to exposure that they should be eminently suited for ranching on the great Western prairies. They cross successfully with other meat-producing breeds ; a cross between a Galloway cow and Shorthorn bull, for instance, has long b,eeu a favorite butcher's beast in the border counties, and commands, when well finished, as high prices as the oft-quoted "prime Scot" in the Southern markets. Next to the West Highland, the Galloway breed is probably the hardiest in J5ritain. T'.ie West Highland breed is comparatively unknown in America. A few specimens, however, have lately been sent out, and we hope more will follow. Being horned, and (sometimes nervous, or vicious even, they are not so easily liandled as the Polled breeds or as the Shorthorns, but their unrivaled hardiness and rare quality of iie.sh would be of service on the American ranch. Their beef is of the richest and most palatable nature, and their shapes and character are giand and pronounced. They would, by Judicious mating, reduce the "daylight" and tone down the "timber" of the Tex.-in or Western varieties. Many of the Highlanders are never under cover, summer nor winter, and the death-rate "is astonishingly small. The West Highlander will not milk, mature, nor weigh with the Scotch Polled. The milk, however, though short in (|uaiitity, is believed to be the richest of its kind in the Kingdom ; the beef has the linest of llavors, and is beautifully mixed. They are n(tt usually matured till about four years old, but their ripening iiroperties have not been fully tested. They .are fed on nu)re scanty lierbage than any other British breed of eattl(!. If West Highlanders were fed generously from caifhood they would, as a rule, bo perfectly ripe at the ago of three years, if not before. SPECIAL STATISTICS CONCERNING SCOTCH BREEDS. The iollowinj? information is supplied to assist in properly loeatinj; under simihir conditions in the United States such foreign nnimals as THE UNITED KINGDOM. 219 luivc proved by long- experience to liiivo been i)ro{itjible in tlieir native liomes: Name of breed. Polled A bordeen Angns Polled ( rallowiiy West JliKhUuid Ayrshire Annual avcrago gallons of milk. 400 ;i:jo COO Milk to 1 pound of butter. Galls. Milk to 1 pound of cheese. Oalls. ^ H Live weight. Age at maturity. Cow. Bull. Ox. Lbs. Lb.i. Lbs. Yrs. 1,300 1,700 l.GOO 2.1 1,2.30 ^G.'iO 1, r,',o 3 1,050 1, 400 1,250 4 900 1, 1!J0 1,050 3 Weight of meat at maturity. LbK. 000 850 720 620 Name of breed. Color. Description. ITow long bred pure. Oriciii of l)r('Bd. Polled Aberdeen Angus . . . Polled Galloway Wo.st Highland Black ...do Black, red, dnu. yel- low, briu- dled. Black and white, red and white, brindled. Long deep body on short leg.s ; till) linestof beef; rich tlcsh on small bone ; glossy coat ; best of beef producer.-*, and fairly hard v. Long haired, deep framed, wealt hy lleshed, strong bono, very hardy ; suitable for wintering outside. Long horns, long hair, short legs, deep ribs, gooil out- line, .somewhat narrow frame, great length, hard- iest British breed, winter out.side. Short upstanding horns, sharp hind fiuarteis, broad ribs, smooth skin ; best dairy breed in Scotland, if not in Great Britain. Nearly a cen- tury. Over a cen- tury. Time inime- moiial. For genera- tions. The old Scotch cat- tle. Scotchrac.es. Obscure. Name of breed. Product. Labor. Meat. Milk. Cheese. Good The finest grained.. Excellent rich flavor. Finest llav(.r Fair (piality Tdch Fair. Polled G.allow.ay Fair G ood ( ualitv Good nuality. West Highland Ilich 1 nt sm.all I' inc. Ayrshii'o Scarcely uaec 1. Great and ity. in (piantity af fairquai- ( lood. NoTK.—.Vnimals fattened bard from yonth for exhibition of the Polled and West Highland breeds arrive earlier at maturity than is indicated above, and attain greater weights, but tlie estimates given aroabout average. Cows fed on bean-meal or other special food will give larger rctmiis in milk, l)iit- ter, and cheese than the above. lu supplement to the forefjoing" tabular matter, I subjoin furtber in- formatioii relative to the Polled Galloway and Ayrshire cattle which, may be deemed of interest. CHAEACTERISTICS OF A TYPICAL GALLOWAY. I quote from a pamphlet jMiblished by the Rev. John Gillespie, M. A., editor of the Galloway Herd-Book of Great Britain (to whom I am in- ) Hind quarters loug, broad, and straight; hook bones wide apart, ami not overlaid with fat; thighs deep aud broad ; tail loug, slender, and set on level with the back 9 (0) Udder cajiacious and uot fleshy, hinder part broad aud liriuly attached to the body, the sole nearly level and extending well forward, milk veins about udder and abdomen well developed. The teats from 2 to 2i inches iu length, equal iu thickness, the thickness being in projjortion to the length, hanging perpendicularly ; their distance apart at the sides should bo equal to about one-third of the length of the vessel, and (/cross to about one-half of the breadth 33 (7) Legs short iu jiroportion to size, the bones fine, the .joints iirm 3 (8) Skin soft and elastic, aud covered with soft, close, woolly hair [ 5 (9) Color red, of any shade, brown or white, or a viirture of" these, each color being distinctly detined. Brindle or black and white is not in favor .. '.i (10) Average live weight, in full milk, about 10^ cwt 8 (11) General appearance, including style and movement ' IQ Perfection 100 JOHN LORNE STEWART (of Coll), Convener of Committee. At the annual general meeting of 19th February, 18S4, the above report was adopted, aud ordered to bo printed and circulated amongst the members and othcr.s. .JAMES JIcMURTRIE, Secretary, ]tfETHODS OF HOUSING SCOTCH CATTLE, Polled Aberdeen Ancjiis. — Grazing in summer. Stalls or partially cov- ered courts in winter. Polled GaUon-ay. — G razing iu summer. Wintered mostly iu open air, and partially in court-yards. THE UNITED KINGDOM. 221 W(st ItinhldiiiL — Outside tliroui;!i sumiiuM-iind \viut"r. SuiH)li('(l witli liay iiiid soine tiiniii)s diiriti.u- tsev'.'ic snow storm or Irost. .l.V/-,s7//r('.— (h-aziiio- ii) smiiinor. Kept mostly iu byres (luring- winter, witli runs out. in <)i)ep. weatlier. FEEDING SCOTCH CATTLE. There is very little eake or purchased food fed to any of the breeds, exeej)tinfr for animais intended for exhibition, or during;- the last few months of prei)arati()n for the butcher. Rather more extra feedin,<,^ issu|)plied to the Aberdeen An^us than to the other breeds, especially in the ease of high-bred pedigree stocks. BKEEDINCr SCOTCH ''ATTLE. In the select pedigree herd bulls are kej)t in the house, and the females are brought to them at the discrelvon of the owners, having scrupulous regard to the relationshii) and eorres|)ondin,g features of thejinimals. In general commercial stocks, or breeding- for the butcher, it is quite common in the case of Galloway, Highland, or Ayrshire cattle, to al- low a bull to graze regularly in a i)ark with twenty'to thirty females. HANDLING PRODUCTS. As regards dairy produce, thatobtained from the Galloways and Ayr- shires is largely made into cheese, the remainder being- chieflv disposed of in sweet milk to the large towns by rail and milk-carts. The Polled Angus and Highland in^nost cases foster their owncalves and supply milk for the necessities of the various holdings. A great many of the Ayrshire cows' calves are sent at ouce to the butcher, while others are fattened at the age of a month or two as veal, but the calves of the other three breeds are, as a rule, brought to ma' turity at the various ages indicated in the foregoing table. TOPOGRAPHY OF SCOTLAND. With reference to the questions of altitude and temperature indicated ou the schedule accompanying the cattle circular. T may brie/ly state that .Scotland has been aptly defined as "a great plateau, U(, 'Jlif) I mini) veil mossy soils 411,()S)G Alluvial bangh orcarso laud :V20, VJA Saudy soils 'JC.:!, 771 Total cultivated laud, ])iobal)ly f), 04;!, 450 Total uucultivatcd laud 115, DOO, .OfjO Total area is, 944,000 or L"J,000 square miles. Of tbis area abont 1,000 scpiare miles belong to the islands. According to tbe agricultural returns recently published, I liud that tbe cultivated area of Scotland is now estimated to be about 4,800,000 acres. Kegarding tbe questions of soil and substratum and their conjoint relation to tbe cattle and tbe natural feeding ])roducts of a district, I would take tbe district of Aberdeenshire and Banffsbire as tbe best type in Scotland. The cattle fiom that part of Scotland command tbe highest price in tbe London markets, partly due to tbe breed and partly to tbe natural feeding facilities possessed. More tban one-balf of tbe area is occupied by granite, generally in a decomposed state. Tbis decojnposed granite, being ricb in alkalies (potasb and soda), from tbe decomposition of tbe feldspars and mica, forms a soil to wbicb only a proi)ortion of pbospbate requires to be added as an artificial manure to raise tbe best turnip croj) in Scotland. Tbe bigb feeding powers of these turnips, along witb tbe natural clover tbat grows freely all over tbe sliire, enable tbe xlberdeensbire I'armers to turn out tbe best-fed cattle in tbe market. EXPORT AND TRICES OF SCOTCH CATTLE. Ill reply to tbe memoranda acc()m[)anying cattle circular T bave to stale as follows : Tbe best method of exportation to tbe United States is by regular cattle-carrying steamers. Tbe best animals to export are L'olled Angus, Polled Galloway, Sbort- borns, and Uerefords. Tbe best routes of ex[)ort and cost tbereof are from London, JJi^'er- pool, and Glasgow, on an average of $17 to $24. Tbe purchasing prices ol th(> animals are, for good class yearlings: Polled Aberdeen or Angus, X.30 (-Si 40) to £~)i) (^-l-'lo-'i). But individual si)ecimens of tbe choicer ))edigreed Aberdeen or Angus bave realized over oOO guineas ($2,554.01 ). Galloways, jCL'o (8121.GG) to £40 ($194.00), wbilecboic(5 pedigreed specimens of the Gallowav breed bave likewise fetcbed long prices. West Highland, £15 (873) to £20 ($97.33) ; Ayr- sbire, £20 ($97.33) to £25 ($121.(;(i). Tbe estimated expense for attendance and Ibod en route is about £1 ($4.80) a bead, if ten or more go. DISTRIBUTION OF SCOTCH CATTLE. Throughout Scotland Shortborns are more generally distribut(;d tban any of the four distinct breeds peculiar to tbe country, but tliese latter 1 Till': IJNITKI) KiNeaioM. 223 cover the -i-oiiiul they beloiii;- tt) more closely. The Oiilloways uiul Ayr- yhires may be suitl to eompletc^ly cover I he southwest of 8cothind Irom Stirliii-- and ])mnl)artoii to Wiiilon. The West llij;lilaiiro\e abiiost ruinous. Some idea of the disastrous elfect of these icstrictions upon the catti*'. trade of the entire country may be j^athered trom the fact that it is in this same ])rovince of Connauj;ht that tlu'. lariju'st and most inii)<»rtant cattle fair held in Irt'land takes ])hu;e. The fair referred to is that an- nually held in IJallinasloe, and which is always attende*! l)y lar^e num- bers of stock-breeders from tlii' other three i)rovinces, viz, Munster, Leiuster, and Ulster, in search of youn<;' sto(;k for fattenini;' ])urposes. The stoppinji; of the soun-e friuii \vhi(*h these youn.u' stock \vei(; obtain<'d caimot but have a very damaging' effect on the entire cattle trade of the couutry. THE CATTLE TRADE OF IRELAND. The cattle trade of Ireland is undoubtedly its greatest and most flour- ishing industry, sur])assing as it does by several millions of |)ouuds8ter- ling annually the very imjiortant and ])rosj)er()Us linen tiade of the northern i)rovince (Ulster). For several years ])ast Iiish stock-breeders have been receiving from ]uigland and Scotland in exchange for live stock an annual average of -"r;7.'>,()U(»,0()(). The returns for the year Just closed have n(5t yet been made out, but it is anticipated that they will prove the most dejuessiiig on record, and on a rough estimate the sum realized it is not exi)ected will exceed i:8,0()(),()(K) or i:i(>,0(M),()()0. Jn the year 18.S2 there were exi)ortedfrotn Ireland to Great Britain lil)l,777 fat cattle, 4;)0,()00 "stores" (lean cattle), and of other descriptions. 'i,()00, era total of 724,777. During 1883 not more than half this number have been exi)orted, owing to the restrictions above referred to. For four out of the twelve months the export of " store" cattle from Ireland to Euglaiul was prohibited altogether, and for seven months of the year the restrictions of a general cluii^acter were so great as to almost extin- guish the cattle trade in some portions of the island. The ])recautions adopted by the veterinary department, however, are having the desired effect; the spread of the disease has been checked, and its ravages have now been "stamped out" of some districts. In i)roportion as these good results are being realized the restrictions are being removed; but, though a considerable im])rovement has taken jdace, the cattle trade of the couutry is still very much crippled, and it will take some time be- fore it recovers the serious check which it lias sustained. In connection with this part of the sui)ject it will be of interest to draw a com])arison between the prices which cattle brought in 1872 and 1883 at JJallinasloe fair. In 1872 first-class oxen (mixed breeds) r<'al ized JL;24 lO.v. (81U.I.22) jx-r head. Jn 1875 the same class brought .C2r» li).s. (8124.0'J) per head, while last year these (piotations fell to C2() lO.v. ($0J».7(;), and as low as Xl.'i ($03.20) |)er head lor fourth-class animals. In 1872 first class heifers sold at £2U(.i>y7.33),and last year they brought £22 ($107.00); the quotations for fourth-class animals beiug£14($08.13). CATTLE CENSUS OF IRELAND. The total number of cattle of all classes and breeds in Ireland in 1883 was 4,01)0,021, an increase of 108,810 over 1882. Of this number there were in JiCinster 1,000,502, increase 35,330; in Ulster 1,078,040, imn-ease 24,221; in Connaught(i23.007, increase 10,815; and iuMunster 1,327,473, increase 38,444. The table which I iucdose will show the number and description of cattle in each county of Munster (in which prcnince this consulate has H. Ex. 51 15 226 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. its juiisdiction) iliiring the years 188ii aiul 1883. Of the diU'ereiit breeds eoni])) ised iu this r«^turii it is impossible to give the proportions, though cattle ot mixed breeds largely predominate. GENERAL INFORMATION CONCERNING CATTLE IN IRELAND. I return herewith the jirinted form which accompanied circular of July IS, 1883, with the blanks filled so far as 1 have been able to obtain the requisite data. Dr. William K. Sullivan, x^resident of the Queen's College, Cork, who is considered the first authority on the sub- ject of inquiry in Southern Ireland, and to whom I am indebted for the princii)al topographical and scientific facts (including the list of grasses), remarks iu sending thfe same to me : Our farmers are so little accustomed to such iinnicriciil aucl accurate details that I assure you it is very difficult to give such inforuiatiou. The details about the breeds of cattle have been given by Mr. James Byrne, J. P.,Watt8towu Castle, Shanbally- iiiore, County Cork, one of the most experienced agriculturists in the county, and one too who had the advantage of scientific training. The information about the' geology could, as you will at once see, be only geueral, and I have accordingly written it across the columns. Mr. Eichard J. Maxwell Gumbleton, J. P., GJanatore, Tallow, County Waterford, a successfid breeder and exporter of Shorthorns in South- ern Ireland, has been kind enough to furnish some expressions of opin- ion as well as information on various points referred to in your instruc- tions. Mr. Gund)leton states that the best method of exporting cattle from the south of Ireland to the United States is by shipping them from the i)orts of Cork or Waterford via Liverpool to any [)ort of our country. There are, he says, very valuable herds of Shorthorns in Ireland, and the bulls from these herds he has no doubt would pay well for exportation to the United States. The only other breed peculiarly good, j\Ir. Gumbleton says, are the Kerry cattle, which are very pretty (small iu size and black) and very good milkers. The Shorthorns in Ireland are altogether bred for dairy puri)Oses, the mixed breeds being reserved more for the butcher. Latterly the breeding of stock iu the south of Ireland is on the increase, and the supply is very much in ex- cess of the home demand ; iu fact the stock-breeders of Ireland live by exporting vast numbers of cattle every year to England and Scotland. 1 1 would, therefore, in Mr. Gumbleton's opinion, be highly undesirable to export cattle from the United States to Ireland for dairy uses or for the ])urpose of the butcher ; in fact, sending cattle to Ireland would be somewhat like "sending coals to Newcastle." His experience is that cattle, as a rule, if circumstances be favorable, greatly im])r()ve by ex portation, and he would willingly use an American-bred bull, if well- bred, and think the fact of his coming from America a good recom- mendation. Ue doubts if the imi)orted Shorthorns in the United Stat<^s are superior to the best herds in England and Ireland, and he strongly suspects there are a greater number of first-class Shorthorns iu England and Ireland than there are in the Ujiited States. lie believes, however, that most breeders would be glad to have a change of blood, provided the animals were well-bred, and he considers such a change would be attended with satisfactory results to all concerned. Mr. Kichard Good, Aherlow, County Cork, an extensive and success- ful cattle breeder and exporter, has in reply to questions given the fol- lowing information in connection with the cattle trade: The best auiirialsto export to the United States are Shorthorns, and redigree .Short- horns can be liad as low as .C40, and as high as £1,000, or more, eacli. Kerry cattle are also very good, and these are attracting more attention than they did formerly, THE UNITED KINGDOM. 227 owiiij; to till- ciisi* witli wliicli tkcy an; iiiann.i^cd. They aro particularly suited to iiiountaiiioiis (listi lets, which would not jiropcrly feed Sliortliorius. (Jood Kcrrys can be had Cor £'20 each. The best nutans of (^xIM>l■tiM<^ cattle IVoui the south of Ire- land would he via the ))urts of Cork or Waterford to Liverpool, and thence by the Hloaiuers of the National Line to tlii^ United .States. The steamers of the National Line being the lar^esi and steadiest, are best adajjted for the purpose. As to fodder, bay, oats, l)ran, and sonu> cak(^ would I'orui very <,^)od food f(U- the v(>>. •!<;■(!. The sup- ply of cattle* in the south of Irelan! is very nuich in excess of the home dennmd, and the surplus btock are exported to Iho midland counties of England and .Scotland. The rate for transportation of cattle from Cork to Liverpool, by local steamers, is about 8-.00 per liemi, iiisiuanee extra. It may prove interestiiijj to note tiiat the total acreajj^e of the province of Munster is 5,034,082, Avhich during the years iSSii and 1883 was utilized as indicated in the inclosed statement. JOHN J. PIATT, Consul. United States Consulate, Queenstozcn, April 3, 1884. Jii'tiini ithowiiKj the number and de^criplion of vatlle in each coitnli/ in the province of Mia attr dnriufj the years lfc'82 and IHS'.i. CountieB. Milcli cows. Two years (>l84 11-83 390, 397 '06 ''04 Kori V : IS82 1883 ■'08 075 Clare : 188-.' 1.56 15"! 1883 164 059 Limerick : 18fid ntilizalion of same darinij Uie ijear^ 1882 and 1883. Year. Total ex- tent under crops, iu- duding meadow and clover. Grass. Fallow. Woods and planta- tions. Bog and marsh and barren mountain land, water, loads, fouces, &c. Total acre- age. 1 882 -'■--• 1, 246, 304 1, 212, 170 .3, 248, 167 3, 283, 4r)8 4, 578 4,120 111,415 110, 991 1,324,128 1, 323, 943 1 5,934,6fi2 1883 T • 1QQf 35, 291 34,224 458 424 185 THE UNITED KINGDO^f. 220 BUTTER INDUSTRY OF IRELAND. REPORT BY COXSUL PI ATT, OF GOPK. Ill my report on the credit and trade system in the soutli of Irehmd pnblished in Xo. 43 of Consuhir Iteports, I mentioned the butter trade as the principal one identified with Cork. It lias more than once, since I forwarded that report, occurred to me that a special report on the butter industry and trade in Southern Ire- land would not only be interesting^ to our i)eople at large, but miject of canned butter, it may be well to direct the attention of those in our country so interested to the oppor- tunity which, I am told, exists for a large development of American enterprise with respect to this class of butter. Within seven or eight years France, Germany, and Denmark Lave, by the adoi)tion of the system of ])acking butter in hermetically sealed cans, each containing 1, 2, 3, 7, It, or 24 poinids of butter, secured the entire, or about the entire, trade of supi)lying the ships of the world. I believe that the American creamery butter is eminently suitable for this particular branch of the export butter trade. If this butter were packed 230 CATTLE AND DATKY FARMING. and sealod in cans similar to those exhibited by Mr. Clanchy, which pre- serve the bntter fresh and sweet for a long period in any climate, im- mediately on beiny: made at the creameries, nothing, so far as 1 can see, is to prevent its use in supplying the •immense foreign shipping trade of our country. Whereas all vessels going from Europe to America take with them a sui)ply for the double voyage, it would be quite practicable, if this enter- prise were introduced in the United States, to secure the entire business for American exporters. In my opinion our countrymen would be al»le to compete most successfully with iMiropean countries for this trade, inasnnich as nil (hiiry products can be raised so much cheaper in the United States than at this side of the Atlantic. For the large passenger steamships the finest butter is utilized, and also for ex])ort to countries where the consuming population require, and can afford to pay for it, such as India, Japan, China, Australia, the South American countries, and those bordering upon the Mediterra- nean. For merchant shipping, and for the lower or poorer classes of the l)opulation in the above named countries, a second and third quality of butter is good enough, and it is for the inferior qualities the United States, it would appear from the published market reports, require a greater outlet than for the products of the best dairies, inasmuch as the American markets are constantly glutted with unsalable suri)lus stock of lower grade butter, chiefly owing to the inroads which the improved manufacture of butterine has made upon the markets hitherto available for the consumption of cheap genuine butter. Since merchant vessels use chiefly butter of the third quality, it will be seen that a market for large quantities of this class of butter might be found if the canning system were adopted for the supjily now furnished for tlie most part by European exporters. Within a few years past two Irish houses have adoi)ted this system of tinning butter, and their efforts have been crowned with great suc- cess, although their combined shipments are so small that it does not contradict my general statement that France, Germany, and Denmark monopolize the trade. The two Irish houses referred to are those of Messrs. Clear and Sons, and Mr. Clanchj', who furnishes the accom- panying interesting report. The latter shi])per, at much trouble and expense, gave his fellow-tradesmen in the United States an opportu- nity of inspecting for themselves the way in which the tinned butter trade in Ireland is worked, by the exhibit at New Orleans already men- tioned. In my report on the credit and trade system, I explained the method by which transactions are regulated between the producers and the butter brokers in Cork market. It may be worth while to quote that portion of said report ; it is as follows : In tlio bcginuing of tlie year the butter brokers of Cork market advance loans to the fanners to the amount of two-thirds of the vahie of their bntter produce for the year, at rates of interest varying from 6 to 10 per cent. With this money the farmer pays his rent, buys stoek and seeds ; according as he makes his batter ho sends it to the broker to pay oft' his debt. The brokers borrow the money so advanced from local banks, at a lesser rate of in- terest than they chnrgo. When they receive the butter from the farmers they sell it to the exporters for prompt easli, and the exporters ship to English merchants, giv- ing one and two months' credit for the payment. The export of butter is a different branch of the trade conducted by a different set of merchants, who, on receiving their orders from their THE UNITED KINGDOM. 231 foreign correspondents, go to tlic Cork Butter Excbango daily and buy the brands they require at tlie open comixitition whicii takes i)iace, as ex- plained by Mr. (31aneliy. at 11 a. ni. e;ieli (la> ; and they resell to tlieir cus- tomers at a fixed regulation eoinniission of L*a'.(h/. (or GO eents)))(n' hundred- weight over the published Cork market price of that date. This commis- sion includes buying, selecting, carting, cooi)ering, and shipping. Out of this commission they allow buyers a diKcouut of two monl lis at 5 p^r cent. (i. e., LV/. per pound sterling, or 4- cl^nts per $4.87) for ])romi)t cash payments, or they draw a bill ou the ])urch;iser at two months after dat<» for the net amount of the invoice. IJnlike the American shippers they give the butter to the buyer before they receive either cash or bill, anr jn-o diiciu}^ country, for which it j-iossesyes a remarliable combinatioii of natural advan- tages not to be foniul together elsewhere. The essential conditions for inaluug <:((od butter, are: (1) A mild, equable climate, not too hot iu summer and not too cold in ■winter. (2) A sufficient rainfall to promote an abundant growth of grass. (:{) A good (irm soil, not over-rich. Fine butter cannot be made in an ex(!essiv'ely hot cli- mate, and of course snow and frost, that cover and bind up the i>astures for a coiisul- erable part of the year, render its production in quantity impossible. Gra.ss-fed butter will always be the best, and the country where the cattle can be fully grass-fed in the ojien air for the longest period of the year is that in which most butter of good <|uality can be produced. The climate of Munster is rendered singularly even in its tempcralure by its geo- graphical position. Its co.ast line extends over nearly the whole southern end and a large portion of the western side of the island, receiving the first influence of 1 he great •warm ocean current, the Gulf Stream, v/hich acts as an equalizer of tem])cra,tur(>, a sort of governor, preventing the winter from being too cold and the suumier I'rom being too hot. The warm vajjors lloating over the land in winter raise the temper- ature, and by forming clouds and rain in the summer prevent excessive heat. The winters are mnch mihler than in other countries of the same latitude. Occa- sionally a winter y)as3es without suflicient ice to give (!ven one day's skating. The rainfall is very great, and combined with the mildness of the seasons causes an abundant growth of grass for a large part of the year. A great proportion of tlio pastures are on uudulating uplands, the configuration of which lends itself to rapid irrigation, the water running off the slope and leaving the grounds sutficiently moist without morass or sponginess. The pastures in those upland districts arc not over-rich, but good, sound, friable soil, producing sweet, crisp herbage, the butter made from which possesses great keeping properties and a peculiarly d( liglitf ul taste, the true butter llavor, so d<;ar to those who know and can appreciate it, the absence of which is to be noticed in many of the continental butters, and in some Irish butters ma^le ofi" very rich lowland pastures. It is ftmnd that the excess of fat or oil made olf deep rich soil makes them more liable to turn rancid, and reduces their keeping qualities, and that such butters, how- *Thia report was prepared by Mr. T. J. Ciancby, a Cork butter merchant. 2^.2 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMTNO ovor MTood thoy may 1io for iniiiiodiafc nso, arc not so HuitiiMo foi' prosorvins or for cx- ])ort to lint climates as the Imttor from tlio wcill-draiiie I ni)hni(l districts and tlio lighter lull >;n()d soils which prevail to :i very larjie extent in Minister. Even fioiii the richest lands of Mniister, such as the celeliratiMl (ioldeii Vein, a well-dclined belt of land which runs throiif^h 1h(^ province and whicdi is considered to \h' ahnost un- surpassed in tlui world for its lino rinalily, llio soil and cliniate arc so favorahle lh.it tlio butter, altlioii^h perliaps more suitable for liijrh-ciass niilil-eure maU' 190|87l Connawght 438, 3% Total for Ireland 1,417,481 From wliicdi it apjiears that Munster has more th:in one-tliird of tlu^ milch cows of Ireland. The returns of live stock in England for the year 1884 show that the number of milch cows in tliat country was l,7ir),27:, and iii Seotla,nd 408,74.'"i, so that Munster contains v<'ry nearly onc-tliird as many milch cows as the whole of Euglainl and con- siderably more than all Scotland. Taking the return of live .stock in Ireland and in other European countries, I find tbo following to be the result: Xiimhrr of llvr. Htock and popnJalwu hi the J'oHoirhi;/ countries. Date. Couutries. Live stock. 5, 9G2, 770 4, 09G, 021 1,382,81.5 11,44(;,2.'J3 I.'"., 770,702 1,434,400 Population. 1883 Great Britain 29,710,012 .1, 174, 836 5, 530, G.-.4 :i7,.'!21,18G 4r,, 234, OGl 1883 Ireland 1880 Belgium 1880 1873 1881 Franco Germany Holland From this it appears that while Grea,t P.ritain has only 20 head of live stock to each 100 inliabitaiits; JJelgium, 25; France, 30; (Jermany, 35, and Hoilaiid 35, Irelauil has 7;> head of live stock to each lOOjteople, and in tin- i)rovince of Munster the pro- l)ortion of live stock to iioimlation is even greater, tlie live stock being 1,3(;4,470 and the ])oiMi]atioii 1,:',31,115, (u- over 101) live ,s('ly to it with rtniiarkaUlo apti- tude: 111 farea the land, to h,'».-, butter sui)ply, is tli.at thoy show that Irehtnd has a larjj;cr propoi-tion of its butter to (export, and h^ss jxMiplo at home to consnnui it, than any other country, iin additional proof of tlu^ grt^at im- portance of the Irish butter industry to comnujrco. Tiie city of Cork, the capital of the proviuc;', is tiie natural outlet for tho greater portion of tho butter produced in Muust(^r, owing to itsciMitral i)ositioii, its unriv'aled iiarbor of Quec'ustown, and its direct communication by roads and railways, \vhi(di tap tho principal butter-producing districts, A I)utt(U' markt^t has ])ei!n held in (.'ork for a veiy long tiui(\ and in 17(")'.) it was pl.aced under the niauag(Mn(Mit of a counuitttio of the i>rincipai merchants, under \vhoni it remained for one hundril ;ind fourteen years, until the present year, when .a. special act of r.irlianient was passiMl, trausfer- ing its maii.agcnnent to a body of trustees, with powi^r to make by-laws for its regu- lation. Th(^ ([uautity of butter which ])asses through this market is euoruuius. In Uw first year, ITti'J, of the record, 105,;50LI packages passed through thonuirket, aufl tho annual quantity has since largely increascul, lieing now considerably moro than three time.s as much. The largest quantity received in any one ye.ar was in 1878, when 1:{4,2:19 firkins passed fhrough the market. The Cork butter market is held every d.ay, Sunday and a Anv holidays excepted, anil till! sales on a single day have been as l.irge as :'.,Hli) lirkius of ;ibout 7r> pounds net, which, when prices were high, wouhl be value for about £ l:i,(l(;() sterling (§r)8,:!98.) All the butter has to be cleared away within the d.-iy to make room foi- ani/tliei' large f|uantity coming i)y road and rail I'or the next day's nuirket. The s;ysleiu of sidling butter in the tJork market is pe(;uliar to this m.irket. At a qu.arter heforc^ 11 a, m., buyers and sellers assemble around a tabh^, and at tho lirst stroke of 11 all buying must be Concludiid, and the whole quantity of butter, freiiuently some ihousands of lirkius, has changed hands. To the uniniti.-it-ed the buying ;ind selling at this talde aiipc^ars to be a. ])(?rfect Babel, which can only bo understood by tho brokers and exporters, who keep upa perlecti cross-iiro of olfei.s and bids until the stroke of thechxdc at 11, when suddenly all the noise ceases, buying and selling arc over for the day, and the buyers juoceed'to <;art away their purchases, Thi^ lirkin butter is ins])ecterl and (d.issilied bv sworn jmlges, and all the bargains at the tabhs are made for tho various ([u.alil ies of butter so classilied. This applies only to the ollicially classitied butler, but thei-e is now also, since the passing of the rixent act of I'.irliameut, an open market, where butter is bought and sold on tho judgment of tin- buyers and sellers themselves, with- out any oflicial (dassilication. There is another branch of the trade whicdi is of great importance— that of pre- served butter ill hermetically-closed cans. Up to very recently there were certain re.strictions v laced on (his branch of tho trade in the interest of t!ie dea,Iers in lir- kius, and, although Irish butter, from its gnsat keeping properties, is, pexhaps, the most suitable of any in tho world for preserving, this important briincli of t Ik* trade was allowed to go into the hands of the Danish and French packers, who had several years' start of the Irish timicd-butter preservers, and got possession of the various foreign markt^ts. It is gratifying to bo able to state, how(;ver, that within the last few years', since the Taria Exhibition of 1878, the Iri.sh canned-butter tnide has greatly ex- tended, and has been jjarticnlarly active in the last two years. In 187H the writer of this paper exhibit(Ml Irish butter preserved by ,'i special ])ro- cess at the Coiieonrs, open to all nations, held iuthe.raris Exhibit ion, and gained tho only gold medal thereat for |»re.S(Uved butter. As a, further test, of its keeping prop- erties, he sent his preserved butter to tho Mtdbourms Exhibition of 1880, and after crossing the tro]>ics on the voyage out, it gained the. higluist award, tho silver mcidal and lirst order of merit. He has since gained a silver medal at (Jahaitta, and his iire- servcd Irish butter is uow (183.'}) on exhii)ition in th(» (Jovernment section of the World's Exposition at New Orleans. The rei)otts from verv remote parts of the worM, where it has Ix^en s,v ilie llnct u.it ions in the luices -77 15) 130 124 127 135 149 150 140 151 1'.8 158 150 144 34 1877-78 142 119 119 117 115 120 123 121 130 132 138 HO 126 25 187S-79 147 115 104 101 KIO 113 115 119 126 128 128 133 120 46 1879-'8y 127 103 87 70 78 105 126 1-8 139 140 140 147 IIG 69 1880-'81 148 112 112 115 124 133 139 13G 143 143 143 143 133 31 Average . . 144 117 114 113 117 128 133 133 140 143 144 140 131 38 THE UNITED KINGDOM. 235 For the five years whicli have passed of tbo cnnent decade, prices have been made lower aud the tendency Koeinsto i>e still lower ])ricos. The present year is the cheapest for a long time back, the butter market feeling the eifect of the great depression in prices as severely as other classes of farmers' produce. For the ton years ending January 1, 1881, a little over 4,000,000 firkins of butter passed through the Cork market, or an average of 400,000 iirkius a year, wliich, if valued at £;{ lO-*. (.'pl7.0o) per firkin, would give au anuual to(,al of £1,400,000 (St!,818,100) as the yearly value of the butter sold in the Cork butter market during these two years. T. J. CLANCHY. THE BUTTER INDUSTRY OP IRELAND. fEviilt'UPe of William J. Laue, esq., before committee of House of Commons.] To discuss the question of the Irish butter industry from either the farmer's or trader's point of view would be an inexcusable mistake. Its national importance could hardly be overestimated. The manufacture of butter is the staple industry of Ire- land, and any close student of what is going on in other countries nuist recognize that the future ajfrieiiltural prosperity of Ireland largelj"- depends on the full d(^velopnlent of its dairy industries. While British free-trade legislation coutiuues it wouhl be simply impossible for Ireland to compete, as a grain-producing country, with the ever- increasing wheat areas of Canada, United Stales, Russia, India, Egypt, aud Australia. The approximate number of cattle in the United States is 51,000,000, and' the pos.si- ble increase may be estimated by the fact that the pasturage lands west of the Missis- sippi exceed 780,000,000 acres. Each year the cattle-raising industry of the United States makes a vast stride, and year by year the development of the American rail- way-systems and the competition of ocean-carrying lines enables the surplus produce of America to be lauded on our shores at prices with which Irish farmers cannot com- pete. The threatened competition of Australia and South America in the meat markets of Great Britain, by means of refrigerator transportation, should not be minimized or ignored as another source of danger to the Irish cattle trade. These facts justify the assum])1ion that Irish farmers cannot, in the future, look forward either to the. raising of grain or cattle as a remunerative employment. I3arley and oats, of course, may yet be regarded as paying crops, but, like all others, they also are menaced in various ways. By climate and the nature of its soil Ireland is specially adapted to the manu- facture of butter, and its geographical position certainly gives it great advantages for the sjtoedy marketing of its produce, as compared with the other countries rival- ing it in the butter trade of England. Addressing the Royal Dublin Society in December, 1879, Professor Sheldon valued that year's make of Irish butter at £6,181,818. I have no hesitation in sayiug that by proper development the butter produce of Ireland could be raised to an annual value of over £12,000,000, with even the same number of cows. This is not difficult to calculate. With the present very inferior breed of dairy cattle in Ireland, the aver- age annual production of milk i^er cow may be put down at 430 gallons. It requires ;H gallons of the milk yielded by these cows to produce 1 i)ouud of butter by the ordi- nary methods of setting and churning. This gives a return of 123 pounds of butter l)cr cow. The cows on the Mun.ster model school farm give an average annual yield of (390 gallons of milk, which, by the use of the separator, x)roduced an average yield of 276 pounds of butter per cow. Mr. Richard Barter, of St. Anne's, Blarney, attains an average of 228 pounds of butter per cow in his improved dairy. Taking afar lower standard than Mr. Barter's of what might be achieved by an improved breed of dairy cows, and an improved method of manufacture, I do uot think a yield of 20.") pounds of butter per cow would be an impossible achievement, which would be an increa.se of two-thirds on the quantity made at present. To estimate the increased price which would be otained for Irish butter manufactured on the most improved continental systems at one-third of its present value needs no figures to support the assumption. Should the accuracy of the above figures be questioned, which is quite possible, be- cause there are no standard records of the produce of the average dairy cow of the Iri.sh fiirmer, I can fall back on the wide room there is to support a vastly-increa.sed number of dairy cows in Ireland, to sustain my theory that the butter produce of the "•(mntry can be raised to an annual value of £12,000,000. This sum would i)ay two- thirds of the present rental of Ireland, and if the dairy resources of Ireland were 236 CATTLE AND DAIRY r ARMING. developed to thoir full capacity, the wliolt^ i)i-osont routal should bd paid l)y tbo biittor produce alone. This shows the great national importuince of the Irish butter indus- try, and it is as a great national ({ut^stiou it should be discussed. It would bo very diflicnlt to convey to the minds of persons outside the Irish butter trade the very lo\v level to which Irish butter has fallen in the markets of (jrcut Britain. Perhaps its i)osition could not be better illustrated than by stating that in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, the requirements of the consuming public are al- most entirely catered for with Danish butter and Dutch l)utterlne. One line of steamers from Rotterdam has brought no less than fourteen thousand packages of l>utteriuo to Dublin since the 1st of January, and very large (imintities manufact- ured in other countries have been brought by other routes, the exact a-mount of which could not be ascertained. When this is possible at a time when the produce of Irish dairies was being sold at 58. (Ul. per i)ound, and tlni best at 9d., no surprise need bo expressed at the exclusion of Irish butter from London, Manchester, Liverp(H)l, &('.. As a uuitter of fact Irish butter can only be sold now with very great ditlicnlty in a few of the manufacturing districts of England, and the area of its consumption is l)econi- • ing more limited every year. Its connietition now is rather with the produce of the butterine factories thaii with the butter shipped from France, Denmark, (iermany, and Sweden. Butterine has realized a higher price in the English and Dublin mar- kets for the past twelve months than secondary grades of Irish but er, and the luilic of Irish butter, unfortunately, is of secondary quality. The price realized for Irish butter is simply ruinous for the Irish farmers, and with a co'ntinuance of tluv existing system of Irish dairying, the jH-ospect is most disheartening. It sim])ly means agri- cultural ruin, and agricultural ruin means national bankruptcy for Ireland. I have measured and do not shirk the responsibility of this statement. The sooner it is rec- ognized by every one interesjted in the welfare of this country the Itetter. That there is no natural impediment to Irish butter excelling the produce of all other countries is clearly established by Mr. T. J. Clanchy, of Cork, having obtained the gold medal at the Paris Exhibition of 1878, and medals at the exhibitions of Calcutta and Melbourne, from all competitors, with the butter of selected Irish dairies, and, also, by the extreme high prices commanded on tln^ London market for the butter of one or two factories cstaltlished in Ireland, on the continental system, by the Rev. Canon Bagot. What, then, it will be asked, has caused the decline of tiie Irish butter trade ? I do not hesitate to place the responsibility for it on the neg- lect of our Government to provide for the education of onr farmers, as has been done by the Governments of all those (ionutries which have excelled us in the manufacturo f)f l)ntter for the last thirty years. With paternal solicitude they si»ared no efforts to 1»riug education ou dairy-farming within the i-each of their agricultural populations. The success of their elforts is evidenced by the prosperity of their dairy industries, as also by the sad plight of the Irish dairy farmer, who has been left unassisted and unculucated in the keen competition forced on him by his European and American" rivals. The ruin which is now impending over the dairy farmers of Ireland, and the gen- eral agricultural depression of this country, is rebuke sufficient for the apathy and neglect the Government that undertakes to rule us have exhibited towanls Ireland's best interests. The Governments of the United Statics, France, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden have all recognized their respcmsibility of practically educating their agricultural subjects, and liave spared neither money nor trouble in ef(i(tiently dis- charging that duty. The Government of Ireland has done nothing for the Irish farmers. The farmers of Ireland had a far stronger claim on fhe Government than those of any of the countries above named. Because, owing to past British legisla- tion, they were denied education, and, owing to the Irish land-laws, they have been always kept ou the border of poverty. They were thus ])revented from doing for themselves what was done for the educated and prosperous farmers of other countries by their respective Governracjits. I do not want to introduce ]H)litics, unnecessarily, into this statement, but it is impossible to exclude the attitude of the Government of Ireland from the discussion of a question which so very largely hinges ou the measures that have been adopted by the Governments of those countries which have so successfully driven Irish butter out of the markets of Great Britain. Without the jiBsistanco ami education given by the continental Governments their dairy farmers could never have beaten Irish butter out of the markets. Up to the time these Gov- ernments made dairy interests a state care, Irish butter, through force of the superi- ority it derived from the natural advantage of soil and climate, was highly prized not ah)ne in England but in every country penetrated by British commerce. Year by year, as ereed of tho best dairy stock is disseminated amonjfst the smaller d:iirymen. l?y having the center of attract ion in London, Irish noblemen auarate State, there, has its (jwn agricultural colleges and farms. I do not think, wo need go farther for a model of what is wanted in Ireland. We want a department of agriculture in Dublin, whose duty (inter alia) should be to direct a system of dairy schools and farms in every county to train teachers for those schools; to collect and dissenunate information on every subject connected with th(! most inqn-oved systemsiu other countries; to import and experiment on the best I)i'eed of dairy cattle, and distribute theui on the state dairy farms of th(> countlt^s for which each breed was best adapted, to jirovide Government loans to farmers for the election of dairy and cow hou.ses, and in every other Avay to promote the general dairy itulus- try of the whole country. There should be a Government dairy colk»ge iu every county, and, to ftiHill its nussion properly, a farm of dimensions proportionate to the number of puiuls, who, from the agricultural iJopulation, might be expected to attend, should be attaclied to each. The scale of fees chargeerinu'nte(l with to test their milk and butter producing capacities f n the difterent kinds of pasturage iu each county. The inq)ortauc<^ altached to this point on the Contiiujut may be gathered from the fact that there are dilferent stall's of Govtjriunt^nt prolessors employei for eight or ten years consecutively examining with the most aecurale scieutilic jtrecision (erature the dairy-house, this cow-house, the ccdlar, and even the drink of the cattle must be maintained for every week of the year; iu the same way he is guided as to comi)arative advantages of the dry tub, water, ice, and s(q)arator system of obtaining hi.s cream, and even to tin; tdleet which the difb'reiu-c! between 2,400 and 2,.'')(l(t revolutions per iiunntc! of the separator will cause on the- (piality of ihi- cream, I digressed to show by what means the perfection of dairy farming has Ijeeu accom- plished on the Continent. The total ab.seuce of what may be called any high-milking stock iu Ireland is one of the gravest features of the situation. Even amongst those who go in for keeping 238 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. very bi<;li-cl;iH8 cattle in Irolaiul, tbo greatest attention lias been jiaid t-otbe strains tbat ])ro(lace most beef, at tlie expense of tbo loss of tbe uiilk. In otbeieonutiies Ibey breed dairy stock for milk first and beef afterwards. They consider it i)ay8 them better to get a bigb return of butter for some years and lose a little on the sale of tbe cow. In a very few years a small herd of agood strain of milkers on eacb Gov- ernment farm would disseminate good milking blood tbrougb tbe Avbole dairy stock of Ireland. At present, tbe general run of farmers never know Avbat kind of stock tbeir dairy cows are derived from ; tbey buy them on chance, in fairs and markets. Some idea of wbat may be done in tbe way of breeding for milk may be gathered from the fact that iu America particular strains of Jersey cows yield from 'JO to 100 pounds of butter per month, and there are authenticated records of cows yielding 105 ])ounds of butter per moutb for a season. Of course tbese cattle are only fancy breeds, but it shows what migbt be done on Government farms. The particulars of these records can be found in tbe Breeders' Gazette of America. It is unnecessary for me hero to state what sbojild be tbe training given in such dairy schools to pupils. There should be a seed-testing station attacked to eacb, as one of the greatest draw- backs to small dairy farmers in Ireland is the wretched class of seeds imposed on biiu by unscrupulous dealers. I am informed by practical farmers of great experience that it is owing to the deleterious adulterations of grass seeds that the increased aborting of cows is mainly due. This .source of loss to the Irish dairy farmer is in- creasing year after year. It is being anxiously investigated by tbe Americah Goveru- u)ent, and difl'erent authorities ascribe its 8i)read to dift'erent causes. It illustrates tbe necessity of has'iug a veterinary as well as a seed department in each school. Each of these county establishments should be provided with a traveling dairy, and its working, illustrated by a comiietent lecturer, should be exhibited at the largo fairs and other centers where the agricultural community could be instructed. A model dairy and permanent exhibition of improved appliances might with very great advantages be established at the Cork Butter Market, where hundreds of farmers could see it in operation every day. Dairy education must be brought within reach of the farming masses, poor as well as rich. I think elementary education on dairy farming should form part of the national school system. Government should sup- ]>lenient the funds of agricultural societies to enable them to oiler attractive prizes for successful dairying. Without proper dairy and cow bouse accommodation no amount of education would enable the Irish farmer to produce good butter. They are practically withoutone or the other at present, that is, as these buildings are un- derstood in dairy countries, on the Continent and in America. Milk, cream and but- ter are most susceptible of taint from any kind of bad odors or impure air. The most frequent complaint against secondary Irish butter is its peaty or smoky flavor. This is contracted by having the milk set, and the butter made in the ordinary dwelling rooms of small farmers. Impurities also attach to the milk, owing to the filthy condition of the cow from bad stabling. Therefore a model well-drained cow-house 18 of as much importance as a moilel dairy. Loans on favorable terms should be given to the farmers to erect those buildings, and I think it would be well if the Govern- ment prepared model plans for each class of building, and insisted on their being all constructed according to those plans. The cost could be fixed by scale, in proportion to tbe number of cows to be provided for. The expense of obtaining such loans should also bo regulated by a low fixed scale. In asking so much assistance from the Government for Irish dairy farmers, I do not ask for more for them than has been done by other Governments, and I do not see why these county farms should not be, at least, self-supporting. No scheme of improved dairying will quite enable the Irish farmer to compete favorably v.ithout extension of the present means of transporta- tion. Ireland must be opened up by either tramways or light railways, and until some cheaper iind (luicker means of being able to construct them than exists at pres- ent is ])rovided by legislation, limiting and reducing the power of factious opposi- tion, this development will be of very slow growth. If the Government recognize the strong claim tbo Irish dairy farmeis have on them, and even at the eleventh hour undertake to provide the assistance I ask for, then there is still ample room to hope for a speedy revival of the Irish butter trade and the prosperity of the country. With proper manufacture Irish butter must lead the market, on account of its natural su- periority and flavor. Of course a great deal will have to bo done by all who have to liandle the improved make of butter, so as to ])ut it in. the markets in the most at- tractive shape. The packages must be greatly improved — I would recommend white packages, of 56 pounds, as most likely to be received favorably. They should be so shaped that they could not be rolled; this would save the butter from great al)use, and keep the packages clean. I see no reason why our butter packages should not be made of beech, which grows in Ireland most abundantly, and, which, consequently, would cost less than imported tjak. There is an objection to it on tbe ground that but ten- docs not keep so well in beecli as in oak casks for a lengthened jxsriod. In the future tb(ue will be no necessily to keep butter any time in casks, and prejudices of this kind should not be permitted THE UNITED KINGDOM. 239 U> iaterfero with tbc utilization of this luitivo timber, wbicli is now practicullv worth- less when grown m quantity. The most sclent ihc butter-prodncinfr countries Don- luark, Sweden, Germany, and America, use notbing but beech packa"-es while' we in Ireland, throu<;h our ignorance, send from £n(»,()OU to jC10U,000, annually, out of the country lor importeil oak. In this connection, I cannot omit referring to 'the very bad treatment which Irish butter receives from both our railway and steamshiji comnaiiics They handle it roughly, which, of course, injures the quality, and neither on their platlorms, wharfs, trucks, or steamers, do they make any si)ecial provision, in the simple matter of cleanliness, for the proper transportation' of Irish butter. Tlie con- seqnenco is that very often a shipper is not ublo to recognize in the be-rrimed casks delivered in London or Manchester the clean packages shipiH'd at Cork or Wateri'ord In this matter a groat injustice is done to Irish butter. In the local rates from pro- ducer to market, and in the general rates from Irish markets to the English centers Irish butter is very heavily handicapped by excessive charges. Butterine is bron-dit from Holland to Dublin at less money than Cork butter could bo delivered in DubUn. Butter is brought from New York to Liverpool at less money than from Cork to (he same port. It costs 4-is. Gd. per ton to send Cork butter via Dublin to Bradford, and Danish butter is brought from Copenhagen via Hull, Bradford, and Liverpool to l^iibli n at Mos. per ton. The Irish carrying companies are doing their best to kill the Irisb butter trade. I wish a deputation of their traffic managers would visit Franco and Holland to see the delicate handling which butter receives from the carrying com- panies there, and the scrupulous cleanliness of the trucks and steamers specially re- served tor butter trallic. What is wanted in Irish butter is cleanliness in make, pack- ing, and transportation, close grain, and fine texture, total exclusion of water, freedom from oversaltiug, even quality, even color, and uniformity of weight. I cannot con- clude this paper without referring to the butterine trade. It would be childish to aay that because butterine interferes with the sale of butter therefore it ought Ik; sujtprcssed. Wheu manufactured from wholesome ingredients and sold under its proper designataou it is as legitimate an article of food as any other. But when the trade is conducted as it now is, most dishonestly, it ceases to have any claim to con- siderate treatment. In this week's issue of The Grocer, ono of the largest wholesale houses in London advertises to sell it as finest Irish firkins and fine Irish firkins; a Dutch firm ofiers, by circular, to make it so as to imitate any well-known butter- Irish firkins and Irish roll being specially mentioned. Every week's police ollico reports contain records of fines imposed for selling butterine as butter. In Dublin last week several firms were fined £10 for selling Dutch butterine as Irish roll butter. 1 bavo no hesitation in saying that I believe niueteen-twentieths of the butterine sold in Great Britain is consumed as butter. Irreparable damage has been done to tbe dairy interests of these countries by this nefarious trading, and Parliament should intervene to put a stop to it. This compound has no claim to the name butterine; it is adopted to deceive the public, lliis name should bo prohibited. Let these com- pounds of iat bo called margarine or oleomargarine. If, as they claim, the manulact- urers depend on its intrinsic merits to seM it, they need not fear adopting its true desig- nation. Every package imported into the country should bavo either of those names branded on it in letters ono inch long, and also the name or the manufacturer ackage issuing from a British factory should comply with tbe same conditions. Every shopkeeper selling any quantity of these compounds sliould be bound by law to mention the uamo of the compound to the purchaser. If t Ikjso conditions be enforced, with the same penalties as they (or simillar provisions) are en- forced in other countries, no injustice will be done to honest traders, and a great act of jnstice will be done to dairy farmers, who have quite enough to face in the keen competition of honest rivalry. The existing powers of dealing with this gigantic swindling are utterly inadequate. Unless from those who are interested in maintain- ing fraud. I don't sec where any opposition could be given to legislation in this direc- tion. FRANCE. CATTLE BREEDS OF FRANCE AND THEIR PRODUCTS. KEl'OliT BY VONHUL WILLIAMS, OF KOUEN. HSTTRODUCTOKY. Ill coini)liaiicc with tin; nMjuo.sl of tlic Depurtini'iit of State to exaiiiine and icpoi t \\\w\\ tlu" siilijrct iiiciitioiied in the cattle circular a^Ulrossed to the consuls of tlie United States I liave catej;orically answered the (juestions theiein proitounded (see statement at closer of rei)ort) and will atteui]>t to render the work more complete and piactical by such descrip- tions, illustrations, and information as I have been able to obtain from ]iersonal observation of the dillerent breeds of cattle in their ori^^inal homes and from other reliable sources. This consulate embraces a larj;e portion of the ancient district of Noiinandy, is situated in the northwest i)ortion of France, and well adapted bv its fertility and abundant supi)ly of water for j;ra/inj;- i)ur- poses, andhas long been distinguished for the i)eculiar and marked tyjie of its cattle and horses, and affords a wide field for the study of the races of cattle indigenous to I'rance; while its (contiguity to Gix-at Britain on the one side, and Belgium, Holland, and (iermany on the other, renders great caution necessiiry to disc;riminate between the original and mixed breeds. We reserve the title of distinct breed to a number of individual animals presenting uniform characteristics, shapes, and adaptabilities, and capable of transmitting and peri)etuating this type in their progeny. There must be this lixity to constitute a race DISTINCT FRENCH BREEDS OF CATTLE. L'rance ai)pears to have a substantial claim to eighteen distinct breeds of cattle, of which 1 append a list, adopting the French nomenclature: (I) I'^laniande, (!') Normande, (;3) 15retonne, (1) rarthenaise, (5) Char- olaise, (G) Limousine, (7) IMancelle, (S) Comtoise, (9) Femeline, (10) Bres- sane, (11) ro(liictioii and rrarinj;- of tlic best specimens of the breed "Fhinumde'' is in the dc- jcirtinents of tlie noith of France, in the rich paslnres of Bergues, J)unkirK, Cassel, r)ailk'nl, Ilazebrouck, and Lille. We meet with h'ss numerous lierds, nu)re or less distinct and pure, in Doulonnais (termed IJoulonnaise), in Artois (Artesienue), in the de- partments of the Soiinne, Oise, and Aisne (there termed "Picardc"), ui>on the borders of the 8ambro (INfaroillaise), and about Uordeaux (Bordehiise). The ]>retonnc breed has contributed its share to the ])roduction of the latter \'arit't.v of this race. In its original liomc there are two varieties of this breed, that of the rcjiion of lierj^ues and that of Cassel. The variety of I5er^ues, or Iler^uenarde, has sli,<;htly j^reater len;,Mh of horns, is thicker set, and is adapted to fattening;- and yielding- milk. It is cari'fully maintained for both puri)oses. The animals reared about Cassel are liner and more stuight for, beini,^ preferable to those of l>er- gues for dairy puri)oses. Description. — The Flamande breed is essentially valuable for the daily, and incidentally only for food, and is not adai)tcd to work, and is destined to predominate in the dairies of the northeast of France. I will therefore more particularly describe some of the peculiar features of the cow of this breed. The head of a good cow is tine, of conical form, rather long; the nape of the neck thinly covered with hair; the horns wide apart, fine throughout, i>rqjecting forward and do\^■nward, and in such a manner that in some animals they bend back and touch the forelnnul; they are snudl, white or yellow, with black tips; t'.ie ear is blunt, moderately large, and covered with tine hair ; the eyes ])rojecting and Idack, with a mild expression ; the forehead long, and ordinarily narrow, terminates in a snout slightly protruding, of black oi- mixed color; the neck long and thin ; the brisket- is prominent and well hung; the withers, well developed in the best types of Bergues, are small in ordinary specimens; tli'i line of the back is straight, with a slight dei)ression at the .jum> tion of the back with the loins, due to the sepaiatiou of the vertebra — greater strength of s[)ine and loins would be desirable; the hips, often protruding, measure between one another from 21 to 20 inches; the buttocks are equally prominent and wide apart; the base of the tail is low, sometimes a little raised by the protrusion of the sacrum, of which .the line is not sufhcieutly grounded with that of the coccygeal bones; the tail is tine and long, terminating in a thin tuft of hair; the chest is narrow and coulined, and the ribs rather tiat (tko cattle raised in Bergues and Cassel have a tendency to lose these defects); the belly is of moderate size, but am])le towards the thinks and mammary region, of which the loins are well developed and occasionally forked ; the bag- large, round, often of a brown or spotted color, and well hung; the ti'ats are of moderate size, covered with line skin antl soft hair; the shoulders lather llat and moderately muscular ; the hoofs black ; legs Hat and the buttocks sometimes depressed; the coat reddish brown, ordinarily of deeper tint towards the head, and sometimes there ap- l>ears on the Hank's, on the head, and especially on the (dieek, white or speckled spots, awd these are considered signs of juire blood. Many of this breed are found in l-'landers of bright-red color or dee[» brown, others roan, but the reddish brown is considered the tyi)e of the race. The traits sought for by the breeders of this race in the cow are those which would indicate an aptitude for ndlking, without an inclination for fattening; a certain harmony of Ibrm, a little gaunt rather than too U. Ex. 51 10 242 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. much rounded ; a bouy, wall developed frame, ^ivins size to the body ; the hiud quarters relatively more developed than the fore quarters; tht- Hanks large and deep, joined to a good-sized and well-hung bag, termi- nating in regular teats, with skin supple and soft, rather than too fine; a head with little flesh; a lively and at the same time soft expression ol the eye ; in short, all of the well-known characteristics which i)resent a feminine aspect to the eye of an expert. Milking qualities. — There are Flamaud cows yielding 35 to 40 quarts of milk per day. This-yield is quite exceptional ; is only attained at the expense of the richness of the milk, or to the great injury of the race itself. In the Flamaud country the average yield of a good cow is about 2,040 quarts ])er year, or 10 quarts a day during the season of l)asturago for two hundred and ten days, and G quarts i)er day during the season of winter, and remaining dry for two months. Weight. — The weight of such a cow is about 1,000 to 1,200 pounds; size at the Avithers, 53 inches ; at the croup, 55 inches ; the length from the nape of the neck to the withers is 5 feet 3 inches ; from the withers to the level of the joint of the buttocks, 4 feet 9 inches ; the head, 9.7 inches; the circumference of the body behind the shoulders, G feet 3 inches ; the size of the haunches, 2 feet 3 inches, and the height about 2 feet G inches from the ground. Flamande hull. — The best breeders select the bulls of this breed from those contrasting with the cows and supplying the deficiencies of the cow, but with a feminine appearance, not disregarding tho signs of a vigorous constitution. Thus, the prefereuce is given to bulls with a low- hung body ; tail, loins, and thighs muscular. Experience has demon- strated the success of this method of improving the species. It will be noted that in this description of a race reared for its lacteal <]ualities are certainl3' found many features which would commend it to the butcher, and this view is corroborated by the fact that these ani- mals are highly prized by the consumer. A glance at the bull of this breed corroborates this fact and indicates clearly the adaptability of the race for fattening x)urposes. The color of the coat is of a deeper tint than that of the female; the head sizable; snout line, neck moderately full ; throat and dorsal muscles sufiQciently supplied ; shoulders rather small; the body raised and slightly pointed ; defects wliich yield to good treatment. The weight and measurement of a bull of this race aged thirty months, raised in the department of the north, I herewith subjoin with cut. • TheFlamandox is exceptional, the females being universally raised; the few oxen are raised with a view of exhibiting at the agricultural lairs. The Flamand ox has been utilized at the beet-root sugar manufact- ories of the north, and if not subjected to severe labor, they fatten read- ily on the refuse of these factories. BREEDS OF SUB-FLAMANDS. In traveling on one side from Dunkirk to Boulogne, Montreuil, and Al)beville, and on the other toward Arras, by the way of Saint (Jmer, we find modifications in the race Flamande. In the former place the name of " Boulonnaise" is given to the subrace and that of ''Artes- ienne"to that in the ancient province of Artois, although these two subraces are frequently confounded with the mother race. The subrace " Boulonnaise" is of smaller size and less weiglit, its shape more slender and angular, while the belly and flanks are more fully developed, the 1 FRANCE. 243 t'roiii» and loins larii't' Jind loan, the lulder laiy;e, iudicatiug good milk- ing', the liair equally red or reddish brown, and the body nearer the ground. The ([uality of the ])asturiige and the care have great etleet ui)OU the shape and size of the dilVerent si)eciew. Theeattle buyers give the name of " r.ouinaisienne" to the." J>ouh)n- naise" raised about Desvres, !Sanier, Iluequeliers, and Fruges, small districts formerly kiu)\vn under the name of " Dournais." Under tiiis head is found the '• Namponuoise," the variety "Boulonnaise" of the arrondissement of Montreuil as well as of the valley of Authie, derived fiom Nani)ont, a village situated at some distaiuic from the mouth of this river. Toward Jioulogne, Marquise, and Calais, the race is larger and becomes identitied with the pure Flamand. The subrace Artesienne, more generally wholly confined to i)astur- age, whicli often becomes scanty, is less d(neloi)ed than the cows of Bergues, and even of iSaint Omer, is more slender and smaller, but its constitution is less iymi)batic. The breeder of these excellent cattle is reluctaut to cross them with any other, and fears to impair their milking (pialities, which have not been improved by crossing with the Durham, and their adaptation to fattening is unnecessary to develop. It is said that heifers of this breed occasionally become so fat as to remain sterile. This race includes about one million or more, which number is increas- ing, constituting about one-twelfth of the entire cattle of France, and of this number tour-fifths are found in the eight dei)artments of France, beginning at the north and comprising the adjoining districts. The price of these cattle range from $130 to $175, according to age, weight, «S:c.; some animals bring $200, and even moie. Bulls of this breed are in constant demand from Holland and Belgium. THE NORMANDY BREED. The origin of the ]!:^orinan breed seems unknown, in fact has never been traced. It is considered that the nature of the soil has produced the breed. It seems to have changed very little in the last century ami is very remarkable. The center of production of this fine breed is (com- prised in the departments of Eure, Manche, Calvados, and Orne. DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NORMANDY BREED. The distinctive character of this breed is an unprepossessing bony frame, long and heavy head, large snout, a large mouth, such as is found in animals of large ai)petite; sleek horns, often short and twisted for- ward towards the forehead ; body long, backbone presenting bony i)ro- tuberances and depressions in tlic cows advanced in age; neck rela- tively strong; shoulders muscular; breast rather deep, often contracted; belly large; Hank large and hollow; hips ordinarily slightly spread by corpulence; croup small ; rump slightly developed; hind ])art narrow, but with well-developed and well-lbrmed bag, and ordinarily the signs of good milking; limbs short; skin thick and hard, showing signs of slow growth ; coat variable as to color, brown, roan, and red, or ])iebald ; never fails to present brown streaks scattered over the surface of the body. This has given rise to the term " brindled." VARIETIES OF THE NORMANDY BREED. This breed has varieties more or less distinct. In Contentin and Bessin, which extends from Cherbourg and Lisieux, comprising Va- logues, Carentan, and Isigny, a country which is celebrated for its but- 244 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. tcr, the. race takes the name of "Coteutine,"aud is remarkable for its lacteal qualities. It is called the "race Auseroune" when it is found in the valleys of Au<^e, whence the large cattle for the l*aris market ari', lai-el.v s"ui)i)lied. They give the name of "Augeron," howevtr, to all domestic nnimalsof that region. They say "Augeron horses," "Angeron hogs and sheep." I have been thus particular to explain, as buyers might be unnecessarily coufused. THE MILKINa QUALITIES OF THE NOEMANDY BREED. The claim is made for this breed, and especially those denominated " Cotentine," that they were the first milking race in the world. How- ever this may be, it is incontestable that they i)ossess admirable milk- ing qualities. We meet with cows all over Normandy which give 35 quarts in twenty-four hours, and they have been known to produce 50 quarts. The average yield of milk is about :3,()t>0 quarts per year, or about the same as^'that for the Flamand race. Unfortunately it is a fact well recognized by dairymen that the production of milk is aji in- verse proportion to its richness or capability of furnishing butter, and it has been stated that 32 quarts of milk IVom a cow of the Normandy breeretonne is pie black or black in color. The cow may be described as having a black snou^, sometimes mottled, rarely white, while the membrane which surrounds the tongue is always white, which is distinguiNhing mark. 'J'aken altogether the aniuials of This breed would be classed as follows: Thi feet 2 inches lo .'> feet (i inchesj 246 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. eye bright; head short, fine, and siiiall : horns ordinarily fine and white at the base, are bhicU at the extroniitics, varying, however, and are soiuetiiues bhick or yellow, or entirely black throngiiont, which latter type of horns is greatly esteemed ; they also vary in length and size, the shorthorns being preferred. This (;ow is long from the shoulder to the buttocks comi)ared with its height, and has short and small neck and little ears, the head perlectly detached ; little or no dewlap is notic^ea- ble; the withers and back are on the same line; some have these i)arts large, but they are often projecting; above all, the mainmillary veins are large and flexible, and no French racC presents more marked type of good milkers. CARE OF CATTLE IN BRITTANY. This race is so neglected in its home that it might be almost said to provide for itself. The bulls are few and young* and the cows are brought to the nearest. These cows have no esi)ecial care ; during the winter they have some hay or straw given them in the morning, before they are sent out upon meager pastures to obtain the complement of their rations; while ex- posed to cold for many houis, they receive scarcely enough sustenance to preserve life. It is from this cause that the breed is in such a lean condition, while it is i)roof positive that its native qualities must be very substantial to bear up under such treatment. The ox of this breed ])asses through many hands usually before he reaches the butcher. His lirst owner usually keeps him until he is about two and a half years old, then sells him to another, who works him for about the same length of time. At the age of tive to six years this lean animal is sold to another, who endeavors lor about two months to put him in flesh, and then he passes into the hands of a fourth, and not un- frequently to a fifth, before he is ready for his last trip, which is to the fair. It would be difficult to push division of labor farther. In their home it is rare to find these cattle in good condition, but this is a necessary consequence of scanty food ; but careful observation shows that the bony system is slightly developed, and that they can be readily and i)rofltably fattened. The weight of the cow of this breed is from 330 to 440 pounds, and an ox from 550 to 770 pounds. THE BRITTANY COW AS A MILKER. The average quantity of milk is from 1,4G0 liters to 1,825 liters (1,542 to 1,028 quarts); that is to say, an average of from 4 to 5 liters (4-,*y to 5^ quarts) ])er day. Considering the size of the animal, its usual scanty fare, it nnist be considered as a good return. The farnjcrs of ]\Iorbihan, when asked whether their cows are good, rej)ly, "This one gives 4 pounds, that one G jmuuds, and the other 7 pounds." They mean that such a cow gives such an amount of butter per week. IMPROVEMENT OF THE BRITTANY BREED. The attempt has been made to improve this breed by crossing with the Durham and Ayrshire; the result in the former case was good, in- creasing the weight and precocity of the animal, but without an equally ha])py result in regard to milking qualities; while the ]n-oduct in the latter case resulted only in ]>roducing a less quiet race, of a little larger size and not as good for milk. The only remedy seems to be in selection, and the amelioration of this breed seems closely connected with the agricultural amelioration *:\ /* \S ^*^ 01 H H > < O X ^ : FRANCE. 247 of tli(» land. li is iiicoiitc^staMo tbnt Mio race Bretonno is tlio inostQuiet aud liardy of all Iciiowu races, can content itself on less while .fi^iviuj^;' a relatively' hi.uh return, it is calculated that a cow of this breed will give a pound of milk rich in batter for each pound of hay consumed; there is no other which will yield a like quantity with less than from two to three times the (juautity of food. x\gain, ^Ye must consider that this rich milk is produced under circumstances where others would starve. It has been justly styled the " race Bretoune," useful to the rich and the providence of the poor. THE PARTHENAISE BEEED. • The name of " race Parthenaise" is applied to designate the different varieties of a perfectly homogeneous breed found upon the shores of the ocean from the mouth of the Loire to that of the Girondc. These varieties assume different names in different localities, and present modifications peculiar to the nature of the soil, treatment, and other economical conditions, witliout altering the general character- istics of the race. In the Loire Inferieure they are called "race Nantaise;'" in Poitou, "race Poitevine ;" in the neighborhood of Cholet, "Choletaise 5" " Ven- deenne" in the Veude ; "Gatinaise" or "Bocage" in the country known under the luime of Gatine or Bocage ; aud, lastly, " Maraichine" on the shores of the ocean and the marshes of Saintonge. But the parent stock is that raised in Bocage, an extension of the granite reef which forms the greater part of the peninsular of Bretagne, extending along Bocage and the most wooded parts of the west. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PARTHENAISE BREED. The breed of Partheuay has a large and flat forehead, short head, the chaufrein straight and snout large; the horns are long and tapering, white at the base and black at the extremities; the neck is short and muscular, the dewlap of moderate size, a little thick ; shoulders long and muscular; withers long and low; chest deep; ribs often flat and low; line of the back straight; loins large; haunches wide apart; croup horizontal and well furnished with muscles; tail deep set; thighs well muscled and straight; form nearly a square with the projection of the haunches ; limbs are short but strong, at the joints large, but very straight. The animals of this breed are heavy, slow, but tenacious, robust, and good workers. The ordinary size varies from 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 1 1 inches. When fattened they readily attain 1,100 pounds, live weight. Their skin is nearly as fine and soft as that of the little race Bretoinie, and indicates their aptitude for fattening. The only color admitted for these animals is yellowish brown, slighly varialer on the iiin(!r side of tlieliud)s; large yellow horns, which describe a semicircle; large, bright, mild eyes; moderate-sized head, the ne<'k well proportioned to the rest of the body, the dewlaps falling nearly to the ground 5 haunches well formed ; flank low; thighs round ; .m '^%^'d #- - ■' .^i^' .^^ fRANCfi. 249 shin large; fjood foot; /iood «i:ait and easy uioreraeut. Their docility is very jireat and lii.uldy ])rized. Tliey walk slowly and husband their strength wliile tliey do their work. Tiie cow is nuieh siiuiller than the ox, and is renniiUably li'ininine and \ery tine in limbs. The head is ex- pressive. She has •j^reat encriiy :iiid works more briskly than the ox, but lacks his endurance. The difference of size l)etween tlie ox and cow of this breed is easily explained by reasons which I pivcabove. The cow remains in her home in her ori<2:inal state, while tlie younp; ox at the ajje of twelve or fifteen months is taken into the rich and hiiihly cultivated portions of the coun- try. He receives betterand more substantial food; his native - of the driver insinx'S the docility of the oxen. They are seldom strained ; and as the larmer ex- pects the greatest return from the growth and increase of\reight of his cattle, it is not unusual to see a cart drawn by three or four pairs of oxen Avhich could be moved by one ])air. The cows work in their homes in the mountains, and are able to turn uj) the light soil ui)on which are raised rye* and buckwheat. She is only a moderate milker, not ecjual to those of the breed de Salcrs, occupy- ing the neighboring mountains. kSome attempts have been mado to improve this breed by crossing with the Durham, tlie Charohiis, an- the many mixed races of the northeast of France is found a fixed and numerous breed named the "race Comtoise." These have three (blferent varieties, known as "Tourache," "Femeline," and "Bres- sane." They occupy the mountainous parts of the east of France, from the Vosges to the Alps, the valleys of the basin of the Saone, and the dei)artment of Ain. The variety Tourache tends to disappear. Its continual mixture I with the Swiss races serves daily to eiiiice the type more and more, i The pro]nietors of the rich pasturajjes of the Jura have long been in | the iiabit of loaning to the Swiss 4,000 to 5,000 cows for the summer season, at $10 per head. This periodical emigration has been the means of infusing much Swiss blood into the pure breed. This renders the study of this variety useless. Jn the local fairs the three varieties are classed together as Comtoise, although, for reasons shown above, the Tourache is fast disappearing; the Bressane is formed of variable elements : the Femeline alone presents a satisfactory type of a race. THE FEMELINE BREED. The race Femeline has a light brown coat, head small and narrow, eyes set near the horns, soft and mild air, line horns, slim neck, small ears, small dewhi]), fine limbs, the ribs well rounded, bones sufficiently light, skin thin and loose at the shoulder, which indicates an aptitude for fattening. The Femeline ox is docile, quick in his movements, has a fair aptness for fattening, and is a favorite with the butchers. The husbandman keeps his oxen till seven or eight years of age, then puts them in the stables for three or four months, and partially fattens them by ieeding them with the after-grass, potatoes, and turnips, cooked and mixed with rye flour, maize, and even with wheat of in- ferior quality, diluted in water; he also gives them some rape-seed cakes. He then sells them to drovers, who supply Lyons, Cote d'Or, and even Paris. The figures of these annual sales are from 8,000 to 10,000 animals, at an average price of about $80 per head. Their wn^ight is from 000 to 880 pounds, and the percentage of net meat often rises to (iO. Although a good breed and superior in milking quali- ties to the Charolaise, the latter scarcely giving enough to sustain its calf, the ox Femeline cannot be compared to the Charohiise, with or without the Durham mixture, for in the Durham-Charolaise it is diffi- cult to ascertain where the blood of the Durham begins and that of the Charolais ends. The variety Bressane is a coarse specimen of the race Comtoise; has its merits as an excellent animal for work, and when even quite old, before it is fattened, is still sought for by the butchers, its flesh being very savory and esteemed in the market of Lyons. In the annual exh.ibitions of France this variety Bressane has often taken the prizes, and I herewith insert a cut of one of these prize animals. THE SALERS BREED. The race de Salers is one of the oldest in France. It has always been hrld in good repute. This breed ])resents the three (]ualifications desired, but seldom united in .the same anijnal — aptness for work and s' 1 i ^ .^. FRANCE. 251 fattening Joiiiod to sood luilkiiiu- (inalilios. Besides, it is intolli"ont aud docile. Brietly described, it is tVoin 1 feet 2 inclies to 4 ieet 0 inches size: live weif to the cows, which are driven two or three times each day. The cows ascend the mountain on the 25th May; this is fixed aud would require a convention to change. Their time of dejiarturc de- ])ends upon how much food is at the farm ; the 1st of October is about the usual time of «lescent to the farm. Compared with the Planmndes 252 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. and Xorniandes cows, which give 2,500 quarts of milk per year, the cow of tlie Sah'rs is rated as a moderate milker; but this inferiority does not apply to the whole race, for in Auvergue, as in Normandy, and in the north, we find cows which give 3,000 quarts. The average of the dairies of Auvergue is at 1,500 quarts, or there- about, per head. This is less than with the two before-mentioned races, but the difference is equally great in the consumption of food. Indeed, in Cantal the annual food of a cow consists of grass in pasture for eight months of the year, and 18 or 20 pounds of hay for the rest of the time, while in Normandy and the north the cows arc always gorged to reple- tion with a variety of food, and at a cost of three times that of the cows of Cautal, so that for the same amount of foodthecow of Salers gives a greater return of milk. The milk of the cow of Salers is very rich and well adapted to making cheese. CANTAi CHEESE. Cheese-making is general and well managed in the mountains of Au- vergue. This cheese is known throughout France as " Cantal cheese." Its manufacture is so simple that I have ventured to insert it. The milk is curdled by pressure in large vats, without skimming. The curd is then strained through a straining bagof white bolting clotli, kneaded, salted, and pressed. The "whey, still containing some i)articles of butter and cheese, is mixed with milk, which causes the cream to rise. From this butter is churned. The cheesy particles remaining after the churning are utilized for making a common cheese, consumed in the locality. The whey remaining after the last process, not being consid- ered too rich, is given to the hogs. A Salers cow produces from 8 to 12 quarts of milk per day, while an occasional one is found giving 25 er ]tonnd. This price corresponds to about G] cents per quart for milk. Jn Normandy and the north themilk of which the butter is mad(^ gives only a return of about 4 cents per quart. This ditference of i)rice probably indicates the difference in the qual- ity of the milk of the two breeds. This cheese is mostly consumed in Ijimousin and the south of France, and, though not sought for by the ei)icurcs, is ])alatable and nonrishing. It is claimed that the " race de Salers" is less important in a dairy jioint of view than in furnishing working cattle and food. THE SALERS CROSS-BREEDS. The cross-breeding has been tried with the English races of Durham, Devon, the Scotch breed of West Highland, and the Swiss races. The animals of the cross-breed of the Durham at the laf e exhibition at Paris indicated a slightly greater precocity, but the general verdict of those who have carefully examined the subject is that the crossing has not ameliorated the race, and that this can only be etfected by a ciiiefiil selection of breeding animals taken from the admirable race itself. FRANCE. 253 EACE D'AUBRAO. AltlMiti.uli 1 have not so classified it, it seems i)roi)er that the race d'Anlnac, liaviiiu the fixed cliaiacteristics ofa distiiuit race, and although nci.uliWor to tlie race (h' Sah'is and beaiin^- a reseitihhinee to tliat ra(--e, should not Im' eonloitnded with it. Une of tlie most marked peculiari- ties of this breed eonsisis in its short le^s, out of i)roi)()rtion to itsloni;", thick 1)0(ly, characteristic, however, of all the animals of this region, not excepting- the human race. The race d'Aubrac; has a j^ood head, fair size, the snout lonj;' and lar;,a', strong horns, gracefully turned and twisted and of moderate length. The d'Aubrac cow has a handsome velvety coat and flexible skin, the chest large, the back fiat, the bones of the haunches rounded and slightly prominent. Tlie color of the coat is rarely simjde, but mixed with clouded tints. The ordinary colors are fawn, hare tint or badger, and soot black, mixed with black and gray. Th(! ox of this breed attains its growth very slowly. This is not suri)rising, considering how those animals intentled exclusivel3" for work are brought up. But tliis want of precocity does not apply to all of the race, since some magnificent Aubrac cattle evin<;e rcnjarkable precocity. To obtain this condition the animal must be well fed from the time that it is weaned. DAIRYING IN AVEYKON. The cow of Aubrac, like those of most of the southern breeds, is smaller than the male. It is not a great milker, nnder favorable cir- cumstances gi^■ing but 0 or 10 quarts of milk [)er day. The cheese- making is nevertheless extensively carried ou in these mountainous regions. The cheese is deemed superior to that of Holland, but will not keep so long, as the whey is more carefully removed irom the latter. The same establishment of mountain dairies as found in 8alers exists in Aveyron. l-^ach dairy of one hundred cows has a head of the cheese- house, to whom $24 is paid ; a boy especially in charge of the calves, at half price; three herdsmen, at SlO eacli, which makes a total of §84 wages for a herd of one hundred cows. Ttie wages are paid at the end of the season, out of the product. These employes are fed on milk, rye bread, and salt bacon; this food is estimated at $28. The ca]>ital of an establishment Of this kind is about 8200, besides shifting fences for inclosing tiie cattle at night, and dairy utensils and cheese ou hand, which never exceed $100. The average yield of an Aubrac cow is 140 pounds cheese and 7 pounds butter. THE AUBRAC MEAT-OX. The liutcher's stall is the end of the ox of Aubrac, as of all the rest of the oxen in the world, but as a working animal he gives a good profit for his keeping, and it therefore does uot detract from his value that he attains his growth slowly. THE AUBRAC CROSS-BREEDS. With this race, as with that of the Salers, the crossing with other breeds has uot improved it, except in regard to precocity, aud as the animal more than pays his way, it seems no object to obtain this pre- cocity at the ex[>ense of diminishing his usefulness as a worker. 254 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. THE GARONNE BREED. The race Aj^enaise, or Garoiiuaise, is foiuul in the valk\v of the Ga- ronne, between Tonk)Use and Bordeaux, an extent of about GO leagues. This is one of tlie linest, hirgest, and strongest breeds of France, and well adapted to the portion of the country which it occupies. CUARACTERISTICS OF THE GARONNAISE. The oxen of this breed measure 5 feet 8 inches at the withers, aud even more, and weigh 2,300 i)ounds, while the cows only measure 4 feet 8 inches and weigh 770 poumls. This race is not faultless, being consid- ered as having the brisket co]»tracted behind the shoulders, the horns long and pointed towards the ground, and the back hollow. This latter is, however, partially overcome in some animals. FEEDING IN THE GARONNE. The animals of the high land are fed with a certain parsimony, while a model style of lood is provided for those in the valleys. A constant «uccessioirof artiticial forage, fresh and green, is afforded from ISth ]\I;:rch to the 15th of November. From the 15th of March to the 15th of Ainil green ]-ye is fed and mixed with cut straw. This grain, sown in October on a well manured soil, furnishes at the eiul of winter a nour- ishing and healthy food. From the 15th of April to the 1st of May, before the blossoming, barley sown in Noveud)er and later is fed. From the 1st of May to the 15th of June these grasses are rei)laced by di'V I'odder; red clover, green and dry, constitutes a portion of their food. From the 15th of August, for the clover, a mixture of vetches and oats, sown at intervals, aftbrds refreshing uouiishment during the extremely heateil season. Towards the middle of August the corn fodder is ready and lasts till the middle of November. The corn is sowmi in the si)ring upon the same ground from which the rye and barley had been cut in the spring. Eleven-fortieths of an acre sown in corn will support two cow^s for two mouths. This crop is valued at -$3 to $3.50. The leaves and seeds of millet are utilized. These are carefully gathered, and if the other fodder is sullicient, are not drawn upon till winter, louring the four months of winter the main dependence is upon red clover, the Holland clover straw, aud hay ; but few roots are cultivated in this part of France for fodder. THE GARONNAIS OX. The Garonnais ox, of large and solid build, is not oidy used before the carts of the country, but can be seen at Bordeaux slowly trailing heavily laden caits for the loading and discharge of vessels. In the way of fattening and early nuiturity the ox merits attention. At the recen"^t J'aris exhibition nuiny could be seen which were precocious and of good size, giving good returns of meat in regard to quality aud quantity. THE GARONNAIS CROSS-BREEDS. A single cross-breed Garonnais, being I;imousin-Garonuais, was ex- hibited and appeared well. There appears no good reason why these races, both remarkable for working and meat, should not assimilate readily. The best accredited opinion is thatthe Durham race isdescended FRANCE. 255 iioni the Ilolhiiul breed, bat yoine c4iiiiii is nuule that it came IVoiii the race Garoiinaise, a laij^e number of which were exported to Enj;hiiid. Jlowever tliis may be, there is some foundation in the precocity of the race, which does not equal that of the Durham ; but the aim is attended with success to im[)rove this race, and, like the (Jharolais, CJaronnais, and the Durhani-3Ianceaux, to rival the Durham in returns of meat, without iu)i)airiug their working capacity. CENSUS OF THE GARONNAIS. The number of this brwd occui)yiiig the vast and fertile valley of the Garonne is about 400,000 head, si-read over 4,200,000 acres of land. The number ot these animals is increasing and their condition sensiblj' im- proved from year to year. THE BAZADAISE BREED. On approaching the railway station at Laugon, between Bordeaux and Bayonne, we invariably see in the summer small clumsy carts, with low wheels, laden with pine wood, and drawn by animals which we recognize with difficulty, on account of their droll trappings, as oxen. The head, quite large, appears larger in conseijueuce of a species of head-gear made of sheep-skin, which entirely protects it and shades it from the sun in that warm latitude. A sort of shirt of coarse cloth covers closely and protects the animal against the bites of tlies and other insects. This curious clothing and intelligent care evince the l)roper and just appreciation of the inhabitants of the Landes toward the beasts which serve and feed them. There is no occasion there for a society for the ])rotection of animals. This race derives its name from that of the charming little city of Bazas, in the extremity of the department of the Gironde. The soil about Bazas is more fertile than that in the districts of JMont de-Marsau and Dux, which explains the difference between the two neighboring races, the race Bazadaise and the race Landaise, although these races have many points of resemblance. The oxen are often submitted to long journeys over paved roads, attached to heavy carts. They toil along these dusty roacls under a burning sun, and bear up well under it. The ox-driver takes the best possible care of his cattle, and never strikes them. Thej' march along at their case; he excites them by words, speeches, and even pleasantries, and a particular song, on hear- ing which the ox redoubles his efforts. Farmers and butchers at Bordeaux and Paris are unanimous in their praises of this breed. The superioritj" of the flesh of the Limousins and Salers is attributable to the fact that these breeds are usually' worked very lightly, or about enough to pay for their feed, while the Bazadais does not only agricultural but commercial work. At the south the cows are worked more than the oxen by the farmers. The horse of the Landes is small, light, delicate, excitable, fiery, indefatiga- ble in running about the country, but incapable of w^orking the land or carrying heavy loads. Breton or Boulounais horses, if substituted, ac- customed to good, rich food, would be expensive. Oxen are more con- venient, economical, and therefore in general use. Ihe ox, however, fattens easily, and gives a good return of (50 per cent, or more. There have been few attempts to cross this race, while great strides have been made in their amelioration l)y selection. 25G CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. THE LANDAISE BREED. 1 liiive s;ii(l tliat the race liazadaisc is often eonibun(lelnce every mouthful of ibod in the very gullet of the animal, thus prevented from rejecting it. They are often tempted by the sight of a green leaf, or some appeti/.ing hay tea, or a bit of turnip, but these appearances are often deceitful, an 1 the poor beast is oidy oifercd some dry straw which had been untouched in his rack autl shoidd iia\ e serve«l for a bed. This nu'thod of taking care of an animal takes nuich time, and makes a great imoad into the night of the workman, wiiose entire day istakeu up in the fields; but it is astonishing with how little feed, ofthe most ordinary kini kilograms, at 1 franc 48.00 Snet, "25 kilograms, at 9*2 centimes 23.00 Refuse : IS.OO Total 89.00 Expenses. Octroi, at V2 francs per 100 kilograms 42.00 Bringing from the market to the abattoir 3.") Washing of the tripes 40 Labor 6.00 Sundry expenses (food, material, &c.) 5.00 Total - 53.75 Balance 35.25 Or about 10 francs per 100 kilograms. This proves that an ox bought in the market for 1.60 francs per kilo- gram (per pound about 14 cents) costs in the abattoir 1.50 francs per kilogram (per pound about 13 cents). The variation in the prices of hides and suet may more or less in- fluence the price of the net meat, but the above figures demonstrate in an exact and general waj' the returns of the products and the cost of the labor and management. The return of net meat of the animals slaughtered in Paris varies ac- cording to the age, the race, the kind of food, and the degree of fatness they have reached. The returns at Paris are greater, as the journey rids the intestines of excrement. The net returns from cattle from 3 to 5 years old is found to be pro- portionally the best. The average return is, for cattle in ordinary con- dition, from 50 to 55 per cent.; half fattened, 55 to CO per cent.; fat- tened, 60 to 65 per cent. ; extra fattened, 65 to 70 per cent. Animals slaughtered in the abattoir gene'ral at Paris. Tear, i Oxen. Calves. Lambs. 1873 1 161,862 1874 166,579 1875. .. ■ 189, :j3:i 1876 194,565 1877 j 183,190 TotaL 129, 698 138, 360 ! 62, 379 168, 943 177, 460 1, 030. 615 1, 140, 5c!0 1, 238, 482 1, 277, 726 1, 280, 430 1, 322, 175 1, 445, 469 1, 590, 194 1, 641, 234 1, 641, 080 Tear. Oxen. Calves. 1878 189,499 1879 1 198,573 1880 ! 218,080 1881 1 232,621 1882 239,204 Lambs. 183, 798 1, 431, 537 183, 777 1, 409, 129 186,913 1,531,462 192,781 , 1,573,563 198, 473 I 1, 603, 123 Total. 1, 786, 834 1,791,479 1,930,455 1,998,965 2, 040, 780 The above figures, from an authentic source, give an idea of the im- mense work done in this vast establishment. The number of animals slaughtered in the abattoirs of Grenelle and Yiilejuif during the year 1882 was : Oxen, 34,178 ; calves, 31,970 ; lambs. 203,843. 260 1 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. This gives the tollowiug total of animals slaughtered in Paris in 1882 : Oxen, 273,382; calves, 230,443 ; lambs, 1,806,906. OCTROI TAXES. The octroi, or municipal tax, is levied in all cities and villages upon every article of food and drink. Every person who eats and drinks thus becomes a tax -payer. GEADENG MEAT IN LILLE, PARIS, AND LONDON. The different appreciation of the various cuts of meat in the markets of Lille, Paris, and London is astonishing. The stock-breeders are in- terested and should familiarize themselves vrith this question, that they may know what portions of the body they should strive to develop by the judicious choice of breeding animals. In the same animal the mar- ket price varies more than half, according to the part of the animal from which it is taken. A pound of the fillet in the subjoined cut, No. 1, fig. 2, and No. 5, fig. 1, are sold at Lille at 41 cents and at Paris at 44 cents per pound, while the portions 13, 14, and 15 scarcely bring 12^ to 14 cents per pound. This distinction is not made in all the cities, but is destined to become general in all large centers of consumption. The accompanying cuts and tables give a clear idea of the mode of grading beef in Lille, Paris, and Loudon : Mode of dividing an ox in the iibutloirs at Paris. Quality. Number of piecea. Names of pieces. Weight of each piece ot ! a fat I Norman ox, weighing' |457 kilograms net (1.007.50 I pounds) . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pounds. 44. 09 66.14 Thick flank 44.09 I ....i 110.23 Fillet 15.43 33.07 313. 05 c 154.32 II < 11.02 t Ribs 99.20 264. 54 Chuck r 55. 12 77.16 Brisket 1C5. 34 III... J 55.11 22. 04 22. 04 33.10 Total of third quality 429. 91 Total of the three qualities 1, 007. 50 i 3 c ^ n 6 It, FEANCE. Mode of dividing an ox in the abattoirs at Lille. 261 Nnmber Quality. of pieces. Names of pieces. Weight of each piece of a fat Flamaiid ox, weighing 458 kilograms net (1,009.70 pounds). I..J "■-li ni Fillet Eump Kibs Sirloin Vein V piece Thick flank Total of first quality Blind ribs sirloin Mouse buttock Piece called "I'ij " Total of second quality Shoulder Chuck Flank Brisket Xeck Leg and shin, &c Total of third quality Total of the three qualities Pounds. 15.00 70.54 77.16 61.72 35.27 57. 32 317. 01 92.60 59. 52 48.50 200. ( 97.00 66.13 68.34 92.60 52.91 115. 09 492. 07 1, 009. 70 Mode of dividing an ox iv the London butcher-stalls. I Xumber Quality. : of ' pieces. I II Total of first quality. ' Veiny piece, and thick flank. Mouse buttock Middle ribs Shoulder Total of second quality. Weight of I each piece of a 4-Tearg of age, ordi- Names of pieces. nary quality, weighing 1,032 pounds, Engli.sh weight (467 kilograms). Pounds. 144 72 Ditch-bone 32 Buttock .. . 112 Fore ribs 112 24 120 48 III .. ••1 12 14 15 1 10 ' 10 18 Thin flank Chuck 72 44 Brisket 64 Clod . . .. 40 Neck. ... 48 44 Cheek 312 1,032 262 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. FOOD CONSUMPTION IN FRANCE. I give below a table of the ordinary auuual consumption of food in the principal cities of France, per capita; also a table of the imi)orts and exports of cattle and their products in France for the last three years : Cities. Bread. Wine. Kilos. Liters. 164 224 175 230 244 18G 165 210 219 25 207 162 177 176 183 49 Fresh meat. Paris Lyons Marseilles Bordeaux Lillo Nantes ... Toulouse. Eouen Kilos. This table demonstrates that the people of Paris consume in average the most wine and the least bread, and tliose of Lyons the most wine. The inhabitants of Rouen and Lille consume the smallest quantity of wiue, owing to the absence of vineyards and the great consumption of cider in the former and of beer in the latter place. The annual con- sumption of beer in Lille is 213 liters and of cider 124 liters in average. IMPORT AND EXPORT OF ANIMALS FOR FOOD. The imjiort and export of animals for food and their products for France during the last three years : Description. Import. Export. 1882. 1881. 1880. 1882. 1881. 1880. Oxen head.. Cows ...do Fresh meat ... kilograms . . Cheese do Butter do 77, 866 50, 133 CO, 285 16, 056, 038 6, 341, 010 54, 133 44, 093 57, 451 1.5, 638, 946 7, 271, 593 68, 384 65, 431 75, 185 15, 790, 488 7, 045, 036 39, 908 29, 355 9, 182 4, 430, 534 38, 366, 629 27, 531 30, 455 8,419 4, 076, 557 30,879,118 19, 956 22, 259 5,472 4, 267, 297 31, 064, 521 MEAT PRICES IN FRANCE. We have seen that the average price of good marketable beef on foot at Paris is about 32 cents per ijound, 28 cents for second class, and 24 cents for third class, while at Eouen the prices are 36 cents, 33 cents, and 30 cents for the same ; the latter prices prevail at Lille. There seems no reason why this discrimination should exist to the prejudice of the latter cities, except that no person ever thinks of underselling his neighbor here, and it would be torture to any vender to discover that he had not obtained the highest possible price. THE FOOD DEFICIT OF FRANCE : WHENCE IMPORTED. From these tables can be seen that France does not produce its own meat and dairy products, and never can. France is very far from fur- nishing a good nourishing regimen. The average consumption of meat among the rural population is about 57 pounds per head; in rural dis- FRANCE. 263 tricts eontaiuiuy,- more tliau 1,000 iubabitauts, l-iT poimds; imd 176 pounds in Paris. In England the average cousumption of meat per head is about ISO pounds. This estimate of consumption must be still cut down, for it would require upwards of 0,000,000,000 pounds to fur- nish this quota, but the actual consumption only reaches 2,000,000,000 to 2.800,00i»,000 pounds, of which about one-tenth is imported. Italy contributes largely of this amount, in the exceptional year of 1S7S fur- Dishing to France 72,061 oxen, 41,775 cows, and 230,000 sheep. Algeria, as noted before, gave 42,250 oxen in that year; Belgium furnished 5,000 ox'iu and 37,000 cows: Switzerland some hundreds of oxen and thou- sands of cows and sheep ; Germany, besides 1,135,000 sheep, sent some hundreds of oxen and thousands of cows. The United States, up to that time, had sent only 659 oxen. Mauj' American cattle find their way through Belgium into France, owing to greater facilities for shipping by the Belgian lines. In regard to the amount of this traffic the in- formation can be furnished by consuls of French ports in regular steam communication with the United States. A deficiency of the home supply of meat exists in France, yet the Government has been called upon to play the role of Providence and be- come responsible for uufruitful seasons, and is expected to solve the problem of rendering a high price to the farmer for his meat and grain, while furnishing cheap bread to the laborer. A large number of the more intelligent of the population, influenced in some degree, perhaps, by private interests, consider the public consumi)tion of food as limited and incapable of extension, and that increased exertion is alone neces- sary to supply the home demand. They therefore conclude that the im- portation of foreign food is directly hostile to the rights of the French producer, and, relatively, curtails labor. When they prohibit and restrict the free entry of articles of food, they seem oblivious to the fact that, while they can do little more to increase the supply, the ordinary increase of population demands greater supply, and that in cheapening the necessaries Of life they increase the moral and physical vig(jr of the workman, and enable the poor consumer to apply the difference to other wants. This policy weighs heavily, and inflicts cruel sufferings every day upon the manufacturing districts and aflbrds no relief to tlie farmer. CATTLE-FEEDING IN FRANCE. Stall feeding. — In the north fattening is done largely in cattle-sheds near sugar- houses, or in dairies near towns. The residue of sugar works, distilleries, and breweries, also oil cakes of oleaginous grains, form the priucij^al base of their diet. Farinaceous food takes but a secondar}- place and is onlj- used as an accessor^'. The pulp of the beet-root takes the principal j)laee in the fattening. It is difiicult to form any idea of the enormous quantities of food that the sugar works and dist'lleries of beet-root afford for fatten- ing purposes. At present France produces 432/JOO tons of sugar, for which it requires 7,987,500 tons of beet-root, one-third of which, 2,002,500 tons, pressed pulp of beets after the saccharine matteris extracted, is used for fatten- ing cattle. Pasture feeding. — It is said that the scarcity of farm labor is circum- scribing the limits of this industry. In the description of many of the different breeds mention was made that pastures abounded especially in Xormandy, the north, Oharolais, Xivernais, Auvergne, Franche 264 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Comte, aud Vendee. Those of Normandy can be considered the best for fattening purposes. Nievre aud Charolais rank second. The rental of these pastures varies. In Normandy there are three classes or qualities. The first is valued at $26 per acre ; it is estimated that six-tenths of an acre of this land will fatten an ox of 1,200 or 1,300 pounds, live \Yeight. The second- class pastures rent at $21 per acre, which is considered suflflcient to fatten an ox of 1,100 pounds, live weight. The third quality rents for $19 per acre, and three-fourths of an acre is considered suflficient for fattening an ox of 900 pounds. FATTENING CATTLE IN FRANCE. The graziers of Normandy buy at the cattle fairs of Bretagne, Anjou, Maine, Berry, Manche, Touraine, Poitou, and Santonge, towards the last of April, thin cattle of the Breton, Normand, Partheuais, Salers, Maucelle, and mixed Durham breeds. These cattle are turned into the third-class pastures at first, where they rest and refresh themselves. When improvement in their condition is observed they pass succes- sively into the second and first class pastures. One-fourth are ready for sale in three months, or in the month of August ; one-half leave the pastures for the market one month later ; the last are sent forward in October. The fattening, therefore, takes about four months. Every fat animal sold is replaced by a thin one. When the feed is too short for cattle, sheep take their place, at the rate of two heads for one of cattle. The pasture is thus occupied from the 1st of May until the 15th of November. Milking cows are i)astured the same length of time, and are stabled for the rest of the year, and fed on hay, carrots, cabbages, pulp of beets, or brewers' grains ; to this is added, in the neighborhood of Lille, to cows in full milk, a mash of pulverized beans or oil-cake. Carrots, parsnips rich in sugar, beet-root, potatoes, artichokes, turnips, and rutabagas constitute the winter food of the cattle. Very little grain is fed. COST OF FATTENING CATTLE IN FRANCE AND IN THE UNITED STATES. The French calculate that it costs $37 per head to fatten cattle in France, and only $2.40 to $2.75 in the United States. HOW TO PURCHASE CATTLE IN FRANCE. The requirements and deficiencies of this market in regard to meat are evident. A practical man looking over the ground could determine the best manner of importing them, and, as remarked, I am informed that Belgium affords the cheapest entry, and if the cattle are suffered to rest in the rich pastures of that country il.i- lieuefit would result in pecuniary profit. With u view of answering the interrogatories contained in the cattle circular, I have endeavored to assist in this effort to increase and amelio- rate the native l)reeds of cattle, wliich is justly considered one of the most imporiant elements in the general agricultural jn-osperity of a country. In endeavoring to describe the various breeds of cattle found in France, and delineating the esi)eciul value of these breeds in such a manner that the American breeder could determine the advantages, if any, wliicli would follow their introduction, I would merely further add that the only knowledge absolutely essential to one desirous of buying FRANCE. 265 cattle in this market is that he should know what he wants and be ca- pable of selecting the best specimens of the breed. A buyer could i)ur- chase as lary its rich loam soil, but ihe vegetable earth, which is most common, has been formed by the disintegration of feldspathic rocks, is light, and tit only for woodland and meadows. Greensward"*, consisting chietiy of an herb called '' Mardus stricta," are found on the highest summits of the table land. Under those cir- cumstances the region naturally devoted itself to the cattle-r.iising in- dustry, and the " Phiteau Central" supplies nearly all the difterent ]>arts of France with large quantities of much esteemed stock. The climate, although colder, owing to the altitude, is not excessively so, aud can compare favorably with many other parts of Frauqe. Description of South icestern France* — The southwestern region, which is inclosed between the ranges of the Ceveunes aud the Pyrenees at the east aud south, is entirely composed of plains and valleys, with the ex- ception of the Jajules, a wide sandy expanse, resting on a ])udding-stone substratum ; the regiou is fertile and in advanced stage of culture that embraces all the agricultural productions of France except the olive and orange. The vineyards cover nearly 2,000,000 acres, and produce the well- known Bordeaux wines and a good deal of inferior brandy. The cult- ure of Indian corn comes next in importance, aud is especially extensive in the poorer district, where the peasant uses it for food for himself aud his cattle, and as flour, fuel, and bedding. The natural pasture laud is also plentiful, and sown meadows give a good supply of Inceru, and l)articularly clover, the use of which has grown to form an important l)ranch of trade. The geological formation is entirely of the tertiary order in the plains, and in the Ceveunes and Pyrenees partakes of difterent formations, the granitic and Jurassic predominant. The climate is moderate, the mean temperature being 69° in summer and 41° in winter; the rainfall averages 23 inches, distributed in 130 rainy days in the year. Frost is seldom seen for more than 35 days. DeHcription of Southern and Southeastern France, — The southern and southeastern regions are quite difterent in every respect from all the other regions of France. The climate, produce, culture, and general aspect are entirely peculiar to the region. Wood and pasture lauds are scarce, the calcareous hills aud mountains, stripped of the last vestige of a tree, are barren and grow nothing but shrubbery and aromatic herbs, on which constantly browse numerous herds of starveling sheep that are led from one hill to another aiul lay waste all those parts of the country through which they travel. Threetifths of the region are utterly sterile and deserted. On the other hand, the two other tilths are remarkably productive and turned to culture which cannot be attempted in any other portion of France. The olive, oiange, mulberry trees thrive admirably; the vine is exten- sively cultivated and i)roduces immense quantities of wine, which, al- though of inferior quality, brings an imi)ortaut revenue to the country. In some part llowers grow in the open air at all times of the year, aud *Tho breeds of cattle rai-sed iu Soutliwesteni France are the Garounaise, the Baza- dais, the Gascou, the Bordelais, and the Pyrenees. FRANCE. 271 give rise to uumerous fact aries for tLe preparation of essential oils and perfumery, and to an important i)roduction of honey. The drought is nearly permanent, and is broken only by Hoods of rain which are more injurious than beneficial, as they frequently occasion dangerous inundations and carry away a good deal of precious vegeta- ble earths. In the Yalley of the Rhone the rainy days only number from 120 to 130 in the year, and 53 on the Mediterranean shore, and still the rainfall is larger than in any other parts of France, and averages 38 and 26 inches respectively. The climate is more moderate on the sea-shore where the mean tem- perature is 720 in summer and 42° in winter. In the interior the mean winter temperature is 35°. The prevalent winds are the northwest or mistral, a cold and violent wind, and the southeast or rainy wind. CAMARGUE CATTLE. The only original cattle breed of the region is the Camargue breed. Its only interest lies in the fact that it lives in a semi-wild condition in the Camargue, a marshy delta of the river Rhone. It is of small size and measures about 4 feet 4 inches ; its color is generally black, some- times red ; the head is elongated ; the horns are long and in the shape of a bow. There are no stables in the delta, and the herds are allowed to roam through the island at liberty all the year round. When the young calves are born they are fastened to pickets sunk in the ground and have to wait until their mothers are willing to come and nurse them. No use has ever been made of the breed except for bull-fights, and it is rapidly disappearing. At the present day there are not more than eight hundred head liv- ing in Camargue. All the other cattle found in the region is imported from other parts of France, or Algiers, Sardinia, and Italy. FRENCH IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF CATTLE. To close this report and give an idea of the cattle trade as carried on m France, I have appended the following schedule of the importation and exportation of cattle for the year 1882 : IMPORTS. Conntries. Oxen. Cows. Bulls. Yearlings. Male. Female. Calves. Imported from— Italy 57,058 17,749 26,148 5,674 3,785 3.048 ■2m 311 21 127 Algeria ! l» 730 Belsium 3 19'' 1,165 2,073 966 872 2,126 406 1,360 226 24,299 6,665 3.382 Switzerland -- 1 . - Germany Holland 1 ''"" Spain 1 264' Other countries 167 ' 121 1 743 Total 83,220 I 50.692 1.740 4.279 i 4.2.39 1 56,814 272 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. EXPORTS. Couu tries. Oxen. Cows. Exports to— I England 21,094 Belgium -• 11,052 0,505 Switzeiland 13,000 5,000 Spain ' : »:.2V2 Germany - • ''■ j^^ Other countries ■ 1,210 721 Total 46.422 29,943 Bulls. Yearlings. Male. ;FeiaaIe. Calves. 847 r 8.3 |. 62 "i,063 88 10 2,107 508 1,370 273 1,196 736 4,500 1,099 1,297 355 1, 065 I 1, 223 4, 258 I 9, 183 J. S. MARTIN, Jr., Vice- Consul. United States Consulate, Marseilles, February 5, 1885. CATTLE RAISING IN THE SOUTHWEST OF FRANCE.* jREPOBT BY CONSUL EOOSEVELT, OF BORDEAUX. lu the departmeuts of France forming- the consular district of Bor- deaux there are five principal breeds of cattle, viz, the Garonnais, Bazadais, Bordelais, Landais, and Limousin. ORIGIN OF THE BREEDS. Garonnais. — ]Srati\e of the country through which the Garonne River flows ; the most abundant breed of the Southwest of France ; has always been known in the country', and has not been crossed. Bazadais. — Issued from the Pyrenean breed and imported, at the be- ginning of the sixteenth century, into the environs of the town of Bazas ; has a great resemblance to the Garonnais, and has never been crossed; is considered one of the oldest breeds of France. Bordelais. — A cross-breed of Brittany and Dutch ; was imported into the locality at a remote period ; is preserved from degeneration by the constant renewal of the blood, Landais. — Issued from the Pyrenean breed, and raised only in the department of the landes (moorlands) ; has undergone the changes nat- urally due to the dili'erence of climate and soil, and has become adapted to the country, where, under the local influences, it has almost become a new breed ; has not been crossed. Limousin. — Raised especially in the environs of the town of Limoges; seems original to the country ; has not been crossed. DESCRIPTIONS AND GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. Description of the Garonnais. — Buff color, sometimes darker about the head, hoof, and tail; bull, 5 feet 4 inches; cow, 5 feet tall, without being *NoTE BY Consul Roosevelt. — This report; is compiled from informatiou derived from the municipal veterinary surgeon in charge of the slaughter-house of the city of Bordeaux, M. Marcel Courregelougue, oue of the most eminent cattle-breeders of this department, and also secretary of the Society of Agricultuie of the Gironde ; from the manager of the General Milk Company of Bordeaux, the municipal records, the newsiiapers of this localitj', and from the most reliable authors. FRANCE. 216 "high above grouud;" very thick bones and strong limbs; thick mus- cles, long body, well supported; deep but rather narrow chest, flat ribs, rather thick neck, fore quarters more bulky and heavier than hind ones; rather flat thighs; thick skin, thick flat horns bent forward and gener- ally downward. This fine breed forms the wealth of the Southwest of France, to which it gives its work and meat. Strong, ^locile, and handy, it works well and much, but with a slow pace. The ox takes flesh easily; the cow hardly has milk enough to feed her calf. Raising Garonnaise calves. — If the calf is intended to make a beast of burden, he is fed, until four months old, by his mother and at the same time by a Brittany cow used as assistant nurse (that cow assists in feed- ing three calves), then he receives a little bran until six months old, when he is weaned. He is then sent grazing all day and stabled at night; he receives besides green or dry forage, according to the season. Such is the diet he will follow up to his last day. When thirteen months old, he is castrated and begins to be broken to the yoke ; from that age to that of two years and a half, he is employed to do the light work of the farm ; from two and a half to Ave or six years old, he is put to the coarser works of agriculture, then stabled to be fattened. The fattening begins in February and is finished at the end of September. The animal re- ceives at first radishes and turnips, which are chopped with straw, then ])uri»le clover and corn fodder; to that green forage is added bran, corn, flour, and rape or linseed cake; during all the time of fattening the ox is not allowed to go out. A calf three and a half or four months old is sold for the stall at from $18 to $30. If the calf is intended to be kept for reproduction, he is weaned only when nine months old, and up to that time has three nurses? besides a special food of meal or floury substances; he is then sent grazing dur- ing the day and stabled at night; when ten or eleven mouths old he may be sold for $G0 or $70; he begins to serve when fifteen months old, and when he reaches tlie age of thirty months he becomes too heavy for cover- ing ; he is then fattened without being castrated, and sold to the butcher atthe price of 7 cents per live pound. The cows are covered when fif- teen months old ; they go to pasture during the day, and receive a ration in the stable where tbey are kept at night; this ration consists of green or dry forage according to the season. WorJcing Garonnaise cattle. — The cows work like the oxen. When farrow or too old to work, tbey are fattened and sold to the butcher, who pays about 7 cents per live pound. An ox at the age of maturity, five or six years old, weighs 1,100 or 1,200 pounds. After having been taken away from the work and fat- tened he weighs from 1,300 to 1,400 pounds. He is then sold to the butcher at from $150 to $175, and yields 55 per cent, of the live weight in meat. Wlien specially fattened for the stall the ox weighs up to 2,500 pounds, at about four years of age. Its flesh has a fine grain. A pair of working oxen, from four and one-half to five years old, are sold at from $200 to $300. A pair of Garonnais oxen can pull a cart-load (two-wheeled cart) of 10,000 pounds weight for 12i miles in one day, but can work at that rate only three times a week." The working pace is about 1^ miles per hour. The working animal is fed on bran, dry hay, and sometimes a little ration of oats. H. Ex. 51 18 274 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Meat product of Garonnais cattle. — The following is the product of tAvo^ young oxen which had received premiums at a cattle show : No. 1, three years aud tea mouths old : Live weijrht at the slaughter-house pounds.. 1,848^ Weight of the four quarters do 'y48 Proportionate weight of the four quarters to the live weight per cent.. 62-91 Weight of the tallow pounds.. 110 Proportionate weight of the tallow to the four quarters per cent.. 12-83 Weight of the skin pounds.. 107 Proportionate weight of the skin to the four quarters per cent.. 12-96 No. 2, three years and eleven months old : Live weight at the slaughter-house pounds.. 2,176 Weight of the four quarters do 1^366 Proportionate weight of the four quarters to the live weight per cent . . 68-78 Weight of the tallow pounds.. 162 Proportionate weight of the tallow to the four quarters per cent . . 13-19 Weight of the skin pounds.. 136 Proportionate weight of the skin to the four quarters per cent . . 10-00 Garonnais crossbreeds. — An author says that this breed deserves the uame of " Shorthorn of the South," having the same form and bearing and the same propensity to fatten when youug. It is supposed to be a cross-breed of Garonnais and Dutch. According to reliable documents large numbers of Garonnais were exported to England in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, when the South of France was occupied by the English. This breed has never been crossed by any foreign blood. It is left to itself for repi;oduction, the raisers hardly taking any care to secure good bulls. The cattle-breeders say that this breed should not be crossed in its native country, because that would make it lose the qualities which render it particularly adapted to the locality. All cross- ings hitherto tried have proved complete failures. This breed repre- sents about two-thirds of the cattle in the department. Garonnaise grazing country. — The altitude of the country is about 250 feet above sea-level. The mean temperature is 56^ F. — in summer, 72° ; in winter, 43o. The soil belongs to the secondary and tertiary periods. The agricultural soil is composed of — Acres. Limestone 132,750 Rich compost 32, 800 Gravel l^-OO Stony ground 18,900 Sandy ground 27,500 Heathy ground 12,350 The soil of the plain and great valleys is very fertile. The plain of the Garonne, of proverbial fertility, lies on alluvial ground 12 feet deep. The culture of the ground is triennial ; first year, wheat and cereals of spring and autumn growth ; second year, green forage ; third year, hemp, tobacco, rape, and linseed. THE BAZADAIS CATTLE, Description.— Bapinle dark gray ; nose, anus, and inner part of thighs white ; eyes encircled with white hair ; some of cows are light gray. Bull 4 feet 8 inches, cow 4 feet 4 inches high. The animal is compact, "close to the ground," with thin, dense bones ; powerful muscles ended by strong sinews ; harmonious and wonderfully balanced body ; loins very well attached. The animal is built for fatigue and endurance, with broad and neat articulations; hind quarters broad, well made, with thick flesh and muscles from rump to knee; hoofs hard aud of a good quality ; head short, broad at the forehead; horns well attached; neck I FRANCE. 275- short; ribs rouud; stands remarkably plumb ou bis legs; tail well attached; skin rather thick, of a liglit tissue, with somewhat rough bair. Being energetic and having a quick pace, these animals are emi- nently fit for work. Yoked to enormous two-wheeled carts, they carry prodigious loads under a scorching sun, and sometimes with a sandy dust which renders their work very j^ainlul. With all the qualities of a beast of burden, the Bazadais is also gooci for the butchery, and, though weighing less than the Garonnais, is frequently rewarded at the fat-cattle shows. It is preferred for the butchery, being in general fatter than the Garonnais ; its flesh is better, gives more of the choice cuts, and yields a greater average of meat — more than GO per cent, of the live weight. The ox takes flesh much more easily than that of the Garonnais breed. The cow hardly has enough milk to feed her calf. Ba^sadais calves. — If the calf is intended to make a beast of burden he is treated exactly as the Garonnais ; sometimes sent gracing, but gener- ally kept in the stable. He is castrated when twelve months old, and begins to be broken in three months after ; he is then used for light plowing and harrowings. "When three years old he is yoked with a companion to a two-wheeled cart, and carries 2,500 pounds, but for short distances onlj'. When four and a half years old he is used for hard work till the age of six or seven, without showing any sign of great fatigue. Weight and value of Bazadais oxen. — A pair of Bazadais oxen can pull 10,000 pounds weight for 12^ to 13 miles in one day, but can work at that rate only three times in a week. The working pace is about 2 miles per hour. The working animal is'fed on bran, dry hay, and sometimes a small ration of oats. A pair of working Bazadais oxen from four and a half to five years old are sold from $220 to $260. One-third of the Bazadais working oxen are used for carting heavy loads, one-fifth are sold for the vineyards of Medoc and Sauterne, the rest are employed for agricultural purposes in the Bazadais region. This latter portion is fattened when from four and a half to six years old, whilst those belonging to heavy works are fattened only from the sixth or seventh year of their age. The fattening begins in May and termi- nates at the end of February. From May to October the animal is fed on green forage, corn fodder, vetch, and purple clover. From October he is fed on hay, bran, corn meal, rape, and linseed cake. A Bazadais ox at the age of maturity (five or six years) weighs from 900 to 1,000 pounds ; after being fattened as above he weighs from 1,100 to 1,200 pounds, and is then sold to the butcher at the rate of 12 cents per pound live weight. The cows work like oxen. The calves are bought for the butchery from $18 to $30 a head ; their flesh is very white and greatly praised. When raised expressly to be fattened, on reaching its full growth, the animal weighs about 2,000 pounds. In the southwest of France the Bazadais represents about one-third of the bovine species and the Garonnais two-thirds. The Bazadais as a lone-mahing animal. — A reliable author mentions as a known fact that in the country where the Bazadais is raised the horses become small and slender, with small carcasses, whilst the oxen become compact, thick, and long ; in other terms, in the same country, under the same influences, and with the food produced by the same soil, the bony system of the horse is reduced to the smallest proportions, whereas that of the oxen takes a great development. This would tend to prove that the Bazadais oxen have a particular tendency and aptness to as- ^76 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARmNG. similate the calcareous salts coutaiued in the pastures. If the Bazaclais ox is really eudowed with the faculty of " easily making" bones, it would be a useful importation into countries the soil of which is too poor in calcareous salts to properly feed beasts of burden ; and, on the other hand, if it was importecl into countries the soil of which would supply abundant calcareous salts, the frame might be, in the course of time, developed to a great size and power. The Bazadais grazing grounds. — The altitude of the country in which that breed is raised is 270 feet above the level of the sea. It is com- posed of flat grounds, with little valleys, where spring many calcareous Tvaters. The mean temperature is 62° F. — in summer, 69°; in winter, 43°. The soil belongs to the superior miocene formation, characterized by the shell-marls, containing all the varieties of cerites with yellow conchiferous sands and yellow or gray clay, often characterized by the Ostrea undata and Ostrea crispata. The ground is undulated and varied. On the same farm clay, sand, gravel, limestone, &c., are met with. The underground is as varied as the arable ground ; it is composed of clay, flint, stone, and limestone, but is not deep. The culture is biennial — first year wheat and rye, second year corn, potatoes, beet-root, and spring forage ; besides every farm has about one-third of its extent in artificial meadows. THE BORDELAIS CATTLE. Description. — Black and white (piebald). Bull, 4 feet 6 inches ; cow, 4 feet 2 inches high. Hind quarters developed as compared to the fore quarters ; thin limbs ; small bones ; angular forms ; pelvis very wide ; neck thin and almost fleshless ; head fine ; horns thin, black, bent for- ward, and often rough ; udder expanded without being fleshy ; milk abundant. Qualities of the Gironde Bordelais. — This breed was imported into the Gironde many years ago, for dairy purposes solely, being the result of crossing between the breeds of Brittany and Holland ; it was and is still maintained by constant importations of Dutch bulls. It can hardly be called a breed, as it does not reproduce itself exactly. It is compara- tively scarce, being used only for the dairy. Of the Brittany cow, from which it originates, cut 22, gives a pretty correct idea of it. The female only is known and described, as the young males are sold for the stall. The bulls and cows when too old to breed are sent to the slaughter- bouses, but the meat is of inferior quality. The weight of the cow is about 500 pounds when at maturity, 4 years old ; it is then sold at from $80 to $100. The price of the bull is $80; after two years' service he is sold to the butcher. The Bordelais as milkers. — This is the only breed which provides the department of the Gironde with milk. After calving the cows give 4^ gallons of milk a day for one month. Afterwards it gradually goes down to 2 gallons. The average quantity given by one of these cows amounts to about 050 gallons per annum, with a proportion of 2.90 per cent, of butter and 3.35 per cent, of dry caseine. The Bordelais not suitable for exportation. — The Bordelais could not be profitably exported — (1) because it degenerates if not renewed by frequent crossing; (2) because as a milker it is not so good as the Normandy cow. The grazing-grounds of the Bordelais. — The altitude of the country is about 150 feet above sea-level. It is generally composed of flat and undulating ground. The arable soil is composed of clay, pebble, limestone, and sand. The mean tern- "^^^ /j:U^, FRANCE. 277 perature is 57o F.— in summer, 69°; in winter, 43°. The soil belongs to the Tertiary period. Feedimj and housing Bordelais cotes. — The cows of the Bordelais breed are left in the fields day and night as long as the weather permits; wlien stabled (in cold or snowy weather) they are fed on second-crop hay, coarse cabbage, and any kind of green food that may be had cheap. Those Kept by rich people have rations of bran added to the above. When the pea season sets in, very large quantities of that vegetal -le are daily shelled in the city of Bordeaux at the establishments for preserv- ing vegetables, and the pods are sold for the cows, who are very fond of them. That food gives a particularly sweet taste and pleasant^ flavor to the milk. EXPERI3IENTAI. CATTLE-FEEDING IN FRANCE. It may be interesting to note the following remarks, being the result of experiments made by a breeder of dairy cows, although such experi- ments have not been made on local breeds. To properly keep cattle in France requires every day 1 pound 11 ounces of hay, or the equivalent of it, for each 100 pounds weight of the live animal. An animal, to be completely satisfied, requires every day one-thirtieth of his weight. Besides that one-thirtiefh in dry sub- stances, he wants four-thirtieths of water, or any other liquid contained in the food. If, to be completely satisfied, a cow requires a daily food of 3J per cent, of its weight, and if If are necessary to sustain "life, it ensues that the half of the ration is keeping food and the other half is productive food. Each pound of productive food gives one pound of milk, or increases by nearly 1 ounce the weight of the calf in the mother's womb ; and for the animals which are being fattened, 10 pounds of forage give 1 pound of increase in weight. The calf at its birth weighs one-tenth of its mother's weight. During the first month after calving, the cow gives a weight of milk equal to 3A per cent, of her weight. Afterwards the milk diminishes gradually. " THE LANDAIS CATTLE. Description.— BuS color, with a lighter hue around the eyes and the extremities. In some animals that color is darker, and sometimes tinted with bay. This breed is much smaller than any of the before mentioned the bull being only 4 feet 4 inches and the cow 4 feet high. It is a small or rather mean variety of the great Pyrenean family, hardly in- teresting to others than the inhabitants of those barren countries. The animal is small, compact, well-shaped, energetic, and quick, with long thin horns, dead white, with black tips. It is extremely sober, and is noted for its endurance ; its fine and nervous limbs, like those of the Devon breed, have a peculiar character and prove its swiftness. The animal is kept in good condition, in spite of hard plowings, with very little forage, and that of the worst kind. The cow, though not strong, is equally enduring, and without extra food works very hard, even whilst feeding her calf. The animal trots very well without losing breath ; oxen unaccustomed to the cart have been known to travel from 47 to 50 miles in one day and night. A pair of Landais oxen in working condition, four and a half to five years old, are sold at $180 to $200. When specially fattened the ox ■ nay reach the weight of 1,000 pounds. In spite of its qualities this breed is not of sufilcient value to export. The grazing grounds of the Landaise. — The altitude of the country is 160 feet above the level of the sea. 278 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Plat and barren ground (moorlands). Mean temperature in summer, 72°; mean temperature in winter, 44°. THE LIMOUSIN CATTLE. Description. — Bnfif color, with a paler hue at the inner" imrt of the limbs J large soft eyes, surrounded, as well as the muzzle, by a whitish circle. Smaller than the Garonnais, but larger than the Bazadais, thus giving an average height of about 4 feet G inches for the cow and 5 feet for the bull. There is a great variety in the size of the animals, owing to the places where they are raised. They have a softer skin and are much finer and less bony than the Garonnais. Body rather long; withers high and not muscular; hind quarters narrow; short neck; thick head ; horns pale, with brownish tips, flattened towards the base, not always well bent, turned forward and often downward. The cow is small, delicately shaped, and would be remarkably fine if not over- worked. She has round ribs and well-made hips; is very spirited, and works much more quickly than the ox, which goes slowly and lazily. The cow gives scarcely any milk. The cause of this difference is that the cow is the exclusive product of the locality, which is poor, whereas the male calves and young oxen are the objects of an active trade, and are bought by persons who take them into richer countries, where they are fed preparatory for work and the slaughter-house. The difference in the diet makes the difference in the size. The Limousin makes flesh more rapidly than the Garonnais, and the quality of the meat is superior. A pair of working oxen bring from $240 to $280. When specially fattened a Limousin ox will weigh about 2,200 pounds. Grazing grounds of the Limousin. — The altitude of the country is 300 feet above sea-level. Highest temperature in summer 90°; lowest temperature in winter, 10*^. Soil of the primitive period, formed by the desegregation of granitic, gneissoid, porphyric, and feldspathic stones. The arable ground is clayish, gravelly, or sandy, without a sufficient thickness, which causes many large plains to be covered with heath. The substratum is clayish or loamy, rather permeable. The cultivation is biennial. First year, fallow, black wheat, radish, and potatoes ; second year, rye or wheat. The soil is undulating, the climate damp and cold, and liable to great variations of temperature. Besides the above principal breeds, this district contains a few other of lesser importance which never come on the market of Bordeaux, and which, for that reason, are not known. HOW TO EXPORT CATTLE FROM BORDEAUX TO THE UNITED STATES. The best and only method of direct exportation to the United States from Bordeaux is by the Bordeaux Steamship Company, which makes regular monthly voyages. The conditions of the company, submitted to the emigration laws, are the following : (1) Only ten head of cattle can be carried at a time. (2) The animals will be placed on deck. (3) The freight for each animal will be $80, including shipping, land- ing, attendance on board during the passage, and accommodation. (4) The food will be provided by the shipper. The daily food re- quired for an animal on board is 10 pounds of hay and 8 pounds of bran. The wholesale price of hay is about 80 cents per 100 pounds, ir 'illf^V "^'^ FRANCE. 279 bran $1.60 per 100 pounds. Counting fifteen days from date of ship- ping to that of landing, both inclusive, each animal would eat : 10 pounds of bay, X 15 = 150 31 oq d pounds of bran X 15 = 120 1 90 3 12 This added to the freight makes a total of $83.12 per head. The prices of frieght of the Bordeaux Steamship Company applies to choice iinimals carefully attended to, but the freight of animals sent in cargoes by American ships would be much cheaper. FRENCH BREEDS SUITABLE FOR EXPORT TO THE UNITED STATES. Among the breeds hereinbefore meutioned only two might perhaps be worth imjmrting into the United States, the Garonnais and Bazadais. The former, on account of its size and powerful frame ; the latter, on ac- count of its energy as a beast of burden, of its yield in good meat, and of its wonderful power of assimilating food. The cost price of a couple of choice Garonnais would be about $300, that of a couple of choice Bazadais about $260. EXPORT OF AMERICAN BEEF CATTLE TO BORDEAUX. It would not be advisable to import any breeding animals into this district, because all the crossings hitherto tried witli the local breeds have proved complete failures, and consequently the cattle raisers are not inclined to try new experiments; if they were so inclined, they would choose bulls belonging to breeds known in France, and not pur- chase animals of a breed unknown to them. If the importa ion of breeding animals is not likely to give any good result, the importation of live stock into Bordeaux for the butchery would, on the contrary, meet the requirements of the market, and the probabilities are that the introduction of such animals, if arriving in good condition, would be a profitable speculation. In order to elucidate the matter, so as to oring the question within the comprehension of any person concerned, I shall first explain the manner in which the city of Bordeaux is supplied with meat, the part acted by the commissioners, who are the intermediates between the producers and the butchers, their systematic removal of live stock from the market in order to raise the prices, &g. This will be seen in the following extract of the newspaper La Victoire of Bordeaux, of Decem- ber IG, 1880 : Generally on arriving at Bordeaux tbe dealer cannot wait until his stock is sold and paid for ; not being rich he requires ready money for other business. The commis- sioner is there, ready at hand ; ho examines the cattle, values it after his own fashion, tries to bint that the butchers are well provided, the market bad and overstocked, &c. ; bo advances to the dealer a certain sum of money, about three-fourlbs of the value of the cattle ; but often, to end sooner and not to wait ton or fifteen days for the settlement of the sale, the merchant prefers to transact for a trifling profit and gives up the cattle to the commissioner, who then makes the best of it. The same article mentions the punishment which the commissioners inflict upon the dealers who do not prove sufficiently accommodating : Frequently the commissioners send their employ(53 to the fairs of the region in order to prevent sales from the dealers who were unyielding to them. The part of the commissioner is thus defined in La Victoire of De- ■cember 3, 1880, by a letter of Mr. Olagnier, a municipal councilor, who made a special study of the question : The commissioners are at the same time the bankers of the producers, from whom they most often discount the price of the cattle which is sent to them for sale ; and of 280 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. the butchers, to whom they sell the same cattle on a credit of seven or eleven days? they, besides, are merchants, buying and selling for their own account, and then^ being holders of nearly all the cattle intended for the supply of our city's market, they can, owing to their small number, maintain the prices at a high figure. I have contended, and the fact is verified by two members of the municipal council who raise and sell cattle, that the commissioners of Bordeaux pay for cattle a lower jjrice than that paid by the commissioners who supply the markets of Paris, while it is a well-known fact that beef is cheaper in Paris than in Bordeaux. Consulting the records of the municipal council I read in the report of the sitting of November 12, 1880, the following statements corroborat- ing the preceding one : Correspondents and at the same time bankers of producers and of the butchers, and being, besides, merchants, they centralize the cattle, deliver to the market only the number required to maintain the highest prices, and by the influence which they ex- ercise on the butchers by advancing them money they paralyze the spring of compe- tition, which is necessary to reduce prices to their real level. At the sitting of the municipal council of February 12, 1880, one of the members, M. Min-Barabraham, read reliable documents showing that the commissioners paid their own price for the live cattle, and that, owing to their then scarcity of forage, the owners were obliged to get rid of their cattle at unremunerative prices, and after having quoted the report of a special commission named by the municipality to inves- tigate the matter, the report showed that meat in the city of Bordeaux was dearer than in Paris or any other large city of France. He found that the price of meat was always increasing, " even in the years when the price of cattle had obviously gone down on account of bad forage harvests." M. Min-Barabraham mentioned that as far back as 1870 he called the attention of the council to the high price of beef; that a commission was then ordered to inquire into the causes of such dear- ness and try to remedy it; that in 1874 attention was directed to the constant and unreasonable increase of prices, when the mayor appointed a new special commission to investigate the former, and also to find the means of admitting free competition. This commission, however, did not prevent the continual increase of prices. The honorable coun- cilor then said : When one of the branches of trade, that which serves the public alimentation, is in the hands of eight or ten commissioners, who are at the same time speculators and merchants, who can at their will cause a rise by allowing on the market only the cat- tle that they wish ; who hold in their power a majority of the butchers by the weekly credits which they (the commissioners) grant them, I say that this is no longer liberty, it is monopoly. The last word seems to be the alarm-cry uttered by everybody in Bor- deaux for the last twelve years. On the 12th of November, 1880, Mr. Olagnier, a municipal councilor,, presented a i)etition by which 4,500 inhabitants, in presence of the exces- sive prices reached by the butchers' meat in town, claimed the re-estab- ment of taxed prices ; and another member of the council mentioned that for the last twenty years the price of meat had more than doubled. The consequences to be drawn from all the preceding is that the com- missioners monopolize the cattle trade at Bordeaux ; that they admit to the market only the small number of animals required to maintain the highest prices; that the cattle-raisers, merchants, and butchers are at their mercy ; that the municipality have for years been constantly in search of the means of checking the monopoly; that the public is deprived of the most necessary article of food on account of the small quantity of meat sent to the stalls, and especially of high prices de- manded for it. FRANCE. 281 In presence of such a state of things, my opinion is that the im- portation of live stock from the United States wouhl prove a paying speculation, as it would meet the most urgent wants of a poj^ulation of 221.000 inhabitants, consuming yearly 22,000 oxen. If the monopoly was destroyed, and if meat became more abundant and cheaper, this amount would increase 50 per cent. COST OF INTRODUCING, STABLING, AND FEEDING CATTLE IN BOR- DEAUX. The cost of introduction, stabling, keeping, &c., of the imported ani- mals from the day of their arrival to that of their sale to the butcher, is as follows : Customs dues, per head, 12.89, if imported direct. Town dues, 48J cents per 100 pounds' weight. All animals intended to be slaughtered must be sent to the oflBcial pens, where it costs for oxen 29 cents per head, and for cows 19 cents per head for the first twenty-four hours, food, litter, and attendance not included. If the owner or i)urchaser does not provide food, litter, tfud attendance, these are given ex officio by the establishment at the following rates: Xine pounds of hay (half a day's ration), 10 cents ; litter, 2 cents ; attendance and water, 4: cents. If the animals remain more than twenty-four hours in the pens the charges for each succeeding day are the following : Stabling, oxen or cows, 4 cents per head ; food (eighteen pounds of hay, litter, and at- tendance), 27 cents. AVhen sold, it costs 77 cents per head for slaughter- house dues. This latter charge is at the expense of the butcher or purchaser. If, instead of livestock, the importations consisted of fresh meat pre- served in ice the expenses would be as follows : Per 100 pounds. Customs dues SO 29 Town dues 96|^ Total 1 25i CATTLE CENSUS OF THE BORDEAUX CONSULAR DISTRICT. The total number of cattle in this consular district amounts to 650,000 head, viz: Oxen and bulls 157,500 Cows 330,900 Calves 167,600 "With the following proportion of the different breeds : Garonnais 190, 000 Bazadais 32,000 Bordelais 6,000 Limousin 149,100 Pyrenean of various breeds 238,900 Landais 40,00Q Total 656,000 GEO. W. ROOSEVELT, Consul. United States Consulate, Bordeaux^ , 1883. 282 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. NOEMANDY CATTLE. REPORT BY CONSUL GLOVER, OF HAVRE. WORKING CATTLE IN FRANCE. In some portions of France oxen are still extensively employed in various kinds of work, and particularly on the farm. Many persons contend that for such uses, and in certain localities, they can perform a given amount of work at less expense than horses. To me this seems improbable. Still there may be some kinds of rough ground where oxen can be very advantageously employed. They walk more slowly than horses, and are more even in their gait, so that in " new ground," or in stony lands, they may be very desirable. But it is not necessary to pur- sue this branch of the subject further, inasmuch as cattle, in the United States, are esteemed chiefly on account of their qualities for the dairy or the butcher. The cow that produces the largest amount of milk and butter— other things being equal— is the best cow, and the bullock that furnishes tl o most beef of good quality, in the shortest time, is the best ox. It is not my purpose to attempt a full description of all the various breeds of cattle in France, but to give as complete information as I can in regard to the races in the northern part of the country, and particu- larly those in ^STormandy. NORMANDY, ITS SITUATION, SOIL, CLIMATE, ETC. This province is bounded on the north by the English Channel, and lies on both sides of the river Seine. It is composed of five depart- ments, VIZ : Seine Infdrieure, chief cities Rouen and Havre ; Eure, chief city Evreux; Calvados, chief city Caen; Manche, chief city St. Lo- Vn^.?^' ^1^^^^ ^^^^^ Alen9on. Although Normandy is situated between the 490 and 50O north latitude, the climate is temperate. The mercury rarely rises above 75° in summer, and ice is not often formed to exceed half an inch in thickness in winter. Snow scarcely ever falls to any considerable depth, and generally disappears in a few hours at most. Such a climate is well adapted to the raising of cattle. In parts of the province some kinds of grasses remain green the year through. The surface of the country is rather uneven, being intersected by many streams, which flow into the channel. Still much of the " up-land" is of good quality, while the bottom land is wonderfully productive. Taken as a whole, Normandy is a very fertile country, but all portions ot the province are not equally favorable for cattle raising. The depart- ments of Calvados and the Manche, which lie on the west side of the Seine, are very remarkable for their fine cattle, and especially for but- ter-producing cows. In these departments are to be found the purest Norman types. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NORMAN BREED. Of the Norman race there are two varieties which are particularly distinguished, viz, the Cotentin and the Augeronne, the former being the more highly esteemed. The following are some of the peculiar characteristics of this race: Size large and often not very handsome, PLATE 122 ~ ~^-"- JSfc. v^ Julius SieniCo./jiLh. NORMAN COW PLATE 123 ^2*^^^^ ■■^--^ Vs Julius Bien(S:Co~I/ith HO LLAND COW FRANCE. 283 large boues, with head rather heavy and long, the mouth large, horns crumpled and white as ivory. They are of many colors, but most of them are what we would call "brindle cows." I inclose a cut, which will aid in forming a just estimate of their form and general appear- ance. In my judgment, there are few better cows for dairy purposes to be found in any country than this Cotentin variety. THE NORMAN CATTLE PREFERABLE TO THE JERSEYS OR ALDERXEYS. The very best cows of this breed are to be found between Caen and Lisieux, where they are sometimes called ^'■vachesde pays,^^ that is to say, cows of the country. I am of opinion that some of these ISTorman cows could be imported into the United States and advantageously crossed with certain American breeds. They are most excellent milk- ers, of good disposition, and their milk is both abundant and rich. All things considered, they are certainly to be preferred to the English Jerseys or Alderneys. NORMANDY BUTTER. Probably no other country in the world, of like size, produces more good butter than the department of Calvados. Small villages in this region export to Paris large quantities of butter annually. The town of Isigny alone sends nearly 6,000,000 pounds every year. Gournay also sends 3,000,000 pounds. FRESH YS. SALTED BUTTER. We always have the Calvados butter on our own table, and find it excellent. The French do not use salt in butter, which seems rather strange to an American, but I am inclined to think that our people use too much salt in butter, as well as in many other articles of food. MILKING QUALITIES OF THE NORMAN COW. An ordinary Xorman cow will give about 20 quarts of milk per day, while in some cases extra fine ones have been known to give 36 quarts in the same length of time. 1 think it will be safe to say that an average Cotentin cow will pro- duce 40 pounds of butter per month. This butter is probably worth in Paris 50 cents per pound the year through. The accompanying cuts will give a better idea of the shape and gen- eral characteristics of this breed than any written description I could possibly give. This race is sometimes crossed with the Durham, which certainly im- proves the appearance of the stock ; but many of the French peojile believe, that for dairy purposes, the Cotentin cows cannot be improved by the admixture of any other blood. However, there are those who contend that such crossing does not decrease the quantity or the quality of the milk. Some of these young Durham-Norman cows with the first calf have been known to give more than 20 quarts of good milk per day. FEEDING AND HOUSING CATTLE IN NORMANDY. In summer these milch cows feed on various kinds of grasses, includ- ing red clover. They do not run at large, as is the custom in the United States, but they are staked out in rows, across the fields, and can only graze to the end of their tether. After they have eaten everything within reach they are moved to a new position. This process requires 284 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. a little more care than we are accustomed to, but it is very importaut to economize in every way in a country where land is so valuable. In winter they are fed on hay, beets, turnips, carrots, cabbage, &c. A good c-ow is worth about $75. NORMAN BEEF CATTLE. The Norman race is esteemed for the houcherie^ but I am sure that it is greatly improved by crossing with the Durham stock. The half breeds mature more rapidly, are larger, and of better form than the pure Norman. Bullocks for the market are chiefly fattened in the summer on the excellent pastures which abound in this province, and especially in Calvados and the Manche. This part of France pro- duces abundance of beef for home consumption, and bullocks have been sometimes exported, principally to England. The upland has a clayey, marly soil, and is well adapted to the vari- ous grasses. In the hilly regions we find abundance of flint, but the soil is quite productive. VALUE OF BEEF AND BEEF CATTLE IN NORMANDY. A good bullock on foot is worth about $130. Fine specimens will sometimes sell for $200 or more ; but such animals are not often sold iu this market. Beef cattle are worth about 10 cents per pound, on foot. This with the addition of octroi and other taxes, of course makes our sirloin steaks rather high priced. For choice cuts from extra fine bul- locks we sometimes pay from 36 to 40 cents per pound. Good beef can be had, however, at from 24 to 30 cents per pound. FRENCH vs. AMERICAN BUTCHERS AND BUTCHER SHOPS. The French butchers handle their meats with the greatest possible care. I think our American dealers might learn something from the French in this regard. As a rule they are more careful in their selec- tions of animals for the houcherie, and the result is that the beef is more uniformly good. Their shops are perfect models of neatness, and always as clean as they can possibly be made ; cleanliness is next to godliness, especially in the dairy and the butcher shop. The French butchers allow their meats to hang much longer before cutting than our Ameri- can butchers. I note this custom from the fact that I think it greatly im- proves the texture of the meat. Our American housekeepers ought to be a little more sparing iu the use of salt. A new steak, well salted before broiling, is almost sure to be tough. FRENCH VEAL. It is not the custom in France to slaughter very young calves. They are rarely killed before they are three or four months old, and many of these weigh from 140 to 200 i)ouuds net. Veau is always to be found in the markets, and is greatly esteemed by the French people. IMPORTATION OF AMERICAN CATTLE INTO HAVRE. Very few, if any, American cattle have been imported into this part of France. The chief difficulty in regard to the business is cost of FRANCE. 285 transportatiou. Can this obstacle be removed"? is the question. It would seem that powerful and swift steamers specially arranged for the trade ought to be able to carry beef cattle at such a rate as would leave a protit for the dealer. A Calvados bullock, weighing 1,500 pounds, is worth in this market about $145. A like animal in Galveston, Tex., would probably be worth about $00. This would leave a margin of $85 for transportation, shrinkage, profits, &c. This does not appear sufficient to induce capitalists to engage in the trade. Still I am of opinion that the time is coming when Europe must receive a large part of her beef cattle direct from the United States. We have an unlimited quantity of the very best beef in the world, and a large portion of it ought to find its way into the mouths of the hungry millions on this side of the Atlantic. I think, however, as indicated above, that freights must be considera- bly reduced before our live bullocks can be shipped at a profit from the Great West to any of the French ports. But the time will come. EXPORTATION OF NORMAN CATTLE TO THE UNITED STATES. So far as exportations from this country to the United States are con- cerned, it is not probable that they will ever be very large. A few choice I^orman cows, strictly for breeding purposes, will be all that can be expected in this direction. Accompanying this report will be found cuts of the various French breeds, especially those of the Northern part of France. These will be useful in comparing the different races, showing their form, &c. JOHN B. GLOVER, (Jo7lSl/t1/ United States Consulate, Havre, November, 1883. CATTLE PRODUCTS IN THE DISTRICT OF THE MARNE. REPORT Br CONSUL FRJSBIE, OF REE IMS. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Department's circular dated July 18, 1883, requesting information relative to cattle breeding, for the use and benefit of the stock breeders of the United States. Immediately on receipt of said circular I began an investigation of the subject presented, with the hope that 1 should be able to prepare a report of some interest and benefit to the Department and to the stock breeders of the country; but in this f am sorry to say that I have not been successful, from the fact that the material out of which to make such a report does not exist in this district. This condition arises from the fact, first, that the soil is light and chalky, and not suitable for growing grasses for pasturage, thus render- ing stock-raising unprofitable; and, second, in the champagne district, of which Kheims is the center, the great industries are the cultivation of the vine and the manufacture of its product, and the manufacture of woolen goods, which leave little room for other enterprises of a less profitable nature. So far as I am informed, there does not exist a single cattle market in this district. Beef is brought to this market already killed and dressed. 286 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. from Paris and other places at a distance. Butter for table use is brougbt from Xormandy and other places, while the little which is made in this vicinity is fit only for cooldnfj purposes. Milk is largely brought to this market by rail from out-lying districts, that which is produced in the vicinity of Rheims being of an inferior quality. JOHN L. FRISBIE, Consul. United States Consulate, Efieims, France, Octoher 18, 1883. CATTLE IN THE DISTRICT OF NICE. HE PORT BY YIOE-CONSVL VIAL. The ordinary breed, Taurus, is the single one to be found in the dis- trict of Nice. Neither beeves nor bulls are bred or fed in this part of France ; cows alone receive the best care in the dairy for milk purposes, inasmuch as the milk is the chief food of a great many foreigners com- ing here during the winter. The beeves arriving in this town from Piedmont (Italy) are all reserved for the butcher. The best cow, the preferred, is called " Bergamase." This name refers to the town from which it is drawn, viz, Bergamus (Italy). It is a very stark cow, thick- set, dark chestnut, fine-haired, 4 feet high, always hollow-backed, with two large veins near the paps, one on each flank; giving an average daily quantityof3or4gallonsof excellent milk. When wanting cows, the milk- men of Nice get the Bergamases from Lombardy (Mouza, Milan, Berga- mus), and they choose them in the third year of their age, having just had their first calf or being still in calf. As Nice is surrounded by hills and as there are no large plains or meadows the plow is quite useless, and consequently no labor is required from oxen or cows. The best milk- men estimate that there are from 2,000 to 2,500 cows in the district of Nice. When bought in Lombardy a cow costs $80 to $90, but its trans- portation to Nice raises this cost to $85 or $95. Cows are conveyed hither by railway express, in wagons containing seven or eight. Six gallons of water and 18 pounds hay are their daily food in a journey of eighteen hours. The same ratio of food would be sufficient for the pas- sage across the Atlantic, provided they be kept in appropriate stalls, C feet wide, G feet high, and 9 feet long. The daily food of a dairy cow is estimated at 44 cents. No exportation takes place from Nice ; the cattle crossing over this country is directed to a few small towns of the department of the Alpes Maritimes. They are generally driven on foot, unless long distances require railway express. From time to time Nice receives beeves for butchery either from Sardinia or from Algeria (Africa), but in small quan- tity and only when the importations from Italy become very scarce. Such animals give, however, but a middling quality of meat which can hardly be sold on the market, where the Piedmont cattle meat is always preferred. A. VIAL, Vice-Gonsul. United States Consulate, Nice, October 10, 1883. SWITZERLAND. 287 SWITZEKLAND. SWISS CATTLE. REPORT BY CONSUL MASON, OF BASLE. THE TWO PRmcrPAL RACES AND THEIR SUBSIDIARY BREEDS. Switzerland, whose seventeen diflferent kinds of cheese are nearly all exported, in greater or less quantities, to most civilized countries, pos- sesses two distinct and noble breeds of cattle, each of which maybe fairlv said to be, in respect to certain essential qualities, unsurpassed, if indeed they are equaled, by any other bovine races in Europe. They are re- spectively : ' (1) The Spotted race (Fleckvieh), which has its origin m the valleys of the Simme, the Saane, and the Kander in Canton Berne, and is known by the name of "Berner spotted," or " Simmenthalor Saauenthal cattle." The principal off-shootor subsidiary breed of this race is the " Freiburo-er Schwarzvieh." from the adjacent canton of Friburgh, which is marked similarly to the Berners cattle, except that its spots are black instead of yellow or red. (2) The Broicn Schwyser race, the origin of which is traced to Canton Schwyz, from which its name is also derived. This race is bred in its greatest purity in the central cantons of Schwyz, Uri, and Zug, and is distributed throughout the whole of Appenzell, Eastern and Central Switzerland, and as far west as the Canton of Argau. A few are also kept in the high valleys of the Jura and among the adjacent foot-hills, 50 that this breed must be included in any adequate account of the cat- tle ot this consular district. As to the approximate date at which these two principal races of cat- tle were first introduced into Switzerland, opinions difler. By manv their presence here is believed to be coexistent with that of the present race of people, and there have been found among the remains of the prehistoric lake-dwellers skulls of oxen bearing horns and other marks peculiar to the brown Sch wyzer cattle of todav. It is generally believed that the Spotted breed of cattle, on the other hand, was derived orig- inally from the Netherlands, and a resemblance is found between the Bernese animals and certain breed of Dutch cattle. But, whatever their Drigrn, the essential fact is that the Spotted and Brown cattle races of 5)Witzerland have been refined and improved by many centuries of careful treatment and intelligent breeding, and have become during the mod- am period of international expositions two of the most valued and im- portant breeds in Europe. SWISS IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF CATTLE. By reason of the limited area of this thickly peopled country, and the high values of its meadow and pasture lands, the cattle product of Switz- erland IS inadequate to its needs, and the animals which are annually '.mnorted for meat exceed in number, though not in value, the Swiss 3attle which are exported in constantly increasing quantities for dairy • nL nnn^^"^' purposes. There were in Switzerland, at the last census, '.,030,000 horned cattle, of which about one-half were milch cows. 288 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. The Statistics of 1883 are not yet at baud, but the exports aud im- ports of horned stock for 1881 and 1882 were, respectively, as follows : IMPORTS. From France 44, 515 From Germany 42,768 From Austria 20,135 From Italy 3,082 Total neat cattle 110,500 Calves, all countries 1, 159 Total for 1881 111,659 Total for 1882 116,000 EXPORTS. To France 13,181 To Germany 20,188 To Austria 4,004 To Italy 19,865 Total 66,338 Calves 9,861 Total for 1881 76,199 Total for 1882 76,000 There were exported during 1881 and 1882 a few choice Brown cattle to the United States for breeding purposes, but as they were shipped via Antwerp, and therefore crossed the Swiss frontier into Germany, they are probably included in the registered exports from that country. The beef cattle which are now imported into Switzerland from Ger- many, Austria, aud Italy are mostly large, raw-boned, and rather coarse- looking animals, rough-haired, long-horned, and wanting in most of the essential points of highly bred stock. PRICES AND EXPORTS OF CHOICE SWISS CATTLE. The export of fine dairy and breeding cattle from Switzerland to ad- jacent countries, as well as to England and the United States, is in- creasing so rapidly that prices have advanced largely during the past two years. At a cattle fair in Sargaus early in October of this year, I was told that the sales showed an average advance of 50 francs per head for all classes, as compared with values a year ago. As early as August buyers from Italy and other countries appear in force in the mountain districts, and many of the choicest animals are picked up by them before the cantonal fairs of September and October begin, aud it is claimed by good authorities that this increasing popu- larity of Swiss cattle in foreign countries and the growing practice of selling the milk from many dairy farms directly to large milk-condens- ing establishments is having a pernicious effect upon the cattle and the people of the rural cantons. On the one hand, the sale and export of so many of the choicest animals tends naturally to check the improve- ment of the stock; while, on the other hand, the daily sale of milk for a liberal cash price tempts the thrifty Switzer to work for immediate re- sults rather than use i^art of his daily milk product in raising calves. So that while the outflow of fine stock to other countries is increas- ing, the supply of such animals has not increased in due proportion. SWITZERLAND. 289 Whether the Spotted or the r,i-owii Schwyzer race of cattle is superior and, on tlie whole, most profitable for the Swiss fanner, is a Ion"- dis- puted and stdl unsettled point, eoncernin-- whicli the in(piirin->- vTsitor who consults cattle "'rowers and dealers in the \arious cantons will re- ceive some very positive and adverse opinions. This mucli appears to be clear and beyond dispute, the Jirown race IS best adopted to the hill and mountain districts, and the luMvier Sootted race to the valleys. The; reasons for this will be readil v appareut from a description of the two races. DESCRirTION OF THE BERNESE (SIMMENTHAL) CATTLE. ^ I. The cattle ol" this species prevail throuij;hout the whole of Western Switzerland, trom the valleys of the Bernese Oberland, where the purity ot the stock is best preserved, to the slopes of the Jura, alono- the front- ier ot 1' ranee. It is auiou- the largest and noblest of European breeds the average wei-ht of the oxen ranging- from 2,000 to 2,500 pounds, and a cow exhibited at Lucerne in 1881 having attained a weight of 2,49i pounds. This was, of course, an exceptional case, the average weight ot thoroughbred Siinmenthal and Saanenthal cows bein"- about 1 400 Vnnn^^^' J''/^"Sl' many choice herds average 1,700 pounds, and cow's of l,yoo and 2,000 pounds weight are not uncommon. The color is white, marked with large, irregular, and sharply defined spots or bars of red, yellow, or drab color. The color of these spots is a matter of fancy among breeders, in respect to which the itiode changes from time to rime. At present the light, yellowish-red tint is most pre- ferred, and animals so marked command the highest prices. The other distinctive marks of this species are a small, well-formed head, light- red or white nose, large nostrils and mouth, small white or yellowish horns with brown tips, and gentle, kindly eyes. The neck is tine, that of the l^ill having a marked upward curve between horns and shoul- ders, ihe back is straight and broad, the tail long and thin, the le<^'s round and well formed, small in proportion to the size of the animal but rauscnlar and strong, with white or yellowish-brown hoofs and dew- claws. The skin is smooth and the hair fine, glossv, and soft. In char- acter this species is gentle, tractable, and easily managed, not over fas- tidious as to its food, but it requires good care, kind treatment, and warm stabling to develop its best capacities for milk, labor, or fiesh- makmg. ' THE BERNESE AS WORKING CATTLE. As a working animal it is asserted by good authorities that the i>ernese stands first among the cattle breeds of Europe, and it is easy to accei)t this estimate as fully justified bv the facts. Its j)0werful frame, alert, active temiierament, tractable disposition, and great en- durance uiake It a model working ox, and most of the farm draft- abor of Central and Western Switzerland is performed by cattle of this breed ; even the cows being used for such light work as hauling hav, bringing milk to market, drawing manure, &c. THE BERNESE (SIMMENTIIAL) AS MILKERS. As milkers the Spotted cows stand in the front rank. At Eoseck, the insane asylutn of canton Soleure, I have seen a herd of twenty choice cows, kept by the cantonal government to supply the asylum with milk. From careful records, kept by Superintendent Marti, it appears n. Ex. 51 19 290 CATTLE AND DAIRY- FARMING. thit these cows average 21 pounds of milk daily, or 7,GG5 pounds each tlii'riii'-- the year. This is a maximum record for an entire herd, and re- (luiros liberal winter feeding on grain, roots, &c., which is rarely prac- 1 ic-ed bv the rural farmer. It will also bo noted that these cows are stabh'd throughout the year, and, except during a few days in October, :.fter the last grass is cut, they never graze. -^ , • i The records of several wxll-conducted dairies in the wide basm be- tween the Jura and Bernese Alps, where three hundred mdking days are counted to each year, show an average yield of 23 pounds 14 ounces of milk per dav from each cow, or 7,102 i)Ounds for the year. These statistics have" been carefully collected, confirmed, and published by Mr r. Baumgartner, member of the cantonal council ot boleure, and nresident of the agricultural association, whose long and intelligent labors for the improvement of Swiss stock and the general advance- ment of agricultural interests make him a high and recognized author- ity on such subjects. ,, i ..i a i 'in richness of milk, the Spotted race also ranks well. In the Alps, where the "rass is savory and richest, 25 pounds of their milk yield a ,)(,und of butter; in the valleys, the quantity required lor the same purpose varies from 28 to 30 pounds. Tenpoundsof milk yield a pound of cured cheese, and besides this, in mountain dairies the herdsmen usually sknn enou'^h cream to make 1 pound of butter from each 100 pounds of milk without sensibly affecting the quality of the cheese. This so^ called "Vorbruch butter" has, however, a strong animal flavor, and sells usually for 2 or 3 cents per pound less than orduiary butter trom the same district. Something, of course, depends upon the quantity •md the quality of grass upon which the animals ai-efed, but the above li'-uies mav be accepted as standard for well-bred Bernese cows kept on farms where meadows are manured, and irrigated m dry weather. THE BEENESE (SIMMENTHAL) AS BEEF CATTLE. As beef cattle it will be accurately inferred from the foregoiug that the Benu'M^ race holds the first place amongthebreedsof this country. Thcv 'TOW rapidly and are mature in their fourth year. They are of enormous size, compactly and cleanly built, and their flesh is flne- o-rained, tender, and savory. As such it is readily distinguishable, either in the butcher's stall or at table. from the coarsegrained, stringy beef which is i)roduced bv most of the imported "scrub" cattle with which Switzerland supplies the deficit in her meat product. Finer beef than is ])roduce(l here from the stall-fed Simmenthal oxen I have never seen, either in England or the United States, and it may well be doubted whether better exists anywhere. PRICES OF FINELY BRED BERNESE CATTLE. The i)resent market values of finely bred ]iernese cattle, such as would naturally be selected for export, are indicated by averages of sales at several fairs during the present autumn, as follows: Calves, six months old, $40 ; yearlings, $80 to $100; cow (four to five years old), $130 to $145; bull (two to four years old), $130 to $150. A comiietent buyer, familiar with Swiss dialects and methods ot " dickering," could go among the farmers and buy equally good cattle at i)erhaps 10 per cent, less than the above prices, which are the values current among dealers. SWITZEKLAND. 291 BERNESE CATTLE SUITAULE I'OIl EXPORT TO THE UNITED STATES. I'or export to the United States, the six-months-old calves are recom iL ended by experts here as being clieaper at lirst cost, easier and less costly to transport, and more likely to acclimatize readily than older animals. BLACK-SPOTTED FREIBURG CATTLE. There are several oft-shoot breeds derived from the pnre IJernesc known as the Freibnr^, the Frntie^er, the Illiez, and Ormond breeds, bnt they are all more or less inferior to the jKire original race. As a prin- ciple, cross-breeding has failed in Switzerland, and the best results have always been obtained by in-breeding from the i)nre origin.nl stock. Of these minor spotted breeds the only one which deserves notice here is the Freiburg, which originated in the canton of that name, and IS stdl bred there in great purity, although even there it is gradually giving way in the best herds to the light-colored Saanen and Siiumen- thal variety. The distinctive mark of the Freiburg cattle is found in the fact that their spots are black. Many examples are seen in which the entire ani- mal is black, except perhaps the head and a stripe under the belly. It is fully as heavy as its Bernese rival, but has larger, heavier bones, coarser flesh, and is in other respects inferior to it in the technical points which characterize a perfect stock. As working animals and as milkers the Freiburgers rank next to the Bernese, but for reasons stated they are less valuable for either the home market or export. SIZE OF BERNESE AND FREIBURG CATTLE AT MATURITY. Thoroughbred animals of both Bernese and Freiburg breeds attain at maturity the following dimensions : Length, 83 to ST^inches; height of shoulder, 5.5 to GO inches; girth behind shoulders, 87 to 90 inches ; weight, 1,G00 to 2,500 pounds. THE BERNESE— DURHAM CROSS-BREED. For meat-producing purposes, a cross between the Swiss-spotted cat- tle and the P^nglish-Durham breed has been found excellent, but it is inferior for dairy and working purposes to the purebred Simmenthaler and is comparatively little known. BROWN SCHWYIZER CATTLE. As already indicated, the one other breed of Swiss cattle which chal- lenges the su])remacj of the Fleck race is the Brown Schwytzcr, which has been bred for many centuries in tlie cantons of Schwytz, Uri, and Zug, and has si)read thence tlironghout the whole mountain region of Switzerland. Its renown as a milker, its gentle disposition, and its ready adaptation to varying conditions of food and cliuiate, have made the Schwytzer the better known, as it is no doubt the more largely ex- ported of the two pure breeds of Swiss cattle. As mill-crs. — The milk-producing records of choice herds of these cows have been carefully kept for centuries by the monks at Einsiedeln, and later at the milk-coudetisiug estf^blishmeut in Cham, both of which 292 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. will be >so fully reported by the consul at Ziirich that they may bo omit- ted here. UESCRirTION OF THE IJROWN SCIIWYT'^EU CAT TLE. The Sehwytzer cattle vary .ureatly in size. Some are nearly as larj^ti as the averaj?e aninmls of the spotted race, but there are other varie- ties which are kept in the hiij;h alpine districts, and which do not avei- aue more than 1,(M)U pounds in weight. The standard Schwytzer cow has, however, a weight of 1,200 to 1,;}00 pounds, and is a remarkably perfect animal. The color most highly esteemed, as indicative of pure blood, is a dun or mouse color, fading to grav upon the l)ack, and a t5trip of light gray or nearly white along the belly. The udder should be white, with large lacteal veins, the j horns wiiite two-thirds of their length, with tips of black. The ears \ are large and round, lined insitle with long, line fawn-colored hair; the j tongue and iu)se arc black, the latter ringed with a circlet of light- | colored hair, approaching nearly to whiteness on the lower jaw. The ] bo Iv is plump and compact, the back straight, the legs round, lirmly i set,' and well muscled, with small black hoofs. The mountain-bred ' Schwytzer cattle climb like goats, and thrive throughout the year upon grass and hav alone. I These cattle have been exported to the United States and to all Euro- | pean countries, including even Eussia; and they have proved entirely j successful everywhere except in Spain. They work well under the j yoke, but are smaller and less powerful than the spotted race, and for the same reasons they are likewise inferior to that race for the butcher. They are, in fact, bred principally for their milking qualities, and in that respect they are unsurpassed in the quantity and (piality of inilk which they produce from a given quantity of food. i MILKING QUALITIES OF THE SCHWYTZER CATTLE. Trustworthy statistics show that a well-kept Schwytzer cow, fed oil i cut grass or hay, with i)lentiful pure fresh water, will yield an average of 10 (puirts of 'milk daily during the entire year. At Cham, the 0,000 cows, whose milk is condensed by the Anglo-Swiss Company, yiehl a,:?!:") pounds, or dj% (piarts each per day during the milking season, and these are only ordinary animals of the brown Schwytzer race. Choice herds, carefully kept, average at the best milking age, during April, Mav, and June, 12 quarts daily and even higher. The mdk is of excellent quality, from 25 to 30 quarts of it yielding a pound of butte-: , and from 0 to 10 (piarts a pound of cheese. PRICES OF BROWN SCHWYTZER CATTLE. Comparisons of sales at several fairs in Eastern Switzerland during the present autumn show the following prices for well-bred brown cat- tle of v;fiious ages: ^ 1(1 Ciilvus, six iiioiilhs old .^^ ^ 'f/. YearHiigs ^,'^1" ,' Two-year olds JIJ" ^' Cows, four to six yoais ohl |~J^ |^ liiills, three years old ^f!f, •/" Old cows ^^ ^^' The prices charged by peasants at their iarms would be 10 per cent, less tliau these ligures. ■' A SWITZERLAND. 293 BERNESE AND BROWN SCHWYTZEB BREEDS. The collection of official pliotoj^jraphs which accompanies this report exhibits first-prize cattle of the ]5eniese, Freiburg, and brown Schwyt- zcr breeds at the national exhibition held at Luzern in 1881. These l)i<'tnies rejiresent in snilicient variety the most perfect specimens of tlie two races, and will fully Justify and confirm the high estimate in which the i)nre-l)red Swiss cattle are held by stock-breeders of all conn- liics. As to which race is best for transplanting to the United States, cNpcrience only can determine, lor even in Switzerland the palm of superiority between the two is still in dispute. Tlie tlairymen at Api)enzell, the clever moidcs at l*jinsied(^ln, and Mr. (xeorge Page, the capable American manager of the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk ('ompany, prefer the brown race. President Baumgartner, whose experience and observation include many choice herds of both races in various cantons, as well as the famous dairymen of the Emmenthal, and a number of cantonal gov- ernments which have made elaborate experiments upon farms attaclied to public institutions, all these unquestionable authorities prefer de- cidedly the spotted race. In respect to size, the merits of two races will be accurately shown by the following figures, which represent the average measurement of the i)remium cattle at a recent fair in Langenthal. The figures given arc the mean result derived by measurements of from eleven to twenty- eiitht animals in each class: Animals. Height of sliouldor. Bnlls : liemcso fipotted.. Brown Scuwytzer Cow a : UurncHC .spotted . Drown Sehwytzcr Ileifcr.s l>t'lbio iiiilkin; IS.iincso spotted IJrown Scliwytzer Inches. 53i 52J 40i Girth ho- , hindshoul- Length, ders. Inches. 70.i Inches. Ltngtb in these moasuremcnts means ft-om the hsse of horns to the root of the tail. HOW SWISS CATTLE ARE HERDED, HOUSED, AND FED. It has been stated in former reports from this consulate that dairying and cattle-growing are each year becoming more im])ortant in Switzer- land and supply a constantly increasing percentage of the gross income wbich is earned by the agricultural ixjpulatiou. The reasons for this are : First. By reason of uncertain seasons the small [)erceiitage of arable land in this country and its consequent high value, added to the com- |)etition of cheap breadstufis from Hungary, Russia, and the United States have made wheat-raising much less profitable than dairying and stock-growing. Second. The present improved methods which pnn'ail in the Swiss cattle industry enable the farmer to utilize every rood of accessible soil frr.in the rich valleys to tiie highest ])astures of the Alps and Jura, and the industrious care whicli he ilevotes to the feeding and raising of ouud of cheese do Diuicnsiona of cow : L<'Ui:tli inches.. Height do... Dimensious of bull : Lenstli do... Height do... Weight at niatuiity : Cow pounds.. Bulls and oxen do Age at maturity : Cows and bulls years.. Oxen '.do 7,1G2 to 7, 26 to 9J to 1,400 to ], 2,000 to 2, 56 7,000 1,200 1,400 to 7,4r,4 2i)J lO.i to l.-'iOO to 1,800 Principal markets : Cantons of Uri, Schwytz, .and Zng. Habitat. — Central and Western Switzerland. Color. — Bernese Spotted: White, with light red, yellow, or dnrk-red spot.'^. Ilroicn Schtrytzer : Jirown or mouse color; bulls darker, same color. Hotv long bred pure. — Bernese Spoiled: Many centuries. Brown Sclncijtzer : Since be- fore authentic hi.story. Origin. — Bernef3 of milk is 10 liters per cow, the whole year through. The highest quantity reached is 20 liters daily, given by some twenty cows of the fifty-seven, in the months of May, June, and July. The cows calve mostly in autumn and spring. The latter season is I)referred. At present, July 6, more than half the cows are herded on the Upper Alps. They were taken up in May and will come down in September. The milk, while up there, will average much less, but it will be excessively rich, owing to the sweetness of the short and scarce Alpine grass. Only the lighter cows arc sent up on the Alpine slopes. Their milk, while there, will be made into butter and cheese in the lit- tle stone huts of the herdsmen, or " Senns," and these will be brought down in the autumn, when there will be a village festival in their honor. The cloister keeps five hands only for the one hundred and twelve head of cattle. These do all the feeding, grass-cutting, milking, &c. The wages paid them are very low 5 in summer G francs a week only, and board. Board is as follows : Breal;fast : Coffee, milk, and bread. (No butter. ) Dinner : Soup, wine, meat, vegetables, and bread. (No meatFridays andfastdays.) Supper: Soup, potatoes, and bread. Potatoes changed for meat, half the evenings. They work from 4.30 in the morning till 7 in the evening. One man can milk twelve cows in one and a half hours. In winter one man is expected to attend to fifteen cows. Good cows of Einsiedeln sell readily at from $100 to $125. Even $150 to $200 is not so rare a price. These are not fancy prices. They are given because the cows warrant the investment. Good young Schwyt- zer bulls at Einsiedeln are worth about $150. One of the cloister bulls, three years old, which took second premium at Lucerne cattle fair, is valued at $200. He was worth $250 at two years old. At three to four years old bulls are sold to the butcher. Most of the Etnsiedeln calves are raised. The poorer ones are sold at two weeks old to the butchers, and bring about $G. Only one opinion prevails at Einsiedeln as to feed for milch cows. Quantity of milk may be, and is, increased by artificial feed, but the quality they claim, as do most dairymen in the country, is reduced. Farmer L , in the neighborhood of Einsiedeln, gave me the record of his herd of some twenty-five cows. He has been keeping milch cows on this farm for fifty years. The average of result was not materially different from the average of other small and select herds. His cows give 10 liters of milk each daily, >ear in, year out. He has what is a great exception, well-ventilated cow-stalls* He gives the usual allow- ance of hay, viz, 30 pounds daily to the cow, and a spoonfal of salt every other day. He also adds bran and shorts to grass — a rare exception. All his milk goes to neighboring factories, and is paid for at the stalls when milked at 4 cents a quart. His fine herd averoge about 1,300 to 1,400 SWITZERLAND. 301 pounds in weight. They aio never out of tlic .stall, nut even to water. It seemed an luuisual oeeasion for them when he had tlicm all led out into the yard for uiy inspection. At or near to Thahveil, 1 secured the statistics of a dairy usinii- the milk of seventy-live cows. These seventy-live cows furnished 700 (juaris daily, or about 10 (juarts each, year in, year out, not counting Ihc milk retained at home for the use of the families owning the cows. In July, 850 fjuarts daily are sent to the dairy. The milk is sold at 10 centimes, or 3.U cents, the liter at this placi', when not made into cheese. The Cham Condensing Company ])ay the farmers lo.;i centimes, or L'.O cents, per (juart or liter of- pounds. A fair average for .Schwytzer cows in Canton Zurich Avould be about 10 (pmrts daily fur three hundred and sixty-live days in the year. Of course this average dillers in the ditierent districts of the country, and especially in the mountainous cantons, where the product is less, though t he quality is considerably richer, owing to the ssvceter grass. So much for tlie ISrown Schwytzer as a milker. CnARACTEKISTICS OF BROWN SCHWYTZEES. In appearance, the Brown Schwytzer is not really brown at all, but mouse colored, and the nearer she is to the mouse color the more likely is the stock to be pure. She is round and })lump in foruj, with very straight back; has sleek hair, large, mild, black eyes, smooth, white horns, tipi)ed one-third their leugth with black. Ears large and lined with an abundance of white or cream-colored hair. The neck is ratlier short and powerful ; breast deep and broad; the head is iinely shaped ; nose black with white ring about it; tongue also very black and rough. The udder is large, w^ell shaped, and quite white, milk veins very i)roi!i- inent. Owing to her general plumpness of figure, .she looks somesmaller than .she really is, as she is in fact a largo cow. Her ordinary weight will average 1,300 to 1,400 Swiss pounds, and often more. Altogethei-, she is as handsome a cow as exists anywhere in Europe. The accom- panying cuts and photographs give a fair representation of her form and appearance. Ordinarily, though there are single exceptions, the Swiss cows are led only grass and hay, summer and winter, and this, in the valleys at least, is always carried to them in the stalls. The Swiss cattle stalls are usually low stone housei^, with little or no ventilation, and are almost dark. They are kept very clean, however, and the cattle are cared for almost as well as Americans care for fine horses, many being even cur- ried and cleaned daily. Every pound of manure is saved in a reservoir and i)ut into the meadows in liquid form. FEEDING AND CARING FOR BROWN SCHWYTZP^RS. By extreme care of meadows in the way of manuring, draining, water- ing, and ])reventing stock trampling them, large and excellent grass crops are secured; and, aided by a moist and temjjerate climate, three grass harvests are ol)tained yearly. In Canton Zurich grass land is Valued at $300 per acre, and good Schwytzer cows at from 8l2o to $1.10 apiece; and yet, by tlieir unusual care of both meadows and cattle, Swiss farmers earn from S to 10 per cent, on the investment, and sell milk at cheaper rates than are demanded anywhere in the United States. Naturally, the (juery is repeat<'d, What piolits ujight Western American farmers make on milch cows, with laiid at -S-IO an acre and cows at 840 302 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. apiece, were the same care taken of cows and meadows in America as is taken in Switzerland? Only two items in tlie list are against us, viz, dearer labor and "scrub" races of cows. Tiie former is outbalanced by the dearer land in Switzerland, and as to tiie "scrub" cows, it is our own fault if we continue milking tbem. They cost as much to feed and to breed and to milk as good cows, and the profit on them is not nearly as mucb. BROWN SCHWYTZERS IN THE UNITED STATES. It is worthy of remark hero that certain Americans in the Eastern and New England States have been trying these "Schwytzer" cows on Yankee soil for the last ten years, and, as 1 am informed, with the most satisfactory results. Otherwise, some of these same breeders would not have been" in Switzerland in tliis year 188'i adding to their stock of Brown Schwytzers. There is at Worcester, Mass., I think, a society called the " Brown Swiss Breeder's Association," and a "record" or " herd-book " of the Swiss cows bred and owned by them has been published. As this so- ciety is increasing its herd of Schwytzers, it would seem conclusive proof that this race of cattle takes well to the climate and the soil of the United States. The first Swiss cattle breeder and dealer to send Schwytzers to the United States was Landammann Biirgi, of Arth, Canton Schwytz. He is still in the business, and breeders and importers of cattle cannot do better than to correspond with him directly. Mr. John Bruppachei', of Riischlikon, Canton Zurich, is also engaged in delivering Swiss cattle to foreign countries. Still another dealer and breeder is Mr. Berg, at Schwytz, who owns a fine herd on the Erohn Alp, by Lake Lucerne; also Mr. Giger, of Ragatz, who breeds and sells cattle. THE BROWN SCHWYTZERS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. Within a few years the sale of the Brown Schwytzer cow to other countries has been on the rapid increase, and prices have gone up from 50 to 00 francs on a cow in a, single year. The princii)al countries im- l)orting these cows have been Italy, Germany, and Russia. Small numbers have l)een taken to England, America, and S])ain. With the exception of Spain, I have heard only satisfactory reports as to the results of these importations, even where climates and soils dif- fer so widely. STARKET VALUE OF BROWN SCHWYTZERS. A year ago I reported to the Department that Brown Schwytzers were being exported quite largely to Italy, Germany, and elsewhere, and that the prices for the same were ra])idly rising. Within a few days, by attending cattle mari;ets at Ragatz, Sargans, and points in Appenzell, I iiave collected material as to prices obtained atabsolute sales, and I find the aviMage market value constantly rising, though checked at ])resent, of course, by api)roaching winter and rainy days at the market towns. Tlie ])rices demanded varied immensely, regular dealers demanding 20 jier cent, more than did the farmers lor the similar stock. SWITZERLAND. 303 lu tho uei]L?bborlioo(l of Kaj^atz, Vasou, Mayeufeld, and down towards Canton Znri(;h, prices ior Brown Sehwitzer cattio averaj^o about as fol- lows : FraiK's. Yearliug stcei-.s :;0() to CM) Two-year-old steers 5U() 7()() Yearlinij: lieilers 200 ;W0 Cows with eair fiOO i)00 Yomi><- cows r,00 800 Old cows , -.JOO 400 Yearling bulls 700 800 One and alialf year old bulls, 900 to 1,200. Good six months old calves, about I'OO francs. At a Sargans market this month 1 found prices considerably lower than those quoted above; they vary in fact in the different valleys materially, and at difterent seasons of the year. 1 purchased for Americans, last x\ui>:ust, in Canton Zurich, a number of fine four and live year old cows, at 050 to 800 francs each, and for a year and a half old bull, 1,000 francs was paid. They were all select cattle. HOW TO EXPORT SWISS CATTLE. The freight from Zurich to Antwerp per car load is about 300 francs. The freight on cattle per ''White Cross line" from Antwerp to New York, or to Boston, is as follows : Per licinl. For grown cattio £8 For yearlings .- 7 For calves G The foregoing includes water and feed on shii^board. The men ac- companying the stock have free passage. If no men accompany the stock the sliij) company provides hands for the purpose, and an extra charge of 1 shillings per head is made. In short, the cost of transporting full-grown cattle from Zurich to Kew York may be reckoned at very nearly $50 ])er head, and for vearlings, $40. S. H. M. BYEES, Consul. United States Consulate, Zurich, October 23, 1883. SWISS CATTLE AND DAIRY PRODUCTS. KEPOET r.Y COSSl'L liEAVCUAMP, OF ,ST. GALLJJ. GOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE TO SWISS CATTLE-BREEDERS. Switzerland claims for herself one of tlu^ first positions among the IDuropean states with regard to her cattle, milk, and the products thereof. The principal bnunls are widely known in Euroi)e and th(Mr origin dates with the beginning of Swiss history. As breeders they are much sought after. When a farmer or cattle-raiser in (Jermany, Italy, or France wishes to itni)rove his breed he generall}' makes a selection from a Swiss herd, for experience has long since been made that Swiss 304 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. cattle, reared aud grazed on Alpine grass, with plenty of fresh runuiug water and pure air, are the healthiest and hardiest known to the herd- booK'. TIk' Swiss breeder pays great attention to "pure bloods," and is very (•arefiil that no ''cross" occurs, which accounts for so many " pure- bloods" one sees in the Swiss herd book. As a rule only the finest formed and best marked animals are kept for breeding purposes, and the result is that the (piality of Swiss catth' is ye-irly improving. To encourage farmers ami breeders in this respect the various cantonal and district governments in Switzerland oiler premiums in stipulated sums to be awarded at the county and district fairs, which are held in the si)ring and fall of each year. This system of governmental recog- nition and assistance is a great stimulant 1o breeders of [)ure bloods, and beyond cavil a proved success. In the award of premiums the greatest care is taken by the judges in considering all points, and the least defect as to color, form, size, &c., often ])roves disastrous to the exhibitor, and the consequence is that the farmers and breeders are always on the qui r/'re that their pure-bloods reproduce themselves in their offspring. lam informed by reliable cattlemen that this gov- ernmental assistance has had a marked effect in the cattle im[)rovement of Switzerland, and that it is confidently expected that within the next half century the Swiss breeds would not only b;^ a puie line of blooded stock, rich in the product of milk and the products thereof, but excel- lent in meat, and a perfect show animal, beautiful in form and color. About three years ago the federal authorities ordered exi)erts to make an examination into all ])edigreed cattle in Switzerland, giving names, ages, degrees, &c ; which was done, and the report condensed into a herd-book, where all the pedigreesof pure-blooded cattle in this country may be Ibund. Switzerland contains but two distinct original breeds, as follows : (1) The S[)otted or Fleckvieli race; (li) the Brown Schwytzer orBraunvie race. There are, however, several offshoots from the two principal breeds, which will be considered further on in this report. THE SPOTTED BEEED. The Swiss Spotted breed belong to the heaviest of the European races. In evidence of this iact a case is cited where a Simmenthal cow of this breed, which was ])remiumed at a cattle show held at Lucerne in 1881, weighed l,i;51 kilogi'ams. Out of other cattle premiumed at the same fair the following measure- ments, showing ])roi)ortions, &c., are given in centimeters (L inch= U.oIOU centimeters), to give some idea of the size of these animals: l>i.'8ciii)tion. Height. top of ■withers. IJiills (avcra;jo of 28 head ) . . . CowH (avLTagc of L'T lieatll. . . Ubifers (avorago of 21 hoad) 137 140 135 Circum- fercnco be- hind ahouJdcrj. 202 205 19G Lonsth from lioius to root of tail. 208 213 203 The '• Freiburg" cattle represent the heaviest and coarsest animal of this breed; is usually white, with large black s[)ots; big boned; rather heavy head; long body; large loose b irrel, and traditionally known SWITZERLAND. 305 as a sort of sluttoiious, fat-uiaking macliiuc, more particularly suitable to i)rodnce gross moat Ibr the markets at great expenditure for artificial food. The above measurements represent tlie Simmenthaler Spotted cattle. They are a trille smaller than the Freiburg cattle and are better formed with deep shoulders, ]io\verlul forearm; long, straight back; long from shoulder-blade to hip-bone, long IVom i)oint of hip to root of tail; wide, scjuare buttock, with round, close barrel ; they are usually of white color, with pale red or yellowish spots; Avliite face; nose milk color, with wide, oi)en nostrils. They are highly recommended as milkers. The size of these animals varies very much with physical features, the fertility of the country, and the more or less advanced state of its agri- culture. In the high Al^) districts, where the farms are small and the food ]>oor in quality and not very ])]enty in quantity, the cows are smaller and do not sell I'or more than $50 or 8 feet high in ceiling; there was no win- dow in the wall, except a hole, low down to the tloor, about IG inches in diameter, by which the stalls were emptied of the manure. The stench was simi)ly unbearable, and yet I was told that this was the "old way'' of stabling cattle in Switzerland, and it was thought by many that the cows produced more milk than if they had more air and room. The cows stood eight on each side, with scarcely room enough for the peasant to i)ush himself through behind the cows to clean the stable, and so close together that it seemed impossible for theni to lie down, certainly not with comfort. Advanced dairymen and expe- rienced breeders take the common sense view that, while heat greatly assists in the milk secretion, yet impure heat and air cause disease in cattle, and consequently cause the milk to sour and taint more easily. HANDLING AND CAEE OF CATTLE IN THE ST. GALLE DISTRICT. In the cantons of St. Galle, Appenzell, Graubiinden, &c, the cattle are handled through the year as follows : Caring throur/h the winter. — Through the winter, from the middle of November until the end of March or April, the cattle are continually kept in the stables, and are fed almost entirely on dry hay, which has been made on the meadows which lie in the valleys, and which are mown two, three, and four times a year, owing to the quality of the soil and the manner of manuring. These meadows are drained by open ditches when necessary, and are well manured twice a year, and some- limes three times a year, with stable and artificial dungs. The cattle :u(' fed three times a day. Milch cows are sometimes i'ed a small por- tion of corn-meal or turnips in addition to the hay. They are w^atered twice a day by being led out in the open air to a running stream, or to the tank of an artesian well. The young cattle do not receive much fat food, and are often fedthe whole winter through on the wild grass* of the high Alps, which, however, is said to contain highly strengthen- ing qualities, consisting of large quantities of very nutritious and aro- matic herbs, said also to be very good for milch cows. The conditions under which agriculture is followed here are so pecu- liar that it would be hard to compare Switzerland with either England or America. The higher the altitude the more herbs and the more the grass is fdled with spices ; in fact, one might say the middle and higher ali)ine ])astures of my consular district consist almost entirely of herbs, as they are situated from 1,700 to .'J,000 feet above the level of the sea. Only in the lowlands and valleys are the cultivated grasses grown, and even about the towns and villages in this part of Switzerland the * This ^rass grows on tlio liigbcst (vcsntatioii .altitiulf) Alps, aureakago of limb or loss of life. 310 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. fi:rasses arc about 25 per cent, herbs, and in c.onseqence of wbicb tbo liay will always bring one-lbnrtb more in the niaikets than if grown in the lowlands. To coutinne with the stable treatment, it is correct to state that the cattle are thoroughly cnrricd and rubbed once and often twice a day the trouble and time being fully repaid by the loosening of the hide on the calves and those intended for fatteniiig, as they grow much faster and accumulate flesh more readily. In well-kept stables great care is taken that the stalls are kept dry and clean, the custom being to rebed tl)e cows each day, with an armful of either fresh straw or hay litter which also adds largely to the stable-dung supply. Tin* stables are usually cleaned twice a day. The manure is either packed up in small ricks some distance from the barn or shoveled into slides, made espe- cially for the purpose, just outside the stalls, and is either put through a distilled course or doctored with water into a liquid state and drawn oil" through pipes, or dipped with a long-handled bucket .into a very long tank on wheels (somewhat resembling a street-sprinkler) and driven to the fields with either cows or oxen and thoroughly distributed over the ground, the cost and labor of which is more than doubly repaid by the soil producing two or three times the quantity, and a much better qual- ity, of hay than the ordinary dry-manuring or old turf-sod. CATTLE GRAZING ON THE ALPS. On the loiv Alpf;.—\M\\\\ the spring begins different treatment; the cows and fine breeding animals generally receive half dry and half green food. As soon as the grass has grown a little, may be in April or at the beginning of May, cattle are grazed on the lower meadows usually tethered or herded by old men, small bovs, or girls. This grazing period only lasts ten days or a fortnight, as the grass must not receive too great a check, as the result would be a small hay crop on which the herd must depend for its winter food. From this low meadow grass a move is made on to the first mountain step, which is called the " Maisass," or May seats. Sometimes we have the "Aprilsass " but not often. On the high Al2)s.— The "Maisass " runs from the middle or end of May until the middle or latter part of June, when another move takes place, as It Will not do to imperil the hay crop which is also expected from these lands. By tlie end of June the cattle are up to the high Alps, " Hochalpe," where they remain until October. In this part of Switzerland the Ali)s consist of three stations or table-lands, the highest of which can only be grazed about three weeks 111 tlie middle ot summer. At this station open sheds are sometimes put: up to protect the cattle from sudden snow-storms or cold rains which oiten occur. On the second station a more substantial structure IS bui t and is not only used as stables but as a milk and dairy station. iiieal]> IS usually owned by a commvnc, and voung cattle and milch cow.s are taken on pasturage at so much lor the season (about $0 or .$7), in which case the cows or heifers are sent directly to the "Hochalpe" in .May or June, where they remain until the end of October, when (he grass begins to get short and the weather cold, and they are brought ilirectly to the valleys. It has been thought proper to minutely describe this system of graz- ing in order to explain the large How and the excellent (piality of milk obtained in the Alps. The results are, cows fed on dry hay iii winter, calves timed to come, if possible, in February or March ; green feed SWITZERLAND. Jll in early spring- starts the milk socrotlon ; later on, when tlie good effects of this'are ontlie wane, the milk ])ro(lnetion gets a tresh stimnlus from the nutritions grasses on the '"Maisiiss/' Fnrther on there is another change to the tine short grass and aromatic herbs of the '• Hoehalpe," where the milk js richest in tlavor and contains the most milk-snuar. Its delightful sweetness and flavor is unattainable by any other leeding in the world, and this is imparted to the butter and cheese, which, when well made, are in the liighest state of perfection. It should be understood, however, that high alpine grazing is not generally followed by the larger farmers or dairymen where several cows are kept, for in such cases the herd is stabled and grazed in the valleys in the neighborhood of the towns and villages where the milk is sold. The high Alps are grazed by herds of young cattle and cows owned by the peasants, which are picked up by ones and twos all over the neighborhood of the alp. The herd, when made up to the number . which the alp is bv law registered to graze for the season, is driven u\) to the " Alphiitte," " Sennhiitte," or chalet, where the cows are milked and given a little salt and bran boiled in whey with a little hay, after which they are allowed to rest a few hours in the stables. They are then taken out to the pastures, where they remain until the evening, when thev are driven to the " liiitte" to be milked and sent out again directly afterwards. On very hot days they are kept in the stables during the hottest part of the day, also in cold rainy weather they are stabled, especially 'if there is no woods on the alp. dairyi:n-g on the high alps. The '' Sennhiitte" is usually intended for summer occupancy. It is a long low and rudely constructed shed, mainly built out of roughly hewn pine logs with one end mortised into the rocks of the mountain side, and the others laid across each other, and fastened together with long beech-wood nails. The solid roof covering consists of heavy beams of U feet in diameter, with boards 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and about 3 feet long laid on top. These are fastened down by having several long poles stretched across them and weighted down with a lot of heavy stones weighing from 50 to 100 pounds to keep the roof from being blown off. The site selected for the stables must have near it plenfy of fresh running water, necessary for the cattle and important in the care of the milk and butter. At one of these stations on the high Alps the milk and butter retain the sweetness for weeks without the least taint. The " Sennhiitte " is residence, cowshed, milk-house, and butter and cheese manufactory all together. The milk-house, butter and cheese department is generally in one room. The cow-sheds, where the milking is done, adjoins and is connected by a door with the milk, butter, and cheese room, and the room occupied bv the tenders of the herd. The services of two people are generally rerpiired to attend to the dairy ]n^oi)eriy, and are usually a man and woman ; they are called the " seun " and " sennerin." The cows are milked twice a day, and the l)roilnctof each milking is weighed and placed to the credit of the owner of the cow separately, and at the end of the season a balance-sheet is made out showing exactly what has been the product of the cow during her stav at the '• hiitte." Alpiculture in Switzerland is of very old stand- ing. It is said that some alps have declined within tin.' last half century oO^per cent. Some have increased slightly of late years on account of cantonal and central government prcimiums being offered for the im- provement of alinculture. 312 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. PURITY or ST. CrALLE MILK. The milk product of my consular district is important. Much of it is (.'onsumtMl, both in its natural state and its various forms of manufact- ure ; but Swiss statistics are so very meager that it is difficult to arrive at any approximate amount of either the ])roduct or consumption. As a rule farmers and dairymen ])refer to sell tlie milk in its natural stfite ou the grounds; it seems to them tlnit there is more money in it than by converting it into cheese and butter. The custom, therefore, is for those in the neighborhood of towns and cities to deliver the milk directly to the consumer at so much ])er quart, say 3i cents. Chemical analijsis of milk at SI. Galle. [Vrora the cantonal chemical laboratory.] Per cent. Dry Hubfitiincc v 12. Fat :?. 4 Caseino and albnmoii 4.0 Milk-sxifjar 4. Ulii Milk-salt The local laws protect the ]uirity of the milk, and a dairyman or milk- man Alluumm 12.85 Asb salts 1. 8'2 This milk is sold by wliole.sale at 13 francs i)er quart, and is considered the beginning of a most formidable rival to the famous Angelo Swiss Condensing Milk Company at Cham, where sugar is largely used and which increases the cost and makes the milk no better. This Gossan company has only been established a little over one year, and the shares are at a premium of 20 to 30 per cent., which goes to show that there mu.st be fair returns for the money invested in it. CONDENSED-MILK FACTORIES IN THE UNITED STATES. The condensed nnlk is so easily portable, the natural facilities are so ^reat, the necessity in tlie isear future for an outlet to our dairy prod- ucts so im])ortant, that it seems to me the v.onutry j^ar exccllcncci'or tho manufacture of (condensed milk should be the United States. Every- thing is in ourfavor — country, location, (tlimate, natural facilities, cheap urass, cheai) cows, inventive genius, native ai)i)li(^ation, and all the(|ual- ihcations necessary to a formidable conqx'titor. If our factories will make as good condensed unsweetened milk as is nnide in Switzerland it is almost absolutely certain that we can supply Great Britain, her 314 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. c'olouies, aiul the South American States witb this, for tlio future, im- portant staple. BUTTER-MAKING IN SWITZERLAND. Tlje lirown Scliwytzer cow is i)eculiarly adapted to butter making, liocause of the cream-globules bein.a- unusually large in the milk, wliicli rise more easily to llje surface, and the cream is churned more easily and (|iii('.Icer into butter. It is known that the fatly substance — butter— is not in solution in the milk, but exists in the tiny drops, or globules. One pound of milk con- taining 40 per cent, of butter should hold about 4(),()(K),0()0 globules. Every one knows that when milk is left to stand for a length of lime the cream rises to the surface and is easily separated, leaving the " skim- milk" beneath. The largest of these little globules is estimated (in cream) to weigh about .OOOOOOOi milligrams. These globules of fat being lighter than milk, naturally seek the position which their special gravity entitles. The larger globules rise the quickest and lirst, the medium ones next, and so on. The average gravity of milk is about 1.030. The difference between this and .985 brings the cream to the surface under a slow process ; the very small globules never come to the surface. In different breeds of cattle,' with dilferent kinds of food and treatment, the quantity and size of the globule's vary very much. In v:"siting the Centrifugal Butter Factory at VVyl, in my consular dis- trict, 1 saw milk l)eing tested in a glass tube about ir> inches long and 1 inches in diameter; after twenty-four hours' staiuling the cream ap- ])ear('(l to have risen perfectly, leaving a clear and blue line of '•skim- milk," but on an examination of the "skim-milk" there were found glob- ules still in it, of the size upwards of ^,177 of an inch in diameter, show- ing a wonderful richness of the milk of the Brown Schwytzer cow. As a rule, the Swiss dairymen hold to the old system of setting milk shallow as the best and quickest mode of getting the cream. The ves- sel generally used is made of wood, and is from JG 10 20 inches in cir- cumference at the top and 8 to 10 inches at the bottom, with sloi)itig sides. Some advanced dairymen, however, disagree with this, esj)ecially as regards wood, and are using the ordinary American milk-pan, claiming that they can be kept cleaner and are not so easily impregnated with taints, «S:c. The milk under ordinary circumstances stands from twenty-four to forty-eight hours, when it is ''skin)med " and turned into the chuin. Sometimes the Holstein barrel is used, and sometimes the old upright I)iston churn with ]ierforated holes at the end of the i)iston ; but the ciiurn generally used throughoutthe country is the revolving barrel, with stationary dashers on the inside, very wide or large circumference, and levolves on its axis like a grindstone. The churn is tilled about half full of cream, at a temperature, more frequently guessed at than tested, of. near 50° to 080 F., and churned lit Irom oO to 40 revolutions per minute, according to the season. The liutter comes in twenty or thirty minutes. The churner should be care- iul to listen to the slightest alteration in the sound, and when detected, ilie churning should at once cease, and if, ujjou examination, small par- ticles of butter, no larger than a pin's head, are lound, the churning is l)ro])!-rly finished. The buttermilk should be drawn oil through a hair sieve. Alter the buttermilk has been drawn olf the i)articles caught in the sieve should be emptied back and the churn filled about half full of SWITZERLAND. 315 1)1110 water, when after a lew revolutions of the chnrn the Mater and buttermilk should ajLjain ho drawn oil", and this i)ro('ess continued three or lour times until the water comes out of tlie churn as (;lear as wh<>u it was put in. This i)rocess of washing- and cleansing- not only takes out the buttermilk entirely, but consolidates the butter, so that very little wjrkiiif^ is necessary to make it i)ack properly. The butter is made up into small rolls of one pound and one-half pound each, a.nd is sold to dealers at from .■>0 to oa cents per ])ound, and to the consumer at about 45 cents ])er pound. Most of the Swiss butter is made irom sweet cream, and salt is never mixed with it unless specially so ordered. SWISS IxAIPORTS AND EXPORTS OF BUTTER. The following table will give an idea, of the approximate amount of butter (including other fats) im])orted into and exported from Switzer- land during the five years of 1878 to 1882, inclusive : Tears. Imports. Exports. 1878 'Kllaqraws. o,:n 1.700 .^ 821, 700 .'■., or>L", coo 5.180, 2;iO 4,'J.';t,i;cu KilogramK. 4').'> 7(i0 1879 411 70O ]8fe0 .''loi;, U)0 iH.m 8:;i;, 400 1?82 ai^, 000 The Swiss butter when properly ina;le is of a deep yellow (iolor, fine nutty Uavor, and delicate sweet taste. The home demand is about ('(pial to the supply, and if any difJ'erence, hardly sufficient. CENTRIFUGAL BUTTER-MAKING IN SWITZERLAND. The new system of making butter by means of centrifugal force is being introduced at Wyl, in my consular district. The discovery is German, and was first introduced at the International Dairy Show at Ilamburg, in 1877. The complete separation of the cream from the milk as taken fresh from the cows occupies about 35 minutes. The Centrifugal lUitter Company of Wyl claim that they (;an not only make better and cleaner butter by centrifugal force, but that they can make 15 per cent, more butter from the same amount of milk than the old mode of setting the milk and churning in the usual v/ay. This butter is sold in the market at St. Gall, and gives general satisfaction. CHEESE-MAKING IN SWITZERLAND. Cheese-making in Switzerland is a very old industry, butonly during this century has it developed so as to take a i)osition of im])ortan(!e in the world's markets. On the high mountains, during thesiimmer seasons, considerable attention has been paid to the manufactory of (dieeso by th(^ peasants for many years, but not until about 18.30 were assocaations formed for this ])uri)0se. From that jieriod, then, one might say, Switz- eiland dates as a cheese-making countr\'. The best-known kinds of cheese made in this country arc^ as follows: Eramenthaler, Gruyere, Spalen, Saanen, Fromaggio della paglia (in the Valmagia Tessino), Ursercn, liellelay, Vacherin, Schabzieger, Bat- 316 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. telmatt. The Diost importaut of these cheeses is considered the Em- inenthaler, which is generaliy made of whole milk (Fettkiise), that is, milk which has not been skimmed. These are of the largest-sized cheese made in Switzerland, and weigh from 75 to 125 pounds; the (iiameter is from 3 to 4} feet. In some of the very large Victories cheese is made in the morning and in the evening from fresh milk. The nsiial custom, however, is to make hut once a day, in the morning, and lor tills ])iirp()se the evening's milk Mhich has been set is skimmed in the iiioniiiig and i)oured into the large kettles. To this cream is sometimes a(hl('d the fresli morning milk, and the whole heated up to about 107° to lll!'^ l'\, during Avhich time it is well stirred until no more Hakes of cream <;an be seen on the surface. At the highest temperature the evening skim-milk should be added and the heating stopped at a tern- I)erature of 80° to 98°. The rennet used is sometimes milk-vinegar, and sometimes pieces of calve's stomachs, steeped for twenty-four hours in whey, which is thor- oughly mixed with the milk. In thirty-five or forty minutes the milk gets thick and iscoagulated, whenitiscutui) intosquares with awoodenknife, after which a shallow wooden bowl with a handle is used to break the curd evenly into pieces about the size of small apples. At this stage a curd-breaker is used to break the curd into small pieces about the size of peas, when the breaking is stopped and the curd allowed to settle for ten or lifteen minutes, after which a fire is again started under the ket- tles and the whole stirred until a temjierature of about 140° is reached, Avhen the kettle is taken from the fire and the stirring coutinueil until t he curd is ripe. The mode of testing differs among the cheese makers. iSome squeeze between their fingers and others bite the curd. Curd to be i)roperly " ripened" should be stirred from an hour to an hour and a (juarter, and a minute or two before the stirring ceases it should be stirred so rapidly that a sort of funnel to thebottom of thiekettle is formed, which makes the curd settle more compactly and be more easily taken out with a cloth. The cake is formed by the curd being placed in a cloth, incased with a hoop the width it is desired that the cheese to have depth. Sometimes regular cheese presses somewhat like the American press is used, and sometimes a Aveight or derrick press ; about 17 or 18 pounds of pressure to 1 pound of cheese for twenty-four hours is employed, when the cheese is taken out and put in the cemented cellar to cure. During the process of curing the cheese is rubbed daily with salt for two or three weeks, when the cheese is taken from tlie cellar to the cheese room above ground, where the salt rubbing is resumed every other day for a few months, when the salting is less frequent. ^ For large cheese often a year and sometimes a longer period is required betore it is rii)e or may be used. From 41 to 5.} per cent, of salt is required. (lood ICmmenthaler cheese, when ripe, should beacompact mass witii- out (tracks, but when tested on tlie inside should contain round small holes about the size of peas, wliich must contain a little liquid. These holes should be evenly distributed all through the cheese. The cheese ought to melt on the tongue without leaving any small crumbs and have an agreeable, sweet taste. Magerla.se, or skim-milk cheese, is generally made in the winter when little milk is at dis])osal, and the i)rocess is similar to the Eminent haler, except the milk is skimmed and more rapidly cooked without lln' but- ter substance, which makes it harder and tougher. Grui/a-c cliees(^ is also made very like the Emmenthaler except the rennet is added at a lower temperature, say 8Gc> F. SWITZERLAND. 317 Battelmutt cheoso is inacU' entirely for home consuinptioii, as it will not bear transport, it is made Ironi iresh milk directly eoajjnlated with rennet and boiled for Ibrtyiive or lifty minutes, stirred for one- quarter of au hour and then huni;- up in a elotli for the whey to dri[> olf, when it is put into wooden bowls and salted daily until consumed. Vachcrm cheese is a kind of cream cheese, and is oidy made in the winter, but as a smeary clieese is considerably used and is very palat- able. , . . ., .1 iSaancn is a skim-milk cheese and is so hard that it is easily grated ; it is used mncli in soups throughout Switzerland; it is made in cakes of 15 to 25 pounds. . TJrserm cheese is made mostly in the canton Uri ; the cakes weigh from 50 to GO pounds. It is also made of skim-milk. IScliahzieqer, or Krautcr cheese— T\\\^ is a very important manufacturo in this and the southern parts of Switzerland; the number of pounds made yearly is said to be several millions. The process of making is as follows : The milk is thoroughly skimmed after sitting as long as possible, when it is poured into a kettle and heated up to a boiling point, and about 20 per cent, of cold fresh buttermilk is added ; after which the heating is continued, but not at such high pressure as before, and sour whey is added and the kettle is taken from the fire. After it has coagulated, the curd is put in large, strong hemp sacks or boxes, the bottom of which is perforated with holes, and pressed with large stone weights or beam pressure. The zkcjer then undergoes a kind of fermentation at about 02° V., which lasts a month and a half or two months. If the temperature is too high the zieqer is apt to be readily decomposed, while if the tem- perature is too 'low it will get blue and tough. When the zieger has been put through a proper fermentation, it is put in a special mill and thoroughly ground, during which process 5 per cent, of salt and 2^ per cent, of dried Mcli-lotus eoeridea, Lam., is added. This clover gives the cheese its bluish color and peculiar taste. The next process is to stamj) the curd into small wooden forms, lined with cloth, which are about 5 or G inches high and 3 or 4 in diameter. The cheese "cures" for about one year, but is frequently used after being kept in cool, dry rooms for six months. The small forms are emptied by scraping with a knile. When the cheese is to be eaten it is lirst grated to a fine powder, and either used alone on bread or mixed with butter. Skim-milk cheese is sold in the markets here at G cents, and the cream cheese at about 20 cents per pound. Cheese factories are supplied with milk in a simdar manner to the corideused-milk companies, and pay about the same prices. From good, rich milk 8 to 11 per cent, of cream cheese can be reckoned to the weight of the milk. The whey of milk is still boiled down into sugar in this part of Switzerland. The whey is boiled until only a brown sirup remains in the kettle, which is poured in Hat wooden dishes and left to stand for twenty-four hours, when it becomes like crystaUized yellowish sand. This is washed in cold water and sold for medicinal purposes. EXPORTS OF SWISS CHEESE. The amount of cheese exported from Switzerland during the last ten years is estimated as follows: *' Kilo;:raiiis. ■I a' A 5, 350, 150 S:::::;::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::""------------ ''^'^^•^^^ 318 CA.TTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. l(i(in Kilograms. \y^:] 12,556,300 I077 1«), 271, GOO IS-i 17,79l»,000 \f,~C U),f)7t),900 1P8( 21,017,400 |h81 = 21,718,900 J^So 21, 031), 700 2(5.02:., 700 To evory coiuleii.sed-milk factory, butter and cheese factory, sbould be attached or connected pig-sties, as the waste milk is hirie. This waste at some lactones 1 have visited is soUl at 1 centime per quart or liter. " ^ PERCENTAGE OF CATTLE BREED.S IN .SWITZERLAND. The total number of cattle in Switzerland is reckoned atlJOOOOO iicad. ' ' Out of this number three-fifths are said to be of the Spotted breed and twohfths of the Brown. lu my consular district the Brown bchwytzer stands at about 95 per cent, and the Spotted breed at about o ]>er cent. The total number of milch cows is estimated to be about So'^ 4137 head. ' - -o/ll-f '"'^'^f ^^^'erao-ed 10 quarts per day, the daily vield would be ..,.>-4,J<0 quarts, or l,0o7,2Sl,000 quarts in the year, countin- 300 milk- in, i»" (lays. * Mr. Charles Kuhn, of Degersheim, has had the kindness to furnish me witha copy ot lis dairy book for the last year, which gives a very good insight as to the mode of conducting dairies here, and is herewith in- (Mosed, marked A. SWISS CATTLE IN THE UNITED STATES. I<>om tlie general observations made during mv residence in Switzer- land 1 am convinced that the Brown Sch wytzer is a verv desirable ani- inal o import to the United States, and would do better with proper handling there than here. In searching for information on this point I applied to Col. G. Burgi, ot Arth, in the canton of Schwytz, a very large pure-blooded breeder and exporter, and he informs me that the first shipment of the Brown Schwytzer breed to the United States was made in the month of September, 1 809, from his stables. Quoting his words, he says: Srkm'"-lllor^b;h^'?n^.^?i ^''%'h'' f.^.^^"'""^'. Mass., 7 heifers au.l 1 btill, (irst quality. H .1, ,:• w, . / A ''^ "' *.^^ U"'^"'^ ^^''^■''^ <>"'y ^^cro resold to Mr. D. G. Akl- cl., (.1 Worcester, Mass. and Mr. David Hall, of Providence, R. I. To iiui-o from Gaelic'; ^,>^n!;!'i:!::^.r" ^r:^ 'f\ ^"^^ *l'« ''^'^ '"^'"»«' '^^ ^r. Mdncb S 1^ a u-c Tl o V. vv /v ?iV '°.'^*'°'\'^^ aiunuils and l.t'lieves iu scein- tl>at tl>o line is kept V orV'iM. ?,..H f *'-^'*'"^''^ 'n''\y ^' ^l^^'S" aniniaJs, iu milk, iresl,, form, color, and V. ',1 ,.:;:,; ^"t«' 'g«nt farmerd lorme.l tliems.^lves into a society for importing t V V 7/ f,^*"V--'''''*'^'^^ and a herd-book was begun. I am inform-d With u ' 'o!!;'.^^^t\•V"^•"/*'^^^^'^^? ^'^^ """''^^'^- 1'^»» increased^ln 18«l to 109 heid ma m/ke^^^^^^^ Hito de ails about this lirst shipment, what other remarks I ?M<\ Vll^ i,n 1.1 i or x^"' 'T ^;',''*^ ^" *^'^* ^""^'^'-^^ "^' ^^''^ «°cicty, as made public 1-erv i n eV t i n -r nn ^ ^t'"'^''''' ?^'^''- h ^'''f'^™"?? ^o the Brown Sch wytzer race.' This \cr\ ii'tciestjn.-rpnidicatlou contains the statutes of the society, gives the pedi-Tce 'l^'.'dimlt™ f '';'•' ""v '-'"^vI»«neo originally imported &e. lollirve'tha ^ ntint nouV '^'' l^fTr, '^^.•' "' ^'^"^ ^"^t'^'^ states agree with the imported ani- mal amazingly, and that tbe change of soil and handling is entirely to thoir good ; SWITZERLAND. 319 that they are equally as healthy, -ive more milk, and Ijccoino larger in stature thau anion" their native inoiintains. ,,-,■, c^^ .. ^ ■ ^ ,• Milk trills of these animals have hoen made m tlio Uniteil States which lor heifers (two years old) and 1 bull (hftccn mouths) shipped UtV> lU- "'isS'' August 5 : rthreevear-old cow, 10 heifers (one and oue-half years old), and 1 bull (eight luonths old) shipped to Messrs. Rider & Eldrege, Middle I alls. ror importation the Americans prefer the young cattle that have been raised in the mountains, as they are hardier, staml the voyage better, and hccomo acclimated sooner than the older animal. ^„ . ^xi * +i . t^,;^,-,i 00 to 250 francs; cows, 3o0 to dOO Iraiics. The purchase of heifers (or bulls) a year and a half old is recom- mended, as they arc not only cheaper to send, but stana the voyage ""^' ""'''''- ^ EMOKY P. BEAUCHAMP, Consul. United States Consulate, m. Gallc, October L»0, 1885. A mWc-book of Charles Kahn, Dcjonhdm. from Juli/, 1882, to June, 1883.* [Esplanatiuns : M., moinioj; ; E.,cvcniu-; i liter = 1 pint ; 1 liter = 1 (luart. 1 ! July 15. July 30. i Ang. 10. Aug. 30. Sept . 15. Sept. 30. Oct. 15. Oct. 30. IN'ame of the cow. M. 9 11 0 9 10 E. 9 lu G 9 10 M. 9 12 8 10 9 E. 9 M. 8 E. 8 10 7 0 9 M. 7 9 7 9 8 E. 7 10 C 9 9 M. 4 8 8 10 9 E. 3 7 9 9 9 M. 4 8 9 10 0 E. 2 G 8 9 8 M. "5 8 9 9 "14' 7 E. a 8 8 8 is' c M. E. 12 1 10 7 7 10 1 9 G 8 7 8 10 G r (J AVolfli 7 Porhcr Hirschli Uristhopf Klupp 9 9 8 10 Si •The cows -were tested on the 15th aud the 30th of each month in half liters. 320 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. A milk-book of Cliarhs Kitliti, Degorsheim, Jc — Coiitimieil. [Es plana tioua: M., moruing; £., oveniiig; J litor=l pint; lliter=l quart.] Nanio of cow. Nov. 15. Xov.30. Dec. 15. Dec. 30. Jau. 15. Jan. 30. Feb. 15. Fob .30. M. E. M. E. M. E. M. 1 E. M. E. M. E. 17 lU 4 G 7 M. 17 10 C 7 5 9 9 12 5 E. 15 14 4 5 3 7 8 10 3 M. 16 IC G 7 4 8 !l 12 G E. 19 20 n IG 17 15 14 4 G 20 19 0 14 Bctlili 17 5 7 7 10 s IG G 8 0 10 14 G 7 7 8 (i G G j 5 r. 1 5 r^ AVolfli 7 0 8 1 7 8 7 ! (i 7 (! 7 n 4 7 •> 7 i 9 ' H S 7 18 9 » 7 Kliitzli 1" 8 10 C fi 12 n ii 1 12 12 6 10 4 12 G 10 4 11 5 G G 1 G i 5 G 1 1 4 Naiiif of cow. Mai p. 15.1 Mar. 30. 1 Apr. 15. Apr. 30. May 15. May 30. Juno 15. June 30. M. E. M. E. M. 1 E. M. E. M. E. M. E. M. E. M. K. Brlino Rethli IH 15 c 7 14 13 4 G 15 1 13 15 13 G 4 7 0 14 15 7 8 12 i 13 13 15 G ' G G 7 11 13 4 G G ■s 2 IJ 13 14 (i 7 11 12 4 5 12 15 G 8 17 G 0 11 14 10 12 13 1 14 4 G i; • 7 15 IG 4 1 4 10 12 4 i5 c 8 •{ 12 8 10 12 5 G IG 3 9 10 4 12 10 7 18 8 Wolfli II 14 Ilirschli I 12 4 15 G 8 10 3 13 8 8 12 5 15 C 7 10 4 13 8 !) 12 4 15 6 7 8 ■ 8 10 12 3 : 4 13 ! 14 7 9 12 4 14 7 10 2 12 4 Kliitzli Hrist liopf Schimniol 7 9 3 12 8 10 4 14 9 4 3 10 H Name of cow. Briine ... Bcthli ... Daibflli . . WolUi ... PorhfT .. llirs(-lili . Kliitzli . . Bristliopf Klnpp ... Schimniol Jnngferli Number of trial Total . 917 3G5 .--..9 2, 100 24 3.')3 7.354 365 7.3 2, li«4 19 315 8.3 290 G. fi 2, 407 17 232 6.82 2.-.7 6.8 1,753 10 159 7. 95 150 8 0 ),102 18 389 10.8 273 10. K 2,948 18 103 4.528 273 4.5 1,230 8 210 13. 125 120 13.1 1,575 2 35 8.75 30 " 2C2 SWITZERLAND. 321 CATTLE IN THE CONSULAR DISTRICT OF GENEVA. ^ REPORT BY COXSUL ADAil^ I have collected the following information in reply to the cattle circular of Jul}' 18, and the memoranda added August 25. Cattle census. — According to the Swiss cattle census taken in 1876, the number of cattle in this district was 193,401, distributed as follows : Geneva 6, 949 Tessin 44, IfcS Valais 6o,024 Vaucl 77.243 From 1866 to 1876 there was an increase for all Switzerland from a total of 998,291 head to 1,035,856 head, which is supposed to have been maintained at the same rate since, owing to the rise in values and en- couragement given by the local governments. Breeds. — The different breeds are so intermingled that it is impossible to give the percentage of each, or the percentage bred for the dairy and the butcher. Tessin alone has a distinct and uniform breed, known by- its brown and even color. MEAT-CATTLE IMPORTS. In the four cantons named, constituting this district, cattle are only fattened for the butcher when they cease to serve for the dairy and re- production. The supply being unequal to the consumption, there is no exportation save of choice individuals pure bred, but a large importa- tion of cows and oxen from Baden and Austria and of beeves for the butcher from Italy. Nothing comes from the United States, whether cattle or i)roducts of the dairy. American butter and cheese for Stcitzerland. — A suggestion made in one of my previous reports that American butter and cheese would find a ready sale here if put upon the market at certain prices was rather ridiculed by the Swiss press, but was certainly true, and perhaps is worth renewing, for Swiss butter is not of the best or the cheapest, and the cheese eaten by the people is bad. American preserved meats. — Preserved American meats are already sold here in large quantities. Live cattle and fresh meat must wait for better communications with the seaboard. The tunneling of the Alps, and the new lines of through traffic north and south and east and west, are likely to make of Switzerland a great international entrepot and to change all the conditions of the market. RESULTS OF BREEDmG- FROM IMPORTED CATTLE. The cattle imported into Switzerland are never bred pure, and soon disappear as distinct breeds on crossing with the native breeds. These are of uncertain origin, and perhaps of high antiquity; at any rate must be treated as practically indigenous. No comparison can be made with their character and condition in their native countries, nor can one say what has been the effect on the breed by domestication here. Nor have I any information as to the extent and effect of their introduction into other countries. Whether they would produce in the United States H. Ex. 51 21 322 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. oflspiiiij; superior to the production here can only be kuowu upou trial, but their superiority is so largely due to the excellence of the Swiss grasses that it may be doubted. The result suggested might very likely be realized iu the later generations, alter the breed had been thoroughly acclimated. It is certainly not worth while to import any of the small mountain breeds, such as are found around the Gothard, in the cantons of Tessin, the Grisons, the Valais, and Uri, as the very i)eculiar condi- tions of soil and climate under which they thrive at home could hardly be found east of the Eocky Mountains, if there, and they would ntit bear so long a journey well. CHARACTERISTICS OF SWISS CATTLE. The original of all the Swiss breeds is perhaps the race found in the primitive cantons. Two races are generally spoken of, the Spotted and the Brown, of even color, which again are subdivided into varieties according to origin, habitat, color, &c. I have added iu a table all the details available of four breeds which have been selected as the fittest for domestication in the United States. It is to be said of them all that they have reached their excellence throjgh the abundance and richness of the food-supply, and careful breeding aud management, which have been carried to great perfection in the regions where they are found — the cantons of Bern, Zug, Lucerne, Schwytz, &c. The foregoing information is drawn principally from a report made to me by Mr. K. Schatzmann, director of the Station Laitiere Suisse, at Lausanne, the author of several publications and probably the most competent authority in my district on the subject. The annexed table is entirely filled up by Mr. Schatzmann. LYELL T. ADAMS, Consul. United States Consulate, Geneva, Novcmher 21, 1884. Statistics of Swiss cattle suitable for introduction into the United States. Name of breed. Annual average pounds of milk. Milk to pounds of butter. Milk to pounds of cheese. Cantons where found. Pounds. 5,100 5,100 5,840 5,840 Po^mds. 28 to 30 Pounds. 11 to 12 Argovio, Baslo, Bern, Solenre, Zurich. Freiburg, Vaud, Neufchatel. Schwjtz 30 to 32 12 to 13 Primitive and Eastern Switzerland. [Size in centimeters at maturity.] Name of breed. Cow. Bull. Ox. Height. Girth. Height. Girth. Height. Girth. 160 to 162 Kioto 102 140 to 150 136 210 210 to 216 205 to 210 200 to 210 160 to 165 IGOto 165 105 130 240 240 202 200 180 to 190 180 to 190 170 to 180 140 250 25D 230 230 MALTA. Statistics of Siciss-cattle, i/c — Continued. 323 XaniB of breed. Simmenthal Fivibarg ... Frati:;eu . .. Sfhwv'z ... Live ■weight. Cow. Pounds. 1,000 to 2, 000 1,000 to 2, (100 900 to 1,200 800 to 1,500 Bull. Pounds. 2, 400 to 3, 000 2, 400 to 3. 000 1,200 to 1,500 1,000 to 1,500 Ox. Pou7ids. 3, 000 to 3, 200 3, 400 to 3, 500 1,400 to 1,600 1, 200 to 1, 600 Age at matu- rity. Tears. 4 4 3i "Weight of meat at matu- rity in per cent, of liv- ing weight. 57 to 60 57 to 60 57 to 60 57 to 60 Xame of breed. Color. Description. Simmenthal J^ed or tawny (fauve) . Freiburg I Black or white Fratigen | Tawny, white Schwytz ! Brown, white and black. 5Great height, strong workers, good ( milkers, easily fattened. Medium height, excellent milkers, easily fattened. Same as preceding. HOUSING, FEEDING, AND BREEDING IN THE GENEVA DISTRICT. Methods of housing. — In the plains cattle are stabled the whole year. In the mount- ains they are pastured in summer; fed on hay and aftermath in winter. Feeding. — Natural fodder (hay, aftermath, grass). lu winter in plains artificial fodder is added, bran, flour, distillery-refuse, malt, &c. Breeding. — Bulls are used from the age of one and a half years. Cows bear the first calf when two or three years old. SOIL, SUBSTRATUM, AND GRASSES. In the Alps, granitic. In plains, Soil. — Interminable variety. In Jura, calcareous alluvial and diluvial; all varieties mingled. Substratum. — Similar composition to preceding. Cultivated grasses. — Natural grasses of very great variety in mountain pastures, the plains cultivated grasses, timothy, clover, rye-grass, lucerne, esparcette, &c. In CATTLE IN MALTA. ^o cattle are raised in Malta. The cattle that reach here for con- sumption are brought from Barbary, Tunis, and other neighboring coun- tries. They are mainly classed as bullocks, are brought here alive, their fattening completed, and slaughtered as needed by consumers. JOHl^]' WORTHINGTON, United States Consulate, Malta, October 12, 1885. Consul. 324 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. ITALY. CATTLE AND DAIRYING IN LOMBARDY. REPORT BY CONSUL GRAIN, OF MILAN. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the circular of the Department dated July 18, 1883, which, however, did not reach this consulate until the 1st instant. SWISS CATTLE IN LOMBARDY. There exist in Lombardy only milch cows of Swiss breeds. . They are yearly imported in large numbers from Switzerland, to supply the place of those which have become uuprolitable for the dairy. In the irri- gated districts grass is cut during eight mouths of the year, and on the' winter meadows {marciiorio) during ten mouths. This fresh grass, sup- plemented with oil cake, meal, &c., is fed to the cattle, so as to produce the largest quantity of milk. Such a nourishment continued through so many months in stables, and in a mild climate, naturally soon ex- hausts the milking properties of cows, and necessitates the annual sub- stitution of about 15 per cent, of the herd. The loss by this is more than, met by the large product of milk, which averages yearly from 3,000 to 4,000 liters per head. Dairymen having 100 or more head ordinarily find it to their interest to send the calves, when a few days old, to the slaughter-house. This state of things having existed for a long time, it is evident that scarcely a trace remains of original Lombard breeds. The so called Bergamasche and Brescian races are only a reproductiou of Swiss stock. The foregoing applies to the large stationary dairies of the Lombar- dian plain. In the irrigated district, bordering the river Po, there are large dairy herds, which are driven in summer to the rich pastures of the Alps, and Avhich remain there until autumn, when they are taken back to the plain. There are also small dairymeii in the mountains, who drive their cattle to the plain in winter. In these migrations are also included oxen, being raised for labor or beef; and the proprietors both of the plain and mountain districts supply themselves with dairy cows of Swiss breeds and oxen from the Tj^rol. In the Alpine districts there are small races which take the name of the valleys in which they are j raised, but they are a Swiss stock. Large breeds taken from the plain to high mountain districts, and there propagated, undergo in a few gen- erations a decided change, from the efiect of a different climate, soil, and diet. They become smaller, more hardy, and nimble of foot, and other- 1 wise adapted to the requirements of their habitat. Lombard dairy- men import their cows principally from the canton Schwytz, but some] are brought from the cantons of Unterwalden, Zug, Appenzell, St. | Gallen, and Glarus. They are preferred in the order named, and if j breeds of these stocks are required they should be brought from those j cantons. I The Tyrolese oxen above mentioned are first brought while young i into the province of Brescia, and thence scattered over the plain under the name of Brescian oxen. They are short horned, of a grayish-white color, have the characteristics of the Podolico race. They are tall, ITALY. 325 beavy, white skiimed, and easy to fatten. If breeders of this race are desired they shonUl be obtained from Merano and Lana, in the Tyrol. Some oxeu^are brou ■?'>*- ^ ITALY. 327 summer is from 18° to 23° Reaumur, and in winter about 8° E6aumur, rarelv falling; to 3° E6aumur. The tufa referred to varies in thickness from 100 to 300 meters in depth, is rich in potash feldspar, and is cov- ered with a luxuriant growtli of wikl grass. Over this tract of laud cattle of the buttalo race, the origin of which is unknown, roam in a semi-wild state. This race has never, to any extent, been crossed in breeding, but retains many pecnliarities that render' it exceedingly hard to manage. In .color the cattle are black, or reddish black ; are shaped somewhat like an ordinary cow, not so evenly, however, with short, round necks, large and curving horns, and with the rump somewhat larger and heavier than that of the ordinary cow. The "Terra di Lavoro" contains about 12,000 of these cattle, bred mainly for the purpose of yielding milk for cheese-making. During the period of their milk-giving, and after they become useless for this pur- pose they are used before the plow or for other purposes which have in view the deveiopmeut of the soil. When they become unfit for such purposes they are turned over to the butcher. This occurs when they are about fourteen years old. Some are in the first instance fed for the butcher, and in such cases the meat is of the first quality, but in the majority of cases the meat of cattle whose lives are passed in the manner in which these buffaloes live is neither very tender nor very desirable. The cheeses made from the milk of the buffalo cows are called " lat- ticini." They are close and heavy in consistency ; are sweet, and are consumed entirely within the limits of their production, being in no wise adapted for exportation. _ , There has been during the past ten years a slight increase m the stock of cattle referred to, an increase due in a measure to the increase in the demand for cheese and meat. In the section of the country to- wards Rome there has been a diminution, due to the cultivation of the soil, by reason of which the cattle have lost their natural food and have decreased in numbers, as, I am informed, multiplication depends very much upon the character of the food they receive. ^. , . ^, As a race the buffaloes have never been closely studied, u ithin the memory of the present proprietors of the cattle lands no improvement has been made in the breed of the animals, and none have been ex- ported, except a few to Sicilv yearly. The question of exportation is deemed to be full of difiaculties, and the proprietors do not deem it of advantage to them to attempt to send these cattle abroad. They are at times exceedingly wild, and consequently difiicult to manage. In spite of this they are productive, and the result is remunerative. In some cases there have been crossings with a breed of Swiss cows trom the neighborhood of Bern, Switzerland, which are best adapted to the furnishing of milk for butter-making. These cattle are found in the Piano of Salerno, and are, I learn, exported yearly in large numbers. The buffaloes arrive at maturity when about three years ol age ; then the size of the buffalo bull is about 1 meter and 80 centimeters ; that of the ox the same, and that of the cow about 1 meter and GO centimeters. The weights thereof at maturity are about as follows: Bull, 2,000 pounds ; ox, 2,000 pounds ; cow, from 1,G00 to 1,700 pounds. The yie d of milk averages about 14 liters a day from each cow, when the buflalo calf does not draw upon the mother for its supply of nourishment. About 15 liters of milk make 3 kilos of cheese, containing all the butter from the milk and being very rich and exceedingly heavy. The bufla- loes require little care, and in fact they get but little, ihey are never 328 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. fastened, and are not housed except in very severe weather, and in such event the protection is such as only a heavy shed will afltbrd. Theirfood is the wild grass of the " Campagna" or "Terra di Lavoro," together with a little hay at times, which is thrown upon the bushes thatit may not be trampled under foot. It is thought best that the calving should oc- cur in the autumn rather than in spring, as the supply of milk is needed for the winter cheeses, during which latter season the manufacture and consum])tion thereof are the largest. The method of packing the cheeses for consumption is exceedingly simple. They are worked into forms of convenient size, generally weigh- ing from 2 to 3 pounds, and then packed in leaves and placed in strong wicker baskets. The buffalo bull and cow when young are estimated to be worth about 600 francs ; when full grown, from 800 to 900 francs. EXPORT TO THE UNITED STATES. In case of their shipment to the United States, the best method would be by direct steamers to New York, a voyage of about twenty days. I am informed by the management of one of the steamship lines be- tween Naples and New York that the cost of shipment would be $75 per head, which would include boxing, watering, and feeding during the voyage. I submit herewith a sketch of the buffalo bull, drawn from life. It gives a fair idea of the animal, although not in itself a work of art. It is the best that could be done under the circumstances. FRANK G. HAUGHWOUT, „ „ Consul. UNITED States Consulate, Na]}les, February 26, 1884. Special statistics concerning Italian buffalo cattle. [Name of breed : Buffalo.] Average quantity of milk : About 14 liters per day. A liter equals about 2+ pounds Milk to pounds of cheese: Fifteen liters of milk make 3 kilograms, or 6i pounds of cheese. j * tr > Name of country : Terra di Lavoro, Italy, Age at maturity : Three years. Weight of meat at maturity : As near as can bo ascertained, the meat when fully pre- pared by butcher weighs 4.'0 to &00 pounds. Color : Black or reddish black. Description : Shaped like ordinary cow ; short, round neck ; large and curviujr horns; rump larger than ordinary cow. Product.— Za/;or; Farm work to slight extent. Meat: Not generally good for meat market. Milk: Used for cheese making. C'/teese.- Entire amount of milk used to make heavy, rich, white cheese. Altitude: Al)out 100 feet. Temperature in summer : 18° to 20^ R6aumur ; in ivinter, 8° Reaumur. Substratum: Clay resting on limestone bed. ■/-"'■ 'ffi •7i ITALY. 329 Methods of housing : No special uietliod used. In case of severe weather the cattle have the protectiou of a heavy shed. Feeding : Wild grass of Campagua. Occasionally a little hay. Brc'dinn : No special method used. Cows calve in autumn. Handling pi-oducts : Cheese packed in leaves and in wicker baskets and consumed at home. CATTLE IN PIEDMONT. REPORT BY TICE-CONSVL DEZETK, OF IVRIN. Def ailed description of such domesticated animals as have proved iy long experience to have been profitable in I'iedmont, Italy, with information about the topography of the country and the composition of the soil. e n c a a s rs a ■^ o ii Size at maturity. Live weight. Name of breed. Cow. Boll. Ox. Cow. Bull. Ox. 5,000 5,000 8,000 15 15 12 8i Large ....do Medium .. Large ....do Medium .. Large ...do Medium . . X6«. 1,200 1.000 1,000 Lbs. 1,800 1,300 1,300 Lhs. 1,700 Mixed breeds Mountain breed 1,100 1,100 Piemontese.—Yi\e years at maturity ; weight of meat, 60 per cent, of live weight; color, light gray; meat, good; milk, middling; cheese good. Mixed breeds. —Fixe vears at maturity; weight of meat, 60 per cent, of live weight ; color, light gray ; meat, milk, and cheese, good. Mountain treed.— Five years at maturity ; weight of meat, 60 per cent, of live weight, color, brown, black, and white spotted ; meat, milk, and cheese, good. Topography. Temperature. Altitude. Piedmont, 200 meters above the level of the sea Mountains, 300 to 1,000 meters above the level of the sea. Mean. Summer. "Winter, 0 0. 14 to 15 10 to 12 °C. 25 to 32 20 to 25 OC. 10 to 12 15 to 10 Soil.— Alluvial : Piedmont. Loam: Collina. Clay: Monferrato, branch of Appe- nioes. Sandy, 4c. : Yailey oiFo. -.m • • SvBSTRATL'yi.— Limestone : The Piedmont hills m general, and those ot lunn m par- ticular. Sandstone : The district of Asti. Clay : Monferrato. Gravel, 4-c. : The valleys ofPo, Tanaro, Dora,(fcc. GmHife: The mountains. Cultivated grasses : Timothy, none; clorer, abnn(\a.nt', rye-qrass, 4c, moderate. Methods of housing : Stabling in winter and pasturing in summer. Leeding : Hay and grass alternately. Breeding : Domestic. Handling products : Meat, butter, and cheese. The "Pianiira" pure l>reed would thrive well in corresponding states or latitudes; purchase price averages 800 francs for bulls; 600 francs for oxen ; 500 francs for cows. The best route for exportation is per railroad to Genoa and per steamship to Xew York. The stock of cattle is steadily increasing in Piedmont on account of its profitableness. The number bred by far surpasses the home de- 330 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. mand, aud the surplus is exported mostly to France for butclierino- pur poses. During the first eleven months of 1883 there were exported^fVom Italy to France 90,000 head of cattle (between calves and beef) and a like amount of sheep (between lamb and mutton). With the exception of some corned-beef in cans, no meat or dairy product of any kind is imi)ortod into this district from the United States. The last census of 1882 gave the following- figures of the number of cattle and of their adaptability in the four districts of Piedmont re spectively : ' Animals. District of Cnneo: Calves (male), under one and one-half years.. Calves (female), under one and one-halt" years. Bull'* Oxen ."I".'"!!I Cows '.'."'., District of Turin: Calves (male), under one and one-half years ... Calves (female), under one and one half years. Bulls Oxen y.'.'... '.'.'.'.'.'.. Cows ".".!".!^i! District of Alexandria : Calves (male), under one and one-half years ... Calves (female), under one and one-half vears . . Bulls .' Oxen "!".".".'." I ^ .'.' ! Cows '.!1I""1 District of Navarra: Calves (male), under one and one-half years Calves (female), under one and one-hail years. . Bulls Oxen !!!""!!"" Cows (two-thirds milk) '..'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. Total number of cattle in Piedmont in 1882 United States Consulate, Turin, January 10, 1884. Adaptedness. Number, For work do ;; Forwork and milk All -work and meat. do do All work and n>eat do do ' One-third work. do do 29, 213 26, 287 20, 092 33, 004 129, 441 26, 144 38, 903 1,515 22, 686 198, 783 23, 230 12, 163 2G1 CI, 157 50, 2C4 11,452 22, 592 1,033 23, 745 129 070 861, 035 A. J. DEZEYK, Vice- Consul. CATTLE IN TUSCANY. REPORT BY CONSVL WELSH, OF FLORENCE. T ^" ^S'^}loo ^Y ^^^^'i^ar issued by the Department of State, dated duly 18, lb8,j, 1 have the honor to submit the following report • Ihe breeds of horned cattle raised in Tuscanv are five in number and named respectively Chianina, Maremmaua, Tiberina, Svizzera,' and Montanina. .' The Chianina, Maremmana, and Tiberina are descendants of the breed called Podohco, or Pugliese, from Puglia, in the south of Italy. The Sviz- zera or Swiss breed, originated at Lugano, Switzerland, and the last, or iUontanina, are hardy mountainous cattle of a nondescript origin. the chianina eeeed. ^ The breed called the Chianina, or the Val di Chiana, is the most valued in luscany for all purposes, whether for producing milk, beef, or pow- ers of traction. A report on this breed was forwarded to the Depart- i m^ ^^g ^- *K ' *■ «>• .^■z l9. %•' t^/ ITALY. 331 inent of State by my predecessor, Mr. J. Scliuyler Crosby, on the 20tli 31ay, 1882, and as far as I can learn was iu all points correct except as regards ])rices, which were too liigh.* This, the Val di Chiana, I think the only breed in Tnscany worthy to be exported to the United States, unless perhaps a trial mijiht be made with the Moutanina, a very hardy class of cattle, and producing good milk on what they can pick up in the mountains; they are also good draft and fair beef cattle. CATTLE OF THE YAL DI CHIANA. The following is the substance of a letter received from tlie agent of Count Frassineto, who is the most important breeder and dealer in the Yal di Chiana breed of cattle, and whose statements are entirely to be depended upon. The color of the Chianina cattle is white, with fine horns, and eyes pecurliarly bright and expressive. They are, indeed, very handsome. A new-born calf weighs about 44 to 55 pounds, and at one year will weigh about 1,102 pounds and measure in height about 5 feet. The estimated price is $115 to 8l35.t A bull two years old, measuring 5 feet 0 inches and weighing 1,7G3 pounds, would be about the average. He might bring $193.t A bull three years old measures C feet 3 inches and weighs about 2,204 pounds. A calf after castration and arriving at the age of one year may weigh from 881 to 1,102 pounds, and measure 5 feet, being valued at $77.20. At two years this calf would measure about 5 feet 6 inches, weigh 1,543 pounds, and be valued at from $9G to $116. At three years it is con- sidered an ox, would measure about C feet 3 inches, weigh about 2,204 pounds, and be worth from 8135 to $154. Heifers at one year weigh 882 pounds, and measure 4 feet 7 inches. At two years 1,323 pounds, and measure 5 feet 3 inches. At three years a heifer becomes a cow; size about 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 7 inches; weight about 1,543 pounds. The prices of cows are the same as for oxen. Of this breed, both male and female arrive at the age of puberty when twenty months to two years old. The male serves well up to four years of age, the female to ten years and over. Oxen are yoked when about twenty months and generally endure six or seven years of work. Feeding and housing. — In this district cattle are generally kept in stalls. They are fed as follows: Winter, a mash of turnips and hay with bean or corn flour thrown iu, if the cattle are to be fattened. While working thej' are fed with hay alone with one portion of oats per day. Bulls are higher fed ; hay, turnips, and oats being freely given. To cows besides the usual food given to oxen, rye flour and flour of peas or beans are added. These latter increase the milk secretion. During spring, summer, and autumn grasses are freely given; care, however, is to be taken not to mix the fresh food with tlie dried. In regard to feeding, O.Gl pounds of fodder are needed daily for each 220 pounds of live weight. This for cattle being fattened and stall-fed. To fatten thoroughly, 11 pounds must be fed daily for every 220 pounds. For cattle at work or serving. 8 pounds for every 220 pounds per day. * This report is published immediately lollowiug Consul Welsh's report. t These prices, the consul says, are much overestimated. 332 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. TRANSPORT FEED. While being transported, >vhetlier on land or sea, oats, beans, and, if possible, turnips should be used, good hay being always provided. The straw needed for each head is from 5.51 to O.Gl pounds daily. COST OF FODDER. The cost of fodder is about as follows: Beans, $3.08 per 2.84 bushels: oats, $1.93 per 2.84 bushels; lupines, $1.93 per 2.84 bushels; beans, $3.47 per 220.46 pounds. I am assured by Count Frassineto that where turnips are plenty this breed of cattle is sure to thrive. CHIANINA BULLS. The description of well-made bulls should be as follows : Back straight, neck thick, head small, horn white, finely shaped, with black tips ; ears quite long, but well shaped ; legs large and strong, but disposed to be knock-kneed ; tail short ; the entire color is white, with exception of muzzle and tip of tail black ; the tongue dark ; the barrel or body is well rounded and long, the chest full, hoofs not too straight. In general appearance the female differs little from the bull. MAREMMANA CATTLE. The Maremmana breed, generally of a gray and white speckled color, are to be found on the salt marshy plains of Volterra and on the clay ground in the vicinity of Sienna. They are a strong working cattle, but would not, I think, be apt to improve any breed in the United States, being in themselves almost mongrel. The Tiberina differ but little from the Maremmana. SVIZZERA CATTLE. The Svizzera breed, from Lugano, Switzerland, is only found in the vicinity of Pisa. The cattle are generally black in color and produce good beef, but are only medium workers or milk producers. Their im- portation can hardly be recommended. TRANSPORTATION OF ITALIAN CATTLE TO THE UNITED STATES. With regard to transportation to the United States, an actual or trustworthy estimate cannot be given unless the number of cattle is known. From Arezzo to the port of Leghorn the railroads transport ten head of cattle for about $15. From Leghorn to New York the Anchor Line charges about $100 for mere transiwrtation and the necessary water for one animal, and $75 each for any number not under ten. In case a number of cattle are to be shipped a portion of the "'tween decks" or, in summer time, the spar deck of a vessel, should be chartered, and the stalls or boxes built by the shipper. I would always advise that the space necessary should be hired or chartered, whether on steamer or sailing vessel, and then the requisite stalls or boxes put up and furnished by the shipper, who should see that the attendants were men understanding the treatment of cattle at sea. ITALY. 333 PURCHASING ITALIAN CATTLE FOE EXPORT. No considerable quantity of cattle should be purchased unless through an agent thoroughly understanding — that is, practically knowing — cat- tle; an agent who can judge as to value, strength of constitution, &c., and one whose sympathies have not been engaged by the seller. The prices given here are always first prices; the last price can only be fixed upon by bargaining, and that should be done by a practical cattle dealer. I append forms answering as near as possible the requirements of the circular. WM. L. WELSn, Consiil. United States Consulate, Florence^ November C, 1884. Statement showing the cattle exports from Italy. [Nearly all to France.] To foreign coantries. 1882 , 1881 Increase Bolls and oxen. 62, 639 30, 877 31, 762 r«„„„ Heifers Co^«- and calves. 19, 396 11,039 8,357 27, 937 24, 028 3,909 Special statistics concerning Tuscan cattle. [Name of breed: Chianina.! Animals. Size at maturity. Weight on thenoof. Age at maturity. Dead weight. Cow Meters. 1.70 Pounds. 1,543 2,204 2,204 3 3 3 Pounds. 700 Bull Ox 1.90 1.90 1,500 1,200 Annual average gallons of milk : 450 gallons yearly production of a cow after second delivery. Milk to pounds of hdter : .5 gallons milk to 21- pounds of butter. Milk to pounds of cheese : Sheep cheese alone is produced in Tuscany. Name of country : Val di Chiana, Florence, Pisa. Color : Silver-white mantle. Description : Neck very thick, abundant mantle, small head, short and black muz- zle, thin horns, long ears and flesh colored inside, strong and large legs, short tail, black tip. Origin of breed : Modification of the Pudolico type or Pugliese, from Puglia (South Italy. Labor : Enduring great amount of labor. In a farm managed by four men and two women (which is considered to bo the average) oxeu are put in the yoke 172 days in the year, viz: i33 winter, 1'.^ spring, 44 summer, 62 autumn. Meat: Making excellent beef, this kind of cattle being easily fattened. Milk : A good cow will give about 1.50 gallons of milk a day ; 5 gallons of this milk will make 2.2046 pounds butter. Cheese : In the vicinity of Florence about three-fifths of the cattle are bred for the dairy and butcher. Topography of Tuscany: Tuscany may be divided in four agrarian zones, viz: (1) Mountains with metals of secondary and eruptive formation, one-tenth; (2) Apen- 334 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. mnes of secondary aud tertiary forraatiou, four-tcntbs; (3) hills of a late tcrtiirv foriiiatiou, three-t.-iitlis; (4) plains of quaternary and alluvial formation, two-feutbs ' Temperature: The climate, mild in winter aiid temperate in summer, is, notnith- staudiuj:, subject to chilly weather in the autumn and white frost in the sprinir The yearly average temperature in Tuscany is between 14*^ and 16° contigrade; the mer- cury seldom falls below 7° below zero at Florence, 5° at Arezzo aud Sienna, 3'^ at Lucca, and 2° at Pi.sa. Snow seldom falls, and never lasts long. The Apennines are however, often covered with snow, and scmietimes until the spring. ' Soil: Alluvial. The soil is mountainous, the ground somewhere excessively stony and in other regions refractory to good culture, owing to the abundance of clay. Suboiratum.— Florence: Secondary, late tertiary, and quaternary formation. Pisa' Late tertiary, quaternary, aud alluyial formation. Sienna: Secondary and tertiary formation of Cretaceous period. Volterra: Secondary aud eruptive formation WHITE CATTLE OF TUSCANY.* PEPORT BY CONSUL OPOSBT. I Lave tbe honor to submit the following report regarding a very- fine breed of Italian cattle, with the hope that it may prove useful in inducing some of our cattle breeders to introduce them into the United States. For many centuries the Val di Chiana (Tuscany) has been celebrated for Its M'hire cattle, large in size, docile, and easily managed, capable of enduring great amount of work, and making excellent beef, they being very easily fattened. I have visited many of the estates aud poderi for the purpose of examining these cattle, and certainlv agree with the ])roprietors and farmers in their opinion that for working purposes aud beef they are far superior to the Durham and Shorthorn breads so i)opu- lar in England and America. For milk and butter I do not recom- mend them. Bulls begin to serve heifers and cows from the age of two years up to four or five years, Avhen they are slaughtered. Heifers are taken to the bull when twenty months old, and are usually bred to until eight to ten years old. Oxen, and heifers as well, are put in yoke when twenty mouths old, and are fit for work at the age of two years, aud, unless injured, stand five years more of hard work, when they are usu- ally stall-fed and slaughtered. About the same food and fodder are used for fattening as in the United States. The following tabular form will show interesting details as to age, weight, and price: Kind. Age. Height. Weight. Price. From — To— From— To— Calft Birth Poundg. 45 3.'I0 880 880 1,550 1, S.'JO 1,850 750 Poundg 75 4.50 1,100 1, 000 1, 7ri0 2, 200 2,2('0 1, 500 Six months. One year One year Two years.. Three years Three years Tiiree years. 4 feet "$i-J6 00 80 00 200 00 250 t/0 140 00 140 00 5 feet $140 00 100 00 Heifer BqUJ 5 feet 2 inches . . 5 feet 7 inches.. 6 feet 3 inches.. C feet 3 inches. . 5 feet 2 inches.. Ox 300 00 Cow§ 100 00 180 00 ♦Rennhlirtlied from Consular Keports, No. 17 T Calves silect.'d for working pmpoHes are cai . p .. — r, , - , - . — castrated at two months of age. T IjuIIs li.i;r years old are kept apart for one month lo fatten, and may increase 140 pounds weight and hti Holcl at lioin $16 to $18 per cwt. i- e §Cows eight or ten year.'i ohl, no longer used for hroeding, a^^ kept three months for fattening, and are susceptible of 2o0 pounds increase in weight. Price, from $8 to $14 per cwt. ITALY. 335 These cattle have very loiifj aucl strai<;bt backs aud wi'll-ronndecl bodies ; neck very tliiek, with abniKhuit mantle : head h^ht and clear cut, with short and thin horns ; ears long and tlesh-colored inside ; legrs rather large aud strong, and |)laced well under; hoots well proportioned, aud not too straight ; tail quite short, and black at the eud. This black aud silver color extends over the nnizzle, along the back to the rump, when it ceases and appears again at the end of the tail. The color of the hair is a silver white, very thin, and abundant. The principal markets for these white cattle are Arezzo, Castiglione, Fioreutiuo, aud Tojano della Chiana iu the province of Tuscany. An- nual fairs are held, beginning after harvest time, about the middle of August, aud generally increasing iu importance until December. I have made inquiries as to the cost of transportation by steamer from the nearest port, Leghorn, to Xew York, and in reply the agent of the Anchor Line informs me that $50 per head is charged, the shipper pro- viding all fittings, stalls, boxes, fodder, and attendants, the ship only providing water. This line of steamers is very good aud the cattle can be well accommodated on the upper deck. The length of voyage is about twenty-six days. J. SCHUYLER CROSBY, Consul. United States Consulate, Florence, May 20, 1882. CATTLE IN VENETLA.. REPORT BY CONSUL XOTES, OF VEXIOE. GEOLOGICAL FORMATION OF VENETIA. The Venetian territory would seem at first glance specially fitted by nature for a grazing country. The large proportion of its surface oc- cupied by hills and mountains of moderate elevation, the abundance of its water courses, the nature of its soil, often of superior fertility, and everywhere good for forage, are all iu its favor. These advantages, however, are subject to a serious drawback iu the dry heat of the cli- mate, unless the want of moisture be supplied by a generous irrigation to combat the danger of destructive drought. Without this the pros- perity of live stock will always be uncertain and its multiplication lim- ited. An idea of the general character ot the region is suggested by the fact that it contains a large part of the southern watershed of the Alps, and several of their loftier peaks, together with the delta of the great north Italian rivers. Few portions of Europe offer such extreme con- trasts of scenery and situation, and though the Italian climate and the community of an ancient civilization do much to soften the discordances of local influence, so completely opposed, there must still remain a great diversity iu the conditions of life. Geologists agree that the Alps were among the last upheavings of the primeval sea, and that their euormous masses are little else than the fossilized remains of its animal life. They also tell us that this upheav- ing was ihe result of intermittent volcanic action continued during the Tertiary period, and underlying the whole area of Italy ; gradually sub- siding to the north as the surface fixed into its present form, but show- 336 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. ing its last extinct craters in the Koman Campagna, and its last erup- tions at Vesuvius and -^tna. Toward the close of the Tertiary and at the commencement of the Quaternary, the Venetian Alps presented very much the aspect of the Fiords of Norway — the sea washed their bases and penetrated into every opening to the foot oi* the great glaciers which descended between their precipitous spurs. The melting of these glaciers, with the altered tem- perature of the region, left in the deeper cavities the masses of impris- oned water which now form the Italian lakes, and with the dispersion of their abandoned moraines commenced the formation of the Lombard and Venetian plain. The composition of this alluvion shows everywhere the material of the mountain sides from which it is derived. Its arrangement depends on the capricious action of the streams which transported it, as well as of great inundations, which have changed its whole surface at inter- vals. At its eastern limit, where the margin of plain grows narrower and slopes more rapidly to the sea, the variations of soil and surface be- come more frequent, as the rapid torrents change their course and deposit their coarser detritus in fresh localities, carrying their fine sediment to the lower levels, still half submerged by the Adriatic. THE PROVINCE OF UDINE. This narrow seaboard, with the broader region of the Carnic Alps stretching north and east to the Austrian frontier, forms the province of Udine, still known as the ancient Friuli. It is composed, in the plain, of tracts of barren clay, passing into more fertile mixtures with calcareous matter, everywhere sown with gravel, beds of which occur constantly in the surface as underlying it at various depths. At a distance from the water courses the soil, with a smaller admixture of gravel, becomes more fertile. Along the lowest border are small tracts of rich alluvion, soon sinking into salt marsh, liable to inundation from the sea with the unusual persistence of a strong southeast wind. The mountainous portion of the province or Carnia is a confusion of narrow and sinuous valleys and irregular hill- sides, with a considerable surface of vegetable earth in broken masses, mostly of schist and limestone, with rare apparitions of granite and tufa, affording tolerable pasture in nearly every part. A few of the summits of the region approach a height of 9,000 feet. Gemona, the principal town, stands at 932 feet above the sea, and villages are found at 2,100 feet. The medium temperature is 18° to 20° C. in summer, 2° to 3° C. in winter, with a minimum of 15° 0. in the last thirty-eight years. Rain and hail are frequent, and grow more so with the destruction of forests. MOUNTAIN AND PASTURE LANDS OF UDINE. All reports concur in stating the cultivated meadows at about one- sixth of the arable land in the plain, planted with lucern principally, and, unmanured or cared for, they give an average of forty quintals to the acre. These meadow grasses, lucern and clover, were only intro- duced here toward the beginning of the century, and theil? cultivation seems little understood. In the more fertile soil of the sea-side a better quality of forage and a more careful cultivation is found on the estates of a few large proprietors, and here the improvement of the stock has been pursued with growing interest. Some remarkable products are shown ITALY. 337 as the results of experinients commenced early in the century by the Princess Ilacciocchi. In the mountains the cult irat ion of forage is much more extensive, embracinji- about ;>(),()0() to ■I<),()()() acri'S, besides natural i)asturaij;e every- where, in the valh'vs and lowerliills rxcclh'nr, of iiil'orior (luality iu llie heights. The whoU', of tliis region is Inll oi busy i)ast()ral life, but of the most primitive (U's(;rii»tion, and far from ])ros])erous as it sliould be with such I'acilities and more improxed methods. Irrigation is rai'C, con- fine2 338 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. the production of milk, but tliou.cli in small quantity their milk is ox- treniely rieli, and in llunjiary are occasionally found excellent mihth cows. This deliciency may be exj)lained by the fact that in their oiifj;i- nal home the aninuds are rarely or never milked. On the other hand, this race gives the best of animals for labor and is valuable for slaugh- ter, not only for the superior (puility of its llesli, but the abundance of suet in comparison with other races," The defects of this animal, more or less ]iersistent in all modilications, besides the s during the last few years in the acquisition of choice reproducers, bulls and cows, afterward transferred to i)rivate breeders. The cross con- sidered most successful so far is with the Swiss race of Freiburg. The province just described is one of the largest in the kingdom, embracing all varieties of surface and a large i)ortion of the Alps, wdiich form its eastern extremity. It is mostlya pastoral region, but in the proj)ortion of cattle to its surface ranks only sixth in the Venetian group, ]»ossessing til.-J to tin; square kilometer, while the average is 25, with the same inferiority in the character of its races, and a greater variety of bastard and nondescript mixtures. CATTLE IN TEEVISO. The adjoining inland i)rovince of Treviso falls below it both in num- ber and (juality of stock, offering only a wider field for the propagation of the sam(^ nameless medley of subra(;es, generally variations of the Podolian, which always seems to displace other animals in the hot ami dry plains by a sort of natural survivance. This region, lying almost ITALY. 339 entirely in the ])l;iin, is in liiiih cultivation. Its nortlier border, inelnd- inii- the last Ibot-liills and sloi)es, and sheltered by the Alps, which here reach greater elevations, is specially suited by soil and southern expos- ure for vine growing'. This is at present the prevailing interest of the l)rovince, and absorbs public attention to the prejudice of other im- provements; so that cattle-breeding, which had never received much attention before, seems likely to receive still less in the future. It is com])lained that the present stock is not suiUcient for manure, and hardly for tillage. CATTLE IN THE rROVTNCE OF BELLUNO. The ])rovince of Belluno, extending north of this to the ridge of the Alps, is of more interest. Here nature has made pastoral industries a necessary resource for a large ]noportion of the inhabitants; and, pursued with increasing zeal and intelligence, they are gaining imiior- tance as a means of i)rosperity foraregion ]>roverbiallydestitnte. With- out the great summits or lofty pkUeaus of the central Alps, it belongs (o that zone below the limit of eter#al snow attached to the Hank of every great mountain range, where the ridges become broken and toiiuente feet, more or less; eleven surpass it, reaching an extreme of JO,-I(i(i feet. Vegetation ceases at 5,800 feet, human habitation at about 4. 57."), and cultivation at 4,000. Deposits of vegetable soil are rare and inse- cure, lieing always liable, even in the most favorable localities, to be swept off oi" buried under masses of gravel by the frequent inundations. Only about one-thirteenth i)art of the surface is cai)able of any kind of cultivation, the rest being largely occupied by forests, and, leaving out of calculation spaces of totally barren rock, live-sevenths of the whole is ])asiure land. The lower and more cultivated valley, particularly that around JSelluno and Feltre, the prin(n[)al towns, otters a soil of moderate fertility, argil- laceous calcareous, reposing on a varying substratum of nuirls, con- glomerates, and coarse glacial detritus. In the rest of the ])rovince the <',alcareous element ])revails more generally than in other i)arts of the Venetian territory, from the immense masses of dolomite limestone which crown all the mountains of the region, exposed in cliifs and walls, and which give it its striking character. These easily disaggregated masses, interrui)ted occasionally by volcanic irruptions of ])0]pliyry and beds of tufa, more rarely by dee])er-lying masses of green and red sand- stone or schist, form the geology of the mountains. The climate, though softened by southern exposure and by the ab- sence of great accumulations of snow during part of the year, has not the mild and equable temi)erature of the Veiuitian ])lain — the average ranges .'3 degrees lower in the southern valleys, and in the higher dis- tricts has all the severity of alpine nature, with a medium temperature of O.Olio C. and snowfall of M0.4 C. All these data suppose a rude pastoral life, merging into that of the neighboring Tyrol, of which the province is indeed but the southern ex- tension, and the animals of the region bear the same stamj) of relation- ship. The resemblance is so close that it is an unsettled (piestion whether tli(» tyi)e known as the Bellunese is not a simjjle modilication 340 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. of the Tyrolese. Both are of middling stature, with the coat of uniform color aud short -curved horns; both are very much inferior to the Swiss as milk producers, with excellent qualities for labor aud fattening-; and the meat of both, with ihe same forage, has the same texture and flavor. Add to this the eliect of contact and intermixture for so many cen- turies, and their present afiiuity hardly admits a doubt. The sjjecial traits of the Ikllunese are a shorter head, Avith the car much smalhM', and the eye more ])rominent and vivacious, the chest broader, and the ribs more o])en and rounded. He is more short-coupled, with limbs shorter and thicker at the knees ; his coat is more decidedly gray, while that of the Tyrolese is tawney and whitish, with a thicker and more ])orous skin, and the horns less robust aud of a lighter tint of black. The Tyrolese cow gives rather more milk, but both races are docile and enduring for labor, while the Belluuese has a special tendency to fatten, and a remarkable precocity of develoi)ment, attributed to the abundance of ferrous oxides furnished by the rocks (dolomic and calcareous car- bonates) of these mountains. At two years the bull is apt for pro- creatiou ; many assert that he is so at eighteen mouths ; at the same age (two years) the ox is capable of hard hvjbor, and at three years commands the highest price for slaughter ; it is rarely the case that heifers are not impregnated before the end of the second year. It is quite possible that this precocity may not persist in the race when removed from its native locality, aud it is liable to entail a corresponding teudeuce to early de- cline. Some breeders assert this animal to be superior to the Tyrolese, and propose to adopt it as the type best suited to the region, improving it by selection, without further mixture of foreign blood, unless perhaps with the view to obtain a better yield of milk in certain districts. A bull of this race has been installed as oflQcial reproducer by the agri- cultural board of Conegliano and the surrounding region in the neigh- boring province of Treviso, and others are to be found in Padua and Vicenza. In the meanwhile the commercial Importance of the stock is attested by the growing demand both for labor and slaughter in various l)arts of Italy, and the sale and exportation of nearly all the annual pro- elluno; " These animals in four or five years' time rea(;h only a middling size, and are not susceptible of further growth without, (thoice and (;ostly food. The traders of the de])artment of the Tagliamento (Udiin;) buy both oxen ami cows, which, transported ITALY. 341 to a n'^ioii of inoiv siicculeiit I'orajio, ivsiiiiic tlieir growth, and j^ivo a hu-'^v ]»i'olit to tlic i)ui-clias(M-. In cons»MiiuMU',e the district, altbonj;li possess! 11, 14- an iiilV'iioi' race, is always snio ol'a ready sale for it." I'lider the title " lb ra.ue" occurs the following-: " Some few fanners have cnmnienced the cnltivation of liicern (medico). The ])easiiiits lind liieat dilVicnlty in dryini;- this f2,rass so as to j>revent the pnlverization of the leav«'s, a dilliculty they cannot sunnoiint for >vant of an acquaint- ance with the pioijcr method of i)roceedin,u' in the case." These short qnotatioiis (comment each other; at jirescnt liicern and clover are cul- tivated wherever cultivation of any kind is i»ossil)le, thoui^h the product is still far from lai\iie. In elevated n^gions they arerei>laced by natural borage so wholesome, nourishing, and aromatic as to render the exten- sion of artiticial meadows almost useless. The i)lants which occur most frecpiently in these mountain ])astures iwv, Fh leu m alpinnm, Alopecurus [icrardl, Af/rostis eanina, kSislcsia cfc- ndca, Poa aljiixa, Fcstuca (luriK.scida, KwUria fiyandiJI-((, Trisctvm Jla- vescois, Aira ile.ruosa, Auroslis rulf/nri.s, Xdrdu.s aris1(it<(, and in still more elevated positions iho Agrotif is aljiina nnd riq)cstri,s, nud iha Arena schcnrh::eri. The arable surface of the province is 30,000 acres, and that producing forage of all kinds, 175,000; of which tem]>orary cultivated meadows take up 8,000; permanentlv cultivated, 4l{,000; natural pastures, ll.'4,000. Finally- it may l)e said that the cattle of this i)rovince appear to be assuming the consistent and distinctive character of a special race, sought and im])orted as such into the surrounding region. Whether it will su p])lant the Tyrolese, so generally lesorted to for breeding and slaughter, is doubtful. Wliether it iiossesses merits sufiicient to make it desirable for imi)ortation into the United States is more doubtful still, in iireseuce of the ]>ure Tyrolese, which seems to preserve in a higher degree its special race qualities. DAIRYING IN BELLUNO. Another effect of the same progressive impulse has been the intro- duction of a better system of dairy industry.- The prevailing accounts from every (juarter of this Venetian territory rei)resent this class of l)roduction as being everywhere more or less neglected, or, at best, fab- ricated by the most antiquated methods to suit the rough taste of the country consumer, in most cases for family use only, and not of a 00 72 31 208 183 95 210 Quantity of milk bronffht in. Kilns. 112, .519. 000 42, 400. 000 84, 035. 000 0, 4.')2. 000 78, 750. 000 93, 889. 100 114,749.6.50 20, 930. o.'.0 50, 447. 250 119,947.4.50 4, 057. 000 7, 049. 600 1.52, 084. 000 78, 155. 150 Total product obtained. Butter. Kilos. 3,613.000 1,401.180 2, 902. (100 197. 000 2, 575. 0(10 3, 293. 700 3,281.780 744.710 1,794.5.50 3, 058. 600 128. .500 238. 709 3, .390. 270 1, 844. 850 Cheese. Kilos. 7, 900. 000 3,184.800 0, 08O. 000 499. 000 6, 20». 000 0, 7iK). 000 9, 457. 80.3 2, 078. 680 4, 575. 050 9, 655. 770 277. 000 .527. 000 11,378.080 5, 882. 550 Curds. Kilos. 2, 820. 000 1 , 273. 800 2, 539. 000 174.000 2, 302 (100 2,485 .500 4. 608. 000 1, 126.310 2, 388 700 4, 677. 8.50 80. 000 250. 500 5, 111.000 2, 875. 050 ITALY. 343 Ojjercttioiis and rcmiUs of 8omc a>^0 7. 720 4. 190 5-G 24-12 llnii'ii/.o 2.00 1. CO 0.70 12, . 581.2" 1 3. 180 8.007 4.200 7.0 21-12 2.00 1. 9i) i.:!0 i.ro 0. 70 0. 70 21, 944. SI 581. X" 2. 550 3. 160 8. 050 (5. 830 3.900 2 no 7.^ k:o 11 Sosiicrolo 18 1.82 1.90 1.00 L.-iO 0.70 0. no 1, i:iG.5t 20, 500. 2r 3. 387 2 220 7. 475 7.430 3. 583 3. 350 20.0 22-1 1 Dolinejiuo 12 2.00 1.^5 0.55 i;i, 171. 92 2. 360 7.500 3.680 io.o 20 Note.— By substituting pounds for kilograms in the columns of qaantitiea, the relative results will bo mori) speedily realized by tlio American reader. TROVINCE OF YICENZA. Tlie rejiioii just described, einbraciiii? tiic valleys of the Piiivc aud its coiilliu'iits, is'tlio only wholly Alpine and pastoral province of tLc ter- ritory. Tlie Austrian frontier, now advancing- suddenly southward to embrace the disputed Trentine valley, crosses the Brenta only 10 miles from entrance into the Venetian ])lain at Bassano, leaving the la.st mount- ain spurs to form, with the broad terrace at their feet, the ])rovince of Vicenza. The Breuta and the Astico, in clo.se proximity at their sources, diverge immediately and inclose between them the Alpine iiortion of the province, the i)eculiar district known as the " Seven Communes," assigned bv tradition as the refuge of the Cimbri, defeated by Marius, andinhabited at ]n-esent by a iiopulation speaking an ancient Suabian dialect, a bleak jilateau of about 48,000 acres, with a nearly uniform elevation of about 3,200 feet, girdled by mountains of from 0,000 to 7,000 feet, and its chief town, Asiago, 2,900 feet above the sea. Exposed to the prevailing northwest wind from the snows behind, the mean annual tem- perature'is 7° C, with a maximum of -}- 20^.1 aud a minimum of —18, while the meeting of this cold current with the equally ]>revalent moist sirocco from the plain below can.ses an abundance of rain, niiknowa to any other part of Italy, a medium rainfall for three years of l,70.j.l) iiiillinicters toward the center, and of 2,010 at its southeastern border. This remarkable humidity and the excellent soil derived from the cre- taceous and dolomitic masses, tufa and red sandstone of the surround- ing peaks, iiroduce a luxuriant growth of forest and pasture, and make this the grazing region of the whole province. MOUNTAIN HERDING AND DAIRYING IN VICENZA. The cattle of the lowland are driven here in great numbers to pass the summer months, and the irregular fabrication of dairy products during this'' montieation," as it is called, represents nearly all its in-_ dustrv of the kind, the ])liiin being taken up with the cultivation ot cereals. This mountain industry recalls that of Belluuo, but m better couditious. 344 CATTLE AND DAIRY FAllMING. The pastures are excellent for air, topojjfrapliy, and lierbage. The breed of cattle, not native, but a lonfj-doinesticiited race of T.yrolese and 8\viss, the cows of llie district lH'in.i;- Swiss and the best milkers in this l»art of Italy, the lowland cattle, an old stock crossed and recrossed with Tyrolese till the race lias become general thionohont all the northein part of the province. They are stron^i^^, thickset animals, with small horns, short, thick neck, and muscular lind)s; endurin^^ but slow and heavy in their movements; the coat whitish or light gray. The Swiss cows are much lower in stature, a darker gray in color, or spotted black and red according to their origin ; not more than 4ifeet in height, with delicate lind)s and voluminous dugs. Along with"' these domesti- cated Swiss cattle are numbers of more recent introduction belonging l)rincipally to the district of Vicenza, and modilied from their primitive type by long residence there. Of a j^eculiar breed from the Val Pten- dana, ^Yhe^e they are bred expressly lor milking, they are known here as the cow of Schwytz. With a solt and pliable skin they have a coat s])0tted with brown and black; around the eyes, inside the ear, the line of the back, and the dugs, white ; with the hinder part larger and heavier than the shoulders, and a height little over four feet; light-boned, with .a small head and short horns. These cows have an extraordinary milk- ing capacity, but very variable with the (puility of their forage. In Switzerland they are said to give as much as 27 liters, or 7 gallons, per day. Here the same animal gives only 5, and her descendants 2 to 2^ at most. Of these and the migratory herds from below, some 10,000 cattle are collected here during the sumnier months, of which 5,-500 belong to the district, with 1,500 calves. They are guarded by the proprietor or ten- ant of the land, who undertakes their keeping either for a rate in money or a share in the products of a dairy attached to the pasture, which makes a part of the speculation. The milk of the herd is col- lected here twice a day, and being operated on in the best conditions of freshness and temperature, gives a large yield of butter and cheese nuich esteeujcd in the neighboring provinces. Ordinarily the price of pasturage, Avhen taken in kind, is one-half of the milk and product; for cows without milk, $5 to $0, according to abundance and quality of forage. The yield of milk varies with the state of the pasture and of the animal, better and more abundant at the outset with grass un- cropped and diminishing as the season advances. Averaging this dif- ference, an ordinary cow is supposed to give 4 to 4,^ liters of milk per day. BUTTER AND CHEESE MAKING IN VICENZA.. In 107 of these mountain dairies are made three kinds of cheese. I'or the " Grasso dafrutta" the milk is used unskimmed and entire, and in the early season produces 33 poumls'to the hundred liters=2G.i gal- lons ; later, 20-22. In one of these pastures, celebrated for the (puility are maae lor tlie use ot the neighborhood. Of "magro" a hundred liters of milk give about 22 pounds; each pound of butter taken from the milk lessens the yield of cheese by 2 ])ounds. In full season the same quantity of milk gives 9i- pounds of butter, more or less, according to the quality of ibrage. Thelnethods of fabrica- tion are those of the farm-house, without a thermometer or other rational instrument, depending eutirelyou tUe tact and experience of the dairy. ITALY. 345 mail, but the material is so fjood anil so liberally cmi»lo.vetl that these produets luinish most of the lowlaiul eoiisumptioii, and are bej,Mnnin.<;- to be soii.uht in its markets for exportation. Tiiis district contains about 44,000 acres <»f natural pasture, with little cultivation of any kind, the rest of its surface being- covered by forests. DAIRYING IN 'JIIK LOWLANDS OF YICENZA. Here and in tht^ lower j)ro\incc the cows, during' the autumn, w inter, and sprinj;', j;i\e little more tlian a half ration of milk, and tiie iiisi;;-- nihcant production of half-skimmed me/zo-magro cheese is consumed at home. They are kei)t, in the lowland distiicts, mostly in the stable by the pi(>i)rietor or by an industreal, who follows up his tratle in the mountains, rents the cowdjousc and buys fora.^e of soim; iarmer short of cattle on a sin^^ular traditional contract, which .^ives him right of pasturage after the lirst cutting, straw at discretion, about a cortl of wood and 150 faggots for every 12 loads hay he buys, and 1 liter of wine every holiday. In return he gives all the manure at the end of the season, lA pounds of cheese, and the same weight of butter ibr each load of hay. The cows are not fed on straw stubble or Indian corn leaves, as are beeves, but on grass and hay from natural meadows. These cow-houses are mostly contlned to the district of Yicenza, and are all very much on the same plan, a long, low construction, with a file of animals on each side, separated by low partitions of wood 3 feet 2 inches high and 5 feet 8 long, leaving between them a stall 0 feet 0 wide lor two animals, with a flooring raised (> or 8 inches from tlui alley of 5 leet wide down the middle; grated windows over the heads of the cattle, sometimes glazed in winter. The ealves are tied up promiscuously at one end of the stable in a space left for the purpose. All this lower section of the province, the summer residence of wealthy families from the neighboring cities, aud containing an unusual number of their large estates, shows at once the benelit of such a class of pro- prietors, many of whom occupy themselves with the breeding of cattle, so that by their example as well as their immediate agency the breed of the country has been nearly transformed. The climate of this region is one of the best tempered of the territory, free from the excessive humidity of the i)lateau above and lesvs subject to the long droughts of the lower plain. The difference from that of the mountain district just described is strongly marked by the advance of from hfteeu days to a month in the harvests. At Vicenza the medium temperature is 54° R for the year, with an ordinary cold of 20.1 at the lowest in winter, and an average heat of 87.1 for midsummer, and a very regular transition of seasons; injurious droughts rare, ex(;e])t in the most southern districts. In the valley of the Brenta, the soil, mostly calcareous, is only of middling quality, but there is considerable cultivation of forage, and the breeding of cattle is followed with a care and intelligence that make Uassano, at the o|)ening of the plain, an important cattle market, aud the interest in this industry increases in descending to the neighbor- ing ])rovJuce uT Padua, which'is its i)rincii)al center for Venetia. West of the Uienta the torrential impetuosity of the streams which traverse this intermediate region between jilain and mountain, and i)ar- ticularly of the Astico, has accumulated a de])ositof tin; glacial detritus of the upper valley, making the subsoil of this central portion of the province little more thau a bed of stoucs aud gravel, sometimes varied 346 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. by a roujjb conjjlomerate of the same materials thiuly covered by a layer ot' vfrjotable soil rarely reaching the depth of one half yard, sterilized by the porous nature of the mass below, aud by the frequeiice in cer- tain localities of si)riii,ns and subterranean streams. This (luality of soil permits a considerable fjrowth of forage, and the district of Thiene sup- l)orts a number of cattle little inferior to that of districts more generally fertile. The territory remaining to the west of this and forming the more ele- vated portions of the province of Verona offers the same general char- acter, and may be regarded as an extension of the same region. Its ali)s show much the same broken stratification, with a predominance of cretaceous rocks, and more frequent irruptions of prismatic and amor- phous basalt and basaltic tufa. Beyond the Adige the transition to the Lombard plain is formed by the moraine of the ^reat glacier which once occupied the bed of the lake of Garda, tlirough whose confused masses of gravel and bowlders of all sorts and dimensions the emissary stream, theMiucio, has worn its bed, often deeply incased, toward the lowland of Mantua. FROM MOUNTAIN TO LOWLAND STOCK-RAISING. The soil of this province, a portion of the same alluvion, with the western part of that of Vicenza, formed by the confluents of the Adige, an elevated and rather undulated ])lain, is generally fertile, and being deposited by smaller streams, ])resents less broadly marked differences of comi)ositiou in neighboring localities, always subject, however, to the general law that its materials are coarser and less mingled on higher levels toward the i)oints where the streams, issuing from their mountain valley, deposit their heavier burden, carrying their finer sediment to form a deeper and richer soil below. A chemical analysis of the soil found at base ol" the hills, at nearly equidistant points of this region i'rom east to west, will give an idea of the material which enter into its composition. Ingredicnta. I Near Eouca to the east, basaltic. Silicic acid parts . Calcareous carbonato do... Ahiiniua. do... Or};anio matter do . . . Fi-iiic acid do. .. J.imo do... Pliosphalo of potassa do . . . Ma^xncsia do... AlUaliuo salt.H do... AVatcr and lo.s.-» do. .. Total. 4.00 ■.i Near Ve- rona, cal- careous. 8 7.50 U 1 2 2.50 Thesame races already described are still in presence here, lessmiugled and i incorporated than in the regions further east, partly because breed- ing has been less active and thorough, partly because the province of Veiona extending farther into the bottom valley of the Po, the specially Italianized race of the '■'- rufjUeHc'''' seems the only animal that holds his ground and still prevails almost exclusively. In fact throughout the territory the whole subject of crossing and improving breeds is still disputed and uncertain. Some years since the provincial administration established several reproducing stations, but the results did not correspond to the considerable expense incurred, and ITALY. 347 the iiiterveutioii of the autlioiitios wns liniisronned into a system of aiinnal iJiizesfortheeiicourafieineiil of private en teii)riso, to bead jiid^icd to the proi)rietors of the best bulls and their products at the rt'iiional eattle shows. This system seems to have answered better, and each year the animals offered for competition arc more numerous and dc- serviufj. The annual niigriation to the heiy,hts is practiced, but without systoiu or re^nul.irity and in all other respects this region has no special feature of pastoral industry to command attention. All this tract of c.iuntry is occupied by an extensive cultivation of cereals often without intermission, the least ])ossible space beinc: allotted to forai^e, which is generally planted along with the grain. The extent of natural or permanent ])asture is insignilicent, and l)ut a small pro- portion of the surface is allowed for temporary and artificial meadows by the more intelligent i)roprietors for the ])urpose of special breeding, or for the necessity of rotation, never exceeding one-fourth and averaging more generally one-tenth. In the lower districts of Veroiui from o to 8 per cent, of the surface is irrigated, an improvement much more rarely found further east. In this exclusive cultivation of grain, which has been the fixed idea of Italian agriculture for some years past, cattle are only taken into ac- count for the needs of labor and manure. As a food supply the ox has bad, until recently, no practical importance, costing too mu(;h for the consum])tion of the labor alike in town and country, and finding but a limited denumd for the few who could afford such luxury in the towns. By the rural laborer it was used at rare festivals only, and cases are cited of contadini who asserted that they had never tasted meat. The growing international demand shows its effects so far only in those dis- tiicts vv here cattle [troduction is a necessary resource, and there is found in passing from the highlauds to the bottom vallej' a regular decrease of stock for a given area, four oxen being the average in the one case on a farm of 15 to 30 acres, while in the lower ])lain the same lunnljer serves for one of 40 to 55 acres. Here the only comuiercial product looked for is the sale of the calves, each cow bringing in this way an average gaiu of 120 lires=62i. and the calf, if not sold at the teat, must get his living on roadsides and ditches; if sold younger he brings only $15, and if better fed he is still less profitable, so that the average re- mains about the same. In the satne transit from north to south, and from hill to plain, takes l)lace a gradual change of races, the Tyrolese, Swiss, and all their mix- tures giving way to the Podoliau, which here balances other types, and further on along the lower rivers and coast, and it may be said in the rcf^t of Italy south of the Po, is the exclusive race of the country. CATTLE IN THE PROVINCE OF PADUA. This i)rovince is in every way the heart of the Venetian terra-lirnui, and its agriculture best represents the state of i)rogress in the region. Its situation between plain and mountain gives an excellent average of soil. Superior wealth and (ndture render it more open to tli(; i)ossibil- ities of improvement, and the agrarian interests of the country at large gravitate here as to their natural center. The city of Padua is the prin- cipal cattle market of the surrounding j)rovinces, and their breeding in- terests owe their pros])erity in part to its neighborhood. The piovince is the best stocked of tlie territory, possessing 37 head to the square kilo- meter, while the general average is but 25. In the northern part of the province breeding and fattening for slaughter is pursued as a special 348 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. iudustiy, ami to a dcjjree of system and porfi'ctioii uot attempted in any other part of the country. Tbe district of Cittadella in i)articular is reputed for its products, and uses every art to maintain tiieir quality. Mention has been made of the improvetl character of tlic cattle industry iu the valley of the IJrentaas it descends to\var2 head of cattle, with a rate of 1 animal to 2.C acres; 2 in every 10 are reserved for slaughter. From 400 to 1,300 animals are fattened here annually, out of 3,000, the estimated number for the province. HOW CATTLE ARE FATTENED IN PADUA. The number of cattle enumerated as belonging to the district are here of no moment, as a certain quantity are purchased for fattening from abroad. The treatment adopted most usu.ally to attain the result iu the shortest and most economical way is thus described: It should be premised that all practicians do not make it a])oint to bring theii- ]>rod- ucts to a point of extreme obesity, and notable differences in this re- spect may be seen among animals offered in the nuirket. AV'ith this qualiticatiou, the following is the method adopted by the most skillful and experienced breeders to arrive at a moderate result of weight auJ volume : In winter, when fresh forage is wanting, the animals, with an average of 300 kilograms (pounds GOO), after several days of entire repose, with ordinary treatment, are bled, iu case their coat, by its want of softness and luster or any other symptom, should indicate the necessity. This being done, they arc submitted to a regular and special regime, being fed with fine rich hay, clover, or the like. This is continued from one to two months, as the animals show more or less readiness to gain llesh. After this they are served with a ration of Indian corn shucks, softened iu boiling water and sprinkled with linseed meal, iu quantity, II to 13 pounds a day. During four months of this treatment two beeves con- sume about 3,520 })ounds of choice forage and 1,100 pounds of linseed oil-cake, and attain a weight of 1,870 pounds. In the summer mifcli the same method is followed, using, however, fresh forage, su(5h as hay, grass in general, clover, medic, and the like, the oil cake being omitted. Use is also made of the green tops of Indian corn, and of mulberry leaves, provided these last have not been touched l)y frost, and thus rendered unwholesome for the animals. This sununer treatment lasts nearly as long, with about the same cost and the same economical re- sult, as the winter treatment. To obtain beeves of still higher quality the whole secret consists in prolonging the above treatment, and those who desire extra fine ])r<)il acts keep the animals on regime as long as six or seven nionihs or more. In such cases a i)air of beeves will consume as much as 5,280 pounds of forage and 3,300 pounds of oilcake, reaching a weight of 2,420 pounds. I ITALY. 349 I Lave alluded to the race of animals i)referred lieio for fatteninj;; generally aud constantly the Tyrolese are thought, beyond comparison^ better both for labor and slaughter in this region. The so-called Fel- brini or Bellonisi are purchased, but relatively few, while the native stork, Pugliese, stand lowest; without doubt there are reasons for this, drawn from long experience. It is worthy of note that in general here, in opposition to the usage of other parts of the inovince, neither in the forage nor otherwise is the least ])artiele of s;ilt ever given to cattle; that Ihey are curried and cleansed (if every kind of liKh, and their coals kept as lustrous as possible; that the stable is never entirely closed even in winter, in the belief that a constant supply of fresli air is indis- pensable to the animals. It is remarked that they succeed better in winter, as well in the quantity of llesh as in its llavor. The usual practice of speculators in this industry is to content them- selves with the moderate result of four or live months of tlie above treatment, the jirotits of the operation diminishing with a farther out- lay ; there exists, however, asortof ambition with certain individuals to cany their jiroducts to the utmost i>erfection, even with lessened gain, and this emulation has done n)uch, doubtless, to maintain the singular reputation of the locality, due in ))art also to the s])ecial quality of the forage. This is generally asserted, though no explanation is found of the superiority claimed. A report from the intendant of one of the great proprietary families of t lie region makes a higher estimate. After stating the methods i)rac- ticed in his neighborhood (sometimes much the same as those mentioned above) he continues: The animal to be fattened should be neither too yonng nor to old, say from six to eight years; his livo weiglit at the nionicut of putting under treatment is eommonlv from 1,100 lo l,:ttO pounds. In three nj(mtli8 ho is at half-llesh, l)nt to put him in I'nil condition, alter these tlire(! months on green food, throe mouths more are necessary on dry i'orage. During the three, months of green feeding no dry forage is given; grass alone witli tops and shucks of Indian corn, &c., and two daily draftsof warm water, with 1 kilogram of oilcake (2.2 ])Ounds). After- ward he receives about .j.j pounds of dry forage divided into three rations, ehanging the quality at each nn'al; the hay should be of the first njowing; tiie oilcake drafts to be continued with an addition of 17| pounds of oil-cake. Theshucks in these last three months should be i>eele() to 1,080 pounds ; tlu; dead weight is calculated at about oiP less. Attention should be paid to the ]ial)its and temperament of the animal, jierfect (•leaidiness of animal and stall, abundance of litter, and constant ventilation, however cold tbe weather, regular currying after each meal, aud after the draft, fresh water to his thirst. Differences of opinion exist among specialists in regard to the neces- sity of salt as an element of diet; practically, it scoms imnjaterial here, owing, i)erhaps, to the nature of the ibrage, which in certain situations is known to absorb a considerable 'A, or iudij^estible matter, 27.18. Abljes, (J.Ki, or water, 14.11). The composition of colza compared to linseed is as follows : Constituents. Colza. Liuseetl. 28. 08 9..'> 2-1.3 15.8 7.4 15.0 28.0 10.0 .fl.ti Wood liber 11.0 7.0 Water 14.7 ITALY. 351 HOUSING CATTLE IN PADUA. Breeders complain that the ])riDcii)al obstacle to fattening cattle up to the higliest point is the impossibility of obtaining: remuneration, the meat fmcling no sale beyond a certain price, uliich varies little for all classes of i)rodnct, while in Enjilanlains, where the ])asture is often of the most inferior quality, is robust and tenacious at work, for which cows and oxen are employed without distinction. So that this animal, descending with the barbarian invaders from the stepi)es of the ancient Sarmatia {Bos primigcnus)^ and now, by the con- sent of all authorities, diffused throughout the country from Lombardy to Sicily, is the ])roper Italian ox. He has been mentioned above as the inhabitant of Friuli ; it is equally certain that the great oxen of Komaqua, the half savage herds of the Roman Campagna, and the cream-(;olored cattle of Tuscany, are of the same stock with the Pugliese of the Lower Po. The race in Piedmont attains extraordinary dimensions. In a report to Government are cited measurements of cattle three years old existing there ; oxen of G feet 4 inches and C feet 0 inches, and a cow of 5 feet 0 inches in height. Ilere their height rarely exceeds o.G to C feet, and their yield of meat is always inferior to that of races bred for slaughter, as well as of the Tyrolese which, besides, fatten more readil3^ On the other hand the type is susceptible of great improvement under favorable conditions, and a certain number of breeders here and in Eomaqua maintain that it is the one best suited to the country. This may be true for the region now under consideration as well as for the rude husbandry and burning climate of Southern Italy, but under ordinary conditions of climate and cultivation in Eurojje, the controversy is practically decided by the choice of the breeders of Cittadella and wherever else superior cattle are requiied for industrial profit. There can hardly be said to exist any management deserving atten- tion after the elaborate methods followed in more ailvancetl regions and described above. The ordinary ])iactice is to leave the animals to find their subsistence on the coast lowlands, or otherwise to feed them on the imlifferent products of these same pastures, at most shutting them in for the night in the huts of cane ;ind thatch, which serve for stables in many localities. When fattening is required they receive the choicer forage grown i)romiscuously with the corn on small spaces of the arable land of the region. ITALY. 353 In tlio western and sliglitly more elevated division of the province, toward Lemliuara, where tbrag;e cultivation is somewhat more extended, occupying: from <)ne-lifth to one-tenth of the surface according to locali- ties, with a yield of 70 to 80 quintals fo the hectare, the animal improves gix'atly and is reported to give, without taking into account the cost of land and forage, 10 to lli i)er cent, on his purchase price; in the low- land of Kovigo never more than o ])er cent. Here there is also a trilling fabrication of cheese and butter for do- mestic use, limited, however, by the lear of stinting the calves, which are the principal care and reliance of the farmer. In this region some steps of imi)rovement are made in the construc- tion of stables, a few of a better description having been introduced by the wealthier proprietors to replace older ones fallen into decay. The greater number, however, are still reported to maintain the pre- vailing aspect of neglect and rusticity. CATTLE IN THE DISTRICT OF VENICE. Of the region in the immediate dependence of the city little remains to be said ; its various districts form so many appendages to the dif- ferent i)rovinces which incircle it and share thecharacter of their rural life. Extremely fertile to the north, where it consists of the liner sedi- ment of the Piave, it is stocked with the mixture of Austrian and Friv- loua cattle which stock the adjoining districts of Udiue and Treviso. The portions bordering the lagoon in the immediate neighborhood of Venice are occupied by cows kept ex[)ressly for the milk supi)ly of the ])lace, almost entirely of the Dellunese breed; inditferent milkers, but hardy and not fastidious in their nourishment. Some attempts have been made to introduce Swiss cows into this group, but on account of the objectionable quality of the water imd tbrage they did not answer expectations. The lower border of the lagoon, including Chioggia, is for all agricult- ural i)urj)oses a part of the low land of liovigo, the Polesine just de- scribed, and contains the same exclusive stock of Pugliese cattle, though in number insuflicient for the extended tracts of natural ])asturage nov/ utilized by large herds of mountain cattle from Belluno, which find here a cheai) subsistence for the winter. In all this region no dairy in- dustry is ever attempted, the native cows being used only for labor, and the scanty supply of milk and butter needed for home use fur- nished by the few cows of other races bred or imported for the purpose. EFFECTS OF THE ITALIAN CLIMATE AND HERBAGE ON IMPORTED CA'ITLI-:. It is significant for the object of the present inquiry that in every part of Xorthern Italy the fabrication of dairy products as an iiulustry is only carried on with the aid of imported races. The Pellunese are a domesticated branch of Tyrolese, the milch cows of Vicenza and the seven communes are almost entirely Swiss, and both groups aresiu-h in- ditterent milk-givers that it would Ix; impossible to bring their jjroduct into general or even local commerce without the advantage of mountain pastures at trilling cost. The Lombard dairymen, it is said, find it more l)rofitable to import Swiss cows directly tlian to dei)endon crossing tho breed, and it has been seen that the animals imported fall olf immedi- ately, so that the yield of milk never approaches that of a Swiss ])asture. All these facts ])oiutto a radical dilfercnce of local conditions, and the effect of this ditterence maybe traced progressively. In leaving,' n. Ex. 51 23 354 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. tlio moist climate and fresh pastures of England and Scotland every one may observe the dryer and more concentrated quality, as well as the darker color, of French beef and mutton, though not inferior in fla- vor. The verdure of the country shows the same variation ; both have felt the long dry summer. In Italy tliis change is exaggerated ; prolonged heat in summer and dry cold in Aviuter are the rule. Luxuriant pastures in hill or valley are rare, and keep their freshness but a moment. Mountain ranges and spurs occupy much of the surface; land is divided into the snudlest parcels ; horses too few and precious to be emi)loyed in cultivation ; in- tensive agriculture is little known, and its introduction can only be the work of many years. Until then the race of cattle must be adapted to all uses, principally to labor, and subsidiarily to slaughter or dairy production ; and even then it is doubtful whether the climate and vege- tation could offer a congenial home for the ultra-relined and developed animals of more favored regions. Attempts to naturalize them, made with all the ])recautions and liberality of scientific experiment, have not so far succeeded. THE ox OF THE COUNTRY. In the Podolian ox the country possesses a type capable of support- ing its mediocre conditions of existence, and answering its principal re- quirements; sol)er, robust, and nearly equal to the horse in tin; rapidity of his jnicc in labor or journey, he deuninds neither care nor shelter. To correct his defects ot form and temperament the other half-Italian- ited race of the Tyrol seems specially fitted; indolent, slow, and massive in his native region, he loses the excess of these characteristics in chang- ing his habitat, while retaining his precocity and readiness to fatten. The influence of climate is singular manifested in its efi'ects in these ex- tremes of race character, which, gaining and losing, respectively, by the change, tend to a common medium of good qualities. The Podolian, however, is the proper and universal Italian ox, and in view of the extra- ordinary modifications already noted of the same type, it is difficult to assign a limit to his capability of amelioration. SUITABILITY OF ITALIAN CATTLE FOR THE UNITED STATES. Whether one or other of these races would be desirable for importa- tion to the United States would depend on the character and the ag- riculture of the region in which the animals should be im[)lanted. Neither possesses the highly developed special qualities that are sought for in the improved cultivation of the older States. If, however, the precocity and solidity of the Tyrolese were considered an acquisition, these are found at their strongest in the valleys of the Upper Adige, toward Meran, the native home of the race. The type should be chosen there, and for these qualities alone ; neither this nor any other race of these regions having any value for dairy imrposes to merit attention. The hardy and indefatigable Podolian or Pugliese might render use- ful service in the trying climate and diflicult cultivation of less fertile and less advanced parts of the country, as, for instance, in the lowlands of the Gulf States, in the wild-sage region of the great i)lains, or the barren stretches of Lower California and New Mexico, and, according to the special requirements of the situation, there would be large room for choice among the several varieties of the race which stock the different regions of Italy. ITALY. 355 PRICES OF ITALIAN CATTLE. Ill repaid to tlic (luantity of cattle at present in tlieconntiy and their ])rice, tbey are rei)orted to be scarce and dear in all parts of Italy and Venice, as ^YeH on account of the recent inundations as of the increasin*;' demand, foreign and home. France and Germany require a. constant supply, and for several years the Parisian market lias been largely su|)plied with Italian beef. Beeves of superior quality, live weight, cost from $15 to $10 the quintal, and this jirice is general throughout the region. The animal jjenerally averages six quintals, and yields 50 per cent, net of meat. Cows bring about the same price, and never less than $14; at halfUesh the price is r)5 to 00 francs, -which equals $11 to $12. TRANSPORTATION OF ITALIAN CATTLE TO TUE UNITED STATES. It is difficult to obtain data as to the cost and facilities of transport to the United States, the case never having* before occurred. The best route would be by sea altogether, as I am assured that animals sullcr more in the railway journey to Havre than in crossing' the Atlantic. The (Icneral iS'avigation Company (Italian), with a line to ]^[ew York and transshipment at Palermo, make their voyage from here to New York in twenty-live days, and state a price (approximate) of 'ISO francs ($0G) per head, but better terms could be made according to number of animals. Each animal would re(]uire about 22 jiounds of hay ]>er .50, which wilh $90 for transport, equals $0t).5(). The passage of the nec;es- sary keepers would be gratuitous. McWALTEIl P,. NO YES, Cofisul. United States Consulate, Venice, November 24, 1S.S,3. Size, weiyJil, and product of honied callli: in the Venetian territory. Name of lirceil. Ilal.itat. Annual nvcrafjd poiinUs of milk. Milk to pound of battel'. Milk to pound of cheese. Size at maturity. Livo weight. Cow. 0... Cow. Ox. Lis. Lba. Ft. 4.10 4.8 4.8 Ff. 5i 5 Lbs. 9;i5 900 Lbs. 1 400 Tyrolcao. liol,lun(!se Schwytz; ViTona, Venicn. TJdine.Vicenza, Padna, Verona. Kelluno, P.-ulua, Udinc, Tio- viso. n.ooo 2, 850 3, COO 27 ^ '-'7,', 13g 13g i.cr.o 1,500 Moutunina Udino 356 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Breeds of horned cattle in the Venetian territory, and their product fi. Kamo of breed. < Weight of meat at maturity. Color. Description. Puijliese Tyioleso Bellunese S.hwytz Trs. 4 ;t Pounds. 710 825 77i> 440 Asli-gray, wliiti.sli, tijiped with blaek.' Thin, lii^li shonldered, Ions- limbed, long-horned ; pace, rapid. Heavy, slow, back straight, rump thick, head sniall, neck short, liorus .short. Thick-set, horns short, limbs short, breast broad, depres- sion behind shoulder, preco- cious. Low, liead small, rump high and large, horns sliort, bones liglit, thighs large, .skin soft. Undersized, horns and hoofs Gray, tijiped with bhick Ked, brown, or blaek spotted . . . and)er-color, light, rapid, used for transport. Name of bleed. Puglieso Steppes of Russia .. . Ty rolese Austrian Tyrol liellunese Belluuo and Tyrol.. Scbwytz I Val Kendaua, Tyrol Montaniua Italy Origin of breed. Labor. Product. Meat, fat tened. Rapid Siow Good, middling. Middling rapid Lbx. 990 1,100 1,050 Milk, per year. Lbs. '.), 000 2,350 3,600 Cheese, per year. Lbs. 219 2U7 2G2 Climate and topography of the Venetian territory. Loc.ility. Altitude. Mean annual temper- ature. Summer. Winter. Mean. Extreme. Mean. Extreme. TJdine: Mrtrrg. 200 30 °C. 11.1 H.8 "20 21.5 33.8 OC. 2.8 OC. — 15 liclluuo : 404 10.3 10.1 6.9 13.3 7 12.7 14.2 20.6 31.9 11 9 900 35 9!)U 129 CI 10.6 24.7 29.6 3.5. 1 20.1 33. 2 35 -l.C — 17.5 Vicenza : — 18 3.3 3.9 6 1 Verona : — " 6. 4 Pat'ua : 11 40 14.3 3G. 7 4.9 11.1 Rovigo: 9 2 1 Venice: St. Dona 3 1.1 12.1 24.4 36.7 3.1 — 6 ITALY. 357 Climate and loi)ogra2)hii of the J'ciutiaii tcrritorii — Coiitiuucd. Locality. Soil. Character. Composition. Udine: Alhivial Siliceous, argillaceous, calcareous. Alluvial and gravel . Bellnno: Arcillaceous. calearettus. \ «Tordo Mountain shelves do VicPDza: Alluvial and jrravel.. Mountain plateau Verona: Stony. Padua: Cittnilolla Kovi^o : Alluvial and sand do Adria * Arsillacoous, sand, poat. Do. do Venice : Sf. Dona do do do Argillaceous, sand, peat. XOTE. — 1 meter = 3 feet 3.1 inches. Degree centigrade = 1° Fahrenheit. O centigrade is at freezing point. 358 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Substratum and cultivated grasses in the Venetian territory. Locality. Substratum. .11 B a* o Cultivated grasses. Udine : Limestone ; in lii;ili(T parts, fliaiiito and seiiist. 1 E E i Medic, and clover, most in mountain grasses. ^Med'e, clover, rye-grass. Kye-grass, medic of late years Medic, clover, rye-grass. Civiilale Belliino: Liniestouo and f;iav(;l, lii;;liei- granite. Liniostone, creen sandstone, marl, and conglomerates. Liniesloue, red sandstone, eluilU, 8eai;lia. Dolomite, arenaceous and cal- careous schist, (juartz por- Dhyry. Metamorpbic lime and sand stone, dolerito and basalt t ofa, gravel. Dolouiilo, redsandstone, cbalk, basalt tufa. Glacial detritus, tertiary limlo- stone, basalt, tula, cbalk. Numolito limestone, cbalk, tufa, lijrneto, moraine. San ', limestone, conglom- erates. Sand, gravel, trachyte, lime- stone, and conglomerates. 0 ravel, conglomerates , Eye-grass, clover, medic, native grasses. Pastures of Pbliune alponum, Viconza : agiostis, alopeenrus, ])oa. fes- tuca, avenascbeuchBin, &c. Clover, red and white, medic. Insigiiifi'MDt, "„ in mouutaiu liastures. Medic, hieern, timothy, clover, vetches. Medic and clover, mostly nat- ural pasture. ^S,, iirigated, mcdic,clover,8aiu frin. Timothy, medic, clover, many jiative grasses, phlium, poa, agrestic, many species of vetch. Do. Verona : Pudna : Cittadolla IJovigo: Gravel, recent conglomerates, clay. Deep alluvial, sard, clay, peat alernating. Delta ; clay, gravel, peat Delta ; clay, argillaceous and cretaceous marl. Sand, clay, marl, indurated clay. Gravel, clay, sand, peat B torn pasture. Medic, clover, insulbccnt for cousumjition. Mixed witbother crojis, lueuic, clover. Venice: marsh. Venice and Dolo bottom pasture. Little cultivation, waste ])as- ture, bad water. torn pasture. 15ELGIUM. 359 BELGIUM. CATTLE IN BELGIUM. liEPOKT BY CO'SSUL STEUAIiT, OF ANTWERP. In ivi)]y to the circular and memoranda callinijj for inibrination relative to brood ini;- cattle that would be of value to stock-breeders in tlie United Statet^, 1 have to rej^ret that my ett'orts, both by ])erso]ial inquiry and by correspondence, to obtain yonie points of value bearin;;- on the subject have been attended with indiifereutresults, some of my letters remaining unanswered. Lelgium oflers no cattle for exjiort, first, because the home demand is far in excess of the supply, and then because there is no race heie sufii- ciently prominent or meritorious to attract the attention of the i)ur- chasers from the United States, who are almost always i)rcseut in the neijihboring kingdom of Holland seeking the valuable cattle in which that country is so rich. From an official report ]mblislied this year by the bureau of agiricult- ure in the department of the interior at Brussels, we learn that for some years ])ast the cattle in Belgium have shown great: improvement, owing to the great care taken in the t^election of the breeding stock brought into the country Irom England and Holland, andto the great attention i^aid to the olispring. They are well boused, carefully fed, and every care taken in order to produce the best results. The Durham bulls from England are the most valued and most in use, and the cross from this race arc very succossiul, and becoming more and more immerous every year. In some jilaces an elibrt 1ms been made to i^reserve and breed the Durham stock pure, but the result was a failure. After two or three generations they ilegenerate so greatly that the infusion of new blood is necessary ; thus, whilst the cross is a great success, the inire race will not thrive in this country. 'Jhe province of Antwerp prefers to improve her stock by the introduc- tion of the Dutch race, because the dairy is the result aimed at, and but little attention paid to the other jn^oducts. The cow is valuedonly by her milk-giving qualities, and for this i)urpose the Dutch are much the best. In the province of Flanders the groat proportion of the cattle are of the Cassel breed, or, as it is called iji Fran(;e and in all the markets, the Flemish breed. In many of the districts more than half the cows are of this breed, whilst in other districts the Durham is used to cross with the native cows, or with those brought in from Holland. In the province of Brabant the Durham is held in the highest esti- mation, but in the weekly market held at Diest, Avhich is a very im- l»ortant center lor the cattle trade, the Holland cattle take a very im- portant part. As the home product falls far short of the den)and for consumption, the (Jovernment has interested itself greatly, as it does in all matters atiecting the material interests of the Kingdom, in order to secure the increase needed, and at the same time to improve the breed as much as possible. To tijis end an appropriation is made yearly and expended by agents appointed by the department of the interior for the purchase and im])ortation of the best pure-blooded animals suitable for the pur- pose j the purchases are generally made from the Durham and Holland 360 CATTLE AKD DAIRY FARMING. stock, and tliese auinuils are distributed anions' tbe dillerent jnovinces and sold to tbe stock-breeders. Tlie result is carefully watcbed and rewards are ofl'ered to tbose Avbo are able to sbow tbe best specimens arisiuij from judicious care and attention. Professor Leyder, of tbe Eoyal Ajjricultural Institute, seudsmea pam- l>blet written by bimself upou tbe animals at tbe national exposition of ISSO, and in bis written reply to my inquiries be says: None of our races luivc suflicieiit merit to attract tlie attention of ^^tocl\-l)^ee(l(■rs ; also that our statistical docnnients are silent npou (lie snlij(ict of tlic distribution ot" cattle races among the ditferent i)rovince8. lu bis i)ampblet be states tbat tbe demands for bome consumi)tion, wliicb tbe product is far from covering, call for large importations of cattle. Since a dozen years tbe excess of importations over exporta- tions bas beeu about 50,000 bead yearly. Uolland contributes most largely to tbis number, partly of cattle ready fattened for tbe market, of otbers coming to be fattened, and also of some reserved for breeding purposes. Of tbe 123,301, 121,138, and 142,480 bead of cattle im])orted, respectively, in 1878, 1879, and 1880, tbere came from Uolland 107,008, 100,933, and 113,808 bead. TRANSrOKTATION OF CATTLE TO THE UNITED STATES. Altbougb Belgium bas no cattle of her own to export for breeding purposes, sbe ofiers tbe best route of export from tbis part of tbe world to the United States. Tbe White Cross line of steamers, sailing from Antwerj) to Kew York, Boston, and Quebec, are fitted with tbe proper accommodations for tbe transport of cattle, and they carry a great many, priucii)ally coming from Holland, some from Switzerland, but more from Belgium. Tbe cattle are brought to Antwerp by rail or water, are inspected by the veterinary surgeon, and then placed on board of tbe steamers. COST OF TRANSPORTATION TO THE UNITED STATES. The agents of the line here furnished me with the following as the rates of transportation, namely : £8 per head for cows, £1 per head for yearlings, £i) per beatl for calves, including installations, water, and feeding for twenty days. The men accomi)anying tbe cattle for attend- ance have free passage. If no men accompany the cattle the steamer provides attendance at tbe rate of 4s, per head. If shippers j)rovide feed the price is £2 less per head. JOHN II. STEUART, United States Consulate, Consul. Anticcrp, December 29, 1883. BREEDS OF CATTLE IN BELGIUM. liErORT BY CONSUL WILSON, OV BRUSSELS. In a country where the subdivision of property is so great and tbe population so dense as in Belgium, tbe raising of stock and the im- ])roveraent of breeds, of necessity, cannot constitute an important branch of agricultural industry; nevertheless, within tbe last few years there has been amongst agriculburists here a strong and pcrsisteat effort BELGIUM. 361 made to iiiii)i-ovc all aniMials that citlicr rmnisli beof or dairy products for the people; as a result of this ellbrt, it is doubtful whetlier there uow cau be fouud auy purely iudijieuous breeds iu this eouutry. There are, however, several distinct varieties bred here, each generally con- fined to a i)articular district of the country, characterized by some jieculiar quality of pasturage, soil, or climatic condition. TUE rURNES-AMUACIIT BREED. On the rich plains and poulders of East and West Flanders the |U'e- Tailinj? f.vpp of cattle is that known as the "rurnes-Auibacht" breed, distinguished by handsome and well-proportioiu'd I'orms, short legs, moderately hirge, crooked horns, and usually of a red and white pie- bald color. They are renowned for both the quantity and quality of their dairy products throughout the Kingdom. THE ARDENNAISE BREED. Farther east and west, on the slopes and valleys of the foot-hills of the Ardennes, where the soil chietly consists of decomposed schist- (piartz and afibrds a less abundant yet nutritious herbage, there has been bred, almost from time immemorial, another variety known as the "Ardenuaise" stock. This breed is characterized, when not crossed with any other, by its red color, small size, clean, smooth limbs, and long, sharp horns pro- jecting forwards and surmounting a head carried well up, as though always on the alert against surprise or danger. These animals are not usually good milkers, but produce rich and well-Havored meat, doubtless more or less resulting from the character of the herbage upon which they feed in this mountainous district. THE CHAELEROI BREED. In the llerve and Condroz districts, touching the German frontier on the northeast, there formerly existed a variety of cattle much resembling the Ardenuaise, excepting that they were almost uniformly of a black and white piebald color ; but within the last few years the introduction of the Shorthorns into these districts has greatly changed both their form and color, so that the pure Condroz race is now rapidly disappear- ing and the present stock of that region, known as the Oharleroi breed, taking its place. FOREIGN AND CROSS BREEDS IN BELGIUM. These three varieties of cattle are all that can now, with any degree of i)ropriety, be denominated native breeds, and of them and their crosses with the Shorthorn Durham, the Dutch Piebald, and a variety from Cassel, almost the entire herds of the country are the progeny. Attracted by the rapid growth and sjjlendid forms of the pure blood English Shorthorns, the farmers, in almost every district of this King- dom, have attempted to cultivate them to the exclusion of their native stock, but with variable and by no means uniformly satisfactory re- sults ; for they overlooked the facts that the valley of the Tees, the true home of the Durham, abounds in rich pasturage and other cattle food to a degree greatly exceeding most of the cattle-growing districts of this country, and that the rapid growth and quick maturity of this 362 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. stock dcinaiuls a proportionate amount of special care and nutritious food. Many of tlic stoek-firowers of this country, after liavinc^ si)eiit larj^e sums of money themselves, and havinj;' received handsome subsidies from the Clovennnent in experimenting* with these catth', have been forced to abandon tliem and fall back ui)on crosses with their native- stock, as more hardy in constitution and better adapted to the food prod- uce and climatic conditions of their districts. The crosses with this stock, however, are now found in every district in the Kingdom, and have to a large degree supplanted even the famous Dutch breed so long and highly esteemed here, I may add here tliat the importance given in this country to any one variety over the others above mentioned, chiefly depends upon the kind of ]);isturage and other food the department where they are founJ^' ^vay to a eross with the ArcU'iinaise stock. CATTLE FEEDING IN BELGIUM. Altliouuli, as bi'fore stated, r>el,i!:ium is not toany considerahh' deiiree a cattU> raising country, the amount of care and labor the small farm- ers and dairyuien bestow uj)ou these animals is very ^iieat, and as a result they liave succeeded, in many cases, in brinyini;- their mih'h cows up to the Iii.uhest de*j;ree of milk and butter i)i'oducin.i;' (lualitics. Many of these cows are stall-fed all the year; ])leuty of .uood water and the food best adapted to the producjtion of rich milk is snjiidied them with .yreat i)unctuality. They are combed and brushed ami their skin kept i)erfectly clean ; their stables are also models ol" cleaidiness, and nothinji' is left undone either in the way of kind treatment, abun- dant food and water, or good shelter, to bring these animals up to the highest degree of perfection. Their food from May to October (;on- sisls chielly of an abundant supply of clover; from October to January turnips and carrots boiled are added to the fodder, and from January to M:\y beets, and malt when it cau be had, are fed. Olover and malt are here regarded as the best milk-producing articles of food. YIELD OF 3IILK OF BELGIAN COWS. From the most reliable iuformatiou I cau obtain a good, average fresh Flemish cow will yield from -8 to .'JO liters of milk daily; a Flemish and Ardennaise cross, from 18 to 1*4, and a pure Holland about the same (]uantity. All the crosses with the Shorthorns may be set down as giving a fraction less thau these ligures in quantity; as a rule their milk is richer in cream and consequently in butter, but after the sepa- ration of the cream the milk is left proportionately poor. MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS. The cows of all the native breeds and crosses in this country are considered at maturity when three years old, but bulls ami steers, ]>ar- ticularly of Durham crosses, will grow until they are four years old. In the subjoined table, marked A, will be fouucl, as nearly as I can as- certain it (in the absence of any statistics on the subject), the live weight of these animals at three years old, and the average i)riee i)aid i)er kih)- gram, live weight, for them fattened for the market. The table nuirked 13, giving their size, is a transcript of that published here on the occa- sion of the great national exhibition of 1880, and is the only reliable in- formaion I have been able to obtain on this subject. I3irOKT.S OF CATTLE HJTO BELGIUM. As no census of the horned cattle in this Kingdom has been made since 1875, 1 am unable to give a reliable answer to the questions in your circular as to the present nund)er, the percentage of breeds, and the ])roj)ortion bred for the butcher and dairy; but ollicial dociunenls furnished me show that the importation of cattle into JJelginm in 1881 amounted to 121,000 head, whilst the exports only amounted to 4L*,01l head, thus showing a deficit in the home supply for that year of 78,080 head. Of the total number imported Holland supplied 01,080, and the United States 355 head. 364 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. PRICES OF BELGIAN CATTLE. There were sold iu the markets and fairs of tlie country in 1S81, ISG,- 2G2 niilcli cows, at a mean i>rice of oOO francs per head ; 74, ()(!.") heifers, at a mean ]irice of 185 francs; of steers, there were sohl 71,011, aver- apug, per head, 3GG francs; and of young bulls, 33,431, at a mean price of 165 francs. BELGIAN CATTLE FOR THE UNITED STATES. It will be necessarily inferred from the prices paid for the animals ot these various classes in the open markets of the country that they could not have been of a superior quality, and indeed this is tlie fact with regard to all horned cattle bred in this country. So far as my own per- sonal observation has served me, I am convinced that the farmers of the United States have nothing to learn from this country in tlio mat- ter of selective breeding and the production of valuable stock either for the shambles or the dair3% and I do not hesitate to say that njore line bovine specimens of pure and crossed bloods may be seen in a day amongst the farmers of our Middle and Northwestern States than can be found within the entire limits of this country. As before stated the small farmers and dairymen ha\e lavished a great amount of care upon their milch cows, and tlius secure from them a. large daily yield of milk; but I ( oubt not that on every well-man- aged farm or dairy in tbe United States there can be found cows tliat in this quality will equal the best of this country. Finally, as a result of my personal observation and all the informa- tion I have obtained from other sources, I am convinced that no impor- tation of milch cows from this country could greatly improve our present stock, and as to beef cattle, I have seen in the fields and stables of the farmers of the United States, both Durhams and Devons, not only far suri)assing anything found in this country, but equal to the finest herds bred in England, their native home. If, however, notwithstanding these tacts, any of our farmers feel inclined to test the improvement expatriation will produce on any of the stock of this country, 1 would recomn:end the Flemish cow as i^ossessing qualities capable of a larger and more immediate improvement than any other of the native breeds, and now tliat there is a fine line of steamers i)lying between New York and ATitwerp the experiment need not necessarily be an expensive one. THE EXPORT OF AMERICAN BEEF AND BEEF CATTLE TO BELGIUM. Whilst, however, I do not believe our stock growers can derive much benefit from the importation of Belgian cattle, I am convinced that, with jiroper management, an enterprise for the exportation to this country direct, of both live cattle, beef, and mutton would pay a large ])rofit. In the herewith inclosed table, marked C, I have given the sell- ing ])rice of meat in the markets of the principal cities of this country, which will serve as a basis of calculations from which the profits of such an enteri)rise may be calculated, and I cannot but thiidc that with the now regularly plying steamers between Antwerp, New York, and Philadelphia, a large and profitable trade of this character could be secured. JNO. WILSON, United States Consulate, Consul, Brussels^ November 9, 1883. BELGIUM. 365 A.— Average >rcight and price of three-year-old cattle in Belgium. Xaiue of bici'ds. Livo weight. Piico per kilogram. • Cow. Bull. Ox. Cow. BuU. Ox. Kilos. 5.'>(» to 600 4U0 5(10 500 GOO 550 650 Kilos. GOO to 700 450 550 5.T0 050 65U 750 Kilos. COO to 800 500 550 «00 Too GOO 800 Francs. Francs. Francs. 1.05 to 1 0. 0(1 1 1.(10 ] 1.00 1 O.GO 1.00 1.00 O.GO 0. !») 0. im ti. 0. !)5 00 10 10 Dutch Crosses with the Shorthorns have slij;htly increased the weight of all the native hrceds above ^iveu, but, as will be seen, the Flemish ox coiuniauds the highest price per kilojiraiu iu the market. B. — Measurement of cattle e.thibited at Brussch in 18rf0, and which received 2>ye)iiiiim.'i. lln centimeters.] Description. Bulls over three years: Native or crossed Pure Durhanis Dutch Ardennaia or cros.sed Bulls from one to three years : Native or cro.s8ed Pure Durhanis Dutch Ardennais or crossed Cows : Native or crossed Pure Dixrhams... Dutch Ardennais or crossed Heifers from two to three years : Native or crossed Pure Durhams Dutch 1 Ardennais or cro.->sed Height. 144.2 145.2 140.0 135.0 138.0 141.0 141.3 124. 7 141.5 138.0 139.0 12U.7 134.4 130.3 135. 3 130.7 Vertical depth of the breast. 81.7 84.0 80.5 77.0 78.0 78.3 80.3 00.0 77.0 78.3 77.3 71.3 72.3 74.8 72.0 07. 0 Length of the head. 58.5 58.3 58.0 54.3 55. 0 55. G 57.0 50.7 56 0 52. 1 50. 3 50.3 50.6 49.0 50.3 49.0 Height of hock. 53. 0 5,5.0 45.0 54.3 54.0 53.0 Length of buttocks, 53 1 53 0 52 3 .54.0 49.3 51 G 51 3 G2. 7 62.0 .57. 5 53.0 58.0 02.0 00.7 45.0 .59.2 59. 7 50.0 53. 3 54.3 53. 3 51.7 49.0 Length of whole body. 188.7 181.7 1,^3.0 107. G 179.0 178.0 179.7 150. 0 180. 5 172.7 169.3 103.0 10,5.0 103.3 l(i4. 7 101.0 C — Average price per kilogram of the whole careaas of animals hilled and dresurd for the murlcelH in the principal citirn of Belgium. [In francs.] Antwerp Brussels. IJruges .. Ghent... Mods I,,iego ... Hasselt . Arlon ... Namur .. Ox. 1.62 1.65 1.80 1. 60 1.85 1.60 1.70 1.60 1.82 BuUs. 1.39 1.42 1.40 1.38 1. 50 1.34 1.50 1.30 ]. 59 Cows. Veal. 1.49 2. GO 1. 50 2.05 1.70 2.00 1.50 2.14 1.75 1.90 1. .50 1.45 1.60 1.80 1.60 1.20 1.70 1.77 Mut. ton. 1.82 1.60 2.00 2.91 1.75 1..55 1.90 1.80 1.81 3GG CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. CATTLE AND CATTLE BREEDING IN BELGIUM. liEPOliT 1!Y COXSUL TANNER. OF lAEOE. Dll'FlClILTIKS IN THE WAY OF SECURINfi CATTLE STATISTICS. I ciiii appieciato tlic desire on the part of the Department to make an ellort to elevate the standard of vVmeriean cattle; and it wonhl ail'ord me pleasure of no ordinary decree slionld it bo in my i)0\ver to aid in this in)portant matter. The inqniiies contained in the cattle eircnlar are far-ieachinu- and very comprehensive. In a sinall country like i>el- ^inm, where at least three distinctlan<;na.i;es are spoken, where weij^hts and measures aie so dilferent from our own, one; encounters eelgiati cow. There is a strong likeness between these two breeds that suggests unmistakably to a judge of cattle a common origin. Of this there is not a question in my mind. I will not take space to explain why I am so thoroughly convin(;ed ot this. ASSUMED ORIGIN OF THE ENGLISH SHORTHORNS. Professor ITengcveld, a Dutch authority of great rei)ute on cattle, Kays that the Shorthorns of lOngland had their origin from the cattle of North Holland in this way: "When William, Frince of Orange, was called to tin; British thione, he misseneds ir J5oli;iun, Ihioe types: I'lOulouiiais 19.-. 252i 4^ 33.3 7 "^^ 24 20. !J 1,099 ) lis 14S.I, 118 llKi 110 i:i5 45 4,'; 41 31 34 30 0^ 7.;'„ 24 24 23 3Ui 304 25 1,07(5 1,070 1,0." 9 )■ 210,000 i 80, 000 1" 1 e c li e t GO lUO CO fli) 4i 4i', 27. 3 30. 3 ^ 7u 7v> 22 23 l?l 1, 290 1,713 10,000 (j'harleroi 80, 000 ( ;<>nti-uiiuo ( jSToriuau) 00 i)i) 4 /.. 30.3 f'-'C ''I'b 23 224 1,740 fiO, 000 55 70 r,.-. 85 4-f 33. 3 32. 2 nt 7..^a «;1 23 24 25. 0 31 i 1,735 l,s;)o 122,000 Diirluim 50, 000 Ayrcsbiio 05 8iJ ^\' 30. 2 r.-;>. ^ 2t 2'5 1,300 1.5,000 .Ters(■\■^^ 00 75 4i'- 28.1 4i Gl 22 22.9 1,200 10,0110 85(1, (jOO 1 1 1, 550, 000 1 THE FAVOKITE BREEDS IN BELGIUM!. As before stated, there has not been that geiie?al eflbrt in Belginni to retain purity of particular breeds which has been the rule in Eng- land. There are many distinctive breeds here, but this is more in con- sequence of the customs of the i)eople, who care little for change. JNFore ellbrt has been bestowed on the perfection of the material on hand than in trying to accomplish such results from foreign stock. Each breed has its advocates as to its superiority, and if an equal assemblage of the representatives of all the breeds should meet to determine which was the best, it would be dillicult to arrive at a decision. 1 believe, on the whole, that the contest would be reduced to three breeds, viz, the Flemish, the Dutch, and the, Flechet. Between these three the con- test would be very close, with many advantages in favor of the hitter, the principal being the richness of the milk and the cheapness of the cattle. THE nOLLANDAIS. The nollandais, or Dutch, cattle, on the whole, I think are generally more esteemed than any other, though the Elemish, which belong 1o the same family, hold almost equal rank. The two cuts below will re])- resent, though in an unsatisfactory manner, the Holland cow as she exists in this section. The color is black and whit(», but it often varies, as it does also in the Flemish, to a brindle-reddish or dun color, varied with spots of white. 368 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. THE FLEMISH COW. The cut below will represent the Flemish cow with tolenible ac- curacy. This breed of cows ranks almost equally with the Dutch, even in North llollund, and, in France, (lermany, and Switzerland, are esteemed above any ]-'n in quality, and tjiat which it lacks in size for beef is conii)ensated in the same way. These two breeds are as fi'entle and kind in disposition as it is ])ossible for cat- tle to be. A child can walk np to them anywhere or at any time, and lead them or play around them, without any fear of harm. THE FLECHET BREED. The Flechet breed is a very remarkable breed of cattle. They are small, as will be seen by the table, and of a red and white color. The products of this breed are better known here than the breed itself. Le hcitrrc de llcrre (butter from Uervc) brings in this market from 1.") to 20 cents more per kilogram than that of any other butter, and milk and cheese from this breed of cattle are equally valuable. 1 am told that the King of the Belgians sends all the way from Brussels and draws his sujjply of butter and cheese from the dairymen of Ilerve. The home demand for the butter and cheese of Herve is greater than the supidy at 15 to 20 and even 25 per cent, more per pound than any other cheese or butter, but lor all this it finds its way through intermediaries into Brussels, l*aris, Amsterdam, Berhn, Cologne, and Aix la Chaj)elle for the best restaurants and hotels. This breed of cattle shows perhaps more than any illustration that I could iwint to that the theory advo- cated by me in this dispatch is a good and rational one, and causes me to advocate it with the more confidence. The farmers of Ilerve knoAv absolutely nothing about the genealogy of this breed. They only know that the same cattle have grazed on the same pasture during the life of their fathers, or grandfathers, and that they yield good, rich milk, and that they must take goo total imixiitation of butter into this little kingdom amounted to nearly !),000,((()0 kilograms for 1881, being, however, more BELGIUM. 369 by nearly 1,000,000 kilograms than for 1882 and most probably the same for the present year. The imports of butter into Relginm ibr 188L* was 7,842,000 kilograms, valued at 28,501,(i48 iVaucs, the bulk of which went to Holland and France; to the former l.'5,(i07,209 francs, ami to the lat- ter 8,528,231. IMPORTS OF MEAT AND MEAT CATTLE JNTO BELGIUM. Tho quantity of cattle or meat imported into Belgium for home eon- sumption is hard to arrive at. The tables transmitted with the i)rcsent for translation by the Department will be as near as can be ascertained. A vast amount of the imports of beef and cattle are merely in transit to some other country. The consumption of meat in Belgium is not so great as in England, because of the better compensation received by the English laborer, which enables him to supply his table more liber- ally. Few workmen in Belgium are there that taste meat (other than pork and horse Hesh) more than once a year. Even the better classes do not consume beef in proportion to the sanie classes in the United States and England. During Lent and on Fridays Catholics do not eat meat, and, with five millions of ])eople, that would make a vast difference in tho annual consumption of an article. But for all this Belgium does not produce nearly one-half enough meat for home consumi)tion. The tables inclosed will show the Department from what countries Belgium makes up her deficiency. That the United States takes such an insig- nificant part in the profits of this business is deplorable, and can come from nothing but lack of effort on our part. Every business man knows what is wanted to introduce and extend his business at home, and from that hs must surely be able to draw conclusions as to what ho must do to extend it beyond our borders. It would seem almost folly to repeat a thing so simple, viz : It is only to supply a good article cheaper than any one else can supply it and make it known to dealers in such articles abroad by samples or otherwise. Cheapness is the thing that goes further than anything else, and it is hard to hide a cheap article even if we want to hide it, and therefore it is very easy to make it known. COUNTERFEITING AJttERICAN PRODUCTS. There are prejudices here now against our products which Americans at home can destroy by continuing to prove that they supply good and pure articles. They can in this waj^ show to the peoi)le here that great rulers and their ministers can descend to misrepresentation for a purpose. I called personally on every important dealer here in American supplies and asked him to apprize me if at any time there should be any complaint against any American article that might pass through his hands. Only a few days elapsed before one sent me a note saying that he would like to have me call. I did so without loss of time. Jle said that tiierehad been complaint about some American butter that the inspec^tor had examined and pronounced it mauvais and artijicial. 1 asked hiui if lie had received the butter direct from the United States. '"• Xo,"' he said, "it came from a house I trade with in^Mastricht." On looking at the lirkin that con- tained the butter it had the name of a house in 2sewaik, N. J., but 1 could see at a glance that the printing on the kibel had not been done in the United States. I summoned the ins[)ector and insisted that the label be torn off, which was reluctantly done. Underneath the label was the Dutch brand that had been burned into the wood of the firkin, B, Ex. 51 24 370 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. i>bo^Yiug tliat it came from JMastricbt. The fraud was revealed at once, and I was relieved at once, because I knew that good butter is very dif- ficult to keep fresh for any length of time, and that if the butter had been of American origin that the chances were that it was either arti- IJcial or that it was rancid. I mention this matter only to show the De- partment to what an extent we must fight against the unfair methods that are resorted to in order to create a prejudice against us. I am de- termined that these prejudices sball have no foundation in this consular district. If any American should, on the other hand, contribute to- wards these prejudices by importing an article that would have that tend- ency, I want to expose him at home. AMERICAN PRODUCTS FOR BELGIAN CONSUMPTION. We can supply meats, butter, eggs, poultry, &c., to the markets of Antwerp and Brussels cheaper than it can be supplied from France or Eolhind by 3 or 4 per cent, on the pound. I mention these two places because Antwerp is the entrepot for Belgium, and places in the interior generally supply themselves with foreign commodities from there, and hence it is to this place that the principal efforts for the introduction of American articles must be directed. It would be well to extend those clibrts to Brussels, as a largo surrounding area draws its deficiency in provisions from that city, and many merchants doubtless go there that do not go to Antwerp. PRESERVATION OF MEATS AND VEGETABLES FRESH. Dr. Clossett of this city has invented a means of i^reserving the fresh- ness of meats and other provisions which may be of great service to our exporters in these articles. I have asked him for a statement of the merits of his process, which I herewith inclose. He has secured pat- ents for this process both in Europe and America.* GEO. C. TANNEK, Consul. United States Consulate, Vcrviers and Liege, October 13, 1883, BELGIAN AND DUTCH MILCH COWS. REPORT BY CONSUL WILSONA Referring to my dispatch No. 17, September 15, and the fetes given during the i)ast summer upon the occasion of tlie semi-centennial anni- versary of Belgian independence, wherein I described somewhat the commercial maritime history'' of Ghent, and the installation of the new basin and docks, I continue the subject by some descriptive comments *Tbo Htuteiucnt here referred to, concerning the preservation of fresh moat, and a valuable paper on farming in Belgium, also transmitted by Consul Tanner, Avill be foxind in tiio Bupplement. t Consul Wilson, -writing from Nantes, under date of December 17, 1883, represents that no material of any account on which tf) base a cattle report exists in tbat dis- trict, and refers to his report on the dairy exhibition at Ghent in 1881, -which, being most apropos to this worlc on the cattle breeds of tbo world, is herewith rei)ul)lished from Consular Report No. 15. Some valuable tabulated statements, together with appropriate illustrations, not published before, are inserted in the report in its ro-. published form. BELGIUM. 371 on the iC'to. of ibe agiicultuial society of tlic province of Flaiulre Orieii- tale held in this city, and wliicli took the form of an exhibition of the niillc industry of IJelgiuni and IIoHand. It consisted of tliree grand divisions : 1. IMilch cows, tlie i)roducers. 2. MilU, butter, and cheese, the products. 3. The juachinery and mechanical ai)pliances used. These will be treated in inverse order. DAIRY MACHINERY. The machinery was interesting and accomplished its work well, but requires no elaborate mention, for the " universal Yankee nation" can be taught but little about machinery u])on which is brought to bear, every day in the year, the inventive genius of every farm-yard, cheese factory, and creamery in the land. One machine is worthy of description. It was the invention of Le- feldt, of Paris, for geparating rapidly the milk and cream. It is a well- known fact that milk is heavier than cream. The usual method is by the application of the law of gravitation to this tact. The invention consists in the application of the law of c•6'H^r^/■^^/Jrt/ ?«o#io?t. The fresh njilk is put in what resembles a common upright cylindrical milk can. Thecanismade to revolve, still upright, at a high speed. The milk, being the heaviest. Hies to the periphery, which forces the cream to the center. They are thus separated instantly, and are drained olf by means of flex- ible tubes — into one vessel the milk, into another the cream. The oulj^ care apparently necessary is to keep up the spaced, and to properly gauge the quantity at the entry and exit. Among the machinery exhibited was some for agriculture, and I was surprised to see the United States so well represented. Of lawn-mowers from Philadelphia, pumps from Seneca Palls, rakes, hoes, hay and dung- forks, both from New York and Philadelphia, the United States had nearly a monopoly; and the importer, Dutry-C.ilson, said, for lightness, combined with strength and beauty of style, no other implements could successfully compete with ours. He said England, Germany, and Bel- gium could make them as good, but they were clumsier and heavier. Ilere was another illustration, if one be needed, of the necessity for industrial art education among our mechanics. With an improvement approaching thoroughness in knowledge of the principles of art as ap- plied to industry, the American mechanic can lead the world in themauu- lacture of articles for every day use, whether of necessity or luxury, and a demand will be created /or them, which will be coextensive with the knowledge of them. This should be the ambition of every Ameri- can mechanic, and when done, it will justly be the pride of the nation which gave him birth. There were many sample wagons and carts for the delivery of milk to the customers, showing Jieat contrivances to insure its safety from adulteration by the carrier, but these have not yet come into general use. The commonest method of delivery in this country is shown by the following photograph, taken from nature. BELGIAN MILCH COWS. The second division, milk, butter, and cheese, will be reserved for an- other dispatch, if deemed of sufficient importance. 372 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. The first division, milch eo\\», Mould have been of great interest to American breeders and stock-raisers. 1 believe this subject can be studied with advantage and benefit to the people of l)oth countries, and it is for this reason I deem it my duty to make this report. An object to be desired by the cattle-breeders of the United States is an increase in thcsZ-ce of their beef cattle. This, I believe, can be ma- terially aided by the importation of the large cows of the Holland and Flemish races and cross-breeding them with the cattle of the United States. I also believe this will be accompanied by an improvement in the milking qualities. The outlay in time, trouble, expense, money invested, «S:c., is just about as much to raise a poor or small steer as a large one, while the recom- j)ensc is increased as the weight increases. It needs neither illustration nor argument to prove the benefit. The only question is its feasibility with sufficient benefit to compen- sate for outlay. If the cattle-breeders of the United States could have seen the herd of cows at this exposition, as I did, they would have been impressed, as I was, by the great size of the cows and the desire to use them in the manner suggested. There were 372 cattle entered for exhibition, nearly every one being milch cows, for the exhibition related exclusively to the milk industry. The races represented were the Dutch or Holland cattle, the Belgian or Flemish cattle — both of pure blood — and some Durhams crossed with these. The first two are indigenous to their respective countries, very much alike, and doubtless sprang from the same stock. 1 am not suffi- ciently expert to give an opinion, but I believe them to be the same, or nearly the same, breed known in the United States as Holstein cattle. Although these «attlemay have no standing in the English and Ameri- can herd-books as blooded cattle, I am constrained to beh"eve it is rather a fault to be charged against the books than against the cattle, for it can be demonstrated that they have an ancestry many centuries old, from which, and through which, they have had a pure and unbroken descent, breeding in and in, without admixture or deterioration, preserving and perjjetuating the characteristics and distinguishing marks of their race with a great certainty, defiuiteness, and exclusiveness as the best blood known. Motley speaks of them as noted nearly three hundred years ago for their size and general good qualities. The agricultural society of the Netherlands has within a few years published a herd-book containing the i^edigree of their cattle as far back as it can be traced. Their examination shows the existence of this, as a distinctive breed of cattle, in possession of this country as far back as the thirteenth century. The color of the Belgian cattle is most frequently black and white, while the Hollanders are the same, but sometimes with a sprinkling of (;orn or tan color, something like that of the Alderneys. Sometimes this gets to be almost red, like the Durhams. But in both the domi- nant colors are black and white placed in large spots over the body ; so also are the other colors, though smaller and sometimes running off into flecks. Their colors are somewhat known by the celebrated paintings of Paul Totttr, of Amsterdam, made in the seventeenth century. A tolerably correct idea can be obtained of a Holland or Belgian cow from the accompanying photograph ; not taken for, nor presented as an entirely correct representation, but the nearest I could easily procure. The landscape illustration herewith gives a better idea of these cat- tle<5 and when the traveler by rail or canal looking down, as he does, H '/ ■/■ '/ -'/^'« -<■ .'yfiyi'i ■ < ■■^.^■■/^w-^ i^- fv. ■f^V' /h ■ ■.^:-'^."'m w ^ '' ,.■■1?..^ o O Ay/^:'. , I ^: ■ . '■ , A " . -I ---■''■'„ '•"■ — * ■; ».^. • 2 BELGIUM. 373 ou the low level lauds of these coimtries, beholds a landscape, broad aud deep, of rich oreen meadow, set in a frame of distant timber, each field bounded by one, sometimes two, rows of tall sentinel trees which look like a skirmish line, farm houses and barns with red-tile roofs, wind- mills throwing? their giant arms about, apparently proud of their streujj^tli, while dotted over the grass, liglitiug up the scene with their large black and white s])ots, as something to attra<;t and rest the eye, are to be ^,ou, some standing, some browsing-, some lying- down, all quietly chewing their cud, a thousand of these cattle, immense in their size, with their sleek smooth coats, he says, "This is a land of richness; hero are the evidences of prosperity." SIZE AND WEIGHT OF BELGIAN CATTLE. T give in tabular form the size of these cattle, and I ask any breeder or farmer to compare these sizes by measurement witli his own cattle, and see if my conclusions arc not correct. Description. W Ft In. riemi-th or Belgian bulla 4 8J Fleraisij or Br-lijiau cowa 4 7i Uollanil three-year-old bulls ■ 4 7| Holland three-year-old cows i 4 CJ Ins. 32.2 33. 3 31.5 30.3 Ft. In. 0 2 5 10. 9 6 0.8 5 C. 5 Ft. In. 7 8.5 7 1.8 7 4.5 G 10.2 . ^ ^ ja o o u «» ^ o C8 c^ o .a A-^ '^ tfj a ►3 ^ < Ins. Ins. Lhs. 24.8 23.2 2.200 23.2 34.8 1,G50 22.8 23. G 1,875 22 23.2 1,450 til20to$140 200 240 100 120 ICO 200 It must not be understood that these figures represent the size, weight, or i)rice of all Belgian or Holland cattle as they might stand in a. herd ; neither do they represent the exceptionally large ones. They are ob- tained by taking the average of the prime first-class cattle as llicy have been exhibited at the various exhibitions in Belgium. The following table rei)resents another class of cattle, those for beef or milk, not the finest, choicest cattle, such as are described in the foregoing- table, but such first-class, prime cattle as can bo bought in market every day, giving the average for each item. It gives tho weights, both alive and dressed, the prices per pound for each, the percentage of clean beef after slaughtering, and the jirice of each animal : Description. Weight, alive. ■Weight, dressed. Percent- age after slangh- tering. Price pcrpoitnd, alive. Price per pound, dressed. Price per aoimal. Beef, three years and over : Pounds. Pounds. ' l,325tol,540 750tol,000^pQ*JJ^, 1,200 to 1,450 GOO to a'>5l .'i3*o.'i7 (knls. Sito n? 0 lolOJ 8 to 0 Cents. 14 to 15 $125 to $1.50 15 80 120 1,200 to 1,4.^.0 1,100 to 1,2.50 80 120 60 80 C 30 40 \ 50 CO 1 i 374 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING, MILKINQ QUALITIES OF BELGIAN COWS. T might content myself with giving results, but many farmers and dairymen would desire the formula, may be for their satisfaction, may be for their use. The cows were divided, by inimbers, into groups, and one or more members of the jury assigned to each group, so as to give his personal attendance and supervision whenever anything was to be done. The exhibition lasted four days. At six o'clock of the evening of the third day, at a given signal, each cow was milked clean and dry, pre- l)aratory to the test of the morrow. The hours for milking were first fixed for G o'clock a. m,, 12 m., and C ji. m., but some complaints were made that the cows would not be able to hold their milk for twelve hours, and the first milking was advanced to 4 o'clock a. m. Every owner provided his own milkers, with whom his cows were acquainted. The milk being taken from the cows was weighed, not measured, this being considered more accurate — each one separate, of course — and after being thoroughlj^ stirred, samples were taken for tests of cream and for snecific gravity, and the rest returned to the owner for his use. The samples for cream were then examined, each one being made the same quantity and height in the glass, and being immersed to the neck in a large pan of ice-cold water, were set aside for the cream to rise. All samples were subjected to exactly the same treatment under the same conditions. Many methods and machines, scientific and otherwise, for determining the quantity of cream were considered, but none were believed to be so fair and equal as this. Such was the treatment after each milking, and at every step an accu- rate record was made by the member of the jury in charge. The specific gravity was taken at 15° centigrade, 58io Fahrenheit. The samples for cream were allowed to remain until the next morning at 9 o'clock ; so the duration of their stay was twenty-six, eighteen, and twelve hours, respectiveh'. The water in the pan then marked 12 C, 53 F. The sami^lcs being taken out, the height of the cream was accurately measured and weighed, and all recorded on blank forms prepared for the purpose. The result will be given farther on. (See Table No. 3.) Uutter is the principal product from within this province, and there- fore the interesting question was, w hich cow's milk would have the most cream and consequently be the richest in its butter-making qualities. The amount of milk and of cream given by each cow for one day being determined, that would determine the relative value of the cows in these regards on that day. But these cows may have been giving milk for different periods; one cow calved one month, and another six months previous ; then the conditions will have been so changed that the amount of milk or cream given on that day is no true test. And this change of condition is inevitable unless all the cows could be imluccd to calve on the same day. As this could not probably be done, and would n^t bo desired if it could, some .arrangement must be made by which thi?* dif- ference can be equalized. This was done by the adoption of a table of experiments and tests, made and prei)arcd during the past two years by IVIr. Tisdall, of the Holland I'urkand llorton dairy farms in P^ngland, at the request of the Dairy Association of Great Britain, and used at its great exhibition in 1880." (Agricultural Gazette, February 21, 1881. Table No. 1.) PLATE 164 A FLEM ISH MILKMAID PLATE 165 A BRABANT MILKMAID P L AT E 166 .r-.Jjus Bien.t Co Lith. AN ANTWERP MILKMAID AT P I K 7 ^•jli:rl PiCTt i r.) fnth A DUTCH MILKMAID BELGIUM. 375 Table No. l.—MUk f/iveii by sixty Englinh co-u'S during tueh'e monthn. [lu quarts.] Xamos of cows. Victoria (soconfl prize, dairy sliow, 187S). Primroso .Tones SUortlefr.s lleroford lied Checks Paxon Champion Harry Da.sher Cowslip Cliarnior Jones Grenade, r> Looselcy Cockhorn Sandwich Moadow Flower, 14 (fir.st prize at CLip- penhaiu). ITereford (Cox".«) l!lo9.sora Widney Cherry Hereford (Cornish's) ... Tiphom nereford (old) Noblo Fair Maid (second prize at Croydon, 1880). Primrose Darling Lily Cti.impion Droophorn Lady Brido Peasant, Pearl. 10 Uenrictta, 17 Cornish Shortlegs Minnie Infanta Bailey Ariel,3 Vcnns, 3 Sandy Brindle Brownie Moretou Cherry white llaby " "Veniis, 2 Minikin Botts Star Dumpling Infant Charmer (first prize at Islington, 1879). Stopps Stag , Fancy I 18.5 18.5 18.0 10.0 17.0 IG. 5 1G.5 10.0 14. 5 18.0 10. 5 LM.O 18.5 17.0 10.5 17.0 18.0 19.0 20.0 118.0 19.0 !20. 0 1 20. 5 '10. 0 23.0 17.0 17.0 19.5 17.0 1 17.0 '20. 0 117.5 1 17.0 18.0 18.0 IG. 5 IG. 0 20.0 22.0 18.0 20.0 19.0 1.5.5 il7.5 '14.5 ICO 1G.5 17.5 18.0 1.5.5 19.0 19.0 10. 0 10.0 19.0 2.5.5 20.0 17.0 21.0 19.0 14.5 19.0 20.0 10.0 17.0 15. 5 14.5 1.5.5 10. 5 15.0 14.5 10.5 10.5 14.0 17.5 19.0 18.0 20.0 17.5 22.0 19.0 19.5 19.0 14.0 22.0 10.5 10. 0 18. 5 10. 0 16.0 19.9 10.5 15.5 19.0 IG.O 13.5 1.3.0 20.0 21.5 17.0 21.0 10.0 12. 5 10.0 15. 5 13. 5 li). 5 10.0 17.5 1.5.5 17.0 1.5.5 15. 5 14. 5 18.0 17.5 25.0 10.5 22.0 18.5 11,0 17.0 10.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 12.5 14.5 12.5 13.0 15.0 10.0 15.0 12.0 14.0 17.0 14.0 18.0 17.5 19.0 17.0 18.0 18.0 13. 0 22.0 17.5 13.0 17.5 15.0 15.0 17.9 15.0 13.0 18.0 10. 5 12. 5 12. 0 17.0 21.5 15.0 18.0 19.5 11.5 14.0 12. 5 10. 5 13.5 14.0 15.0 1.3.5 1.5.0 12.0 1.3.5 12.0 15.0 17.5 25.0 11. 0 13.0 14.0 14.0 13.0 13.0 12.0 12.0 13.0 11.5 13.0 1.5.0 13.5 10.0 11.0 14.5 12.0 1,5. 5 14.5 17.0 14.0/ IG.O 18.0 12.0 18.0 15.0 11.0 IG. 5 12. 5 12.0 15.5 15.0 10.5 12.0 15.5 12.0 12.0 1 1. 5 15. 5 14.0 14.0 18.0 10.5 11.5 12.0 9.5 13.5 11.5 14.5 11.0 1,5.0 12 0 14.0 13.0 15.5 11.5 10.5 14.0 9.5 14.5 12.5 10.5 14. 5 13. 5 10.5 1.3.5 15.0 11.5 10.0 15.0 8.5 13.5 1.3.0 17.0 7.5 10.5 11.5 9.0 10.5 11.0 14.0 10. 5 14.0 12.0 0 ;i2. 0 1.3.0 12.0 14.0 14.5 1.5.5 il3.5 23. 5 i20. 5 D.5 11.5 U.O 12.5 11.5 12.5 10.0 11.0 12. 5 10.5 12.5 15.0 12.0 9.5 9.0 13.0 10.5 13.5 14.0 12.5 IG.O 1.3.0 8.0 11. 5 11.0 9.0 U.O 11.0 9.0 10.0 12.0 9.5 10.0 11.0 11.0 9.5 10. 5 13.0 10.5 13.5 14.0 '12.0 10.5 22.0 22.0 j20.0 15.0 '15.0 15.5 12.0 11.5 13.0 11.0 10.0 12.5 10.0 12.5 13.5 10.0 14.0 13.5 10. 5 13.5 14.5 8.5 8.5 11. 5 0.5 13.5 8.5 1.5. 0 7.0 10.5 11.0 7.5 8.5 9.0 11.0 9.5 12.5 12.0 11.0 9. 5 I 6. 5 13.0 ilO.O 12.5 11.0 20.5 14.0 9.5 8.5 9.0 11.0 12. 0 7.0 11.5 12. 0 9.0 10.0 10.5 10.5 8.0 8.5 12.0 9.0 U.O 9.5 12.0 10.0 14.0 11.5 9.5 11.0 10.5 7.5 4.5 12.5 10. 5 12. 5 10.0 8.5 12.5 12.5 sif) 9.5 8.0 12.0 7.5 11.0 7.0 9.5 9.0 5.5 7.0 7.0 10.0 10.5 10.0 9.5 9.5 5.5 17.5 1.5.5 12.0 U.O Average for sixty cows. 18. 07,17. 09;15. 03ll3. 75112. 55J1. 34 9. 72 7.0 8.5 4.5 7.5 9.0 10.0 CO 10.5 9.5 3.5 9.0 9.0 9.0 CO 8.0 11. 5 9.5 9.0 8.0 9.0 5.0 8.0 10.0 7.5 12.5 8.5 8.5 10.5 12.5 13.5 7.0 10. 5 14.5 7.5 5.5 10.0 7.0 n.5 7.0 10.5 5.5 9.5 8.0 4.5 CO .5.0 7.0 6.0 8.5 .3.0 9.5 C5 4.0 CO 7.0 12.0 8.5 7.5 4.0 10.0 C5 3.5 8.5 ill. 5 10.0 lil.O 9. 5 8. 5 9.5 5.5 8.0 .3.0 7.5 11.0 12.0 12. 5 9.0 7.94 ICO 11.5 C5 4.5 CO 9.0 CO 8.0 .5.5 8.5 7.5 4.0 C5 11.0 12.0 10.0 8.0 6.01 9.5 10. 5 C5 .3.0 7.5 11.0 7.0 4.0 2.5 ..I... C5 8.0 7.0 12.5 7.0 8.5 ivcs nn iivora.yo of 20 (iiiaits per day in the secoiul month after ealviiiii'. How imieli did she give at the time of ealviug? Represent the amonnt or quantity she j^^ave by 100, and we iind by the table that she now 4 2 4, !).'t4 3 4, 442 4 4, 10(i f, 4, 148 0 ■ 4,132 7 3,082 8 Dcsrrijition and auioiiiit of jirizo. Gold medal and 250 franca. Silver nirdal and 225 frane.i. Bronzo medal and 200 francs. I'ronzo medal and I7.'i francs, liron/.o medal and l.'iO francs. ]5ron/o medal and )'2't francs. Bronze medal and 100 francs. Bronze medal aud 7.'i francs. Someof these COWS had calved more than seven months previous, and the rule was not ai)plied to them, but special jirizos were given. Six cows from eight to nine months previous; four cows from ten to eleven months iMvvious : four cows from thirteen to fourteen months i)r(';vi()us; three cows from seventeen to twenty-two months ])revious. One ol' tbem had ciilved more than twenty-two months ])revious, yet she gave as her daily yield 20 oIO liters of milk, from which was taken l.'AC) liters of cream. The jury awarded her a i)rize, as they say, "for her remark- able persistence.'' It must not be sui)i)osed these were the only cows tested, or that these were the only ])rizes awanled. Subdivision or groups were mnde according to residence of owner, age of heifer, &c., and this of which I have been speaking is only the report of the jury on milk or cream. There were several others. The milk of some cows contained three times as much cream as others. One gave 15.80 per cent, of cream, while another gave but 4.74 per cent. In the majority of cases the morning milk was superior to that of the midday or evening. The specific gravity varied between 1,020.3 and 1,038. Of the one hundred and sixty-eight samples of milk tested for specilic gravity, twenty five fell below 1,020. 378 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. TABI.E No. 3.—Showinff quantiti/ and qualiiy of milk of cows of the Dutch and Flemish biced>i and (heir cronncti. o u o B Proprietors. o >> cs 00 to" a H Hour of milking. o a 0 0 "li 0 ■3 3 tr a 3 • 1 . ■§£ ffl.tS 0 2 *3 0 4J .9.2 S.3 =5 2 il I- Amount per cent, of cream in the Ibrto milkings wben taken together. Ct-i - > .25 3*3 ||.9 1 (1) J. Talboom, ofllaesdnnck. L. VanPetegliom, of Saf- felarc. J. Piors do K.ivcscboor, of Olaeno. J. Vorcaiiteren, of Hcus- den.' J. F. Schollior, of Leevno St. Martin. do A. Clans, of Meirelbekc. .. F. TollcDs, of Lovendpf?- bem. .T. VannaolHt, of Water- vliet. L. V.an Oii^eval, of .Siccn hiiU'.cWiiibnizen. C. Bouckaert, of Looten- (2) Mnit. Dys. lU 4 5 1 13 5 2 0 i-\ 9 2 1 eo 4 29 3 1 (') (3) Morning .. Noon Nigbt Total .. (4) 8.800 5.925 5.100 (5) 1030. 0 29.5 2H. 9 (6) 8. 544 5. 755 4.957 (7) 0.709 0. 576 0. 580 (R) 9.68 1 J ^ 8. %:, 1 (0) 2. 101 2. 652 19. 250 1.805 ." Morning . . Noon Nigbt Total .. 4 5. 545 3. 030 3.170 28.4 28.3 28. 9 5. 392 3. 530 3.081 0. 009 0.399 0. 348 1. 5935 12. 003| i.:i.5r. Morning.. Noon Nigbt Total . - 1 5 10. 350 7.735 7.130 31.7 31.4 29.5 10. 032 7. 500 G.92G 0. 80:i 0.750 0.880 ^ 9.94 ^ 8. 08 ■ 12.91 ^ 11.43 1 ^ 7. 05 ! \ 9.77 1. 0902 1 24. 458 2. 433 Morning . . Noon Nigbt Total .. 7 11.320 7. 900 C.5G0 32. 5 10. 961 31.4,7.00(1 30.0 0.305 0. 80U 0. 060 0.554 3. 21 91. .5935 1 24. 989 2. 020 1.418 2.837 ?.. 179 Morning.. Noon Nigbt . . 1 8 4.540 3.375 2. 815 .mi 4.407 30. 3 [3.270 •J9. 5 2.734 0. 573 0.430 0. 330 Total . . 10.417 1.345 iMorning .. Noon Nigbt Total . . MoiTiing . . Noon Nigbt... Total . . "s/jco 3.790 3. 105 9 27.7 28.9 28.3 5. GOo 3. 084 3.078 0. 729 0. 3G8 0.317 12. .307 1.414 0. 513 0. 301 0. 340 10 C.C20 5. 095 4. 105 31.9 31.1 31.4 0.415 4. 94 1 3. 9811 1. 1G24 15.330 1.220 Morning .. • Noon Nigbt.... Total . . Morning .. Noon Nigbt Total.. Jforning .. Noon Nigbt Total .. 0. 510 0.710 0. G08 11 (!. 832 7.100 5.350 31.0 30. 0 30.0 0. 023 0. 893 5. 194 I. 5521 18.710 1. 828 ) ]G 12. 020 9.C4tl 7. 5G(i 33.0 30. 3 30.1 11.C3G 9. 350 7. 339 0. 892 0. 873 0.710 • 8, 73 1 1 }■ 11.92 J 1 - 14.75 1. 2?43 28.331 2.475 17 8.3G0 5. 820 4.445 30. 7 30. 0 30.0 8. 1 1 1 0. 805 .5.050 0.710 4.315 0. .575 18.070 2. 150 3.682 Morning . . Noon Nigbt Total .. 22 7. 020 5. 290 3. 070 .32.2 31. 1 31.4 7. 382 .5.134 3. 558 1.058 0.801 ('. 510 1. 5521 IG. 074 2.372 1 ' Honorable mention. * Eighth prize. BELGIUM. 379 Tablk No. 3.—Sliowinij . 000 27. 3. 4. 807: 0. 017 22. 125 10.820 33.010.408 8.142' 30.0: 7.902 C.402! 30.0, 0.211 9. 287 1 0. 722 1 5. 285 31.5 9.003 30.3 0.524 .30.0 5.128 20. 05.' Morning..' 9.010, 29.7, 9.331 Noon 0.400 29.5 0.210 Ni-bt i 5.140 28.3 4.999 Total-. Morning.. Noon Night 1.3G0| I 12.03' 4. 132 1.. 5521 2. 0C2l 0. .'■■231 ) (I. 395, I 0. 24K, I I 4.71 1.403|.-.'(i2n 1.100 I 0.C2 2. 535 1.700 1.3C5 20. .5] 2.402 28.3 1.0.53 29.5 1.325 0. 270 0. 198|| 0.103|l. i,_co ' First prize. Total ■'Ninth prize j I 5.440| 0.031| 'Seventh prize. 380 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. Table No. .1. — Shoicing quantity and quality of mtlk, <^e. — Coutiuued. 0 ^ .Is t5 . a 00 s-f. 3-h; c2 0 00 3 1 1.2 D a ° ~ il c5 So g o bl o s a Prnpriotors. S Hour of milking. a 0 s 'g 0 t-. ■« a 3^ t«— ■ 0 0 1 s ° Is p g = 3 0^ ° --^ H.2 t5 3 ^w c> 'A H 0 Ck >-^ <1 > ■~> (1) (2) (3) (4) (S) (0) (7) (8) 9) Mos. l)yx. ■il M. Dobbilacro-TIiilin 1 5 Morning .. Noon 3.120 2.170 ni.7 3.024 32.7 2.101 0.171 1 0.111 1 J. Villi Dammo, of Saffe- (?) Night Total 1.730 31. C 1.077 0.112 5.79 1 O.8O2I 0.394 1 1 Morning. - 39 a. 805 32.1 .3.745 0. 273 larc. Noon 2. 542 32.2 2.461 0. 172 ^ 7. 3( I). Vincent, of Lreiue St. 3 14 Night Total 1.410 32.5 1.365 0.118 7.571 0. 563 Morning . . 42 8. 030 30.4 8. 680 0. 608 Martin. Noon 7.4GC 30. 0 7. 242 0.651 H. na.'ltennan.ofOnllrc.. 0 Night Total.. 0. 350 29. 5 0. 168 0.530 ^ 8. 12 2.413 1.3435 1 22. 090 1.795 Morning .. 1 43 7.880 33. 5 7.C24 0. 587 Noon 5.090 33. 6 5. 795 0.-163 P. Vanlaujri'nliackp. of 1 0 Night Total.. 4. 350 32. .S| 4.211 0. 421 • 8.31 ) ) 3.172 2. 1551 17. 030 1.471 Morning . . 44 11.550 32.2 11.189 1.312 Appolti'Mc' Noon 8. C50 29.7 8.401 1.318 1 F. Martens, of La Pinto . . 1 20 Niglit Total. - Morning.. 5.0GO 32.2 4. 902 0. 490 ^ 12.86 3. 333 1. 0573 .34.4 24.492 3. 150 0. 344 45 3.500 .3.441 Noon 2. 850 3.3. C 2. 757 0. 27.'. S. Dossclie, of Mello a Night Total 2.300 33.4 2.283J 0.280 • 10.60 1 J 8.481 0. 899 Morning.. fil 9. 380 31.5 9.003 0: 700 Noon C.800« 31.4 0.593 0.705 L. T)«!Wil,of Moortzcele' 10 Night Total 5.320 30.0 5. 162 0. 583 ' 9. 53 3. 170 1. 5935 20. 818 1.988 Morning . . r>2 11.140 32.4 10. 790 0. 863; Noon 7.970 29.2 7.743 0.875, J. Van Impo, of Somnicr- 7 Night Total.. C. 200 30. G 0.074 0.7721 10.20 t 4. 148 1. 6525 24. 007 2. 510 MomiDg.. 53 5. 900 33.8 5. 705 0.708 zukc. Noon 4.853 33.3 4. 090 0.504 1 J. Vandevoonlo, of Er- H 9 Night Total 4. C32 32.8 4.4S5 0.718 • 1.3.72 2.050 1.0000 14. 940 2.050 Morning.. 57 5.477 30.9 5. 312 0.478 vclilc. Noon 5. 2801 31.1 5.127 0.547 MM. Do Beer, ficrca, of 1 13 Night Total . . 4.262 29. 5 4.139 0. 552 ■ 10.82 J 14. 578 1.577 Morning.. 58 7.620 34.1 7.309 0. 639 Gand. Noon 7.300 32.2 7.072 0.084 Night .... Total 5. 859 31.7 5.679 0.549 ■ 9. 30 20. 120 1.872 ' Honorable mention. *Sixth prize BELGIUM. 381 I Taiu.k No. :\.^Showimj qaautittj and qitalUjj of milk, .Jc— Contimiotl. 4-1 O ^ P^ _d 3 «^ S^ n S^ ecu s a o -*» 00 in a 2.^ ■Ha Proprietors. Hour of milking. "a •32 on Etc n = 'J o o J- " « S a Eh^ •-o = o u p O 3 Cm O 3 S .a =■2 s i is — 3 a o 5.Sis "o ^ «^ 'n^^ A H (3) p P^ >" < r' u (1) (2) (4) (5) (C) (7) (8) (0) J/'i*. Ih/x. 6-J T. Villi Woiitt'rgbem, of 27 Morniiig.. 13. 090 34.4 13. 525 1.713 1 Meyyheui.' Koon .... 12.50(1 3X012.152 1. 94 law ami re^ulatious in force iu the United States concerning tarill", inspection, and entry can be better determined there. Cattle cannot be carried across the Atlantic with cither safety or profit in sailin«j: vessels. Steanishij)s do not always take them. They must be otfered in lots large enough to pay the expense of fitting up stalls I'or their accommodation. It may be recognized as the rule that steamships which carry ])assengers, eitiher saloon or emigrant, will not carry cattle. There, doubtless, are exceptions, but not many. The au- thorities at New York object. The White Cross line of steamers, Steinmann & Ludwig, Antwerp, agents, carry all the cattle Irom Belgium (and 1 believe from Holland) to the United States. They run to lS\>w York and to Montreal. These slii[)ments have been (to New York) in summer of 1880, IGl) cattle; in summer of 1881, 2'iO cattle. Two shipments have been made this present season to Montreal. The prices are as follows: Per head. Bulls and cowa on deck £5 Ycarl i ngs 4 Culvcs ;; Under deck, additional I The sbip puts up the stalls and supplies the water; feed and men to care for the cattle are for shipper's account. French, Edge & Co., of New York, are agents for this line. Canada has been interesting herself in the manner suggested to Americans in this dispatch. She has iniported, for breeding purposes alone, from Ijelgium during the past year 02 head of cattle, and Irom l^ngland o2 bulls, 330 cows, and 21 calves, while her exports for beef have been, during the year 1880, to England alone, r>(),!!05 head. As to transportation : Mr. John ('. Moosily, agent Ked Star steamers, Antwerp; Steinmann «& Ludwig, agents White Cross steamers, Ant- werp; Wambersie & Son, shii)-brokeis, Ivotterdam. EXPORTATION OF AMERICAN HORSES 'I O BELGIUM. Of course no recommendation of mine or indeed of any consul could be accepted ui)on our Judgment solely or without examination and trial, but I venture to ex])ress my belief that a good business man — ajudge of horses and c-.ittle — could make a i)rolitabIe business by the imi)orta- tion of cattle to the United States, as 1 have suggested, and, for a leturn cargo, exporting horses for use in IJelgium, Holland, and France. The |)rices are. high here, and for light driving and riding horses I think reinuneniiive prices could be obtained. This tr;Hle is already commenced, but is in its infancy. 1 hope n)y notice of it will attract the attention of those concerned. A cargo of (iO American horses (mares) were landed within the |)ast month at Bruges, in this consular district, and sold there at auction, bringing liiir and satisfactory prices. BELGIUM. 383 AUTnOlUTIES AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION. I liavc been ;i i)ersoiKil witness to iiuiiiy of the tliinj^s I have de- scribed; but 1 lia\'e received material aid in my examinations jVom the followinj; jientlemen, to whom I tendei- my acknowled.i^ments: Profes- sor Leychn-, of tlie IJoyal Agricultural Institute at (raubloux, lielnium; Louis Tydj^'adt, es(|., se(M'etary of the Agricidtural Society of ]''Uindre Orientale, (Ihent; !\Ir. l\ F. L. Waldeck, secretary Holland iSociety, Loosdianen, near The llajjfue; Professor l>onar, agricultural engineer; Selzaete, director of abattoir, Ih'ussels; Mr. ICdward I\linne, inspector of abattoir, (Jhent; report of jury on (piantity and (juality of milk, ])rei)ared by. Professor Chevron, of the lloyal Agricultural Institute at Gaubloux. TUOMAS WILSON, Consul. United States Consulate, Ghent, October li7, 1881. ;*.v¥'v--ij.i'^i.'if»' 384 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. SPAIN. CATTLE IN ANDALUSIA liEPOllT BY CONSUL OPPENnEIM, OF CADIZ. Ill ])ursuauce of instructions ^iven in Department circular of July 18, 1883, 1 transmit lierewitli certain tables bearing upon the grazing inter- est in this district. Stock-breeding, properly so-called, meaning thereby the improvement of cattle on a large scale by selection and crossing, may bo said not to exist here. Individual experiments of crossing for- eign cattle with the native breed have occasionally been made, but the results are said not to have been encouraging. Some years ago English Shorthorn cows were imported into the district of Jerez and crossed with the native bulls, but the experiment was unsuccessful, the breed deteriorating rapidly and tending to revert to the original native type. In the district of Puerto de Sta. Maria, there are now some cross-breeds, l)roduced by crossing Swiss and native cattle (native bull and Swiss cows); the milk ]iroduct of the cross-breed cow is much superior to that of the native, both in richness and in quantity, but the animals lose their hardiness, do not stand the heat well, and require shelter and arti- ticial feeding almost the whole year round. These experiments, and probably manj' other similar ones unknown to me, have created an im- jiression that the native stock of this district does not lend itself readily to improvement by crossing. The interest of this inquiry to our dairy- men and cattle-breeders must further be lessened by the patent fact that the Andalusiau cattle, outside of a good appearance and endurance of heat, do not seem to have anj' prominent ])oints of excellence. They are not good milkers, and produce beef which, at its best, is only medi- ocre. On the other hand they are very cheaply kept, requiring hardly any shelter or care of any kind. That American breeders should import Andalusiau stock is only conceivable in the somewhat remote contin- I'ency of our ]>eople developing a taste for bull-fighting. The fierceness and the mettle of the Andalusiau bull are indisputable, and these traits are sulliciently developed even in some of the cows to make them some- what undesirable as inmates of a dairy. Whilst the above considera- tions undoubtedly detract from the practical value of this inquiry to our stock-breeders, yet many interesting facts and data bearing upon the meteorology, the topogTaj)hy, the flora, as well as on the economical sitnaiion of this district may be included within its framework. Such of these data as are contained in the accompanying tables have been gathered in every case from the best available sources, aud as far as the}' go are undoubtedlv trustworthy. EKNEST L. OPPENHEIM, Constil, Unitep States Consulate, Cadiz, October 25, 1884, SPAIN. ToiKxjraiihij of the 2»'oriiico of Cadiz. Locality. San Fernauilo, (15ay of Cadiz) Puerto Keal (l>ay of Cadiz) riiiTto do stu. Maria (Bay of Cadix) Ari'os Jerez Utreni Altitndo of hish- est point in meters above sea level, 29.5 9.5 8.5 141- 50- 43- Locality. Altitndo of hiiili- est point in ^l(^torH aliovo 8CU level. Sierra do Gibraltar Medina Chiclaua Olvora Grazaleina...'. 410- •2.-iO- .100- 1,124- 1,750- NOTE. — The annual rainfall at tlie obst'rvatoryof San Fernando is jjivonat 650.03""" (about 20 inches) this beinj: tlie mean of leu year.-i' observations. During the last two years the temperature of the soil has been t^iken daily, giving moan of temperature : At a depth of 0.C3"' — 17.0° centigrade ; tit a depth of 1.30'°— 18.8° centi'srade. Mean temperature, V7.'2P C. Summer, 23.1° C. Winter, 12.0° C, bein-:; results of teu years' obst'rvations at tin* San Fernando Observatory, and believed to be approxi- mately correct ibr tlie coast districts and the lands where altitude does not exceed M meters above sea-level. In the central districts, and up to an altitude of about 250 meters above sea-level, the mean annual temperature is 15" centigrade ; on the higher u])lanils, from 250 to 1,000 meters above sea-level, it is 12'^ centigrade. Soil. — Alluvial: Tlure is .some alluvial pasture on the Guadalete, the Guadal- quivir, and other miuor streams ; this represents, liowovor, but a very small percent- age of tlu! total ])asturage. Loam : There is but little of this kitd of soil in the province; the district of Olvera includes some largish tracts of "clayey loam" de- voted to pa.stuiage. Clay and chalk : These soils are frequently met with in natural meadows, esi)eciaily in the higher pastures, probably rcx>rcsontiug from L?5 to 40 per cent, of total grazing area in this province. Sandi/, <^c. : A large portion of the nat- ural pastures of this province has sandy or gravelly soil ; 40 to 45 per cent, is a fair estimate of the percentage having such soil. raslura(je of Western Andalusia — upecks most abundant in natural pasture. Ori>er Legumin^e. TnfoUum jyratensts: wild clover, red and white. Lotus cornicnlatus. Hedysariuni coronariinn : French houey-suckle. Ifedj/narium honohriehux. Lathyruf silrcslri.s: wild vetch. Mtdicago satira : lucerne. Mcdicago lupulina. Okdkb Gramixk^. Arena fat u a : wild oats. Poa trivial is : meadow grass, chiefly the rough-stalked variety. Lolium muUiJlornm: Italian rye-grass. FestucaK : fescue grasses, many varieties. Jiromus : bromc-grass. Triticum rcpcns : couch-grass. J'halaris canarienxis : canary-grass. Carlina acaulis : carlino thistle. CUI.TIVATKD GitASSES. Artificial pasture is very uncommon in this district, though hero and there experi- ments have been made in that line; such pasture hero seems to require very damp situations. In such spots dovt^r (from American seed), with giant Italian rye-grasa (Irom English seed), have given very good results. A natural meadow, situate on undulating gmunil, near tint river Guadalete, i.s ch- tiiuated by its owner (a lilV-long agrctuoiuist) to liavr^ the following coniitosit ion : "Wild clover, {Trifolium pralensis) aliout 10 per cent.; couch-gra.ss {'hiticuni rcjinm) about (50 per cent.; wild canary-grass {Phalaria canarivnsia) about 5 per cent.; Ilaliau n. Ex. 51 25 38G CATTLE AND DAIRY IWlv'MING. ryi'-jjrass {Loliiiin hmiilcnhiiu) iilxmt U) jicr cent: leaving aUoiit If) jxt ci'iit. for iiiis- cellaiK'ous jiiasses aiul wci'ds, and tliis is bt'licvcd to l>t) a fair typo of Iho iialmal ])astiiii^ of t lie coast, districts and less elevated lauds. The u|>iier jiastiires (from 'JTjO meters above Nca-level npwartls) coviMiiiy, pi(> per cent, oftlic? total in lb(» province, liave a, smaller proportion of Lef;uniiiia' tlian the low-lyiiii; tracts; wild clo\er is aliseiit, and hiceriie (Mcdicw/o 8 kilograms. Age at maturity : Four and a half to live years. Wkight of meat at maturity.— Ox : ^-.^G kilograms; hull: 2G0 kilograms; coio: 170 kilograms. (Jolor : Puro black and pure red cattle are the most abundant ; next common are spot t(!d black and white, then spotted red and Avhite. Description : Tho Andalusian cattle arc fairly proportioned iinimals, neither high uor low ou the leg ; rather tIeoi>-cbested and clear-limbed. The contour of the back SPAIN. 387 is level, wlint is c;iIlod in Eiij,flisli ur;izicr |>;irii;Mici' ''s(|ii;iro-d, under which animals seek shelter during inclement weather. Feeding : It is the general custom to turn all animals but working oxen loose on the natural ])asture; working oxen are fed during the three or four winter mouths ou Ueros (tares) and chopped straw, the rest of th(! year ou grass only. Jhrediiii/ : Very little attention is paid to breeiUug, unless in the case of breeding bulls for the "Plaza." The desirable points in these auiuuils being fierceness and mettle, only cows exhibiting these traits are used as dams; the itroccss of selection is by having the animals lightly goaded by a man on horseback (el tcntador) ami those that turn upon the horse aiicl exhibit most bravery are reserved for bieeroliil)ited during the si.\ months of sinii- mer) from Estremadura and Fitmee. 388 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. All live stock for cousuinptiou is of very inferior class, us Catalouiaus feel no interest in stock breeding, but are entirely absorbed in the cul- tivation of the grape, aluionds, nuts, and vegetables, besides general uiauufacturiug, especially of cotton and woolen fabrics. Eespectfully, FEED'K H. SCHEUCH, United States Consulate, Consul. Barcelona, December 12, 1883. CATTLE IN GALICIA. REPORT BY CONSUL OARRIOARTE, OF COIiVNNA. I liave the honor to forward, the following statement respecting the cattle of this province: The name of the cattle bred is Galician ; annual average pounds of milk i)er head, 2,555; live weight per cow, 8 hundred- weight; live weight per ox, 14 hundred- weight; age at maturity, eight years ; weight of meat at maturity, 7 hundred-weight ; color, yellow ; origin of breed, Spain. Topograpliy. — The altitude of the grazing country vary between 10 feet and 200 feet. The mean temperature as recorded at the capital, Corunna, is 50° Fahrenheit. The soil is of the most varied description and embraces every quality. The substratum is most generally porous ; limestone found in the east and centre of the province, and granite around the western coasts. Oultivatiou by rotation of crops is not practiced. Clover and rye- grass are but little sown. On the wheat stubble (in July) oats or barley and turnips are sown to serve as green crops for winter. Methods oflioimng. — Common dark stables; manure usually cleared out twice or thrice a year. Feedinf). — Almost all manger feeding as resi^ects oxen, and pasture for cows; much wet meadow land. Breeding. — Selections of sires little attended to and consequent de- generation as shown in lightness of hind quarters of the beasts. Handling products. — Hand labor being cheap but little machinery is used, and the methods are primitive in the extreme. Stocli. — The stock of cattle is in excess of home demands. The sur- plus is exported to England and may be calculated to reach 40,000 oxen annually ; the medium price per head being $75. HOW TO EXPORT GALICIAN CATTLE TO THE UNITED STATES. The best method for transporting cattle to the United States is via Liverpool or Plymouth, England; and the freight paid to either of these ports is $8 or $10 per head. The class of beasts for exportation to the United States should be young oxen from sixteen to eighteen months old, the price of which varies from $30 to $50 per beast. The inclosed photographs are taken from animals belonging to a cargo for England, the price and age of each being noted. J. DE CAKKICARTE, Consul. United States Consulate, Corunna, March 31, 1884. FORHGTRY AGRICULTURE LIBRARY ■^^ ^. ;^ . 9 •