The Northern breeds of cattle arc neither so valuable with regard to an equal weight of the perfect article ; nor are they so clever feeders, even when put on the same pastures. Perhaps this arises from their being stunted in growth at the outset, and limited as to winter feeding during the time they are kept at home, till of sufficient age for being sold to the grazier, who is to fatten them. The prevalent colour of Kylocs is black ; and it may be remarked, that those of every other colour, black-brown, or what is called berried excepted, arc: generally bad feeders, tender and delicate in constitu tion; and never purchased by good judges of cattle when they can be avoided. Innumerable are the cattle of the Kyloe sort every year brought southward ; and when properly wintered, and afterwards put upon good pasture through the summer months, it is wonderful to what a size they will grow, and to what a degree of fat ness they may be carried. They are always sure, when fat, to sell in the public market in preference to the large breeds ; and this of itself affords great encourage. melt to the purchasers.
The Aberdeen and Banffshire cattle are the next va riety of the Kyloe, or Highland breed, which is to be treated of. In these counties the size of cattle is larger, probably occasioned by the superior keep given when they are young ; which no doubt swells the bones of the animals, and increases their size. A good many turnips are raised in thew districts, and by the use of that roof the cattle are certainly highly benefited. This sort undoubtedly the best for wintering in the straw-yard, be cause few of the others have been accustomed to thi. mode of treatment, being generally suffered to roam a! large upon the hills for the greatest part of the season, and only brought home during severe storms, when food cannot be procured in the open field. The Aberdeen and Banffshire cattle, however, are seldom treated in that way ; hence they are well calculated for wintet ing in the low country districts, and, if well chosen, either for feeding upon the pastures, or for receiving cutting grass in the fold-yard during the succeeding summer.
Several other kinds of Scots cattle might be mention ed, particularly the Fifeshire breed, which would seem to be a kind of cross betwixt the Kylocs and the south country breeds. The Fife cattle have upright white horns, are thin-thighed, light-lyered, and excellent feed ers. It appears from Dr Thomson's excellent Survey of Pip, that they are highly esteemed in Smithfield mar ket, where they bid fair to rival the Galloway cattle ; a circumstance which affords a good proof of their intrin sic quality being high in the scale of public opinion. Other kinds might be mentioned, particularly the Alder ney or French cattle ; but so few of these are kept in Britain, that it is not worth while to enter upon a de scription of them. Suffice it to say, that any of this
breed which have come under our notice, are of so ten der and delicate a constitution, that we venture to pre dict that the breed will never become prevalent in Great Britain.
On Sheep.
Of all the domestic animals, sheep are of the greatest consequence, both to the nation and to the farmer ; be cause they can be reared in situations, and upon soils, where other animals would not live ; and, in general, afford greater profit than can be obtained either from the rearing or feeding or cattle. The very fleece shorn annually from their backs is of itself a matter worthy of consideration, affording a partial return not to be ob tained from any other kind of stock. Wool has lonr: been the staple commodity of this island, giving bread to thousands who are employeu in manufacturing it into innumerable articles lor home consumption, and foreign exportation. In every point of view, sheep husbandry deserves to be esteemed as a chief branch of rural eco nomy, and claims the utmost attention or agriculturists. For many years back it has been studied with a degree of diligence and assiduity not inferior to its merits ; and the result has been, that this branch of rural ma nagement has reached a degree of perfection honoura ble to those who exercised it, and highly advantageous to the public.
The varieties of sheep spread over the island of Great Britain are so numerous, that it is hardly within the power of the greatest connoisseur to class them regu larly, or to illustrate their different properties. Every useful purpose, howeN cr, may be attained, by classing them into long and short woolled breeds, and into the breeds which have horns, and those that are without that appendage. Of the long-woolled kind we have the Tees Water, the Old and New Leicesters, the Dartmore Nots, the Exmoor, and the Ileath sheep ; and of the short-woolled kind, we have the Dorsetshire, Hereford or Rveland, the South-down, the Norfolk, the Cheviot, and the Shetland sheep. On the other hand, the Tees Water, Old and New Leiccstcrs, Dartmore Nots, Here ford, Southdown, Cheviot, and Shetland breeds, are without horns ; while the Exmoor, Dorsetshire, Nor folk, and Heath sheep have horns, though of different sizes. From this classification, it will appear, that horns are not necessarily connected either with one kind of wool or another, being found upon the heads both of long and short woolled sheep. The Norfolk sheep, which are slow dull feeders, have long horns, though they carry upon their backs fine short wool, of great value to the manufacturer. This breed, however, is on the decline, and seldom kept, unless where the folding system is retained, being supplanted by the Leicesters and Southdowns, both quicker feeding animals, and the latter yielding wool of a quality not much inferior to what is imported from Spain.