The number of horses employed in agriculture has never been very accurately ascertained. Alt. Marshall supposes that each square mile employs 20 horses, which is about 3 to 100 acres; if this supposition be correct, and we reckon that, in England and Wales, there are 30 millions of acres of cultivated ground, the num ber of horses would be about 900,000. The following facts will render this calculation still more probable : In 1804, the number of horses for which duty was paid in Great Britain, was 1,178,000; but, besides these, there were a great many others ; and from the communica tions made to the Board of Agriculture on this subject, it was calculated, that at this period there were 200,000 pleasure horses, 40,000 cavalry horses, 1,200,000 horses employed in husbandry, and 350,000 colts and mares. Now, if we deduct from the 1,200,000 horses em ployed in husbandry in Great Britain, the number we may suppose to be employed in this way in Scotland, which is probably between a fifth and a sixth of what are employed in the whole island, we shall have between 900,000 and one million for the horses used in husband ry in England and Wales. In 1806, the number of horses was estimated at 919,924. of which about 20,000 were supposed to be employed in stage-coaches, post chaises, and hackney-coaches. In the Appendix to the Report of the Committee on Broad Wheels and Turn pike Roads, it is calculated that 100,000 horses are in constant employment, in waggons, carts, &c. on the roads, for 300 days in the year. By the 12th George III. the load allowed to each horse is 16 cwt. ; but let us sup pose each horse carries half a ton, and goes 20 miles a day. The expence of carriage varies from le. to 28. per ton per mile. On the 16 principal roads, the average is rather more than le. If we take it at is. and allow each horse to draw half a ton 20 miles, the annual value of the labour will be 1501. ; and for 100,000 horses 15,000,0001. The quantity of land necessary to keep pleasure horses cannot be reckoned at less than five acres ; and the same quantity for cavalry horses. Perhaps four acres may be sufficient to keep horses employed in husbandry, on the roads, &c. while breeding mares and colts will not con sume the produce of three acres. The expence of keep ing each horse, on an average of all the kinds kept in this kingdom, even at the low price of 328. per quarter for oats, cannot be estimated at less than 521. per annum.
Mules and asses, especially the former, are not very abundant in England ; and are scarcely, if at all, used in husbandry. They are in general larger than those of other countries, Spain, Portugal, and Malta, excepted.
There is a great variety in the breeds of swine kept in this country, of which the following are either the most common, or the most valuable.
The Berkshire, which is small boned, and disposed to fatten quickly. It has extended from the district, from which it derives its name, over most parts of the island. It is the sort mostly fattened at the distilleries, and is good either for pork or bacon.
The Chinese breed, the size of which is small, and the flesh delicate, is also to he met with in almost every county. It is the best adapted for using as pork, but is seldom cured into bacon, being too small for that pur pose.
The Gloucestershire breed, which Mr Marshall sup poses to have been formerly the prevailing breed of the island, is large, but ill formed. Its colour in general is white. It is a very unprofitable sort ; and is chiefly con fined to Gloucestershire, Shropshire, and the west of Devonshire.
The Hampshire breed is very large ; but not so com pact as the Berkshire. They are white, well disposed to fatten, and come up to a great weight when properly managed.
The Herefordshire is a large useful breed, but not by any means superior to either the Berkshire or Hamp shire.
The Rudgwick breed, so called from a town of that name in Sussex, on the confines of Surrey, is supposed by Mr Middleton to be the largest in the island ; feed ing to an extraordinary size, and, at two years old, weigh ing nearly double or treble the weight of other sorts of hogs of that age.
The Northampton breed, which are reared chiefly in that county, are of a large size, but they do not fatten very kindly. The breed of Shropshire is nearly similar to that of Northamptonshire.
The Swing-tailed breed are not very numerous. Their size is small; their form well proportioned. They are very hardy, and fatten to a good weight.
A new variety of swine was introduced by the late Duke of Bedford, called the larger-spotted Woburn breed, which are very prolific, hardy, and well disposed to fatten, attaining nearly twice the size and weight of other hogs, within the same period of time.
The counties in England most remarkable for the quantity and quality of their hams, are Westmoreland. and Yorkshire ; and those in which bacon of the best quality is cured, are Wiltshire, Hampshire, andBerk shire. At Farringdon, in the last named county, up wards of 4000/. worth is sold in the course of the year. Very little either of bacon or hams are exported ; but they form a considerable branch of internal commerce.
Goats are reared in the rnontainous parts of the north of England, particularly on the Cheviot Hills ; but in much greater abundance in Wales. The breed of Eng lish and Welsh goats is large, and their skins valuable. Their milk also yields a profit.
Rabbit warrens are kept only on such kind of land as is not fitted for any more lucrative and valuable pur pose. These are more numerous and extensive per haps in Lincolnshire, than in any other county ; and Mr Young calculates the profit upon them at 47/. per. cent. The annual sale of produce is in general esti mated at from 3 to 3 couples per acre. The breeds chiefly employed on warrens, are the common grey and the silver grey. The fur of the first, which is the most prevalent, is chiefly used in the manufacture of hats. The skins of the latter kind, which in general are nearly double the value of those of the other sort, are dressed as furs for the China market.
The number of poultry kept in farm-yards is not nearly so numerous now as it was, when farms were smaller, and thrashing machines were less common. There are several breeds in England, but the Dorking breed is the most remarkable and valuable. At Oak ingham, in Berkshire, fowls are fattened or stuffed, and upwards of 1501. worth frequently sold in a market day. The chickens of this country are inferior in flavour to those of Ireland and France. There are different breeds of ducks kept in England ; but the most common are the white or English breed, and the dark brown or speckled. Perhaps as many of these birds are kept in Buckinghamshire as in any other county; it being cal ciliated, that ducks to the value of 40001. are fattened annuaiiy for the London market. Geese are numerous on most of the commons in this country ; but in no part are they kept in such vast quantities as in the fens of Lincolnshire, where different individuals possess as many as a thousand breeders. They are kept for the sake of their quills and feathers, being stripped, while alive, once a year for their quills, and four or five times for the feathers. It is scarcely credible what immense numbers of these birds are driven annually from distant counties to London for sale, frequently in droves of 2000 or 3000. In the year 1783, one drove containing upwards of 9000 passed through Chelmsford, on their way from Suffolk to the metropolis. Great numbers of geese are also kept in the marshes of Somersetshire ; and it is remarked, that the best goose feathers for beds come from this county.