THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. No. 3.-VOL. III.] SEPTEMBER, 1839. PLATE I. [NEW SERIES. The subject of the First Plate is a Short-horn Bull, "Duke of Northumberland," bred by, and the Property of Thomas Bates, Esq., of Kirkleavington, near Yarm, Yorkshire. It is engraved from a painting by Henry Strafford. The Pedigree of this animal as described in the Herd Book (1940 in 3rd v.) is as follows:Colour roan, calved Oct. 15, 1835; got by Belvedere (1706), dam (Duchess 34th, page 356 of vol. 3 of Herd Book), by Belvedere (1706), g. d. (Duchess 29th) by Second Hubback (1423), gr. g. d. (Duchess 20th) by The Earl (1511), gr. gr. g. d. (Duchess 8th) by Marske (418), gr. gr. gr. g. d. (Duchess 2nd) by Ketton 1st (709), gr. gr. gr. gr. g. d. (Duchess 1st., bred by Mr. C. Colling) by Comet (155), [this cow was bought by Mr. Bates, at Mr. Colling's sale, in 1810,] gr. gr. gr. gr. gr g. d. by Favourite (252), gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. g. d. by Daisy Bull (186), [this cow was also bought of Mr. C. Colling by Mr. Bates in 1804,] gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. g. d. by Favourite (252), gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. g. d. by Hubback (319), gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. g. d. [bought by Mr. C. Colling from Stanwix] by Mr. James Brown's Red Bull (97). This Bull is now three years and ten months old, and gained the First Prize of 30l. at the first meeting of the English Agricultural Society, at Oxford, July 17th, 1839, as the best Short-horn Bull; beating, among other celebrated Bulls, the Bull "Roderick Random," (see Plate, &c., in the June number, 1839, of the Farmer's Magazine), which had gained nine first Prizes, and was never before beaten. The "Duke of Northumberland” has been successful on every occasion that he has been exhibited; as a two years old he gained the highest Prize at the meeting of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society's first show, at York, August 29, 1838; and in September of the same year, the highest prize was awarded to him as the best Bull of any age at the Stockton and Cleveland Agricultural Society's show at Stockton; and in October of the same year at Darlington, in the County of Durham, the highest prize was likewise awarded to him as the best Bull of any age. This Bull's own sister (Duchess 43rd), now in calf, gained the Prize of 107. as the best short-horn year old Heifer, at the Oxford meeting, July 17th last, as well as Prizes at Stockton and Darlington last Autumn. These animals were by Mr. Bates's Bull, Belvedere (1706), and their dam, Duchess 34th (see vol. 3 of Herd Book), by the same Bull, Belvedere. We are informed by Mr. Bates that the whole of this family of short-horns are alone in his possession, and have been so for 35 years; and were purchased by him of the late Charles Colling, Esq., of Ketton, in whose possession they were for 20 years, Mr. Colling having purchased the original cow from Stanwix. The live weight of the "Duke of Northumberland," July 1st, (two days before starting for the Oxford Meeting), was 180 stones, (14lbs. to stone); on arriving home from Oxford, July 29th, 1839, his live weight was 152 stones, (14lbs. to stone), so that he lost 28 stones in travelling 26 days-nearly one-sixth of his whole weight, thus showing how much animals lose by travelling. At ten months and at two years old he considerably exceeded the celebrated bull" Comet" (155) in weight. The Messrs. Wm. and Robt. Jobson, of Northumberland, are now using the own brother to the "Duke of Northumberland," ten months younger. It is not to be expected that any animal should be so perfect as to merit entire approval; the owner of this Bull may however be perfectly satisfied to submit OLD SERIES.] [No. 3.-VOL. XI. M him to a comparison with any other animal of the breed. No better evidence of the quality of Mr. Bates's stock can be adduced than the fact of his having obtained a prize at Oxford for each of the four animals which he exhibited. Mr. Bates states that this tribe or family of short-horns have always been distinguished not only as quick grazers, with the finest quality of beef, but as giving a great quantity of very rich milk. The Cow Mr. Bates bought of C. Colling, Esq., in 1804, calved at Halton Castle in Northumberland, June 7th, 1807, was kept on grass only, in a pasture with nineteen other cows, and made in butter and milk for some months, above two guineas per week. It seems that many old families in Yorkshire paid great attention to this breed of cattle long before Mr. Colling's time; amongst them may be mentioned Sir Hugh Smythson, the ancestor of the present Duke of Northumberland, who used to weigh his cattle and the food they consumed, so as to ascertain the improvement they made in proportion to the food consumed. It is also stated that Sir Edward Blackett had portraits of his best animals hung up in the Hall at Newby, near Ripon, now the Seat of Earl de Grey. The family of Aiselby, resident at Studely Park, it is also said, paid particular attention to this breed of cattle more than 200 years ago. An inference has been drawn from these facts, which to us seems hardly warranted, namely, that the present short-horns are not a new variety, and that Mr. Colling (who is justly styled the "father of the short-horns",) is only entitled to the credit of bringing the breed into notice. We would not venture to give a decisive opinion without having an opportunity of judging of the character of the animals 150 years since; but, we entertain little doubt that Mr. Colling's stock would be found very superior. *A large coloured print of the "Duke of Northumberland," lithographed by J. W. Giles, from a painting taken for Mr. Bates by the same artist, is published by Messrs. Fores, of Piccadilly, price 12s. It is exceedingly well executed, and we recommend those who wish to possess a good picture of a GOOD animal to purchase a copy. PLATE II. DECEPTION, WINNER OF THE OAKS FOR 1839. ON THE COMPARATIVE MERITS OF SWING AND WHEEL PLOUGHS. In most enquiries that have been instituted with a view of ascertaining the comparative merits of any of the different methods practised by mankind in accomplishing a certain object, a great and almost insuperable difficulty has ever presented itself, in the strong and inveterate prejudices of men, in favour of the particular mode they have adopted, and to which they have been accustomed. Be the subject what it may, we find in the writings of almost every author, a constant leaning to a onesided view of the question, to opinions which have been laid down to him from earliest infancy as incontrovertible, in which he has grown up, and which future enquiry has in a very few cases only been able to overcome. Early impressions and habits derived from local customs, have a wonderful effect on the human mind; the greater part of mankind are biassed in favour of some particular way of thinking, and of objects which the eye has been constantly and uniformly accustomed to behold; and when these early prepossessions have once fairly got possession of our minds, it rarely happens that any person is able entirely to shake them off. A prejudice in favour of any existing mode or thing, and a preconceived opinion for or against any other mode newly invented, or not yet seen, has in all ages constituted an almost insurmountable barrier to the progress of the human mind, and has retarded in a greater or less degree, every improvement that has been suggested for the benefit of the human race. Prejudice completely obscures our perceptive and intuitive powers, clogs our understanding, perverts our judgment, and renders wholly useless that reasoning faculty bestowed upon us as the distinguishing characteristic of our nature; no sound judgment can be exercised on any subject, nor satisfactory conclusion arrived at, where this pernicious propensity prevails: no dependence can be placed on the opinion of any man who allows his judgment to take precedence of his reason, and whose mind is wilfully closed against conviction. As mankind increase in numbers and intelligence, however, the fetters which we so willingly impose upon ourselves, are compelled to give way-reason in one case, force in a second, and necessity in a third, burst the barriers which ignorance and prejudice have reared, and as one is demolished, another is raised, behind which mankind shelter themselves, to be again driven out by the progressive motion of reason and moral force. Hence arises the very slow progress made in our advances on the road of improvement, increased, no doubt, by many obstacles arising from physical causes, and the connections of the social system. It has always been remarked, that certain classes of society are less under the influence of prejudice than others, owing to the opportunities their station affords, of associating together, and of getting abroad in the world, to rub off the rust engendered by custom and habit. In our present day and constitution, it is constantly observed, that the cultivators of the soil are more biassed in their opinions, than any other class of society; and though there would seem to be no natural reason for it, yet there appears to be much truth in the observation. Confined from boyhood, first at a neighbouring school, and then occupied in assisting on the farm, the eye is accustomed to behold the same objects, the mind has no opportunity of expanding its views, and by degrees every thing is concluded to be incapable of being |