The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-02-27 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

.rout one that has reacned us from another quarter.
Ac-
ordiug to the latter, the animal narrowly escaped being
cut off while a calf, being actually on its way, in a cart, to
he butcher, when it was observed by a blacksmith resid-
ing at a place called flarrowgate, on the high road to
Darlington. Being struck by its appearance he bought it
for his son-in-law, by 'utiom it was reared, until pur-
chased by Mr. R. Coiling and Mr. Waistell, as already
mentioned. Previously to buying it Mr. 2. Coiling asked
his brother, Mr. C. Coiling, to look at the animal, and
upon the latter giving a most favourable report of its
merits, the bargaia was effected. As before stated, the
mimal was shortly afterwards transferred to Mr. C. Col.
ling for its original price of £B, who was highly &lighted
at his acquisition; and on its arrival at Ketton he asked
his wife to go out and look at the handsomest little bull
she ever saw in her life.
After obtaining this bull, Mr. Charles Coiling proceeded
with singular success to produce, from time to time, su-
perior animals; and the number of bulls he disposed of
by letter was highly encouraging. But the circumstance
which brought the improved short-horns into most exten-
sive notice was the production of the " Durham Ox," an
animal which speaks volumes in favour of even a single
cross of his blood ; for the ox was the produce of a com-
mon cow. which had been put to " Favourite." At five
years old, the Durham ox was sold to Mr. Bulmer, of
Harmby, near Bedale, for public exhibition, at the price
of £140: this was in February, 1801. He was at that
time computed to weigh 168 stones, of 141 b., his live
weight being 216 stones; and this extraordinary weight
did not arise from his superior size, but from the exces-
sive ripeness of his points. Mr. Balmer having obtained
a carriage for his conveyance, travelled with him five
weeks, and then sold him and the carriage, at Rotherham,
to Mr. John Day, on the 14th May, 1801, for £250. On
the 14th May, Mr. Day could have sold him for £525 ;
On the 13th of ,Tune for £1000; On the Bth of July for
£2OOO,
EFFECT OF CROSSING BREEDS.—It iS a well ascer-
tained fact, that, during his career as a breeder, Mr. Coi-
ling tried several experiment!, in crossing, and resorted to
breeds which were, on these occasions, very considerably
smaller than the short horns, a circumstance which tends
to corroborate the writer's opinion that he considered it
desirable to reduce their size. The cross with the Kyloe
led to no results worthy enumeration, but that with the
polled Galloway must not be passed over without com-
ment. Before stating the 'circumstances attending this
experiment, it may be proper to observe that no breed of
cattle promised so successful a cross with the short-horns
as the Galloway. They were calculated, by their deep
massive frames and short legs, to bring the short-horns
nearer the ground, and to dispose of their weight in a more
compact manner; their hardy habits would be essentially
useful, and the quality of their flesh and hair war such as
to render the experiment still more safe. Add to this,
that they could be obtained of a red colour, and we are
prepared to admit, even without the sanction of a success-
ful experiment, that they were admirably adapted to cross
with the short-horn, standing frequently too high from
the ground, not very well ribbed home, and not seldom of
loose, disjointed frame. To this breed Mr. Coiling re-
solved to resort ; and though at the time when he did so,
the attempt was regarded with some degree of ridicule' by
the pure. blood advocates, and comments were made which
would have deterred ordinary men from the exercise of
their judgment, Mr. Coiling persisted. He was much
favoured by circumstances in promoting this object, which
was to take one cross, and then breed back to the short-
horn,—the only course, by the way, in which crossing can
be successfully adopted. To breed from the produce of a
cross directly among themselves will lead to results which
have induced many persons, without due consideration,
to believe conclusive against crossing; but to take one a
single cross, and then to return and adhere to one breed,
will, in the course of a few generations, be found to stamp
a variety with sufficient certainty.