EXPERIMENTS MADE BY SEVERAL GENTLEMEN TO IMPROVE OUR BEEED OF SHEEP.

manufactured with Cornish materials free of all duty. From that time to the present our sheep have so improved, that they hold a common rank in the markets of England. Within the memory of some persoas now living, it was a constant practice in many places for the farmers to wash, card, and spin their own wool, and carry their yarns to the public markets, particularly in the northern parts of the county, where the scarcity of mines directed the inhabitants to agricultural improvements. But of late years, since the Cornish wool has acquired a greater degree of perfection, the farmers have found a more advantageous mode of traffic, in disposing of the fleece to the manufacturers of the county.

The sheep in general to be found in Cornwall, bear a strong resemblance to those of Devonshire. Some of these, especially in Roseland, St. Keverne, and near St. Columb, grow large, and fetch a good price. The sweetest mutton is uniformly estimated to be produced from the smallest sheep. These usually feed on the open common, and even fatten in some places where the grassy sod seems scarcely sufficient to cover the barren sands. Their nourishment in these places is attributed to a small species of snail, bred in the sands, and issuing forth in the dewy mornings in search of food. The sheep are said to lick them up with their scanty pasture, and find in them a degree of nutrition which the stinted vegetation of the surface cannot afford. Many of these sheep may be found among the sandy hillocks of Perran, Phillack, and Gwithian. The sheep of this latter place are remarkable for the elegance of their form, and the smallness of their tails and bones. At Boconnoc they have introduced a stock from Dorset, and appropriated about 500 acres of land for their range. These furnish annually about four pounds of wool each, and the wether sheep were sold off a few years since at about £1 5s. and from that to £1 8s. Mr. Fraser doubts whether these sheep, though 1000 in number, were sufficiently productive to pay a fair rent for the land they occupy. A few of the Leicester breed were introduced by Sir William Molesworth, who found them to answer well. Sir John St. Aubyn adopted the same plan; and some valuable improvements have been made in the sheep of the county by Lord de Dunstanville, and many gentlemen and wealthy farmers.

The black cattle of Cornwall may be said to bear a strong resemblance to its sheep. Such as live on coarse lands, and chiefly browse among the furze and heath of the moors, are in general small; but if taken into better pastures, they improve rapidly, and grow as large as those in other counties; and the markets of Cornwall are supplied with beef of an excellent quality. But with the veal the case is otherwise; the calves in some places are frequently taken off at too early an age, and carried to the markets in such a premature state, as sometimes to exhibit a spectacle highly disgusting to a stranger.

CORNISH METHOD OF PREPARING MILK FOR BUTTER DIFFERENT FROM OTHER COUNTIES.

The cattle of Cornwall, Mr. Fraser observes, are chiefly of the North Devon breed. And although the breed is not kept up in its greatest perfection, yet they are very much in request, and are sold off in great numbers for fattening. "Their milch cows are therefore kept chiefly for the sake of rearing young stock, the dairy being very little attended to. On account of the wetness of the land, all their cattle are housed in the winter, and are kept chiefly on straw; the buildings are on this account numerous on every farm. The walls of these buildings are in general made of clay and straw, called cob, and the covering is of reed. Sir Harry Trelawney, a good many years ago, procured some of Mr. Bakewell's breed of cattle, of the long horned kind; they answered pretty well with him; but neither his own people, nor the farmers of the neighbourhood, could be induced to attend to them. He has changed them for the North Devon breed, but has kept one cow which he had from Mr. Bakewell, and is now about twelve years old, but is always in good condition. Mr. Bakewell shewed his candour to Sir Harry Trelawney, by telling him it was very unnecessary to come so far for his cattle, when he had so good a breed as the North Devon so near him. The best of that breed are certainly a most excellent stock, either for rearing or fattening. They have a small sort of cattle on the commons, and in many other parts, which they call the Cornish breed, which when fat do not exceed five or six hundred weight. They are too large boned for their size, and coarse shouldered. The best Scotch Highland breeds would answer much better. It is however difficult to get them of the best sorts."

Although but little attention is paid to the dairy in Cornwall on any extensive scale, the management of its produce is regarded with care for domestic purposes. The manner in which the cream is prepared for butter is remarkable. Instead of skimming off the unctuous parts, as they naturally settle on the surface of the milk, the earthen or brass pan in which the milk taken from the cow has stood about twelve or fourteen hours, is cautiously placed over a slow fire till it is heated to a considerable degree. By this means, the cream growing hard on the surface of the pan, settles into a wrinkled furrowed pellicle. Taken from the fire, the whole is left to cool, when the cream grows hard and clotted, in which state it is taken to the churn. The prevailing opinion in Cornwall is, that this method increases the quantity of the butter; but from experiments which have been made, the reverse has been found to be the case. The same quantity of milk taken at the same time, from the same cows, yielded in raw cream ten ounces and three quarters of butter, while that which had been scalded produced only nine ounces and a quarter. Nearly one seventh part of the cream is therefore lost by the process of the fire, besides the trouble, care, and expence, which accompany it.

A CELEBRATED BREED OF HORSES IN CORNWALL EXTERMINATED BY AN EDICT OF HENRY VIII.

The milk however, that has been scalded, is far superior to that left in its natural state; it does not so soon turn sour, it is more palatable, and more nutritive.

It has been asserted, that prior to the days of the Romans, the saddle horse was unknown in England; although previous to that period, the wild hobbies of several forests had been used both in peace and war. These native horses were small, but remarkably strong, sure-footed, and active. "Of all animals," says Mr. Polwhele, "the most sure-footed and nimble are these Cornish horses. In the neighbourhood of Tintagel, I have seen them run up and down the most precipitous places with riders on their backs, with an almost wonderful agility. These probably are among our aboriginal horses. The Goonhilly, of which not a genuine one is left, was of a late age." As it is only of late years that the use of carts has been introduced, less attention was paid formerly to the size of horses, than at present. Most of the Cornish horses were therefore of no great rising; but they were adapted to the country, being strong and hardy, sure-footed, and protected by hoofs of a peculiar hardness, fit to resist the rough and stony roads over which they had to travel. Mr. Tonkin says, "We formerly had an excellent breed of horses on Goonbilly, in Meneage, (stretching almost from Helston to the Lizard Point) occasioned, as I have heard, by a Barbary horse being turned loose there by one of the Erizy family. But though this race be in a manner lost, yet we still call our small western horses Goonhillies, which are in request all over the kingdom, being very strong, and most of them natural pacers.'

What tended to exterminate this celebrated race of horses, was a statute of Henry VIII. which permitted any person to seize upon all horses below a certain standard, that were found depasturing a public common. The sheriff's officers and others availed themselves of this privilege, and Goonhilly was soon bereft of its famous inhabitants. The name however, still survives, and the appellation is given throughout a great part of the county, to all such small strongly made horses which correspond with the description of the ancient Goonhillies. But although the breed of horses in Cornwall has been considerably improved since this edict was passed, it is only of late years that the packsaddle has been exchanged for the Within the memory of the present generation, carriages of all descriptions were very rare. But in the present day both oxen and horses are trained to the business of agriculture, and unite together in one team to turn the furrow, and draw manure to the fields. On many occasions both oxen and horses now draw together on the public roads, when the journey is not long; but the roughness of their surface seems to be too severe for the tender footed ox.

cart.

In some of the mining districts in the western parts, mules have of late years acquired great repute. Their chief employment is in carrying the produce and

MANY POOR FAMILIES IN CORNWALL SUPPLIED WITH MILK AND BUTTER BY THEIR GOATS.

supplies of the mines; many of the roads to which are impassable for carriages. Naturally strong and hardy, they nearly provide for their own support, in the coarse grounds, furze crofts, and commons, allotted for their range when the labour of the day is finished. They live to a great age, and are admirably adapted to the country they inhabit. At the mines, where they are chiefly employed, they appear in large droves, under the direction of drivers, to whom neither mildness nor severity can at all times make them yield obedience. The number of asses in Cornwall is very small; the greater part being the property of poor people. The goats, which are also generally the property of poor people, are more numerous; by these many families are supplied with milk and butter. Their kids fatten without any trouble, and are frequently exposed to sale in the public markets. By many their flesh is highly esteemed. The hogs of Cornwall are numerous, and thrive in most places remarkably well; they have been known to weigh upwards of thirty score pounds; but in general that pork which is young, and rises only to the moderate weight of six or eight score, can most easily command a sale.

Of badgers, otters, foxes, hares, rabbits, squirrels, and weasels, Cornwall has its share, in proportion to other counties; but there are few singularities in either to distinguish these from others of the same species. In St. Merryn, Perran Sand, and some other places, where the sand has covered the soil, there are warrens well stored with rabbits. These in their proper season are fat and well tasted, and are frequently carried to the neighbouring markets for sale. Some others have been attempted on the southern coast, where the appearance of vegetation afforded a more flattering prospect of success. But the proprietors not finding them to answer their expectations, they have been abandoned, and the ground has been applied to more profitable purposes.

CHAP. XV.

Ochres, Clay, Stones, Semi-metals and Gems.

SECTION I.

Ochre and Clay of various kinds, and their respective uses.

HAVING already noticed the diversified soils of Cornwall, and taken a general survey of their fertilizing qualities and productions, it will be necessary to penetrate beneath the surface, to observe the varieties which nature exhibits in clay, stones, fossils, and semi-metals. Of ochrous earths Cornwall has its share and its varieties. It has the rusty ochre of iron, which is called gossan; the green and blue ochres of copper, the pale yellow of lead, the brown yellow of tin, and the red ochre of bismuth. Some of these mix well with oil, and might be used in coarse paints with considerable advantage. These ochrous earths are generally called feeders of the metals, and when found, are considered as happy presages that metallic substances are near. Of chalk, some small quantities have been discovered in the parish of St. Cleer.

Throughout the county there is scarcely a parish to be found, in which clay for making brick may not be procured. This is not confined to any particular soil; but it is less plentiful in that which is slaty, than in the other kinds of strata. In the parish of St. Agnes there is a white clay, which was formerly used in making tobacco pipes; but of late years this has been discontinued, the expence of land carriage exceeding the freight of some other by water, although brought from Pool in Dorsetshire. In the parish of Towednack, about twenty feet below the surface, there is a stratum of white clay, which is highly prized for making brick that will bear intense heat. The furnaces of smelting-houses are generally made of this clay, whenever brick formed of it can be procured; and it is admitted to stand the fire without vitrifying, much better than any other that has been discovered. In the parish of Lelant there is a yellow clay, that in other parts is much coveted for building furnaces; and vast quantities were formerly carried to Bristol and Wales for this purpose. Bricks made of this clay soon melt and vitrify in the fire, and uniting together form one solid body. Brought into this state the mass becomes