in 1880, 16,192; whilst in 1885 it had fallen to 15,794. The year 1890 890 saw the total up to 15,970 and 1900 up to 15,558.

It was after the disastrous year 1879 that farmers in Dorset commenced to pay greater attention to dairy supplies. That year reduced farmers' capital to such a degree that many of them found it imperative to turn their attention to a branch of agriculture which would yield them an immediate return for their outlay. In addition the growth of the large towns and seaside resorts was instrumental in increasing the production of milk by reason of the growing demand which the workers in the towns created. It must not be supposed that the increase in the number of cattle has been entirely with a view to milk-production, but this object has no doubt been the most important factor in bringing about the present situation. It is impossible to give figures for early years showing the growth of the milk supply from Dorset, which goes to London, Bournemouth, Weymouth, and other seaside places within or near the county, but some idea may be gathered from the fact that during 1906 there were dispatched by the London and South Western Railway to London and elsewhere nearly 5,000,000 gallons of milk. As this would not represent the whole output of dairy produce, butter and cheese having to be considered, the value of dairy-farming to the county is at once apparent.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century the practice of the farmer keeping dairy cows was to rent them to a dairyman, who was in effect a small holder. This practice still continues in places, but as it was almost exclusively a product of large holdings the gradual levelling down of the farms has done away with the necessity for the dairyman, and the farmer now generally deals with the produce of his cows himself. Dorset butter is, of course, famous, though this branch has suffered, as in other counties, from foreign competition. Cheese, too, has somewhat declined, but high prices are gradually making the farmer turn his attention more to this product. Attention might well be drawn here to the famous ` blue vinny' cheese of Dorset. It is extremely popular in the county, but it is very difficult to obtain outside the county area. In appearance it is similar to Stilton, but has a more delicate flavour and in the opinion of the Dorset man is infinitely superior.

The fattening of cattle for stores, too, has made great strides, especially in the vicinity of the two great markets of Dorchester and Wimborne. Sales are held at Dorchester every Saturday and at Wimborne every Tuesday.

In 1873 the number of cattle totalled 75,232 with a percentage of 16.1 to the acre (every 100 acres). In 1906 the total was 94,405, while the percentage had risen to nearly 20 per acre. Up to 1880 the figures varied but little, but in the five years ending 1885 there was an increase of 15,000. The dry season of 1893 shows its effect in the figures for 1894 which go down to 79,955. By the year 1899 the numbers had risen to 89,128, but another bad season sent the figures down to 87,904 in 1900. However, by 1906 the number of cattle kept had jumped to its present high figure of 90,405.

The old breed of long-horned cattle, which at one time was almost the only breed in the county, is practically extinct, only one herd being known to exist now. Shorthorns were introduced in 1870, and this breed is now the most common. There are several fine herds of Shorthorns to be seen within the county and one or two pedigree herds. Devon cattle are mostly to be seen in the west, but Shorthorns practically monopolize the rest of the county. Herefords are not popular, but at one time the popular dairy cow was a cross between a Devon and a Hereford, the latter for size and the former for constitution. The general all-round utility of the Shorthorn, both as a dairy cow and for fattening, has gradually made it more popular than the crossbreds, and it may be said that the majority of the cattle in the county are Shorthorns.

Sheep in Dorset enjoy the advantage of roaming over the chalky downs which suit the famous Southdown breed so well, and the manner in which they thrive in the county is evidence that Dorset is peculiarly adapted for sheep-breeding. It is all the more to be regretted therefore that the number of sheep within the county has shown such a great decrease. Much of this is to be attributed to the bad seasons which force farmers to sell-regardless of price in order to find capital to continue cultivation of the land. In taking to sheep-breeding a farmer has to consider that he sees no return for his capital for twelve months. Possibly he may get a larger return in the end, but as has often happened in the past a farmer has had to take to some other branch such as milk production from which he gets an immediate return. Another factor has been the cutting up of large farms into smaller holdings and thus destroying what is essential to successful sheep-breeding - a good run. The first reason, however, apart from the effect of bad weather on the sheep, is the more true to fact, as witness the drop from 427,831 sheep in 1873 and 498,010 in 1879 to 463,864 in 1880, a decline of nearly 35,000 in one year. Farmers in Dorset do not desire a repetition of 1879. Its influence is written largely in other branches besides sheep. Till 1885 the numbers remained much about the same, being in that year 460,371, but in the following year 1886, due to the failure of the turnip and swede crop. and a late winter, the numbers dropped to 448,635. In 1890 the figures had

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