THE RURAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 476, 22 June 1912, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD.

ORIGIN OF CATTLE. Everyone is acquainted with the wonderful improvement in cattle breeding since the days of Bakewell, when definite principles have been more or less adhered to, and visible results quickly obtained, but the history of the evolution of the ox through countless centuries is a matter of less common knowledge. The origin of the species, Bos Primigenius, from which has sprung all the long-horned, short-horned, and hornless breeds, is briefly traced by a writer in the "Standard Cyclopedia of Modern Agriculture." He mentions that at the beginning of the Tertiary epoch, the hoofed animals were represented by "primitive small brained forms about the size of the fox, with five toes on each foot, and a typical set of teeth," which, in course of time, began to specialise and, two distinct types were evolved. One had the middle toe in each foot enlarged, and the other with the third and fourth toes much larger than the others, and forming a symmetircal pair. From the first came the tapirs, horses, and other odd-toed ungulates, and from the second, sheep, camels, oxen, and other even-toed ungulates. The primitive characters were retained but gradual structural modifications in the ox family resulted in the disappearance of certain teeth from the upper jaw, and the increase in size of the third and fourth toes, the disappearance of the first, and the diminution of the second and fifth. These changes were mainly effected during the miocene period, and early in pliocene times "true ox«.n made their appearance in India, and probably also in Europe." From the Indian species (Bos Indicus) have descended the zebra and other hump d varieties of cattle; from a European species (Bos Primigenius) the domestic breeds of the present day. The latter was specially remarkable for its huge size and large curved horns, and what a fearsome creature it was may be imagined from the measurements given. "Somo which inhabited the Thames Valley in prehistoric times must have measured 7ft at the withers, and carried horns over 3ft in length, with a girth of over 20in at the base." There appears to be some doubt as to whether the Bos Primigenius became extinct in Great Britain, or was domesticated their, but the writer supports the former theory. But he points out that while it became extinct in Great Britain, it continued to flourish in Europe until the eighth century. "In all probability, during the ten or more thousand years which elapsed from the domestication of the urus during the bronze age, and its extinction in the eighth century, wild specimens were frequentl ycaptured and made use of to rejuvenate the tame herds. But even if its hapr pened, the changes in size horns, limbs, etc., due to domestication and isolation, to intentional and unintentional selection, and to the influence of different environments, of would continue, and resuit in the formation of more or less distinct races and breds—some with short, curved horns, others with long upturned horns, and others devoid of horns." NOTES FOR HORSE OWNERS. It is a great pity that more is not done in the direction of the better training of blacksmiths in that very important branch of their work —horse shoeing. Of course, there are many good men in the country, but there is no getting away from the fact that there are a good many more or less incompetent ones, and these incompetent men can do a great deal of harm. One would like to see those engaged in the trade take up the matter on their own account and form an association under the auspices of which young men entering the trade could receive nuund teaching from competent men. With good veterinarians to give instruction in the structure of the foot, and the principles of shoeing, and thoroughly good tradesmen to instruction the practical working side, good results should be derived at. The idea is well worth consideration.

Corns in horses are frequently the result of bad shoeing and many a horse owner has had trouble through lameness in his horse 3 in consequence. Faulty trimming of the foot for the shoe in the shape of thinning' the sole too much or cutting away the bars and the frog, is one of the most common causes. Badly fitting shoes, which cause too much pressure towards the heel are also often responsible for corns. Horses whose feet are characterised by low, weak heels, especially require most careful shoeing, as feet such as this, are very liable to sustain the bruising to the sensitive tissues beneath the horn, which really contitutes what is known as a corn.

Though there is some variation of opinion on the point whether the enlargements of the hock termed bog spasm and thorough pin should be classed as conditions likely to be of an hereditary nature, or in other words, likely to be transmitted from parent to offspring, most authorities rightly hold that they are not likely to be transmitted from parent to offspring, so. Either or both conditions may arise from various causes, such as sprain, overwork when young, either in the shape of draught work, or of service by young stallions, general constitutional weakness, and so on. Weak badly formed hocks are more likey to become affected by these troubles, and of course, the progeny of an animal possessing such hocks is likely to show a similar fault. But that is quite a different thing to the enlargements themselves being an hereditary nature. Horses lame from ringbone, put more wieght than usual on the heels. In sidebone lameness, the reverse occurs, the greatest weight being placed upon forward portion of the foot.

SOIL SOURNESS. AND WHAT CAUSES IT. Soil sourness is brought about either by the absolute exclusion of air, as in waterlogged soils, or it may also be the result of an excessive amount of organic matter, as in peaty soils. In both cases the result is the formation of organic acids, which, in the. abser.ee or deficiency of basic substances such as lime to neutralise them act as plant poisons. The remedies for sourness are underground drainage and thorough cultivation of the suil, exposing it to th« air. 'The addition of lime to neutralise the acids formed is in all cases beneficial; and by a proper system of drainage, together with thorough cultivation and the addition of lime, it is possible to make the sourest land sweet and productive.