Britain is the retention of the local breeds that have
lost their special utility. Utterly to lose a pure-bred race is a thing no one would gladly face ; but there is no question at all that the jealous pride of the breed societies, especially of the smallest, does great harm to the economics of the industry. Every other reformer, especially the Ministry, has been preaching this in regard to pigs : the many breeds prevent the desired stabilization ; but there are also cattle problems. Could there be finer animals than the South Devons ? They weigh up to a -ton and a-half ; they give milk as rich in cream as if they were Guernseys. They flourish peculiarly in the district that gave them birth. But a problem arises. What is to be done with the beef ? The enormous joints, once bought at a remunerative price by caterers for the Navy at Devonport, are difficult to market ; and in other towns the fashion is for " baby beef " of a smaller race. Must this breed and some others go the way of Longhorn or Park cattle, and remain only as a curiosity ? Or will fashion change ? Or will the foreigner rediscover (as I believe some Japanese have dis- covered) that the animal is peculiarly well suited for other districts in other lands ?
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