No. 112.] 285 



flesh of the ox and cow, or full grown steers, is generally firmer, 

 better beef color (red) than the young steer or heifer, (which is 

 generally a dark veal color,) and of course will be a better color 

 "salted." 



The regular packer uses what they call "Solar salt," (ofttimes 

 St. Ubes, or Bonaire, Turk's Island,) from 30 to 50 lbs.; about 6 

 oz. saltpeter to a bairel; and tliey hav% large vats, where the riv- 

 er water settles before it is used. Great quantities are sent to 

 New-York, to be inspected and repacked ; it is taken out, say ten 

 barrels at a time, tried if sweet, thrown in different sections of a 

 large circular bin around the scales, according to qualities, in- 

 spected and "Barreled" or repacked, using Turks Island, St. Ubes 

 or Bonaire salt. The best quality is marked "Mess Beef," princi- 

 pally in barrels ; the next best in tierces, marked "Prime Mess;" 

 3d best, "Railroad" or "Prime," with the Inspector's name, which 

 generally gites it character and sale. 



Respectfully yours. 



THOS. F. DE YOE, 

 Butcher, No. 7-8 Jefferson Market, New- York city. 



J. Ambrose Wight, Esq., editor of the Prairie Farmer, is en- 

 titled to our thanks for the valuable article annexed, on the 

 packing of beef, and the discoloration of the meat in certain 

 cases, and the probable cause. The English packers, at the 

 Government Victualling Office, at Deptford, near London, insist 

 that the beef of cows and heifers will 7iot retain its brightness, but 

 will grow brown or black. It will be seen (as we supposed it 

 would) that the Chicago packers do not believe, from long expe- 

 rience, that the distinction of sexes affects the beef. The reason 

 why beef is affected is clearly set forth in the annexed article. 



B. P. Johnson, Esq., Cor. Sec, JV". Y. S. Jl. S. 



We have questioned several of our largest and most experienced 

 packers here, among whom we may mention Messrs. Thomas 

 Dyer, 0. S. Hough and J. P. Chapin, all of whom have been 

 concerned in provisions for twelve or fifteen years, and are among 

 the largest packers of beef in the world. Their opinions agree 

 in the main, but vary somewhat as to uninjpgrtaut particulars. 



