cJdeJly as regards the Production of Meat. 415 



the present day. For a few weeks they are run upon the stubbles 

 and pastures to pick up odds and ends, after which they are 

 either put upon turnips, or, more generally, turnips are thrown 

 to them upon the pastures. Sometimes a little corn is added, 

 by which means their progress is rendered quicker and more 

 certain. As the sheep become ready, they are drawn off and 

 taken to the nearest auction-mart, where they are converted into 

 cash. From 40^. to 50^. is the usual selling price, so that 

 after all expenses have been paid, there is a pretty wide mar- 

 gin left for profit. Some farmers prefer to keep the whole of 

 their sheep until after they have secured the clip in June, when 

 they are finished off upon the pastures, and sold throughout 

 the summer inonths. From 38s. to 455. is then considered a 

 good price, which, added to the amount realised by the clip, 

 makes up for the extra keep. Nice hoggets clip 7 to 8 lbs. 

 of wool on the average, which, calculated at \s. Qd. per lb., brings 

 in 10s. Qd. or 12s. 



Pigs. 



The breed of pigs found in Cumberland is principally the pure 

 white type, with short ears, thickly-set carcases, and remarkable 

 aptitude to fatten early. This breed has gradually displaced 

 the ungainly animal which was kept twenty to thirty years 

 ago, and which had extremely coarse hair, long thin sides, and 

 crooked legs ; in fact, it had few qualities to recommend it. 

 Therefore, on the introduction of an improved breed by a few 

 of the more enlightened farmers, others were only too glad to 

 embark in a similar enterprise. Here and there may be seen a 

 few pigs of the Berkshire breed, but this class is by no means 

 numerously represented. Some five or six years ago, lean pigs 

 attained an enormous value ; an eight-weeks' pig of the better 

 class realising 35s. to 40s., while secondary descriptions brought 

 30s. to 35s. At the present time prices are not so high, but 

 they are still sufficient to remunerate the breeder ; and, while 

 on this point, I may just remark that the Agricultural Returns 

 published annually b}" the Board of Trade show a serious falling 

 off in the number of pigs kept in the country. With pork at 

 7s. 9d. to 8s. dd. per stone in the curing season, and the marked 

 demand for Cumberland bacon in most of the larare towns of 

 England, this seems an anomaly ; yet, when circumstances 

 are explained, there is no wonder that farmers do not care to 

 keep many pigs. Indeed, any person making a tour across the 

 country will see pigsty after pigsty untenanted ; and should the 

 reason be asked, the answer invariably follows, that " feeding 

 pigs does not pay." Still these words do not fully express the 

 meaning they are intended to convey ; for farmers undoubtedly 



