Disease in Plants. 195 



population, which used to find remunerative employment in the 

 numerous silk-grounds, is now being driven by scarcity to 

 emigrate in crowds. 



This is the great secret to be learnt : that man, if he would 

 prolong his existence upon that earth out of which he was 

 formed, and which has supplied him with the most important 

 elements of his frame, must cultivate it aright; for any viola- 

 tion of this great law will, in some way or other, be avenged on 

 his children even to the thousandth generation ! * 



XVII. — Statistics of Live Stock and Dead Meat for Consumftion 

 in the Metropolis; loith Letter on Arrangements for Meat- 

 Markets. By EOBEKT HeEBEET. 



Notwithstanding the ravages of the cattle plague, the metro- 

 politan market was heavily supplied with beasts during the last 

 six months of 1865 ; Avhilst in the general quality of the stock 

 there was a decided improvement on the corresponding period 

 in 1864. The Lincolnshire " season," which generally closes in 

 December, was this year prolonged during the whole of January, 

 in which month nearly 6000 beasts, which ought not to have 

 made their appearance until July next, were thence received in 

 a half-fat state. This movement, caused by the anxiety of the 

 graziers to guard against the risk of future heavy losses — is most 

 important and ominous. Obviously the receipts from Lincoln- 

 shire will fall off considerablv between June and December next, 

 and a considerable rise in prices may be anticipated from this 

 cause alone. The compensation now provided for all losses 

 caused by cattle plague, will no doubt check for the future such 

 wholesale destruction of young stock ; whether it will effectually 

 put a stop to it of course depends on the adequacy of the com- 

 pensation by law provided. 



It is very questionable how far our importations from the Conti- 

 nent will keep pace with a large additional demand. It may be 

 readily assumed that the arrivals from Holland, Germany, France, 

 &c., will increase both in number and quality ; but we must bear in 

 mind, that apart from our present calamity, the supplies of English 

 stock have been decreasing every year, and becoming less ade- 

 quate to meet the demand without foreign aid. Moreover, the 



* It is to be regretted that so exceptioual a seed-bed as turf cut from off a 

 heath should have been selected for this experiment, since it is nearly as important 

 that the seed-bed should be normal, as that it should be uniform. It could hardly 

 be anticipated that nitrogenous manures would act to advantage when the seed- 

 bed itself was a compost of decaying vegetable matter rather than earth. In- 

 ferences as to the artificial supply of nitrogen to the potato-crop when growing 

 on ordinary arable land most assuredly cannot be drawn with safety from this 

 experiment. — P. H. F. 



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