498 Statistics of Live Stock for 



the old, or pure native, breeds of Irish beasts, which were for- 

 merly so much valued for thev' hides, are now nearly extinct. 

 The decrease in the pure Scotch breeds of cattle grazed and fed in 

 England may be attributed to the increased production of turnips 

 in Scotland. Previous to the year 1838 the pure Scots were 

 chiefly sent to England for artificial feeding in Norfolk and 

 Suffolk. Since that year the Scotch breeders have fed them 

 themselves, finding the cross with English breeds — short-horns 

 and, in some instances, Herefords — produce much more weight 

 and an earlier maturity. Even the black polled beasts, by 

 many considered prime Scots, are first crosses from short-horned 

 bulls. 



Having shown the various changes in the production of cattle 

 for consumption in the Metropolis, we have now to consider those 

 which have presented themselves in the supplies of sheep in the 

 period already indicated, viz. during the last twenty years. In 

 the past year the percentage of sheep exhibited in the great 

 metropolitan market was about as follows. We say about, because 

 it would be impossiljle to define accurately the various crosses, as 

 even many of the Lincoln sheep are not pure breeds, being mixed 

 to some extent with Leicesters and Gloucesters. The percentage, 

 then, runs thus : — 



Hheep shown in the Metropolitan MarJcet in I808, 



Percentage. 



Luicolns 27-00 



Leicesters lio'OO 



South Downs and Hampshire Downs .. lO'OO 



Crosses 15'25 



Gloucesters and Gloucester Downs .. .. 8'00 



Kents 5-00 



Scotch 1-00 



Irish 3-00 



Dutch 4-50 



German I'OO 



Spanish 0-25 



100-00 



In the year 1838 the percentage was as under: — 



Percentage. 



Lincolns 31-00 



Leicesters 29-00 



South Downs 12-00 



Crosses 13-00 



Gloucesters and Gloucester D'lwns .. .. 6-00 



Kents 5-00 



Scotch 2-50 



Irish 1-50 



100-00 



