208 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 



agriculturists, this instructive lesson, it is one of the most 

 complete and interesting instances of the utilization of 

 waste with which I am acquainted. 



In all civiUzed and densely populated countries it may 

 be said that nothing is wasted of the animals used for the 

 food of man ; every part that is not eaten is turned to 

 some useful purpose. The refuse fat is converted into 

 tallow and soap, the greater part of the skin is made into 

 leather ; and the scraps with the hoofs, feet, and various 

 membranes, turned into glue ; the horns made into various 

 useful articles, and the bones produce phosphorus and 

 manure. But this is very far from being the case in 

 more remote regions, where the abundance of animal life 

 is almost inconceivable. Improved facilities of transport, 

 consequent on the universal adoption of steam as a motive 

 power by land and water, is doing much and will do more 

 to remedy this, but it will be many a long year before all 

 waste ofthis kind is obviated. In the Pampas of Buenos 

 Ayres the wild oxen are slaughtered by hundreds of 

 thousands annually, solely for the sake of their hides. 



The enormous number of horses in some parts of 

 South America renders them of little commercial value; 

 but it is certainly odd to read of a country where the 

 number of mares slaughtered merely for their hides and 

 grease is so great, that it is found economical to light a 

 large city with gas made from their fat. 



In Russia, Moldavia, and Wallachia animals are slaugh- 

 tered by thousands for the sake of their fat and horns ; in 

 the Australian colonies the price of cattle was until lately 

 quoted at " boiling rate," in other words fat cattle would 

 fetch no more from the butchers than could be realized 

 from their hides, horns, hoofs, and tallow for exportation. 

 Under the old and slovenly system of sending cattle to 

 the melting-pot, it is certain that from one-quarter to one- 

 half of what ought to have been profitably turned to 

 account was wasted. The value of cattle and sheep in 



