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cattle. In the first article of the society’s report for 1876 are embodied 
the results of an investigation, as compiled by W. McDonald, editor of 
the North British Agriculturist, from public documents and from orig- 
inal statements by intelligent and representative agriculturists in differ- 
ent parts of the country. The writer concludes, from the facts brought 
out by the investigation, that farmers would be benefited by a closer 
attention to live stock, especially cattle. 
Live-stock breeding has for some years been more profitable than 
erain-raising, and present indications point to a continuance of this state 
of things, which is attributed in part to the superior quality of British 
beef and mutton, in part to the difficulty of importing foreign products 
that can rival them in the market, and in part to the abundant imports 
of excellent grain from abroad. British farmers can supply a much 
larger proportion of meat than twenty years ago, but the demand has 
kept pace with the supply. 
The total number of cattle in Great Britain in 1875 was 6,012,824, 
against 5,337,759 in 1871 and 4,993,034 in 1867 ; an increase of 1,019,790, 
or over 24 per cent., in eight years. The aggregate of 1875 was 112,667 
less than in 1874. Ireland reports 4,111,990 in 1875, an increase of 
404,187, or nearly 11 per cent., in eight years. The total for the United 
Kingdom in 1875 was 10,124,814, against 8,731,473, an increase of nearly 
16 per cent. in eight years. 
Sheep-raising has not been so expansive, though it is well known that 
in some districts sheep have done better than cattle, in some cases 
replacing the latter. This is traceable to the rinderpest. In 1867, the 
number reported in Great Britain was 28,919,101; in 1868, 30,711,396 ; 
in 1871, the number had fallen to 27,119,569; it rose in 1874 to 30,313,941, 
but fell to 29,166,139 in 1875. Ireland had 4,826,015 in 1867, 4,225,721 
in 1871, 4,437,613 in 1874, and 4,248,158 in 1875. In 1875, the United 
Kingdom had 33,414,297. 
The number of horses in Great Britain fell from 1,461,061 in 1869 to 
1,276,444 in 1873; but the number has since increased, though not yet 
equal to that of 1869; in 1875 the number was 1,340,129. In Ireland, 
horses rose from 527,248 in 1869 to 540,745 in 1872, but fell to 526,160 
in 1875. The total of the United Kingdom for 1875 was 1,866,289. 
The quantity of beef and mutton annually produced has greatly 
increased within thirty-five years. In 1841, but 4,500 cattle were on 
sale in the London Christmas market, the price ranging from 3s. 8d. to 
5s. per stone of 8 pounds, averaging about 4s. per stone, or 6d. per pound, 
sinking the offal. At the Christmas market of 1875, 7,660 cattle were 
exposed to-sale, at prices varying between 4s. 4d. and 6s, 6d. per stone, 
and averaging nearly 6s. per stone, or 9d. per pound; an increase of 50 
per cent. since 1841. The advance in the lower grades has been still 
greater. In 1841, the choice animals were, in quality, further ahead of 
the general supply through the year than they arenow. The June prices 
of cattle during the last thirty years show a greater advance than the 
Christmas prices: they averaged 44d. per pound in June, 1849; 43d. in 
1851; 68d. in 1855; 6d. in 1859; 64d. in 1864; 7d. in 1868; 8d.in 1871, and 
83d. in 1875. These are the estimated averages of prices paid to the 
farmer or breeder for animals on the hoof. The June prices of mutton 
averaged as follows: 1849, 5d. per pound; 1851, 5d. ; 1855, 63d.; 1859, 63d.; 
1864, 63d.; 1868, 74d.; 1871, 84d.; 1875, 9d. While the cost to the con- 
sumer has been thus enhanged, the share of the producer has notincreased 
in asimilar proportion. The scope of middle-men’s profits has greatly en- 
larged within the past few years. Even country markets now support a 
class of intermediate salesmen, who make quite a “ nice thing” of it. 
