314 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



but wretched country, where a large portion of the inhabitants 

 are, for a considerable part of the year, upon the borders of 

 starvation, are obliged to see their only pig the companion and 

 pet of their children and their only calf or steer, sent off to 

 other markets to fill other mouths. Smithfield, though much 

 the largest, is only one of the markets of the country ; but the 

 immense supplies which are here furnished must give some 

 idea of the improvement and degree of perfection of the agricul 

 ture of a country from which they are drawn. 



The poultry markets, and the markets for game, are also most 

 extensive. The fish markets in London seem to me unsur 

 passed for their excellence, and certainly embrace a great 

 variety of the very best kinds. These, of course, furnish their 

 full proportion of the supplies of London. 



5. CHARACTER AND QUALITY OF STOCK. The quality of the 

 cattle exhibited in Smithfield market, of sheep in particular, is 

 extraordinary for its fatness. The show of the Smithfield Club, 

 which is held in December, under the patronage of some of the 

 first noblemen in the kingdom, may very properly be denom 

 inated a show of monstrosities in the way of fatness. They are 

 moving elephantine masses of flesh, and if, as according to 

 modern chemical philosophy, all fat is the result of disease, they 

 are far from being attractive to any but the grossest epicure. 

 No advantage can come from rearing animals to such an inor 

 dinate degree of fatness, save in the matter of showing what the 

 art of man can accomplish in respect to the animal economy, 

 and also that of testing the nutritious and fattening qualities of 

 different kinds of food. 



In respect to the weight of the animals in Smithfield, an indi 

 vidual familiar with the subject, and in whom I have great con 

 fidence, states that the beasts from two to three years old will 

 average from 85 to 100 stone of 8 pounds, or from 680 to 800 

 pounds, when dressed that is, the four quarters. Others place 

 it Hot higher than 82 stone, or 656 pounds ; of calves, 150 

 pounds ; of pigs, 100 pounds ; of sheep, 90 pounds. Calves are 

 seldom sent to market under six or eight weeks old ; and large 

 hogs are never seen in the market. If we may rely upon ancient 

 authorities, within a century past the weight of animals in 

 Smithfield Market has nearly doubled ; perhaps more than 



