48 AGRICULTURE. 



manure was brought into use. Some years ago we read in 

 an agricultural journal, that to mix up a large quantity of 

 snow with a heap of manure was highly beneficial, and 

 philosophical reasons, which we have forgotten, were given 

 for the practice. Should the doctrine of a dry lair now 

 prevail, the liquid-manure tanks will be deprived of their 

 principal source of supply. 



Till very lately flesh-meat in general, and beef in parti- 

 cular, had its seasons of plenty and low price, succeeded 

 by scarcity and high price, just as regularly as summer 

 and autumn are succeeded by winter and spring. The 

 extremes were from August to December, when naturally- 

 fed beasts poured into the market, and from February to 

 June, when those which were fed artificially came in by 

 driblets. Those who have watched the markets for the few 

 last years will have observed, first a tendency to equaliza- 

 tion, and then to a complete turning of the tables, which 

 has been fully developed in the season now in progress. 

 The first-named period gave, in the year 1848, to Smith- 

 field, for the Monday's market, from 2000 or 2500 bullocks, 

 with a price for the first quality from 3s. Wd. to 4s. 4rf. 

 per stone. The second period, now in progress in 1849, 

 is giving from 3200 to 3600 bullocks, with a price for the 

 first quality from 3s. 4d to 3s. 8d. Nor do these figures 

 represent the full difference of the supply of meat, because 

 there can be no doubt that a larger amount of dead meat 

 comes in by railway in the cold months than in the warm. 

 This is a great revolution, which we have no doubt will be 

 in some degree counteracted by an increased prevalence of 

 artificial feeding in summer, either as auxiliary to grass- 

 feeding, or as independent of it. 



We have now brought to a close the principal remarks 

 which have occurred to us as bearing on that vocation of 

 the occupier of land, in pursuance of which he furnishes a 

 supply of animal food to his country. We take leave of 

 our cattle-loving friends, and we hope they will not think 

 us less friendly to them because we have omitted any pro- 



