(J13 Zwe Stock Properties to IQ regarded inSize* 



their not confuming food in the proportion of their weight ; as, on putting the 

 queftion of the difference in the weight of food confumed by the largeft: and fmal- 

 Icft in a given time, to different breeders in different parts of the diftrid where he 

 refides, he found that they agreed, &quot;that the fame quantity of food was given to the 

 fmalleft and the largeft bcaft of the fame age ; that the largeft, even when not maf- 

 ter of the fame fold, often kept itfelf in the beft condition ; and that every thing 

 depended on the difpofition to, fatten, and very little on the fize of the animal.&quot; 

 In his own ftock he alfo alTerts the fame thing to be precifely the cafe.* Jt is 

 however admitted, as juft ftated, that a certain quantity of large cattle will moft-. 

 Jy confume more than the fame quantity of fmali ones ; but not by any means in 

 proportion to their weight. 



With regard to any difference that may take place in the quality of the meat 

 from the difference of fize, it would feem to be in favour of the fmailer breeds ; 

 as the finenefs of the mufcular fibre, or what has been commonly termed the grain 

 of flefh, has been found to be the moft delicate in the fmailer breeds of animals. 

 It is on this account, as well as that of convenience, that the mutton, beef, and 

 other forts of meat of fmall animals are fo conftantly preferred by the nice palates 

 of thofe who indulge in the pleafurcs of the table. 



In oppofition to the idea that fmall animals, when fatted, are in common worth 

 more for any given weight of meat than large ones j it is contended, that if the ani 

 mal be taken as it ftands in the pafture or ftall, the contrary is the truth ; but that 

 \vhen the butcher merely buys what are termed the valuable parts, and receives the 

 offal into the bargain, he will unqueftionably, for obvious reafons, &quot;give more for 

 two cows of twelve ftonc each a quarter, than for one of twenty-four.&quot; The offal 

 Is of much greater value, befides a confiderable advantage in the hides.-)* In ftiort, 

 it is concluded that &quot; the difference between the weight of the animals when liv.. 

 ing, and of the four quarters whn dead, is always ia an inverfe proportion to their 

 fize when their forms and merits are equal ; but the bones will then be in propor 

 tion to the living-weight, and therefore fmall animals muft be in this cafe moft difad* 

 vantagcous to the confumer.&quot; 



From the greater fize of the mufcular parts in large animals, the flelh would, 

 however, feem to be more coarfe in the very large breeds, and of courfe be lefs va 

 luable, than in thofe of the fmall. 



* Communications to the Board ofAgrityilturej vol. If, f Knight in ibid, 



