394 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. XXXV. 



Having admitted that, we must, however, confine it within the bounds of 

 merely guiding it to a probable estimate of the value of the beast, accord- 

 ing to the assumed weight in the tables ; as, however accurately drawn, 

 they will be found frequently deceptive in the real quantity of marketable 

 flesh : more particularly in regard to cattle of a large size, in the weight 

 of which they are generally below the mark. There are tables also by 

 BIr. Ainslie, but they are calculated in Dutch weight, and those by Mr. 

 Stewart have been proved to be inaccurate*. As instances of their fallacy 

 we may cite the measurement by live weight of some bullocks exhibited at 

 the Show of the Highland Society at Aberdeen, in 1834, with the dead 

 weight which they actually produced of beef, and that which they ought to 

 have yielded according to the tables, namely, — those by Mr. 13oswcll of 

 Kingcaussie: — 



No. 1 



The two last were weighed together when slaughtered, and gave 257 st. 

 9 lbs., — their average being lr28 st. IH lbs. ; which gives a diiference by 

 the liighest of the tables, of 29 st. 11 lbs.; and by the lowest, of 45 st. 

 5 lbs. of 14 lbs, each; and taking Renton's tables as the highest upon the 



square of the girth bj- the length, and this product by a decimal which may be assumed 

 as nearly '238, for the live weight : the dead weight is ascertained by multiplying the 

 live weight by the decimal) '605 ; thus, f^ will give the product of the four quarters. 

 Mr. Renton, however, states, in his " Grazier's Ready Reckoner," that for a half-fat- 

 tened ox must be ("educted one stone for twenty from that of a fat ox ; for a cow which 

 has had calves one stone must also be deducted, and another if not properly fat. 



Mr. M'Derment also proposes, in his " Cattle Measurer," that in the case of very fat 

 animals, one-eighteenth or one-tweutieth part should be added to the weight obtained 

 by measurement; and when below the ordinary state of fatness, the same proportion 

 should be deducted. Old milch cows, which have had a number of calves, should have 

 one-niuth or one-tenth of their weight deducted. 



Gary's Gauge is an instrument made in the form, and on the principle, of a slider rule, 

 giving the weights marked in stones of 8 lbs. and 14 lbs. 



* See the Quart. Journ. of Agric, vol. ii. p. 885. Mr. Douglas' mode of calculating 

 is — 



By decimals square the girth into itself, and multiply the length into the square of 

 the girth : if the beast is fat, multiply by the decimal of 24 ; if only half fat, by 23. 



The foregoing rule is very accurate if cattle are divided into classes, and the uuiltiply- 

 ing decimal proportioned thus, if what is technically termed 



« Justkillable" . . multiply by 22 



" Fair beef" . . . ditto 23 



"Fat" .... ditto 24 



" Very fat " . . . ditto 25 



" E.Ktra fat "... ditto 26 



Suppose the t,irth G feet 1 inch, and length 4 feet 9 inches, the square of the 

 girth will be .... 176*7475 



22 



Then the beast, if just killable, will be by 22 

 ,, fair beef . . 



fat . . . 

 , , very fat . 



, , extra fat . 



