154 



AN AGRICULTURAL FAGGOT. 



stone. What he can do, the farmer, with the scales to 

 help him, could as easily do. 



I learn from Sir John Lawes, who has kindly given me 

 invaluable information for the preparation of this article, 

 that he proposes to publish, when a demand should seem 

 to arise for it, a pocket " ready reckoner/' for the guidance 

 of the farmer in estimating the weight and value of his 

 stock by means of the scales. The following table is a 

 specimen of the mode in which he proposes to construct 

 such a compendium. 



Similar calculations would be made for all probable 

 weights. Sir John Lawes writes : 



It appears to be almost essential that the Ibs., 8 Ibs. and 

 14 Ibs. must all be used. To induce the farmer to use the 

 scales he must understand them, and to understand them he 

 must start with the present knowledge that a certain ox which 

 he wishes to sell to the butcher should weigh, when dead, 

 48 or 47 stone. According as he uses 8-lb. or i4-lb. stones, he 

 considers that his animal should make 55. or 8s. gd. per stone 

 and be worth 21. He now opens his ready reckoner and 

 finds what the live weight of such an animal would be. 



Table showing the dead weight of an ox weighing 1,400 Ibs. alive, 

 in Ibs., 14 and 8 Ibs. stones, and price at *]\d. per lb., 8s. gd. per 

 14 lb., and 55. per 8lbs., according to the estimated ripeness of 

 the animal. 



Sir John Lawes in another letter says, " I have not 

 studied what would be the best form of table, as farmers 

 have appeared to be so indifferent." With reference 

 to the whole subject he remarks further : 



