252 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



round, and plump, and the hips are well covered, these are 

 indications of their being well lined with tallow. 



As the Grazier is usually less skilled in judging of the 

 weight of live-cattle than the Butcher, Lord Kaims advises 

 selling them by weight. This may be done in a manner 

 very similar to that commonly practised for weighing loads 

 of hay. The beast is to be suspended, by being put in a 

 box made for the purpose. 



The weighing of cattle, he well observes, is also useful in 

 order to ascertain whether each beast fatens in proportion to 

 the value of the food bestowed on it ; as it may, in some 

 instances, be best to dispose of such as do not. 



He says, that the four quarters are about half of the 

 whole weight of the beast, when alive, and when its belly is 

 moderately full 5 the skin is about the eighteenth part; the 

 tallow about the twelfth ; the remainder is composed of the 

 head, feet, tripe, blood, 8cc. which offals never sell by weight, 

 but in proportion to the weight of the beast. With a know- 

 ledge, therefore, of these particulars, and of the market- 

 price of the beef, tallow, skin &c. the Farmer or Grazier 

 can ascertain what his beasts are worth, when alive. 



By weighing fated Calves, when alive, says the same 

 Author, and deducting eight pounds from every twenty, 

 the remainder will prove to be about the weight of the four 

 quarters. 



The diseases of Neat-cattle are various; and frequently 

 new and uncommon diseases occur. A Farmer in this vi- 

 cinity (Herkimer) informs us, that he lost eleven head 

 during the last Winter (1813) by a new, and till then un- 

 known, disease. When his cattle where attacked with this 

 disorder, it was indicated by small protuberances appearing 

 round the neck; and, after the beasts died, some of these 

 were opened, and were found to be full of worms or mag- 

 gots. Probably, if these lumps or protuberances had been 

 opened and cleansed, when they first appeared, the cattle 

 might have been saved. 



A disorder prevails among Neat-cattle, in the northern 

 parts of this State, which is usually termed the hoof ail. It 

 has ruined many hundred cattle in this county. It would 

 seem that the feet of the cattle first become diseased, and 

 then they are frozen during the course of the Winter; after 

 which they are ot no further value, except for their skins. 



There is probably something in certain soils, which is 

 calculated to injure the feet of cattle in the Fall, and thus 

 render them more liable to the frost of Winter. In Herki- 

 rner county, those cattle which are kept on farms of moist 

 rich soil have been most liable to this disorder; and it is 

 believed, that such as are fed on sandy, sandy loam, or 

 gravelly farms, have seldom suffered in this way. Probably 



